Chapter 36 Maverick
MAVERICK
I’d been in love with Payton for weeks.
I should have told her a long time ago, but saying it had not felt right when we were constantly in the middle of danger.
Even during our time at the cabin, we were one breath away from death.
It might have been kinder for her to know, but considering how she’d thought we were dead, I was glad she didn’t yet know the depth of my feelings.
My only regret was that she thought we would be upset at finding out she was pregnant.
No way in hell.
Joy burst in my chest.
All the lingering echoes of pain I’d felt since Jack shot me and Tarron did surgery fell away.
There was no place for pain when I’d been given such amazing news.
I joined Tarron and Payton in the center of the living room and hugged her from the side. “I love you, Payton.” I pressed a hand to the back of her head.
She startled slightly and spun to face me. Her elbow caught Reed in the stomach when he closed in on her other side.
He grunted and rubbed his abs while grinning like a fool. “Damn it, Mav. You beat me to it.”
“Course I did.” I didn’t fall into his and Tarron’s petty antics and poke him in the chest or anything so juvenile.
But I wanted to.
Maybe I’d find that part of my youth again at some point, but I’d spent so long being in control and being responsible for their lives, that I’d stopped allowing myself to relax. “I’m the oldest, wisest, and best-looking. It’s up to me to lead by example.”
“Take that, Reed.” Tarron snorted out a laugh and clapped Reed on the shoulder. “He found his funny bone.”
I gathered Payton into a snug embrace and kissed her temple. “I love you. And before you ask, it’s not because you’re pregnant. I’ve been in love with you. Knowing you're pregnant is a separate kind of love.”
“Yeah?” The quiver in her chin put a wobble in her voice.
I tipped her chin up and stared into her beautiful eyes. I needed her to hear me, to listen to every word, and understand that I did not make promises lightly.
“The fact that you are pregnant makes me feel more protective than ever. I’ve wanted you to be part of our family since the day we rescued you from the old fort.
I didn’t say anything because it seemed like things were happening too quickly.
Knowing you’re pregnant means I’m more certain than ever that I will do anything to keep you. ”
A beat of silence passed.
Payton blinked up at me, her eyes taking on a glittery sheen.
The tremble in her chin stopped, and she locked her arms around my hips.
She’d dropped the clothes Tarron handed her, and they lay in a puddle at our feet.
The borrowed robe gaped open when she inhaled deeply. “That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
“Damn it, Mav.” Reed tore both hands through his hair. “You’re killing me here. I’m supposed to be the eloquent one, and you’re stealing all my words.”
“Tough.” I winked at Payton, and she gave a watery laugh.
“He’s right. I’m not sure how we’re supposed to follow that, except to back you up. We’re in. One hundred percent.” Tarron gave me my moment alone with Payton the same way we’d allowed him one.
He took a step back and nudged Reed to do the same.
Reed perched on the back of the couch and draped his hands between his bent knees. “I’m going to be a dad.”
The awe on his face spread through the room. We were going to be fathers. I’d dreamed of this for years.
Longer than I cared to admit.
The more time that passed without anyone coming into my life whom I could see myself spending the rest of my years with, the more I gave up on the dream of family.
I’d reached the point where I almost considered myself too old for kids.
Too old. Too set in my ways. Too stiff and unyielding.
I’d have to make some changes to prepare for being a father. I’d do it.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to be a good father. A great father.” I kissed Payton again, taking my time to enjoy the moment.
Afternoon light tracked across the floor and wrapped around us with a delicate heat.
Payton’s stomach grumbled, and I broke off the kiss.
An adorable blush colored her cheeks. “Sorry.”
“No apologies.” I released her to Reed. “I’ll grab you something to eat.” We could all use a good meal, but especially Payton.
God only knew how long it had been since she’d eaten.
Anger threatened. I tamped it down and rustled through the cabinets for some crackers that I handed to Payton.
“This is incredible.” Reed had no qualms about revealing his giddiness. He grabbed Payton’s hands and spun them around the living room.
Tarron and I looked on, grinning like fools and soaking up every moment.
Reed stopped spinning and held out his arms by his sides. “You know what this means?”
Payton popped a cracker into her mouth. “What?” It came out slightly garbled but understandable.
Reed’s smile was pure sunshine. “It means there’s no way you can get rid of us now. You’re carrying our child.” He paused. “Unless you don’t love us.”
Payton stopped chewing.
A look of panic raced over her face.
She swallowed the cracker, rubbing her throat as she did.
“I do love you. I didn’t say that?” When Reed shook his head, she leaped at him.
“Shit. I’m sorry. I meant to. I love you, Reed.
And Tarron, and Mav. I love you all so damned much that I thought losing you would kill me, too.
I didn’t want to live without you. You’re the best thing that has happened to me. To us.”
She had her arms around Reed’s neck, but she dropped one to her stomach. “I can’t imagine anyone else in our lives.”
Reed kissed her cheek. “Good.” An eyebrow arched. “I’d be happy to see if we can turn one into two. Twins?”
Tarron choked. “That's not how it works, Reed. You know that.”
