- DAREN -

I can’t get over how much fucking traffic there is for a Sunday night. My phone lights up where it’s resting on the dashboard, and I check to make sure it’s not Maddie before I toss it onto the passenger seat.

My head is all over the place. If I take a call, even with a hands-free setup, I’m likely to drive into the median. Christ, I need to calm down.

Deep breaths. Breathe the fuck in and exhale the fuck out.

Finally, I get to our neighborhood, which is decked out in Rebel flags. Partygoers from the corner bar rush out into the street and start cheering, and I laugh and try my best not to run anyone over.

I’m proud, but right now, there’s only one person I want to celebrate with, and if I don’t get home in exactly three minutes, I’m gonna lose my shit.

My wheels squeal to a stop, and I grab my phone and bag and race in. Maddie said she wouldn’t freak out during the game, but I know how she gets. And she is in no condition to be stressed out.

When I open the front door, my eyes immediately land on her. Her head tilts to the left and her left eyebrow raises as she picks up her phone.

“Daren Sloan, how the hell did you get home that fast? I told you I was fine. See?” She waves her arms at herself. “Fine.” She starts to push off the couch.

“Don’t, babe. Stay put. I’ll be right there. Let me wash my hands first.” Because you can’t be too careful. You’d be surprised how many germs you’d find on doorknobs and handles. I really should get more disinfectant wipes.

In record time, I’ve kicked off my shoes and tossed off my coat. Maddie sighs back into the couch, and when I’ve washed up, I sit next to her and wrap my arms around her as gently as I can.

“Honey, I’m not going to break,” she chides, tilting her head up to kiss me.

I nibble on her sweet bottom lip that tastes like cherry Chapstick before I scoop her in my arms. She squeals and grips my shoulders, and I kiss her long and deep.

“Mm. Why, Mr. Sloan, I dare say you missed me. Which is saying something since I saw you this morning.”

“Why, Mrs. Sloan, of course I miss you. Every minute that we’re apart.”

She leans back and places her palm on my face, and I lean into her. Her black hair is tied back in a braid, and she’s so damn beautiful, my chest hurts.

“You’re a smooth talker, Clutch.” She places a soft kiss on my lips. “I dare say you could have your way with me when you talk like that.”

My dick hardens at the mere mention of having sex with my wife. If I thought she was beautiful when I met her, she’s downright breathtaking now.

I cough, trying not to get ahead of myself. “Wildcat, I thought you needed to take it easy. Dr. Klein said—”

“Dr. Klein said I could do whatever I felt comfortable doing as long as I’m not on my stomach.”

I work my jaw back and forth. “So last night—”

“Last night you needed rest. You had the conference championship today, and you kicked all kinds of ass. In fact, I just won a hundred bucks off your game in a pool the yoga girls put together.”

My head tilts back as I bark out a laugh. “Babe, I don’t know where to start with that.” She smiles proudly and bats those long lashes at me. “So you held out last night because of my game?”

“Yes.”

“And you bet on my game?”

“Yes.”

“And you can get naked tonight?”

“Oh, yes.”

That’s all it takes for me to lift her up and stalk toward our bedroom. My little minx has been holding out. She giggles against my neck, and my heart starts to race. Because I am one lucky motherfucker.

I place her gently on our king-sized bed, and she looks up at me with such adoration in her eyes, I might melt on the spot. She unties her braid because she knows how much I love it loose when we’re together.

Threading my fingers through her long tresses, I lean down to kiss her, and she opens her mouth to let me in. She sucks on my tongue in that way that makes me a little crazed with lust while her hands make quick work of my belt and jeans.

Reaching back behind my neck, I tear off my t-shirt. She grabs my neck and pulls me down to kiss her again while she handles me with long, confident strokes. After being together for three and a half years, this girl can still get me off in about two minutes flat if I let her.

“Nope. Not happening.” I grab her wrist and place a kiss on her palm before I reach down for the hem of her shirt. She looks up at me shyly. I can see the hint of insecurity in her eyes. Which is crazy because she’s just as hot now as she was before. “Babe, I love your body. You look amazing. Would I be this hard if you weren’t?”

I stroke my cock and her eyes widen. She loves when I do this.

Her tongue darts out to lick her lips, and then she nods and pulls off her t-shirt.

A groan escapes me when I see her. My hands immediately fall to her full breasts, and I take care to not be too rough. Maddie likes it rough, but we’re doing this my way. I’ll get her there in the end, so my girl will just have to compromise.

“Scoot back.”

She leans back on her elbows, and I kneel between her legs and hunch over her, taking my time to kiss a wet trail over her soft skin. When I reach her breasts, she falls back farther and threads her fingers into my hair.

