Jax

Natalie recoiled at my statement and my heart cracked.

“You can’t make me a partner!” she gasped.

I felt marginally better when I realized her reaction wasn’t about what it would take to make her the second Croix from my comment. Except . . . I was also a little annoyed that she seemed to skip right over the fact that I’d practically asked her to marry me.

“I’m a junior associate, Jax. I’m not ready, and besides that, I would be doing exactly what I left Chicago to get away from. People won’t respect me if I’m given my position, I have to earn it.”

“Of course, sweetheart,” I agreed. “You’ll work with Isaac until the day you make partner.”

“Oh”—she paused thoughtfully—“Okay. That could work.” Then she poked me in the chest with a finger. “But, no interfering. You have to let Isaac manage me.”

I frowned, unhappy with the thought of all the time he’d get to spend with my girl, but logically, I knew she was right. So, I let it go with a simple nod.

She smiled and started to move off my lap. I held her tight around her hips, keeping her firmly in place. “I think you missed the whole point of what I was saying, sweetheart,” I growled. I fought the desire to pout. You’re a fucking man, asshole. Act like it.

A look of confusion crossed her face and she was obviously replaying our conversation in her head. “What do you—wait…”

There it is.

“Did you say Croix and”—she swallowed hard—“Croix?” Her voice came out in an adorable squeak.

Leaning in, I placed a tender kiss on her lips before affirming, “That’s right, sweetheart.”

“Bu—but, we can’t get married. Are you fucking crazy?”

My brow furrowed as my mood darkened, immediately. “The fuck we can’t. I love you, you love me, and you’re carrying my baby. We sure as hell are getting married. As soon as fucking possible!” I gripped her chin hard and glowered at her. “And, watch your language.”

“You love me?” she breathed, her green eyes lit with hope.

I smiled softly. “How could I not, sweetheart?”

A smug grin lifted my lips when she visibly melted, sinking into my embrace.

She tucked her head under my chin and sighed. “I love you too,” she murmured, her tone almost shy.

“I know.”

She snorted and muttered something unintelligible.

With a finger under her chin, I lifted her face so I could look into her eyes. “What was that?”

Rolling her eyes, she huffed, “I said you were being presumptuous.”

I raised a sardonic eyebrow. “It’s not arrogance to presume you love me when it’s a fact, sweetheart.”

“That’s not what I was talking about.” She folded her arms under her breasts, lifting them higher and distracting me. I licked my lips, mentally tasting each sweet bud in anticipation of the real thing.

“Eyes up here, Jax,” she demanded. Her breathing picked up a little, making her tits bounce slightly. My cock always seemed to be in a state of alert around Natalie, but now it was screaming code red as it grew long and hard under her sweet bottom.

With a monumental effort, I dragged my eyes up to her face. “Pardon?”

Her lips pressed into a firm line, but the sparkle in her eyes indicated she was suppressing amusement rather than irritation. “I meant your assumption that we are getting married. You can’t just decide this, Jax. You have to ask me.”

This claimed my complete attention and I scowled at her. “I’m not asking, sweetheart. I’m telling you. We are getting married.” I kept her from saying anything in return by pressing our lips together. Without breaking the connection, I stood with her cradled in my arms and strode over to the lavish bedroom, only tearing my lips away to drop her on the mattress.

Her short little nightie slid up and bunched around her waist as I grabbed an ankle and dragged her to the edge of the bed. “Jax!” she protested.

I ignored her, focusing instead on the scrap of fabric hiding my prize. I dipped a finger under the smooth fabric and groaned. “So fucking wet. You’re always so ready for me.”

Her moan shifted into a yelp when I yanked hard, tearing the silk from her body. Her pussy glistened with her juices, pink and puffy, begging for my attention. Kneeling, I threw her legs over my shoulders and traced a path with my tongue through her center.

“Mmmmm, delicious.” I closed my eyes and licked my lips again, savoring her sweet taste. “I have a lifetime to eat you, and it still won’t be enough.”

Natalie squirmed, and I pressed my palms down on her pelvis to hold her in place while I drank my fill of her. Using my tongue and teeth, I drove her wild until she was bucking hard against my firm hold and pleading for me to let her come. I doubled my efforts and soon she was screaming my name and coming with violent shudders.

I surged to my feet, seriously in jeopardy of losing my control. Stripping out of my clothes, I watched her with a heavy lidded gaze. She was so fucking beautiful. She laid still, her hands fisted at her sides, silently observing me. Before dropping my pants, I fished something out of the pocket and set it on the nightstand.

