Oceanside Marine (Kendall Family Book 4) Page 18

  And he’s all mine. Hopefully.

  At least I don’t think he’s here to say goodbye the way he’s already eye-fucking me.

  “Oh…my…shit,” I cry, slapping my free hand over my mouth. With hysterical laughter, I finish the voicemail message to Braden with, “Babe, I have to go. I’m about to maul the shit out of the gorgeous man waiting outside my place.”

  The Uber lady starts laughing as I throw my purse over my shoulder and open the door. “Congratulations, your man’s hella hot!”

  I’m not even sure how I make it from the car into Braden’s open arms, because I don’t remember my feet moving. I only vaguely register the aroma of leather and roses as our bodies tangle together before his mouth covers mine with a hard, urging kiss that I doubt I’ll ever forget. My salty tears mix with the intoxicating flavor of Braden when he pushes his tongue past my lips, ravaging me in a way that’s reminiscent of our first kiss in Vegas. He lifts me off the ground at the end of it, squeezing the air out of my lugs and dangling my feet beneath me. If this is what it will always feel like to kiss him, now that I realize I’ve met my true love, he can expect to get mauled quite frequently.

  My hands wander beneath his shirt when he sets me back down on the ground, brushing over his tight stomach. He releases a little growl as his tongue brushes with mine one last time and the day-old stubble on his chin tickles my skin. With his hands tangled in my hair, forehead pressed to mine, he stops abruptly. “Does this mean you’ve decided to come with me?”

  “Maybe if you had bothered answering your phone, you’d have your answer,” I tease, lightly raking my fingernails down his chest. My voice cracks when I say, “Brae, you had me so worried. I thought you left without saying goodbye.”

  “I’m so fucking sorry, babe. Is that why you’re crying…because you thought I went back to Cali without you? I wasn’t blowing you off, I swear. My phone died earlier this morning while I was out…running an errand.” Fingers massaging the back of my head, he releases a weighted sigh. “We need to have a serious talk, beautiful.”

  “Please don’t tell me you’ve changed your mind about us.”

  “No fucking way. You’re going to like at least some of what I have to tell you. Allen and I had a talk this morning.” His lips bend with a crooked smirk. “He gave me his blessing to date you. He’s even okay with you going back with me.”

  I gasp, my heart skipping a beat. “What? Oh my god, Braden!” I throw myself into his arms, wondering how much more excitement I can handle in one day. “Are you sure? How did this happen? Where did you see him?”

  “I’ll tell you everything later. First, I believe I owe you a strip-tease.” Then he drags his warm lips along my jaw before pulling me tight against his bulging shaft. “Good thing I still have the suit.”

  Ho-ly shit. The floodgates just opened on my underwear. I brace myself against his hard chest, struggling to control my emotions. “Brae, there’s something I have to tell you before we do this—I can’t wait any longer.”

  Breath held, he becomes still as he waits for me to continue, uncertainty flickering through his beautiful eyes.

  “I’ve already said this to you—well, technically I said it in a voicemail so that doesn’t really count I suppose. I want to say it to your face before you hear my blubbering message.” With a smile stretched tight across my lips and tears pooling in my eyes, I take his face in my hands. “I’m in deep love with you, Braden Kendall. So damn much that it scares the shit out of me. And I want your baby—”

  He stops me with a deep, probing kiss that leaves me panting and squirming against him, dying to relieve the pang between my legs.

  Drawing away, he chuckles quietly and strokes his thumb across my bottom lip. “You have no idea how badly I wanted to hear those words on your lips. I love the living fuck out of you, beautiful. If I have my way, you’ll have my name and be knocked up by the end of the week.”

  “Cocky son-of-a-bitch,” I mutter with a bright grin.

  “That’s enough talking for now,” he growls, slowly stroking his fingers against my wet spot over my leggings. “There’s a certain record I want to break with my girl. Seems I’ve only succeeded in making you come three times in one session.”

