Escape With An Alpha, Volume Two (Escape With An Alpha: Storm MC Bonus Scenes #2)

Chapter 1

J he simply listens to everything I say while settling his hand on my thigh.

It’s that gesture, I think, that actually gets me through this drive home.

It’s comforting, reminding me of J’s strength.

This man has gotten me through a lot of things in my life, but this might be the most important thing yet.

I look at him after he parks the car in our garage when we arrive home. “Thank you,” I say softly.

His eyes meet mine and the love I see there hits me deep in my belly.

Leaning across the car, he curls his hand around my neck and pulls me in for a kiss.

A kiss which he lingers over, taking his time.

Letting me feel his love. When he ends it, he says, “This isn’t something you have to thank me for, Madison.

We’re in this together. If I could do the hard fucking work for you, I would, but since I can’t, I’ll do every-fucking-thing else I can. ”

I grip his hand as tears prick my eyes.

Goddam fucking hormones.

I’ve cried far more in the last nine months than I’ve ever cried. I’m pretty sure J’s had enough of it, even though he doesn’t ever say anything. I’ve spent my entire pregnancy grumbling while he’s been a saint doing everything for me and making sure I’m okay.

I wipe my tears and smile at him, wrapping my fingers around his forearm, holding his hand in place around my neck. “Do you know what my favourite part of being pregnant is?”

“What?”

“You.”

He frowns. “Me?”

I brush my lips over his and nod. “Yes, you. You’ve loved on me so much and I’m so grateful even though it probably hasn’t seemed like it.”

He processes that for a moment before saying, “Do you know what my favourite part of you being pregnant is?”

“My tits?”

Full points to him for keeping his eyes on mine when I know my man’s natural tendency would be to drop his gaze to my boobs at the very mention of them.

He does give me one of his sexy grins for a beat, but then turns serious again when he says, “They’re up there, baby, but my favourite part has been lying with you late at night when you can’t sleep, talking about all the things we’re gonna give Willow. ”

“I love making plans with you.” I grip his arm tighter. “Promise me we’ll never stop talking.”

He frowns. “Why the fuck would we stop talking?”

“Couples do that sometimes. Kids and life get in the way and before you know it, you’ve forgotten who you are as a person and who you are as a couple. I don’t want that to happen to us. We need to keep talking and always be honest with each other.”

“Honest, as in me telling you that you don’t suck my dick often enough?”

With a shake of my head, I say, “Only you would say shit like that at a time like this.”

His grip tightens around my neck, and he kisses me before saying, “It kept your mind off your contractions for a moment.” Letting my neck go, he reaches for the door handle. “Let’s get you inside.”

I exit the car and make it to the door that leads into our house when a contraction hits.

“Oh, God.” I press my hands to the door and lean into it, breathing through the pain.

J moves behind me and massages my lower back until the pain subsides.

“I’m never doing this again,” I say as he opens the door. I know I’m being dramatic, because I’m not even in active labour yet according to the doctor, so this pain isn’t as bad as it’s going to get, but still, I really don’t want to ever do this again.

J shows me again how smart he is by not commenting on my declaration. Instead, he places his hand to the small of my back and guides me inside to the exercise ball that I’ve found good to sit on.

“Do you want some water?” he asks, dropping his keys on the kitchen counter.

“No,” I say, feeling as whingy as I sound. “I just want this baby out of me.”

Like, now would be good.

With no more pain.

Full points to J. He doesn’t frown or grimace or show even one ounce of feeling like this is too much for him, too. He simply comes to me and kisses me before saying, “Let me know when you need something, okay?”

I clutch his shirt, about to tell him how much I love him when his phone rings.

He checks caller ID and then answers it. “Harlow. The doctor sent us back home.”

She says something, to which J says, “I’ll put Madison on.”

He hands me the phone.

“Hey, honey,” I say.

“Do you want me to come over? Scott said he’ll come home to look after Aurora if you need me.”

“No, I’ve got J, and I have to say this is his thing. He’s really good at looking after a whingy, dramatic, half-crazy pregnant woman.”

“You’re allowed to be all those things, Mads.”

“I know, but even I’m sick of me. God knows how J hasn’t throttled me already.”

She laughs. “He knows what’s good for his balls.”

I eye my husband who’s now in the kitchen making a sandwich. “Yeah, he does.” The ache in my lower back intensifies and I push up off the exercise ball, needing to walk for a bit. “Babe, I’ve gotta go. I need to walk this ache out of my back.”

“Okay. I’m here if you change your mind. I’m gonna get Scott to come home just in case.” She pauses. “You’ve got this, and so does J. I can’t wait to meet Willow.”

My heart squeezes with love. For Harlow and also for my baby girl who we’re all going to get to meet soon.

“I love you,” I say, and we end the call.

Standing, I pace the lounge room. I’ve covered the distance of the room five times when a knock sounds from the front door, followed by Nash calling out, “Madison, you home?”

J’s eyes meet mine. “Keep walking,” he says as he makes his way to the front door.

A few moments later, he returns with Nash who’s carrying three full grocery bags.

“I wasn’t sure if you guys would be here or not,” Nash says. “Velvet thought you’d already gone to the hospital.”

“We did,” J says, “but they sent us back home until she’s dilated more.”

“What’s in the bags?” I ask.

Nash dumps them on the kitchen counter. “Shit from my mother. She loaded me up with it this morning when I dropped over to her place to check her car. Said to tell you she’s already counting down to your next kid.”

I smile. “God I love your mum. Even if she’s dreaming about a kid who will never exist.”

Nash’s eyes narrow at me. “I thought you guys were planning ten fuckin’ kids?”

“Good God, no,” I say. “Who the hell would want ten kids?”

Nash grins and looks at J as he says, “This fucker here.”

“Yeah, well he’s gonna have to figure out how to birth them himself if he wants ten,” I say.

Nash’s grin turns into a laugh. “Don’t underestimate him, Madison. I’m pretty fuckin’ sure J could figure that shit out if it meant he got his football team of kids.”

He looks in the bags his mother sent over. “She’s got all kinds of baby shit in here. Nappies, creams, bibs, and some toys. And this.” He pulls out a small, gift-wrapped box and brings it to me.

I read the card that’s with the gift.

Madison, Don’t forget about YOU once Willow is here. She needs her mother to be happy just as much as her mum wants her to be happy.

Linda xx

Her gift is a bottle of my favourite perfume.

I glance between Nash and J before settling my gaze on J. “You told her my favourite?”

He nods, his face serious but his eyes smiling. “She asked me about a month ago.”

I’ve got my arms around him before I know it, and my lips on his. When I finally drag them from him, I whisper, “Thank you.”

I didn’t even know J knew my favourite perfume. I wear so many that I wouldn’t expect him to be aware of the one I actually love the most. The fact he does causes my heart to squeeze again with love. And gratitude. And fuck me, I’m going to cry.

“Shit,” J says as tears well in my eyes. “What’s wrong?”