be having?”
“Oh, yes. I have many hands to help. I stocked the pantry, the linens are fresh, and the rooms have been aired out. I prepare us for your family, sir. I’m happy that the house is filled with laughter again.” Her angelic face beamed up at him.
“Right.” He rubbed his neck. “I wanted to have a private celebration with the missus. We are expecting our second child.”
Consuela closed her eyes and clasped her hands to her chest. “Praise be, sir. Blessings on all of you.”
“Ah, thank you. I’m going to need your help. They blew my plans to he… ah… smithereens when my brothers decided they were going to encroach on my vacation.”
“Of course, sir. Anything you need.” Consuela smiled up at him.
“All right, now, this is going to be a secret, so you can’t tell a soul.”
“Even José, sir?” She mentioned her husband, who also worked for him.
“No, you’ll need to tell José everything and we’ll need to meet several times to make sure this comes together.”
“Of course! Anything, sir. Anything.” Consuela flew across the kitchen for a pad of paper and pencil. “What do you need?”
A self-satisfied smile spread across his face. Yeah, he was going to have every one of those assholes pulling rabbits out of their asses. Fuck with my private time with my woman and you will pay.
The vast window to the ocean was open and the white gauze curtains fluttered in the constant onshore breeze. Joseph shut the doors firmly behind him and locked them. He had no idea when the horde would descend, but before they did, he was spending some quality time with Ember. Exhausted after the reception, Ember had fallen asleep before he’d taken off his tux. He glanced at the closet. He had to admit the suit fit him well, and the way Ember had looked at him when he’d stood up on that dais—he didn’t mind the cost. It was worth every penny.
He unbuttoned his white cotton shirt and dropped it on a chair on the way to the bathroom. The soft fall of water told him where his wife was. He dropped his slacks and kicked them toward the wall. He turned the corner and focused on the steamed-up glass of the shower. Ember’s soft curves beyond the glass called to him as strongly as they had when he was a randy teenager. He kicked off his boxers and pulled the door open, stepping into a cloud of steam.
Ember turned around and smiled. That happiness in her eyes, it was his drug of choice. He’d do anything in the world to keep it there. “Hi, Momma.” He reached for her and pulled her into him. Soon, her stomach would swell with their baby. For a man who’d spent most of his adult life dispensing death, the miracle of birth fascinated him.
“Hi, Daddy.” She wound her arms around his neck. “I’m going to get fat again.”
“You were never fat.” He leaned down and kissed her. “I loved seeing Blake grow inside you.”
He tucked her close and tightened his grip on her. He’d tabled their normal lovemaking the second he found out she was pregnant. There was no way he’d stress her body or their baby because of his kink. The love he had for his wife was enough. Hell, it was more than enough, and if Ember never wanted to get her freak on again, he’d live a fulfilled, happy life. Admitting that to himself had been… liberating. Being normal—well… normal-ish, having what some would call a day job and working to grow Guardian’s elite was fulfilling, but it was Ember and Blake that had tamed the inner beast that had always dwelled deep inside him.
“Are you upset?” Ember arched her back and looked up at him.
He blinked at her question. “At what?”
“Oh, gee, do you want me to list the reasons? Our unplanned pregnancy? Your brothers and family inviting themselves down? I know they tricked you into inviting them.” Ember chuckled. “Maybe at not having me naked all day long or having the house and beach to ourselves. Take your pick.”
He rolled his eyes and grabbed her shampoo, dispensing a palmful into his hand. “I told you exactly how happy I was that we are having another baby. Planned or not.” He turned her around and worked the shampoo through her hair. She moaned and reached back, holding his hips as she tipped her head back. Her soft ass pushed into his hardening cock. He leaned forward