Still The One - Carrie Elks Page 0,62

on his. “Discipline, hmm?”

He grinned, sliding his hand behind her butt. She arched her back, pressing herself to him, and the sensation sent a shot of desire through him.

“Careful,” he warned her. He wasn’t sure how far his restraint could stretch.

“Maybe I don’t want to be careful.”

He gave her a crooked smile. “You do, I know you do. Even if I want to drag you out and shout to the world that you’re mine.”

“Is that what I am? Yours?”

“Yeah.” His voice was rough. “You are.”

She traced a line from his open collar, up his neck, to his hard jaw. “That makes you mine, too.”

Damn, he loved that. He swallowed hard, as she traced his bottom lip. “It does.” He kissed the pad of her finger.

Her smile widened. “And that means I can do what I want with you, right?”

“Right.”

“Great.” She leaned closer, until he could feel the warmth of her breath against his skin. He waited for her to close the gap, to press her lips to his.

But instead she pushed him away, laughing as she dodged around the trees into the open lawn. Then she turned and stuck her tongue out at him, the way she did when they were kids.

He chuckled, not just because she was funny as hell. But because it was so damn good to see her carefree, running with her golden hair flowing out, her eyes crinkled with humor.

She was his. Maybe she always had been. All he knew was he couldn’t let her go again.

“Okay, so there’s another reason why I asked you all to come here today,” Gray said when the documentary was over, and they’d finished raising their glasses to Cam. They were all sitting in the soft leather chairs Gray and Maddie had custom-made for their over-size den. They were big enough to fit three families on, which was a good thing, because there were a lot of them. Van looked around with a smile, taking in Tanner’s dad and Aunt Gina, plus his brothers, along with Maddie, her mom, and her sister and her family. Then there was Becca, who was sitting with Zoe, trying to teach her how to do a cat’s cradle.

Van couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this content. And her happiness had an enticing edge to it, thanks to the way Tanner kept shooting dark looks over at her.

It was strange how easily she’d slipped back into this life, this family.

“Don’t tell me. You’re getting your star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame,” Logan said, grinning at his older brother.

Gray sighed. “No. And shut up.”

“Play nice,” Maddie said, smiling at them both. “Just tell them, Gray.”

“C’mere,” Gray said, holding his hand out to her. “I don’t want to do this alone.”

“What’s this about?” Aunt Gina said, frowning. “You’re not going to tell us she’s pregnant, are you?”

For a moment there was complete silence, as everybody took in Gray and Maddie’s expressions.

Gray cleared his throat, his eyes meeting Maddie’s. “Uh, yeah. We were.”

Tanner coughed down a laugh, as Aunt Gina’s face turned white, and she covered her gaping mouth with her hand. “Oh my,” she said, her voice muffled. “I’m so sorry. I never dreamed…”

“You’re pregnant?” Becca asked, her eyes wide. “As in having Gray’s baby?” She stood up and ran to hug them both. “I’m going to be an auntie.”

“Congratulations, man,” Logan said, then he walked over to give Aung Gina a hug. She was all jittery, a combination of embarssment and excitement.

“Way to go,” Tanner said, walking over to shake Gray’s hand and hug Maddie. “I’m so pleased for you both.”

“That’ll explain the decaf coffee,” Van said, joining them. She grinned at Maddie.

“Yeah. I didn’t make it because it tastes good, that’s for sure.” Maddie wrinkled her nose. “I miss caffeine.”

Van felt a finger trace her spine. She turned to Tanner, who gave her an innocent stare.

“Stop,” she mouthed.

He winked back at her.

“Let’s hope your pregnancy doesn’t last as long as Regan’s,” Becca said, looking at Maddie’s stomach as though she was trying to discern a bump. “I swear she’s got the gestation period of an elephant. Is she ever going to have that baby?”

“It probably likes it where it is,” Maddie murmured. “It’s quiet and safe, compared to her house. I visited the other day. Her kids are louder than one of Gray’s concerts.”

“How far along are you?” Maddie’s sister, Ashleigh asked. Van had been introduced to her when she arrived at Gray’s house, though she remembered her from the old days. She