I suck on her taut nipple, and she tightens her grip. And while there’s nothing more I want to do than unravel my little wildcat, when I reach her swollen stomach, my breath catches in my throat.

“Hi, little slugger,” I choke out before I rest my head on Maddie’s tummy, being sure to not put too much weight on her.

She strokes my hair, and I close my eyes, overwhelmed by the many blessings in my life. She’s eight months pregnant, and I want to spend every waking hour with my wife before he arrives.

I don’t know how I’m going to handle leaving her for the Super Bowl in two weeks, but I’ve already chartered a private plane back. Maddie wants to come, but I’m worried the stress of traveling will be too much.

“Are you okay?” she whispers. “You haven’t iced down tonight. I got carried away. We really should be icing your shoulder.”

God, I love this woman. She always puts me first. Which only makes me raise her pedestal higher. “I’m fine, baby. I just love you so much I can’t stand when we’re apart. Especially when you’re like this.”

Soft hands push the hair off my forehead. “Come here.”

When I reach our pillows, I pull her to me. My arm wraps around her tummy, and she places her hand over mine. “I’m sorry.” Maybe this isn’t a good idea.

Even in the darkness, I can see her scrunch her nose. “For what, honey?”

“I just don’t want to hurt you. Hurt the baby.”

She kisses my chest. “You won’t. I asked the doctor.”

“You did?” We’ve been pretty careful throughout the whole pregnancy—I mean, I’ve read about ten books on the topic—but in the last week, I swear our little guy grew like six inches.

“Yes, I did.”

“Really?” Maddie might be a dirty girl between the sheets, but she’s pretty modest in public. I can’t imagine her asking her ob-gyn about our sex life.

“Really. I told her, ‘Doc, my husband has a really big cock. Can he still fuck me hard?’”

I let out a choking cough. “Christ, Maddie.” I laugh, and she giggles against me.

“Actually, my exact words were, ‘My husband is well-endowed. How enthusiastically can we make love?”

Now I really laugh. “You did not say ‘make love.’”

She smacks me playfully. “I did too.”

“When I said it, you threatened my balls.”

“It doesn’t sound right when you say it. It usually gives me the heebie-jeebies, but it sounds like the appropriate term to use when talking to your physician.”

I nod, a smile still playing on my lips.

Yes, I told my wife I wanted to make love to her. Because yes, we have sex, and yes, we certainly fuck, but more often than not, what we do feels like some kind of metaphysical connection, and words fall short of describing it. What I have with my wife blows my mind. In fact, the word ‘love’ doesn’t really do it justice.

Her hand strokes my chest, and a little breathy sigh leaves her lips as she kisses my shoulder, and just like that, I’m hard again.

She turns on her side, and I roll to face her.

Our lips meet in the middle, and I get on my elbow to kiss her deeper. I take my time even though my dick is screaming for more once she tucks my cock between her thighs and starts rotating her hips. I angle up higher to stroke her swollen, wet skin, and her breathing comes out in short pants. Reaching down, I spread her around me and still her hips.

“Let me do the work, baby.”

I lift her leg over my thighs and grip my length to continue stroking her.

“Oh, God.” Her head falls back, and I place open-mouthed kisses on her neck. She smells so good, like lavender and honey.

I’m about to sink into her when she stills me with her palm. She looks up at me with those big blue eyes. “Can I ride you? I’ve looked it up. It’s totally safe,” she pants.

“Get your ass up here then.”

Except instead of facing me, she turns away for a reverse cowgirl.

When she sinks down, I swear white dots my vision. She’s so tight and warm, I grip her hips to stop.

“You feel too good. Hang on a sec.”

She glances over her shoulder with a sultry smile. Finally, after a few steadying breaths, I smack her ass. “Ride me, woman.”

Her laugher rings in our dark bedroom, and she begins to move. I only let her go for a few minutes because I don’t want her to overdo it.

“Lie back. I need to feel you.”

I reach behind me for a few pillows and prop myself up higher so that she won’t be uncomfortable. Because I know she’s not supposed to lie flat on her back.

Pressing her palm to my chest, she starts to recline on me. I put my hands on her shoulders to ease her back to my body.

She turns slightly so she can kiss me, and I stroke her cheek. “You have no idea what you do to me.”

Maddie opens her eyes, and I see my future reflected back at me in ways I never imagined. She whispers, “I know the feeling.”

The kiss is endless, the kind that starts on your lips and travels down and grips your heart.

I’m moving in her, and she’s arching her back. I palm her swollen breasts, and she moans.

