“Yes. Please.”
No more talking, he grabbed her ass, lifted her, and slammed her down on him. Sensation exploded, driving him for more, faster. He fucked her so hard her tits bounced, and she reached for the headboard, slamming down on him, meeting his wild thrusts.
This woman…she was the one for him. No question. He’d give her all the time she needed, but one day, they’d get married. And, if she wanted it, they’d have a baby together.
And he’d have her forever.
He toppled her onto her back, lifted her leg over his hip, and drove into her. His balls tightened, and his spine tingled, and he knew he wasn’t going to last. Reaching between them, he found her clit and stroked her into a climax that had her back arching, her body writhing.
Skylar lost in desire was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. And then he slammed home, as he came so hard his vision splintered into dazzling white stars.
He collapsed beside her, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her close. Tucking his face into her neck, he sighed.
He’d waited so long…had almost given up believing he could ever have this kind of happiness. And here he was.
I got the girl.
And I’m never letting go.
Epilogue
It never failed. Every night, as she turned onto her street, Skylar peered into the front bay window of her pretty little house with the flower beds and glider on the porch.
For so many years, she’d get glimpses of family life from other people’s windows. A mom rocking a baby, a cocktail party, a family sitting down for dinner. Her heart would squeeze because she never believed she’d get to have that life. Worse, that Rocco would grow up without a dad or siblings.
She glanced at the white plastic CVS bag on the passenger seat. Emotion flooded her so hard she had to blink back the sting of tears. I have it all.
I can’t believe it.
She never dreamed she could have so much joy.
Hitting the button to open the garage, she drove in, parking right alongside Jinx’s badass black SUV. She cut the engine, grabbed her purse and the pharmacy bag, and then headed into her home, expecting the usual ruckus of Jinx and Rocco building a pillow fort or chasing each other with Nerf guns.
Tonight, though, it was quiet. Other than the gentle hum of the refrigerator, she didn’t hear a single sound. Which was odd. And it fired up her nerves.
She glanced at the dinner dishes, disturbed to find Rocco’s uneaten.
What’s going on? Dropping her purse and the bag, she opened her mouth to shout for them, when she heard a deep voice murmuring. Hurrying down the hallway, she saw the spill of yellow light on the hardwood floor outside Rocco’s room.
“I’ll be honest with you,” Jinx said quietly, gently. “It hurts my heart to see you sad.”
“I’m not sad.” Rocco sounded grumpy, impatient.
“You should know, if something’s happening at school, and you don’t want to tell me about it because you’re worried I’ll get involved or embarrass you, you could tell me that. You can always come to me and your mom and say, Hey, man, I need to talk to you, but I want you to promise not to tell anyone. You can always say that to us.”
“School’s fine.”
“Well, okay. I hear your words, but they don’t match your expression, so that’s why I’m worried. You need some time alone, I’ll give it to you. I just want you to know that you can tell me anything.”
Skylar wanted to barge in and press Rocco for an answer, but she’d follow Jinx’s lead on this one. He was so much more patient. Her instinct was always to burn down the world for her son, where Jinx wanted to teach Rocco how to navigate it.
Jinx. God, he was a good man. The best. Sometimes she couldn’t believe he was hers.
And that she’d almost pushed him away.
Her heart clutched at the thought. If he hadn’t asked her to go to Vegas…
But he had. And she’d gone.
And now…nearly a year later, they were together. And it was so damn good.
“I’m going to wash the dishes,” Jinx said. “I’ll leave your plate for last, in case you get hungry.” His shadow fell onto the hallway, as he neared the door. “I love you, Rocco.”
She froze, holding her breath so they wouldn’t hear her eavesdropping.
But he didn’t leave the room.
Because her son said, “Jinx?”
“Yes?”
Rocco didn’t say anything, and the silence was excruciating. What was troubling her little boy? He’d been quieter than usual the past couple of days. But he wouldn’t say what was on his mind.
And Jinx…God, he just gave her little boy all the space in the world, while letting him know he was safe and loved.
I love him. With everything I am, I love Jinx Costello.
And I want his name. I want all three of us to have the same name.
“Jinx?” Rocco said again.
“Yes.” To hear that big, strong, tattooed man use such a gentle voice with her shy boy never failed to turn her into a puddle of love.
“Will you come here?”
“You bet.”
Skylar couldn’t take it anymore. She inched closer to the doorway and peered in.
Jinx crossed the room and sat on the edge of the mattress. His big hand cupped Rocco’s cheek, and her son gazed up at him with a tortured expression.
Had he done something wrong? God, he was only five years old. What trouble could he have gotten into? His preschool teacher hadn’t said anything.
Finally, her boy said, “Are you…going to live here forever?”
The breath whooshed out of Skylar’s lungs, and she squeezed her hands into fists. They’d talked about Jinx moving in, about him being part of their little family, but it hadn’t occurred to her that Rocco didn’t know it was permanent.
“I am. I’m going to be here forever. You know why? Because I love your mom, and I love you. Nothing makes me happier than being with you two.”
But she didn’t see relief on Rocco’s features. And Jinx obviously didn’t either because he withdrew his hand. “Do you not want me here forever? You can tell me the truth. I won’t be angry.”
“I want…” Her son swallowed, his little hands squeezing the blue and white striped comforter.
Jinx tipped his chin up. “You can tell me anything. Whatever you have to say, I’m going to be okay with it. I don’t have to live here. If you want me to move to an apartment, if you want it to just be you and your mom again, I can do that. I’d still like to be in your lives. I’d like to have dinner with you—”
“No, I don’t…that’s not what I mean.” Rocco’s cheeks burned red. “I want you…”
Dammit, Rocco’s voice turned to a whisper, and she missed the last several words.
“Yeah?” Jinx’s voice cracked.
Rocco nodded energetically.
“Rocco, man, I want that more than anything in the world.” Jinx scooped him into his arms, and they clung to each other.
With his cheek pressed to Jinx’s shoulder, he said, “Can I call you Daddy?”
“Yeah, son.” Jinx’s voice cracked. “Nothing would make me happier.”