Chapter 12
COLE
“Idon’t know whether to thank you or kick your ass.”
I looked up from the documents on my desk to see Lennox lounging in the doorway to my office.
“Pardon?”
He sauntered in and unbuttoned his suit coat before taking a seat, then rested one ankle on the opposite knee before answering. “Brielle used to say no one was more possessive and overbearing when going after his woman than me. When she saw the article in the paper, she changed her mind.”
My brow furrowed, not sure if I’d just been insulted.
“But that article…damn, Cole. I should fire your ass for letting some idiot overhear you say shit like that.”
Sighing, I shook my head. “I know.”
I knew I’d have to own up to this with my boss sooner rather than later, but I was surprised he’d come to me rather than calling me to his office.
Then again, if he intended to stand behind me, he was probably trying to avoid making it look as though I was being reprimanded if any press saw us meeting right after the shit had hit the fan in the media.
“You also know I won’t,” he grunted, looking a little put out. “You’re as loyal as they come and a good friend. But that only gets you one pass. If something like this happens again, you’ll be cleaning up the mess on your own, without a fucking job. Is that clear?”
“Fair enough.”
“Good. Now that was the boss lecture. As your friend, I gotta say, that took balls, brother.” He laughed and crossed his arms over his chest. “I gotta respect it, considering how I steamrolled over Brielle when we met.”
I shrugged. “I knew she was mine.”
Lennox chuckled, his mouth curved into a self-deprecating smile. “Seems like I have a habit of hiring men who think like me.”
“It’s certainly been a pretty common tale around here.”
“Well, you know I support my people. But we need to have a press conference and make it clear that you wouldn’t have followed through with your threat to Micah”—his eyes narrowed—“right?”
“Sure.”
Bullshit.
“Sure, you’ll do it or sure, you wouldn't have fired Micah?”
My answer was to stare at him in silence with a deadpan expression.
Lennox sighed. “I figured as much. Forget the press conference, we’ll put out a statement.” He unfolded from the chair, straightened his suit jacket, and buttoned it. “At least I don’t have to warn you not to do it again.”
“True.” I was off the market. A grin split my face as I thought about the ring I was going to put on my woman’s finger tonight.
“Welcome to the club,” Lennox quipped before lifting his chin in farewell and strolling out of my office.
Well, that went better than expected.
“Dia duit, lass,” I greeted Lorna as I walked up behind her in the kitchen.
She was standing at the counter pouring two goblets of wine.
I was always hard around my girl, but when my eyes dropped to the jeans molded to her legs—making her ass look like a gift from heaven—and a loose top that dipped in the back, showing off her freckled, porcelain skin, my cock turned to stone.
I slid my arms around her, inhaling deeply and filling my lungs with her sweet scent. Her hair was in some kind of twist that hung down the side, making it easy for me to brush my lips over a sensitive spot on the back of her neck.
She relaxed back into me and tilted her head so she could look up. “Welcome home.”
I kissed her soundly, then grinned. “I fucking love hearing you call this home. Knowing I get to go to bed holding you in my arms every night and wake up to your gorgeous face in the morning.”
Lorna giggled. “We already spent every night together, Cole.”
“Yeah, but all your stuff wasn’t here, and now you have no commute to take you away from me.”
She beamed and placed her palm on my cheek. “I don’t want to be away from you, Cole. I’m yours.”
All my carefully laid plans for the night went out the window when she smiled up at me with so much love in her deep green eyes.
I slipped my hand into the pocket of my slacks and took out the little black box that had been burning a hole in it.
Lorna gasped and covered her mouth with her hands when I put my arms around her and flipped the lid, revealing a sparkling diamond engagement ring.
Without saying anything, I took it out and pried her left hand away from her face so I could slip the ring on her fourth finger.
She admired it for a second, then wiggled around in my embrace so we were facing each other. “Are you asking me to marry you?”
I frowned and shook my head. “No.”
Lorna’s lips pursed as she peered up at me. “But you just put a ring on my finger…”
“Because we are getting married, lass. There is no question. I love you, and I’m not letting you go.”
She narrowed her eyes, looking as if she might argue, but then sighed and giggled. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised you’re being so—” She stopped suddenly, and her mouth dropped open. “You love me?” she gasped.
“Of course, I love you,” I grumbled. Then I realized… “Well, shit. I’m such an ass. I’ve never told you in English.”
Her brows dipped in confusion. “You told me in another language?”
I laughed and picked her up, setting her on the counter and standing between her legs. “The first time we slept together,” I reminded her. “Grá mo chroí thú.”
Lorna’s lips curled into a sweet smile. “You already knew you loved me that night?”
