eyes. “Why are you threatening payback?”
“Because I’m the one getting tired, having the morning sickness, and dealing with the back problems!” he snapped. “This is embarrassing!”
She laughed, delighted with his grumpiness. “I think it’s only fair. I’m the one carrying the baby.”
“Yeah, but you look sexy as hell. While I just keep getting all of the negative stuff.”
Sloane shrugged, but she felt…amazingly alive! Partly because of the pregnancy, and partly because she loved him so much.
“You changed the subject,” he realized. “What’s worrying you?”
Sloane’s amusement disappeared. “Rayne isn’t coming home for the holidays,” she explained. “Apparently, she has some big project she’s working on. I even told her that we could fly out to see her instead.”
“What did she say to that?” he asked. “I can have my pilot fly to New York to get Pepper and we could be in San Diego by morning.”
She lifted a hand, touching his cheek as she smiled to him. “You’re so sweet to offer. But I already offered to fly out there for the holidays. She told me not to. She said that she really had to push hard to make her deadlines and that we’d just be in the way.”
Josh’s eyebrows went lower over those green eyes of his. “That doesn’t sound like Rayne,” he replied.
“I know!” She sighed, rubbing her forehead. “Something is wrong, Josh. I just…I can’t figure out what’s going on. We talk via Skype all the time, so I know that she’s healthy. And she seems happy, but…?”
“But what?”
Sloane shrugged. “Sometimes, her happiness seems a bit forced. Like she’s actually sad but pretending to be happy.”
“Let’s just take a trip out there ourselves and find out what’s going on.”
Sloane bit her lip. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”
“Why not?” he challenged. “I’ve wanted to head out to San Diego to check on a few investment opportunities anyway but held off, wanting to be here with you.”
Sloane blinked, her hand moving to cover her stomach. “Wait a minute. Have you been holding back because I’m pregnant?”
“Yes,” he replied evenly. “And I’m not going to apologize for it either,” he told her firmly. “You’re my first priority, Sloane,” he told her firmly. “You and this baby are too important to me. I’m not going to allow any unnecessary stress.”
She thought he was the sweetest man alive! “But you’re willing to fly out to San Diego now?”
His fingers squeezed hers with silent support. “Something is wrong with your sister. That means that you’re worrying.” He took her hand and pulled her onto his lap, hugging her close despite her rounded belly and extra weight. “If you’re worrying, then so is the baby,” he explained, putting a hand over her stomach. “So we’ll fly out to San Diego. We’ll review these businesses and, while we’re there, we’ll take Rayne out to dinner and you can see for yourself that she’s okay.”
He kissed the top of her head. “I don’t want you worrying, Sloane. It isn’t good for the baby and you don’t sleep well.”
She grinned and snuggled closer, loving the way he was so affectionate now. “Fine. As long as you have other business in the area. I don’t want you to fly out there just for me.”
“Rayne is my sister-in-law now,” he told her, lifting her hand to kiss the gold band nestled against the edge of her diamond ring. “I’m concerned as well. She’s family.”
Sloane smiled, leaning against him more completely. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Have I mentioned that I love you?”
He kissed her softly. “I’ll never get tired of hearing it,” he replied. “I love you too.”
“And thank you for taking such good care of me and my family.” Her hand brushed against his chest, her fingers teasing his flat male nipple.
Immediately, she was scooped into his arms and carried down the hallway to his bedroom. “You’re doing that on purpose!” he growled before setting her down beside the bed and stripping off her clothes.
Sloane laughed, delighted with his urgency, but her fingers were just as frantic to get his clothes off. In the end, they didn’t get naked, her fingers brushed his nipples too often so he simply twisted around so that she was straddling his hips while he lay back on the bed and, protecting her belly, thrust into her again and again, his fingers finding all of those delicious places on her body that drove her wild. Buried deep inside of her like this, he felt every tremble of her tight, wet body. His fingers teased her nipples while he thrust harder and faster, eventually moving down her body to grasp her hips with one hand while his other teased that nub, gently, then faster and harder until he heard her cry out with her release. Only then would he let his own body tumble over to a climax that just seemed more intense and powerful with every encounter with this beautiful woman!
When she collapsed on top of him, Josh shifted, protecting her and the baby, but refusing to lose his connection with her.
“Damn, I love you, woman!” he sighed, wrapping his arm around her.
She smiled. “Marriage with you will never be dull,” she laughed. “I love you too, Josh.”
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Keep scrolling for a titillating excerpt from Book 2 in The Abbot Sisters Series – Rayne’s story!
Excerpt from Pregnant with the Sheik’s Heir
Release Date: September 18, 2020
Click HERE to get Rayne’s Story!
Kular had other intentions. Taking the key out of her hands, he pulled her around and pressed her back against the wall. “Have dinner with me tomorrow,” he commanded.
Rayne looked up at him, her body tingling with…fear? Yes, she was terrified of what this man made her feel. But it was more than just fear. That sensation was mixed with equal parts anticipation. He was going to kiss her. Rayne knew it with every fiber of her body!
“I can’t.”
“Can’t?” he asked softly, his eyes moving over her features as if trying to memorize them. “Or won’t?”
She wanted to laugh, feeling a bit light headed. “Can’t. I have plans.”
He didn’t believe her, but for the life of her, she couldn’t remember what Josh had planned for the next night. If Kular would just…step back, then maybe she would be able to think. Logic, her personal mantra, had disappeared when he’d stepped into her space.
“I’m going to kiss you, Rayne,” he warned.
She stiffened and started to shake her head. Kiss her? She could barely control herself while he was just pressed against her! No way could she remain impassive if he kissed her!
But before she could speak, his mouth covered hers. For perhaps one second, maybe half a second, she resisted. After that moment, she was gone. His lips moved over hers with persuasive force and she shivered, her hands creeping slowly up to wind around his neck as his hands tugged at her hair, pulling her head back so that he could deepen the kiss. Over and over, his lips caressed hers until his tongue slid across her lips and she gasped. That’s when his tongue slid into her mouth, deepening the kiss even more.
When he lifted his head, she stared up at him, willing him to kiss her again.
“I can’t, love,” he replied to her unspoken question. “Not unless you’re willing to come back to my suite so that I can kiss you more thoroughly.” He kissed her briefly, but pulled back. “And if that happens, then you should be prepared for marriage because I have no intention of letting you go.”
She wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but was warmed by the soft kiss of his lips against her forehead. He took the key from her hands and swiped it across the black square that released the door’s lock. The click of the lock releasing was her only indication that she should move. But it still took a gentle shove from him before she entered the suite.
With only a backwards glance, she closed the door. Not because she wanted to, but because it seemed like the safest thing to do under the circumstances.
With a sigh, she leaned back against the door, closing her eyes against the sensual tingling that swamped her with desire.
Click HERE to get Rayne’s Story!