Chapter 25 Arden
ARDEN
Flying while pregnant is not for the faint of heart. There’s no shortage of well-wishers and people wanting to tell you all about their own kids and grandkids and that’s lovely.
But on a plane, you’re trapped and completely at the mercy of the chatterbox strapped in next to you.
I made the mistake of not having my headphones handy for my flight to Chicago and learned my lesson for the flight home.
Never again.
Grabbing my luggage from the carousel, I turn and scan the crowd, my eyes widening when they don’t land on Jude but his brother, Deacon.
Deacon smiles and gives me a small wave as he walks toward me, people giving him a wide berth.
“How was your flight?” he asks, taking the handle of my suitcase and pulling my carry-on from my shoulder.
“Oh, it was fine and thank you. Where’s Jude? Not that I’m not happy to see you, I just…”
“You were just expecting him; I get it,” he says easily, leading me out of the terminal toward the parking lot.
Jude made a big deal about dropping me off and picking me up. I rolled my eyes no fewer than three times during that conversation but had finally relented because he’d been adamant.
“Something like that.”
“He had to run to the bar really quick but didn’t want you to have to wait. Besides, I’m a great car-trip buddy. I brought you snacks, and I have no problem jamming out to ABBA if that’s your jam. I’ll even take the high notes.”
I laugh and he grins. “Did you practice that pitch?”
“Nah, I just never had a sister before and I’m excited.” His words nearly knock the breath from my lungs as he opens the passenger side door for me before tucking my luggage in the back seat.
“I appreciate that. You. This is really nice,” I admit, relaxing against the headrest as he starts the truck and reverses out of the spot.
“Happy to do it, and it’s cool seein’ my brother happy. I know you guys are taking it one day at a time but I just want you to know you get me too. If you or the baby ever need anything, you call me. I don’t care if you need milk in the middle of the night. Just pick up the phone, all right?”
I gape at him, my chest filling with so much warmth as he looks from me to the road.
“I will,” I manage, completely taken aback by the kindness of his words and the underlying fierceness in them.
“Good.”
“How is it that no one’s snatched you up yet?”
Barking out a laugh, he shakes his head. “I’m not ready to settle down. I like quick and casual…most times.” Sobering, he says, “Can I tell you a secret?”
“Of course.”
“I needed Jude to go first. I couldn’t chance him locking himself away every night after work. Between you, Dez, and the baby, I think he’ll finally be all right.”
“He’s really lucky to have you.”
“And we’re lucky to have you.”
Instead of answering, I give him a smile and rummage through the bag of snacks, settling on mini chocolate chip cookies and a sour candy. We ride in a comfortable silence, Deacon only breaking it to hum to a nineties Shania Twain song.
I offer him some cookies, but he just shakes his head before rummaging through the rest of what he brought before deciding on a little bag of chips. It looks comical in his big hand, the contents gone as he tosses it back like a shot of alcohol.
“Impressive,” I tease as we near my house.
“No way I can get my hand in there. Besides,” he says before swiping at his beard, “less crumbs.”
“Makes sense.” Pausing, I worry my bottom lip and try to hide my smile. “Can I ask you a question?”
He turns his head toward me and narrows his eyes. “Sure.”
“Are you seeing anyone?” It’s none of my business, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious.
“Not yet. He turned me down once so far, but I think there’s still a chance,” he replies, licking his lips as he pulls into my driveway. “You know the guy from Vetted Paws?”
“Tanner?”
“Yeah.”
“He’s a great guy. Do you want me to put in a good word for you?” I ask, unbuckling my seatbelt and turning to face him. “Deacon Rhodes, a great travel and singing buddy who buys excellent snacks.”
He snorts. “Nah, I’m just warming up.”
“Well, let me know. I’ll make sure he knows you’re the best brother and about to be uncle there ever was.”
“Speaking of brothers…”
Deacon motions out the windshield to where Jude is leaning casually against the railing, his hands shoved into the front pockets of his jeans, and wow.
This might just be the perfect welcome home.
JUDE
We’re barely in the door—barely said goodbye to my brother—before Arden is grabbing at my shirt, her hands fisting the fabric as she stands on her toes to crash her mouth over mine.
I guess we’re waiting on dinner.
She’d been so excited about the pizza in Chicago, I thought she’d like to come home to a full spread of classic and more adventurous toppings.
But right now she seems to be excited about something else.
“I hate when you’re sweet.”
“You have a funny way of showing it,” I murmur, pulling my shirt over my head as she backs me into her bedroom.
“I’m ignoring the fact that you have a key to my house.”
“This felt like an emergency.”
“Making me pizza is not an emergency,” she argues as she steps out of her dress and panties and unclips her bra, her perfect tits falling into my waiting hands.
She moans, and fuck this woman is everything.
“No, but making sure you know I missed you definitely is.”
“Great, show me,” she pants, her hands yanking at my belt and yeah, I don’t want to wait either.
Tearing off the rest of my clothes, I move Arden back onto the bed, her eyes hazy with want and her pussy glistening—she’s a fucking dream.
When I sink one finger inside her, she gasps and bucks her hips, a whimper falling from her lips when I add a second. I want to watch her come apart but I want to feel it even more. Pulling my hand back, I hook her knees over my forearms and line my dick up at her entrance.
Dragging her toward me at the same time I thrust my hips has us both groaning as I bury myself inside her. There’s no better feeling than this—her tight heat strangling my cock as she chases her pleasure.
“God, I missed this.”
“This,”—I ease almost all the way out before slamming into her again—“or me.”
“It’s the same thing.”
“Try again.” I slow my movements even more, teasing us both as she tries desperately to get what she needs.
“Vibrators are no substitute so I missed this,” she moans as I thrust hard and grind against her, “and you.”
“Good enough,” I manage before unleashing two weeks of pent-up need and desire on the woman that has me completely out of my mind for her.
“Oh my gosh, Jude, don’t stop.”
Nails digging into my forearms, Arden shatters, her pussy clenching so hard she takes me right over the edge with her, a stream of curses filling the space between us as we ride out our release.
“Fuck.”
“So good,” she hums sleepily. “I needed that.”
“Sex?”
“Someone other than this baby to rearrange my organs.”
“The only one with that privilege is me.” It’s almost a growl as she smirks, and too late do I realize she’s trying to rile me up.
“Yes, well, when you’re done being a caveman, maybe you can extend that privilege to bringing the pizza so we can eat it naked in bed.”
“And they blame men for not being romantic.”
“You did good, Country Rhodes. Orgasms and carbs—total win.”
Sounds like more than a win to me.