  I arch into his touch, moaning. “Once will have to be enough for now. We can’t let your brother and Shar head out for their honeymoon without saying goodbye, and you have a new baby niece to meet. Besides, we’ll have all the time in the world for that once I’m settled in at your place.”

  “God, you make me so fucking happy.” He nuzzles his face against my neck, wrapping me in the most delicious Braden-sandwich. “Thank you for giving me another chance. I promise I won’t let you down.”

  I hug him back through another rush of tears, wondering how I was lucky enough to win him over. For the first time in my adult life, I finally know how it feels to be loved unconditionally.

  EPILOGUE

  FIVE MONTHS LATER

  BRADEN

  After finishing my first week of summer classes, I pull into our driveway feeling fucking happier than I’ve ever been. Life simply doesn’t get any better than this.

  Everything has fallen into place since Katie moved in permanently. She immediately went to work on breathing new life into the house, planting bright flowers and adding a few lawn ornaments outside, painting everything inside a light gray and adding small decorations that match her bright personality. One weekend while I was at drill, she even re-did our bedroom, complete with new bedding and a barn-wood headboard that reminded me of my dad and the family farm back in Minnesota.

  At first she ran her part of the business with Evelyn and Sharlo from the house. With my urging, they finally contacted Angelina about becoming actively involved in modeling their designs. Everyone seemed happy with the arrangement until Angelina got the part in that supernatural show she auditioned for and had to withdraw. I’ve been calling Angelina almost every day to check up on her, and she seems to be doing well. Either that or she’s too fucking good at the whole acting thing.

  Then a few months back Katie was randomly offered a job with some big-shot designer in San Diego. Sharlo and Evelyn insisted that she take it, promising they’d keep her on as a creative consultant. I have my suspicions that those two contacted the designer in the first place, wanting Katie to plant her roots out here. And they both know we could use the extra income. Either way, I’m content knowing she’s loving her job. Plus we no longer have to worry as much since I cut back at work to focus on getting my degree in physical therapy.

  Everyone out here loves the shit out of Katie, making it easy for her to adjust in record time. She became the best of friends with Michelle and an even better friend to Jazz. Whenever I don’t make the 3-legged traitor sleep in the guest room, she’ll cuddle up to Katie and try to push me off the damn bed. Even the nurses at the VA who were a little hostile toward her at first have started inviting her to join in on their girls nights out. And I’m pretty sure our 86-year-old neighbor has a crush the way he’s always inviting her over for margaritas.

  A few weeks after our big talk in New York about his future, Allen signed on to join the Corp. Katie wasn’t crazy about his decision at first until we were told he’d be stationed in Pendleton. Now she’s counting down the days until he’s out of boot camp and we get to throw him a big party. Connor’s doing exceptionally well in college and has been out to visit twice on his Uncle Charlie’s dime. He’s planning to move to L.A. after he graduates, making his mom ridiculously happy. Like I said, everything’s falling into place.

  The only time I worry Katie wishes that she hadn’t left New York follows after she’s had a video chat involving our niece or nephew. Especially when they’re both growing so damn fast. After Sofia announced she’s pregnant, Katie seemed exceptionally down knowing there’ll be another little one to miss.

  Hopefully we’ll be expecting a little one of our own before long so she will have something else to focus on. Since she went off bi
rth control a couple months back, our sexual adventures have been off the fucking hook. She worries she’s too old and not as fertile, but I keep reminding her the doctor said it could take awhile since she’s been on something for so long. Then I tell her it takes time to create another human that’s as perfect as me just so I can hear her laugh and call me a cocky bastard.

  I can’t fucking wait until she discovers the surprise I orchestrated for the weekend.

  I push my way inside the house to discover a shitload of lit candles making a runway toward the hallway. The throaty sounds of a man singing the blues pours out from the wireless speakers, and Katie’s favorite perfume lingers like she ran around the house spraying it everywhere. My dick springs to attention, knowing she must be in the mood for something kinky.