I brushed a soft kiss over her lips and murmured, “I’ve loved you since the moment I saw you in the club, lass.”
“I love you, too. And yes, I’ll marry you.”
“Damn straight,” I growled before sealing my mouth over hers.
Her honey taste exploded on my tongue, and I was suddenly ravenous.
My hands cupped her ass, and I dragged her to the edge of the counter so my hard-on was cradled tightly in the apex of her thighs.
Then I plunged my fingers into her hair and angled her head so I could deepen the kiss.
Eventually, I tore my mouth away and kissed a path along her jaw and down her throat while my hands grasped her hips.
“I had the perfect evening all planned out,” I mumbled against her heated skin.
Lorna bent her head back, giving me better access.
“I was going to make you a romantic dinner, then take you for a walk along the beach and give you the ring, then we’d come home and I’d make love to my fiancée. ”
“Sounds like a great plan,” she panted, curling her legs around my hips and fisting her hands in the sides of my shirt.
“Then I saw your sexy ass and all that smooth skin on display. I smelled your honey and said the only other words besides I love you that will always make me desperate to be inside you.”
“I’m yours.” Her voice was breathless and thick with desire, sending need coursing through my body.
Clutching her ass once more, I lifted her and marched straight to our bedroom.
“Too fucking right,” I grunted. “Now my romantic plan is shot to hell because I can't wait to see you in nothing but my ring. I’m gonna fuck you so hard you’ll have more than one reminder of who you belong to.
And if I haven’t already, I’m gonna put my baby inside you. ”
Her face flushed, and she bit her lip, then leaned forward and put her cheek next to mine. “I like this plan so much better,” she purred into my ear before nibbling the lobe.
I was practically running by the time I reached the bed and tossed her down onto it.
Lorna giggled when she bounced a couple of times, then held out her arms with a sultry “come-hither” smile on her gorgeous face.
In what seemed like seconds, I climbed onto the bed and stripped us both. Then I sat back on my heels and admired the enchanting vision before me. “Take out your hair, lass,” I ordered.
She pulled an elastic off the end and untwisted it, then finger-combed it before spreading the fiery strands out all around her head. I was demanding as fuck in bed, but she was rewarded for her obedience. It hadn’t taken her long to learn what I liked, and she often anticipated my needs.
“That’s my good girl,” I praised, plucking her nipples in reward since I knew it would make her pussy slick with arousal.
I picked up her left hand and set it on her chest, just above her breasts. “Keep it there, lass. I want to see the proof that you’re mine while I claim this tight little pussy and brand you by filling your womb with my come.”
Lorna moaned, and her legs tried to close, but I pushed her thighs as wide as they would go. She was so fucking perfect for me. I loved that my filthy mouth and dominant ways in bed drove her wild.
I wanted to savor this moment, to show her how much I loved and adored her by taking her soft and sweet right after putting my ring on her finger. But the Neanderthal inside me was revved up at the sight of it, and I was losing the battle to remain in control.
“Marry me,” I growled as I stretched out over her.
“I already agreed,” she replied with a gasp when I teased her opening with the head of my cock.
“This weekend,” I clarified.
Lorna blinked a few times as she stared up at me, clearly stunned at my request. “I…”
“I love you more than anything in this entire world, Lorna. I don’t want to wait any longer to make you officially mine. I want to start our life together now…and besides”—my smile turned smug—“you’re probably already pregnant.”
Lorna’s cheeks bloomed with red, and she glanced away, biting her pouty, kiss-swollen bottom lip.
“Lorna?” talking her chin between my thumb and index finger, I narrowed my eyes. “Look at me.”
Her entire face turned pink as she met my gaze. I thought about earlier when I’d told her I would give her my baby. I thought her reaction was from desire, but maybe that was also a blush…
“Are you pregnant, lass?”
“I…I’m not sure. I’m, um, a few days late, and I’m never late.”
Happiness exploded inside me and coursed through my body.
“You’re carrying my baby.” My voice was full of wonder as I slowly scooted down Lorna’s body until I hovered over her stomach.
Reverently, I kissed the skin around her belly button, then laid my head down.
“I love you, mo stór. And I absolutely adore your beautiful mommy. I’m the luckiest son of a bitch alive. ”
Lorna cuffed me on the back of the head, and I glanced up at her in surprise. She was frowning, but her green orbs twinkled with love and amusement.
“You’re going to have to watch your language when we have a baby,” she chastised.
“Babies,” I corrected as I returned to my earlier position, covering her from head to toe.
“Babies?” she repeated, wearing a hopeful smile.
“As many as you’ll give me.”
“Let’s start with one,” she laughed.
“Then I guess we better get to practicing for the rest.”