Her body feels so warm against mine, all soft curves and slopes. Her breath comes out in short pants, and when I reach down between her legs, it only takes a few strokes for her to clench around me.

There’s nothing like coming at the same time as your woman.

I pulse and swell inside her while she moans my name. Gripping her hips, I anchor her to me while I find my release.

We’re both sweaty and spent, and I ease her off me, reluctant to lose our connection.

“Baby, you okay?” I lean over to kiss her.

Her eyes are closed, a smile lingering on her lips. “Mm. Definitely.” She stretches up, and reaches over to grab me and pull me closer.

I kiss her forehead, and she sighs. “I love you, D.” She reaches up to play with my hair. “You played a great game today. I was so proud of you.”

“I love you too, sweet thing.”

Then I close my eyes and rest my head on her chest, never more content with my life. And for the first time ever, it has nothing to do with football.

- MADDIE -

Tears well in my eyes as I take in our friends who have gathered for our baby shower. I can’t believe Daren did this.

He ushered me out of the house this morning with two errands, and by the time I got back, our place was clean and blue streamers covered every wall. Catered food lines the dining room table, and when my eyes reach Daren, who looks so handsome in a black sweater and jeans, I bite my lip to keep from turning into a big crybaby.

This man is full of surprises. When we got married two years ago, he whisked me off to honeymoon in France because he knew I'd always wanted to visit Paris. And just as I thought we were returning home, he took me to Italy... and then Spain.

I sniffle, overwhelmed by the love I see in my husband's expression as he watches me. He leans down to kiss me and whispers, "Surprise."

I shake my head at him and laugh, trying my best to blink back the heat in my eyes, but as our friends congratulate us, the tears start to fall. Across the room, Jax is hugging Dani, and next to them, Gavin has his arm around Clementine.

“You’re early,” Sheri says from the hallway. She barrels up to me, and Daren yells, “Be gentle, Sher-bear!”

She rolls her eyes but instead of giving me a normal hug, she kneels down and places her head and hands on my stomach. I look up at our friends, who laugh.

“Are you guys going to tell us the name already?” Jax asks while he shoves a finger sandwich in his mouth. I try to focus on the conversation, even though Sheri is whispering to my huge baby bump.

Daren smiles and motions to me. I shake my head and tell him to do it.

He rubs his stubbled jaw as he walks around to me, waiting until Sheri ends her convo with our child to drop his arm around my shoulders. “We’re naming our son Daniel Mason Sloan. Daniel for Maddie’s dad and Mason for mine.”

I nod, feeling way too emotional for my own good. “But we’ll probably call him Mason.”

Everyone “awws” and Daren kisses my forehead.

We eat and open gifts, and I’m overwhelmed by the pint-sized onesies. I hold up the cutest outfit to my stomach and tears rush down my cheeks. “I love this.” I read the words out loud. “Real men snuggle.”

I look up, and Jax grins. “It’s true.”

“Thanks, guys.”

Clem hands me a tissue, and once we’ve opened all the gifts, Sheri heads home, and Clem ushers the guys down to the baby room to help assemble the crib and baby swing.

As we stand in the doorway watching the guys open the boxes, Clem asks, “Are you going stir crazy now that you’ve stopped working?”

“Surprisingly, no. We have so much to do before Mason arrives, and I’m loving just having time for us. Besides, I know I’ll be back in the full swing of things once I start co-hosting Good Morning, Boston in a few months. I was freaked out about leaving the baby, but the studio has a room all set up so I can nurse him.”

“I think it’s awesome that Daren’s mom wants to babysit.”

“She’s the biggest sweetheart. I love that little Mason will be close to her.”

“Is Daren really planning to take over his dad’s hotel? When he told me, I wasn’t sure if he was bullshitting me.”

I laugh. “That’s the plan. He wants to play for the Rebels for another two or three years and then retire. He knows he’s been lucky because he’s never been seriously injured. With the baby coming, he doesn’t want to take any chances. So he’s learning everything he can about the hotel and will help manage it in the off season. The board members are tickled pink because he’s so well known and respected in this city.”

Daren never told Clem what happened between him and his father. Well, his step-father. Daren thought it opened too many cans of worms when everyone had moved on. But he and Mason have worked through their baggage, and with the little one coming, it’s been easy to move forward. Especially since Daren is proud to pass on the hotel to his children some day.

“I'm so happy for you guys.” Clem reaches over and hugs me, and heat stings my eyes. I sniffle, and Clem shakes her head.

“Oh shit. I'm sorry. I don't mean to make you emotional.” She laughs, but then I notice she’s wiping her eyes too.