  Jazz stares back at me through the sliding door from the patio, wagging her tail as she waits for me to let her inside. I chuckle, motioning for her to retreat. “Not sharing right now, girl,” I mutter as I start for our bedroom.

  I suck in a sharp breath when finding Katie waiting belly-down on our bed, ankles crossed in the air behind her. She wears a black, lacy number tied with a satin bow at her back. The material stops right above her sweet ass-cheeks, showing off a matching black thong. That’s something I haven’t seen before. I adjust myself before I bust a hole in my shorts.

  “Damn, beautiful,” I manage to choke out. “Aren’t you a sexy little present, just waiting to be opened.”

  Flashing me this hot as shit smirk, she tells me, “Not letting you touch me until you’re one hundred percent naked, sweetheart.”

  A blunt laugh springs from me when I remember saying those exact words to her the first time we made love in this same bed. Arms crossed, I smirk down on her. “I believe you stole my line, baby.”

  “Off, Kendall,” she taunts, eyebrows shooting up to her hairline. “But do it like you know just how fucking sexy you are.”

  Oh, it’s on. Holding her gaze, I reach for the end of my t-shirt, grinding my hips to the slow beat of the tune as I take my time undressing one item at a time, making sure to give her a real show. Katie watches attentively with a fingertip held between her teeth, eyes darkening the closer I get to becoming naked. She nods in encouragement once I’m shirtless and down to the zipper on my shorts. I groan under my breath.

  Damn, she’s one beautiful woman, lusting after me like I’m some kind of god. Letting the shorts drop down around my ankles, I kick them off and start for my boxer briefs.

  Her lips drop with a soft moan once my cock springs free. “Hot damn, you are one gorgeous man. I can’t believe I once considered letting you go.”

  Lucky for her, I never planned on letting her leave. Her breath catches in her throat when I spring forward and flip her over to her backside, pinning her wrists at her sides to get a better look at what she’s wearing. Her big tits stretch the nightie tight, rosy nipples peeking out behind the lace. While flexing my hips above her, dusting the head of my cock across her panties, I lick a line from her sweet throat down to the swell of her soft breasts, clamping down on the nipples over the fabric.

  “Oh, Jesus,” she mewls, bucking beneath me.

  “You can just call me Braden, sweetheart,” I tease, lowering to remove her tasty little thong with my teeth. But then my hand brushes over something hard on the mattress beside her, and I stop to grab it. Straddling her, I pull out a square little black box, tied shut with a big black ribbon. “What’s this?”

  Her fingers wrap around my hard shaft and she grins. “Your reward for stripping naked so obediently.”

  Groaning from her touch, I’m vaguely aware of a panicked sensation. Did I forget some kind of anniversary?

  “It’s just a box,” she teases with a sexy smirk as her fingertips toy with my throbbing cock. “It won’t bite, but I plan to as soon as you’ve opened your present.”

  “Holy fuck,” I mutter, fumbling with the ribbon. Eager to unwrap her, I can’t seem to open the damn thing soon enough. But I finally pop the lid, nearly passing out when I discover what’s inside.

  A woman’s engagement ring with a modest-sized diamond on a plain silver band.

  And beneath it, one of those black and white ultra-sound pictures.

  I look down on her with my heart slamming into my ribs, my eyes suddenly wet. “Babe?”

  “I figured once you found out you’re going to be a daddy, you’d want to do the proper thing and ask me to be your wife, and I know you’re stressed about money, so I sold my portion of the house in the Hamptons back to Charlie. He said we’re still welcome to stay there as often as we want, but we both know it won’t be nearly as often now that I live out here. I didn’t spend much on the ring so we’d have a good amount to use toward your tui—”

  The excited sound I make in response to the best news of my lifetime can’t be put into fucking words. I toss the box aside and kiss her hard, wrapping her little body in my arms and rolling her over so she is lying on top and I’m not crushing the little life inside of her.

  My child.

  I’m going to be a fucking daddy!

  “Babe!” she says, pushing me back. “Hold on, there’s more!”