Once I was naked, I bent over her and slid her nightgown over her head, tossing it to the end of the bed. My eyes caught on her gorgeous tits, her rosy nipples peaked and hard. But I couldn’t help going lower, until I was staring at her flat belly.

Lovingly, I smoothed my hands over the area before resting them right over where our baby was growing inside her. “I’m so fucking happy, sweetheart,” I breathed. “You’re going to look amazing with a round, swollen belly. Just knowing I put that baby there, thinking about how the world will have no doubt who you belong to…” I trailed off as I glided my palms up to cup her mounds.

Lowering, I took one pink tip in my mouth and swirled my tongue around it. Then I did the same to the other side, before kissing each nipple. “You have spectacular tits, baby. But, fuck if I’m not excited to see them grow.” I grinned and she rolled her eyes, giggling.

“You’re such a man,” she grumbled jokingly.

“Damn straight, baby,” I growled as I climbed on the bed and moved her to the middle before flipping her over. Lifting her ass in the air, I slapped each cheek once.

“Hey!” she snapped, glaring at me over her shoulder.

“Who do you belong to?” I asked darkly.

“You,” she answered warily.

“Good.” I gave each cheek another resounding slap, taking only a moment to appreciate the creamy canvas now painted red. “Don’t move.”

Leaning over, I plucked the discarded item from the bedside table. Clutching it in my fist, I pressed it against her stomach, while my other hand circled her throat. With a small amount of pressure from both, I helped her up onto her knees. Then I snatched the wrist of her left hand and twisted it gently behind her back.

I opened my hand and picked up the three carat diamond solitaire engagement ring and slid it on her finger. Bringing her arm back around to her front, I held it up for her to see.

“Now everyone else will know it too.” I swept her hair to the side and brushed my lips along the skin of her neck. "I love you,” I whispered. “And our little princess.”

“Princess?” Natalie asked with a quiver in her voice. “What if it’s a boy?”

“It’s not,” I stated confidently, then chuckled because I could practically hear her epic eye roll.

“I love you too.”

Everything in me lit up like a fucking Christmas tree each time she said it. This time though, the lights burst and I started to burn, suddenly laser focused on only one thing—burying myself deep inside Natalie’s tight, hot pussy.

Nudging her on the center of her back, I encouraged her to bend down, resting her palms flat on the surface of the bed, the diamond on her hand twinkling from the rays of morning sunshine streaming through the hotel window.

Holding the base of my cock, I pumped it twice, then traced the tip through her folds.

“Jax,” she panted. “Please.”

Not one to deny my woman, I lined my dick up at her entrance and held her hips steady while I thrust in forcefully until I was fully seated.

I groaned in absolute bliss. Slowly, I set a steady rhythm, dragging my cock along her walls and then pushing back into the snug sheath.

“You feel more incredible every fucking time I get inside you, sweetheart. Squeeze me—Fuck!” She contracted around me and I picked up my pace. “Tilt your pussy, baby,” I demanded, helping her to shift. “Fuck! Yes!” I yelled as I slid impossibly deeper.

“Jax, I’m so close, oh! Don’t stop, don’t stop,” she chanted.

Reaching around, I toyed with her sensitive clit. She began to cry out with every drive of my hips. Acute stabs of pleasure raced down my spine, building the pressure there, bringing me closer and closer to the brink.

I pinched her nub and she screamed, her pussy walls convulsing around my cock. I plunged in one, two, three more times before stilling, buried from root to tip in her heat. My muscles stiffened as ecstasy roared through me then burst into millions of tiny shards, piercing me everywhere.

Collapsing to the bed, I rolled to the side and pulled Natalie on top of me so she was spread-eagle across me, like a body pillow.

“Yes.”

Her murmur was so quiet, I almost didn’t hear it. I brushed her hair out of her face and looked down at her beautifully sleepy expression. “Pardon, sweetheart?”

Her cheeks tinged with pink and I couldn’t help grinning. I’d just fucked the hell out of her, she was sprawled over me, our naked skin practically glued together. And yet, she was blushing. I was coming to the realization that there would probably never be another moment when I wasn’t continually falling even more hopelessly in love with her.

“Yes, I’ll marry you.”

She looked so earnest, I tried not to let my amusement show, but I lost the battle and ended up almost knocking her off of me with the force of my laughter.

Her lips turned down into an adorable frown. “I just agreed to marry you, and you’re laughing?”

I shook my head and winked at her, still chuckling. “No sweetheart, I simply find it funny that you still think you had a choice.”