Jax tosses an empty box into the corner of the room, and he rubs his hands together in a dramatic display. “Let the assembling begin!”

“This should be good,” Clem whispers to me.

Her brother holds up the directions and then, a moment later, flips them upside down and squints at them.

Gavin nudges Daren. “Dude, you might want to take those from Jax. I don’t want the baby to roll out the bottom.”

We snicker, and I’m about to burst from happiness.

There’s something so wonderful about having all of my friends in the same place. I love how close the guys have gotten. Jax and Daren have always been tight, but now Gavin is in with the boys too. He and Daren hang out all the time. Now that us three couples are married, I feel like I have two sisters in Clem and Dani. I’m a little sad Jenna and Ryan can’t be here, but they’re in New York for one of his concerts. They’ll be back in town in a few days, though, so I know we’ll catch up soon.

I look up to catch Gavin mouthing that he loves Clem, and when I turn to look at her, she’s rubbing her tummy. She’s wearing a loose fitting flannel, but from this angle, I could swear…

Holy shit. Is she…

My eyes bug out, and I gasp.

“Babe, what’s wrong?” Daren is in front of me in two seconds.

“Nothing. Why?”

He frowns and tilts his head like he doesn’t believe me. “You gasped. Are you having Braxton Hicks contractions?” He lowers his voice. “Because maybe we were too rough last night.”

I laugh, and my friends watch with rapt attention as I pat my husband on the shoulder. “Honey, I’m fine.” I raise my eyebrow and turn to Clem. “I was just thinking how fun it’s going to be when we all have kids and they can play together.” How did I not notice this when she hugged me?

Her face flushes, and I can’t help but giggle. So I try to let her off the hook. “Dani, are you and Jax thinking of starting a family at all?”

Dani looks up thoughtfully. “We’re going to wait a little longer. Our business is going really well, and we want to save up a good nest egg first.”

Jax stands by his adorable wife and wraps his arms around her. “I don’t know, babe. I think we could maybe do this.” He looks around the baby room, and I see his wheels turning. “I’d love to have a little Dandelion as cute as you.”

She leans forward with a sigh. “Really?” Her eyes are so hopeful, I can’t help but squeal on the inside.

Jax leans over and kisses her. “Really.” Then he lowers his voice. “And maybe we can start trying, like tonight.”

Dani snuggles closer, a lovesick look on her face, and Clementine groans. “Brother, you need to learn what the word ‘whisper’ means.” She shakes her head before walking up to Gavin. He hugs her, and their hands meet on her stomach.

Clem takes a deep breath. “We didn’t want to announce this now because today should be about your baby, but since we’re all talking about children, Gavin and I have some news.”

“Dude, you knocked up my sister?” Jax asks, looking a little grossed out.

“Asshole, they’re married,” Daren says. “You were just talking about sexing up your wife when you got home.”

Jax presses his palms into his eyes. “It’s just a lot to take in.” He inhales deeply. “Holy shit. My sister is gonna have a baby.” A goofy grin spreads on his face before he hugs her, practically lifting her off her feet.

When the hug fest is over and we’ve all had a chance to congratulate Clem and Gavin, I ask how far along she is.

“Four months.” She threads her fingers through her husband’s. “It’s a girl.” She shrugs, grinning. “And a boy.”

“Twins! Holy shit!” Jax looks like he’s about to pass out.

Everyone erupts again, and after a round of hugs and congratulations, I shush them.

Turning to Clem and Gavin, I ask, “Do you have names yet? It’s still early so there’s still plenty of time if you don’t.”

Clementine grins. “We were thinking Paisley and Ryder.”

If I could jump up and down, I would, but my boy might kick me in the kidneys and I’d hate to pee in front of my friends, so I opt for another hug.

When our friends have left, my mischievous husband wraps his arms around me. Giving him a stern look, I ask, “What happened to waiting until after Mason arrived to have the shower?” With Daren’s season being so hectic, we thought we needed to minimize our stress.

He kisses my nose. “This one is just for our close friends. The one my parents are throwing is still on the calendar in a few weeks. I just thought you needed to see how special you are and how much you mean to me.”

My eyes well with tears. “Stop. You’re going to make you cry.”

“I don’t care. Let the tears fall. As long as you know that you’re the best damn thing that’s ever happened to me.”

At that, big wet droplets slide down my cheeks. “Love you, Clutch. So much.”

He leans down, and when his lips touch mine, he whispers, “Love you too, sweet thing. Thanks for being in my life.”

I close my eyes as we kiss, knowing that this is just the beginning of our life together. And right now, I feel like one of the girls in Sheri’s books, so lucky to have my very own happily ever after.