“Aw, hell. I know.” Reed scoffed with an exaggerated eye roll in Tarron’s direction. “He’s so obtuse he might as well be a triangle. Can’t track his way out of a paper sack.” He shrugged when Payton laughed. “Guess that’s okay though since he’s a good enough medic to keep us alive.”
“Nice.” Tarron guided Payton toward the window with a hand on the small of her back.
“Can we stop talking about dying?” Payton shuddered.
“I’ve never been so scared in my life. I never want to feel that way again.
I know you all have rescue missions, and you’ll be in danger.
I’m not asking you to give that up. That’s who you are.
I just…I need a little while to recover from what we’ve been through. ”
“Of course,” Tarron reassured her and tapped the crackers. “You should finish those. I’ll order some dinner to be delivered.”
She ate another cracker and peered out the window. “This is beautiful. Not exactly what I expected.”
“What?” Reed, arms out by his sides again, turned a circle in the middle of the living room. “You didn’t expect the three of us to share a place? Or you didn’t expect it to be so perfectly decorated?”
“Um. I didn’t expect so much white.” Payton arched a brow and gestured toward the blank walls. “I expected it to be clean. You’re former Rangers, so that wasn’t a surprise.”
“It came pre-furnished and painted,” I explained as I walked toward her. “We couldn’t agree on a style, so we left it pretty much how we bought it.”
“White walls are not going to be fun with kids.” Tarron set his hands on his hips and pursed his lips. “Wait. I’m making assumptions. Payton, do you want to move in with us?”
“Move in? Hell, I want to marry her.” Reed rushed over to close the distance.
The four of us came together in a huddle near the windows.
A bird flew past, and Payton watched it for a few seconds. “Was that a proposal?”
Reed dropped to a knee. “Damn right it was. Payton, will you marry us?”
“We can look for a new place if you want,” Tarron added.
I took it all in with a sense of pride that eclipsed everything I’d ever experienced.
Love was a wild, volatile thing.
It came when it wanted and left hearts better for it.
We’d been moving through life with a steadiness that bordered on stale. Not anymore.
Payton placed her hands on Reed’s shoulders and bent to kiss him. “I’ll marry you. And I love this place. We’ll worry about paint and all that once it’s closer to time. Pretty sure there’s not much a baby can do to mess with the walls.”
Reed wrapped his arms around Payton’s waist and lifted her into the air. “We should celebrate.”
“Reed.” Payton clutched his shoulders, her body shaking with laughter. “What are you doing?”
“Showing you how much we love you. Whose room?” He didn’t bother looking away from Payton, but he knew us all well enough to understand our needs and desires.
“Mine.” My body flared to life, and I led the way to my door, pushing it open wide enough for Reed to carry Payton through.
He wasn’t about to let her go, and I didn’t blame him.
She was pregnant with our child and had agreed to tie her life to ours. We belonged together.
My heart took flight in that kind of whooshing rush that made blood roar in my ears. Our lives were about to change forever.
For the better.
Reed lowered Payton to the bed and untied her robe. The lapels fell open, baring her naked body for our perusal.
I took it all in and stepped forward. “We’ve worshiped you before, Payton, but this time is different. This time, we all belong to each other. This is no longer just sex. This is us showing you how much we love you, how we plan on taking care of you, for the rest of our lives.”
The list of things I wanted to do with her stretched into infinity.
I’d never grow tired of her heated gaze, her flushing skin.
No matter how many times I sank into her, it would never be enough.
After a lifetime of searching, we’d found a family worth fighting for.
Payton shimmied to the edge of the bed and sat up. She shrugged out of the robe and stood, making her way toward me with those determined strides I appreciated.
“And this is how I show you that I’m all in. It might have started out as sex based on attraction.” She shook her head. “Not anymore. This is love. Even when it’s rough, it’s love. We need different things at different times, and I’m here for all of it.”
I took my time running my hands up and down her arms. Her nipples peaked, and I flicked my thumbs over them.
“It’s our turn to take care of you. Slowly. Deliciously.” I let her see my desire in the way I looked at her, how my gaze roamed over her body.
Her breathing hitched, and she ran her hands over my chest.
“You always take care of me.” She rose onto her tiptoes and whispered into my ear. “I’m ready for you, Mav.”
A quick nip on the side of my neck, and she slid down my body, her nipples taut enough to scrape over my skin with a delightful abrasiveness.
I walked her backward to the bed.
Her calves bumped the edge, and she went down with my arms around her to guide the fall.
Our bodies settled together, my fully covered cock straining toward her.
She laughed and hooked her leg over my hip. “Show me how much you love me.”
Tarron and Reed joined us on the bed. They took up a spot on either side of her. Reed kissed her while Tarron focused his attention on her breasts.
I kissed my way down her body, pausing at her navel and swirling my tongue along the dip in her hip before trailing toward the apex of her thighs.
She moaned into Reed’s mouth and fisted a hand in my hair when I dipped my mouth between her legs.
Heaven was here with Payton.
Anywhere with Payton.