  “Can’t you tell me later?” I cup a lace-covered breast, massaging the tight little nipple with my thumb. “Right now I need to properly ask you to marry me. Then I’m going to make hot-as-fuck love to my future wife—the mother of my baby.”

  “Babies,” she corrects me with a sudden giggle. She crawls off me to retrieve the picture, pushing it into my hand. “Look again. Brae, we’re having twins.”

  Jaw dropped, I give the picture another look to find two tiny blobs. Then I lift my fists in the air like Rocky fucking Balboa and shout, “Fuck yes!” She laughs as I jump off the bed and run around the room hollering. “Fuck! Yes! I told you my sperm is potent, baby!”

  She laughs from the bed as Jazz comes running into the room, barking along with my shouts of excitement. I forget she’s supposed to be locked out back until I run into the hallway with her on my heels and come face-to-face with my relatives.

  KATIE

  I’m in a total state of euphoria—horny as hell and pleased by Braden’s response—until my sister-in-law’s voice cuts off Braden’s celebratory dance in the hallway. “Bloody hell, Braden! Where are your knickers? Have you gone mad?”

  “Shar?” I squeal, scrambling off the bed.

  I spring from the room behind Braden and Jazz, realizing when it’s too late that I’m still wearing the little nightie. James and Charlie both shout their protests and turn away. Braden busts out laughing, holding his hand over his junk at his sister and niece’s side.

  “Jesus Christ, Kate!” Charlie curses over his shoulder, starting for the patio with James close behind. “Throw some damn clothes on!”

  “It’s not like she’s naked!” Evelyn calls after him. “What did you expect them to be doing with all these candles?”

  “What are you guys doing here!” I yell, throwing myself into Evelyn’s outstretched arm, kissing my baby niece’s head in the process. “Princess Mia, you’ve gotten so big! Look at you, sweet baby girl!” I start for Sharlo with tears in my eyes. “I can’t believe you guys are really here!”

  “Perhaps we should’ve warned you that our plan landed early,” she suggests in a teasing tone as she shifts her sleeping son in her arms to hug me. “It seems you were otherwise engaged.”

  “Hell yes we’re engaged!” Braden tells her, pulling me away from her. He wraps himself around me from behind to hide his naked body. “Baby, tell them!”

  “About damn time!” Evelyn says with a snort. She reaches for my left hand. “Let me see!”

  “It’s in the bedroom,” I say, biting my lip.

  Braden chuckles behind me. “Actually, the ring I bought you is in my underwear drawer. I was going to ask you to marry me tomorrow night on the beach in front of these guys. They’re staying for a few days to help us celebrate.”

  Heart bursting with love, I
spin in his arms to face him. “You were going to propose in front of our family?”

  “Hell yeah,” he answers, smirking. “Sold the Harley to buy you a much bigger rock than that little thing you picked out. Marry the best, and you deserve the best, baby.”

  Wrapping my fingers around his slightly stubbled jaw, I smile back at him with tears trickling down my cheeks. “Cocky little shit.” Then I kiss him the way he deserves, passionately and filled with appreciation for all he does.

  Behind me Evelyn groans like the guys had before clicking her tongue. “Oh my god, you two! I’ve seen too much already! I’ll wait out back with the guys! Shar, let’s go!”

  “Hmmmm?” Sharlo answers dreamily. “Oh right, love. Right behind you.”

  For a moment I consider telling them we’re expecting, but Braden hoists me into his arms and my mind turns to mush. I wrap my legs around his waist and bury my fingers in his longer hair on top as he carries me back into the bedroom, nudging the door shut behind us. I’m still kissing him as he stumbles over to the dresser and opens a drawer. We’re separated when he pulls my arm down from his hair and slides a cool band onto my ring finger.

  I look down at the multi-carat diamond sparkling in the light shining through the bedroom window, and nearly faint. “Braden Kendall! How much did you—”

  There’s no time to catch my breath when he throws me down on the bed, giving me a look that would make the big bad wolf appear tame. “I want you naked. Now.”