Hard Checked (Ice Kings #4) - Stacey Lynn Page 0,96
into my arms and carry her into my bedroom. Our bedroom soon, hopefully.
Because we might have bumps along the way. Miscommunication. Poor communication. But it’s a part of life and it’s a part of loving someone.
When I set Gigi on the bed, she crawls to her knees and rips off her shirt. Her stomach is slightly swollen now, and my gaze stalls on her stomach where her hand rubs lightly. “I think, since I’m the one carrying your child, you should do all the work.”
“Deal.” Making love to Gigi my way is not a hardship.
And then I lunge.
Several weeks later, my team wins the Stanley Cup and we spend a full week celebrating with parties and parades.
Three weeks later, Gigi moves in with me.
Six months later, she officially takes over the running of George’s Bar. It’s a smashing success with all of her months spent planning and marketing. I screw her on her new desk, bent over it since her belly is so grown. I’m so proud of her I can’t wait until we get home later in the night.
One month after that, on December twelfth… Samson George Hendrix is born.
Nine months later, before the next season begins, I cry when I see Gigi at the end of the aisle, dressed in white, headed my way.
I kiss her at our wedding and we spend the night dancing under the stars, our wedding reception at our home, around the pool and the acres of land beyond. We celebrate with friends and family and teammates and all the tiny Ice Kings toddling around.
The next day, we leave Samson for a week with my parents and head to Europe, where we make love in our hotel along the French Riviera and Gigi spends two weeks showing me all the places she loves the most.
And me? I can never picture my life without her in it. Without her unfailing love or her steady confidence in us and her joy in the world around her.
She’s everything I never saw coming, and everything I need.
Epilogue
Three Years LATER
I stare at the piles of suitcases and gear.
Next to me, Gigi drops another small bag.
“Do you think we packed enough?” The pile at my feet I’m somehow expected to fit into the back of our Navigator keeps growing. I foresee a game of Tetris-like packing in my future and curl my lip.
“Well, it’s the beach. But what if it gets cold at night? Or what if Elijah gets fussy? I mean, we don’t have the pack ’n play there or bouncy seat so I can’t leave them behind, and then there are books for me and you and—”
I shut my beautiful wife up with a kiss. I’ve learned over the years that when it comes to our kids, she’s a wee bit overprotective and slightly neurotic.
However, I don’t tease her for it… much… I still like to get laid on the regular.
And regular I do.
God, who knew after three years of being married, two kids, I’d still get hard multiple times a day by my wife’s simple presence and silliness.
“Are the boys sleeping?” I murmur.
She slaps my arm and tries to push me away. I move closer instead. We bought a new house on Topsail Beach in North Carolina last summer, but then the season started and we spent most of the winter and spring renting it out instead of enjoying it.
“Elijah is. Samson’s in the movie room.”
That means they’ll be out for the time I need.
“Come with me. We should go check the bedroom, make sure you’ve packed everything we need.”
“I have…” I kiss her again and she grins against my mouth. “Oh. Yes, I should probably do that. Give it a quick look.”
“It’ll be slower than quick.”
“Quick is all we have. Remember yesterday?”
I remember. Gigi was on her knees in our bathroom, greeting me happily by reaching for my dick when I stepped out of the shower. I was almost ready to orgasm when Samson started banging on our bathroom door. She’d pulled off, leaving me hard, panting, and somehow, laughing my ass off while she went to take care of him… and I finished myself off.
“We’ll lock the bedroom door this time.”
“Deal.” She turns on her heel and runs through our house, grinning at me over her shoulder when she reaches the top of the stairs.
I take my time. Her ass has grown some over the years and I enjoy the way it shakes.
Four years ago, I never could have imagined my life. Everything changed the moment Samson was placed in my arms, and I experienced a love I never understood. So much bigger and deeper than anything I expected. A year later, when we tried for another, was a dark period.
For six months, I watched Gigi frown when her period came. All that old guilt, the weight of what I’d been through before threatened to pull me under and it was once again Gigi who saved me.
She climbed into my lap one day, naked, and placed her hands to my cheeks and said, “I’m perfectly content with Samson. If you want more, we’ll adopt.”
Right before the last season began, we brought Elijah home to us from China. It was a long process. A frustrating one with its own twists and turns, but he’s perfect. We fell in love with him the moment we saw him, and when he was placed in our arms, it felt like he’d always been meant to be ours.
Even cooler is the town we live in has a Chinese Immersion School. We’ll all be able to learn about his heritage and his culture and language together.
As for Samson? He adores being a big brother. At three and a half, it’s mostly head petting and bottle grabbing and helping stick pacifiers in Elijah’s mouth. But it’s a beautiful thing to witness.
I follow my wife to our bedroom, where I remember to lock the door, and when I don’t see her in the bedroom, I find her in the bathroom.
She’s naked.
Cheeks flushed… both sets.
Her hands are braced on the counter, and she’s smiling at me over her shoulder. “Show me what you got, hotshot.”
I’m naked in five seconds, inside of her in two more, groaning at how wet she already is.
Yes. Gigi might have been the surprise I never saw coming when I was absolutely at my worst, but she’s the best chance I’ve ever taken.
We’ve built a family based on a strong foundation of love and a whole lot of fun.
And me?
I never imagined life could be this beautiful.
THANK YOU for reading Hard Checked! Need more Ice Kings in your life? Be sure to sign up for my newsletter so you can stay up to date on more books in this series COMING SOON!
Acknowledgments
HUGE thank you to Hilary and all of Social Butterfly PR for throwing your full enthusiasm and support behind each and every book I write. I have loved working with all of you and can’t wait to see what’s ahead! Hilary, I miss you most of all. ;-)
Ellie and Virginia, as always, thanks for putting up with my mess and spit-shining each manuscript until it sparkles. Thank you especially during this crazy time in our world for your flexibility and your extra hard work.
Shannon, you’re the best. Always. Forever. Your talent is astounding and I’m thankful I can call you a friend.
Special, enormous thank you to my family who is always here, cheering me on and being so patient when I’m in my office. Your support is everything to me and I love you all with all of my heart.
To my Sweeties! I love you ladies and your excitement for my books! You keep me laughing on the hard days and focused when I need the extra push.
To all the bloggers who devote their time and passion into reading books, book tours, release events, leaving reviews, promoting and pimping – you are all rockstars! Thank you for all the love over the years.
My family— I love you all to the moon and back. I don’t know what I would do without you in my corner, cheering me on every step of the way.
And last but definitely not least – to you the reader. I’m blown away with every release how much you adore my books. You have made my dream a reality and I hope I can cheer you on with yours.
Other Books by Stacey Lynn
Ice Kings Series
Playing To Win
Scoring Off The Ice
Hooked On Her
Hard Checked
The Rough Riders Series
Dirty Player
Filthy Player
Wicked Player
Cocky Player
Love In The Heartland
Captivated By You
This Time Around
Long Road Home
Before We Fell
Crazy Love Series
Fake Wife
Knocked Up
28 Dates
Weekend Fling
The Luminous Series
Dominate Me
Crave Me
Long For Me
The Fireside Series
His to Love
His to Protect
His to Cherish
His to Seduce
Tangled Love Series
Entice
Embrace
Enflame
Just One Series
Just One Song
Just One Week
Just One Regret
Just One Moment
The Nordic Lords Series
Point of Return
Point of Redemption
Point of Freedom
Point of Surrender
Standalones
Remembering Us
Don’t Lie To Me
Try Me – A Don’t Lie To Me Novella