Romanced by the Malones (Haven, Texas) Read online

  “Right, good news is that you are fully dilated. Things should start moving quickly now.”

  A C-section?

  No. No, no. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. Mia looked to Alec for reassurance.

  “Things aren’t progressing as I’d like. The baby’s showing signs of distress; we need to perform a C-section,” the doctor told them.

  A sob rocked her body. “Alec!”

  “I’m here, baby. I’m here. Everything is going to be all right, Mia,” Alec reassured her.

  Why were they wheeling her away?

  She felt so out of it. Like she wasn’t even in her own body.

  Operating room.

  C-section.

  Oh, God, she was so scared. She didn’t think she’d ever been so frightened in her life.

  There were people everywhere. Talking to her. But she couldn’t hear them through her panic. Then Alec was there. Alec would take care of her.

  Everything would be all right.

  It had to be.

  11

  He’d never driven so carefully in his life.

  But then he’d never had the two most important people in his life in the vehicle with him. Two precious bundles that he was responsible for. That he would take care of.

  Nothing would happen to them. He’d see to that.

  The birth of their baby was a blur to Mia. It seemed she’d blocked most of it out. Molly had come to the hospital afterwards at Alec’s request to check on her. She’d reassured him that Mia was okay. That sometimes the mind blocked things out as a form of protection. That she’d likely remember when she was ready to. But at the moment he shouldn’t worry too much.

  Mia was upset that she couldn’t recall any of it, so he’d decided not to bring any of it up again. Not until she was feeling better.

  After three nights in the hospital, they were finally ready to come home. Even though the baby had been born early, its lungs were well developed and there’d been no complications.

  But still, he was fucking terrified.

  How could he face down mafia bosses without flinching, yet one tiny bundle had the power to make his knees shake?

  He was a mess.

  “They’re not planning a welcome home party, are they?” Mia asked as they pulled up outside the house.

  “They better not be,” Alec growled.

  Mia wasn’t up to a party. Not only was she still recovering from the birth, but she was having trouble with breastfeeding. And she was exhausted. Now that they were home, though, he was hoping he could help her more.

  “I thought they might have been in to visit,” she said quietly. He heard the soft note of uncertainty in her voice and cursed himself for not telling her earlier.

  “I told them all to wait,” he told her. “I didn’t want you getting too stressed out.”

  “Oh. Well, they’ll be looking forward to meeting the baby.”

  “That’s an understatement,” he said dryly. “Don’t think that there will be any shortage of volunteers for babysitting.”

  “We’ll see what they say when it comes to diaper duty,” she joked.

  “Malone men aren’t scared of a dirty diaper,” he claimed with a wink. “We’re made of tougher stuff. Now, those New Orleans Malones on the other hand . . .”

  She smiled. Leaning over, he kissed her lightly. “I love you, Mia Malone. Thank you for our child.”

  “I love you too, Alec Malone.”

  “Wait there, I’ll get the baby first.”

  He grabbed the baby out of its car seat, making sure it was well bundled up. Then he handed the baby’s to Mia, before picking her up in his arms and carrying her up the steps.

  The door opened for them.

  He stepped inside to find all his brothers and Flick waiting in the foyer.

  “Welcome home,” they all whispered as one.

  Mia grinned and rolled her eyes. “You guys are idiots.”

  “But you love us, right, Mia?” Butch said.

  “Yeah, I do.”

  “Enough to let us have a hold?” Jaret asked.

  “Definitely,” she said.

  “Let us see,” Flick begged.

  Alec carefully put her on her feet then reached for the baby. “Everyone, meet Sebastian Michael Malone.”

  How West Was Wed

  1

  November

  “Which shade of peach do you like for the bridesmaids dresses?” Flick asked, holding up two swatches of cloth for West to examine.

  He paused the game he was watching on TV to give her a look of disbelief. “What?”

  They’d just moved into their new house. Surprisingly, it hadn’t taken that long to build, but then it was markedly smaller than the big house. But she liked that it was cozy. Although, sometimes she did miss the noise and laughter in the family home.

  She knew West preferred having his own space. He wasn’t exactly one for socializing. Even with his own brothers.

  “Which shade of peach do you like better?”

  “Do I have a dick?” he asked.

  She sighed. “I believe we’ve ascertained that you do. A rather nice one too. Long and thick. But not so thick that it’s too much to handle. It’s quite pretty, really, when you think about it—”

  “Flick,” he interrupted.

  “Yes?”

  “You’re rambling on about my dick, babe.”

  She blushed. “Oh, yeah. Sorry.”

  “As much as I appreciate your appreciation for my cock, don’t ever refer to it as pretty again, got it?”

  She sighed. “Fine. Sorry. So does you having a dick mean that you can’t offer an opinion on which shade of peach I should use for the bridesmaids’ dresses?” She seemed to recall a similar conversation regarding chamomile tea.

  “It means they both look the same to me.”

  “They do? But they’re completely different.” She stared at the bits of material. How could he possibly think they looked the same?

  “They’re the same. And if it’s such a problem, why don’t you just go for black? There’s only one shade of black.”

  “Black? Are you kidding me? The bridesmaids can’t wear black.”

  “Why not?”

  Okay, she didn’t really have an answer to that. “Well, I’m sure there are different variations of black too.”

  “Are you sure we can’t elope?” he asked her.

  She narrowed her gaze at him. She wouldn’t put it past him to try.

  Not happening, buddy.

  “Don’t you dare even think about it, West Malone. I’ve already put so much work into this wedding. It’s going to be beautiful. Perfect. And I want all our friends and family to be there to celebrate with us.”

  “Why?” he asked, looking bewildered. “All they’ll do is drink our booze, eat our food, then leave us with a giant mess to clean up.”

  She bit her lower lip. Did he really not want this? Maybe he was right, it was all a waste of time. Who cared what shade of peach the bridesmaids’ dresses were or whether the bows on the backs of the chairs were cream or white?

  “Fuck,” he muttered. Then he was suddenly crouched in front of her, his hand grasping her chin. “I’m an asshole.”

  “No, you’re not.” She sniffled.

  “Don’t cry,” he demanded. “You’re not crying, are you?”

  “No.” Another sniffle escaped. She knew how much West hated it when she cried. It would be kind of funny under other circumstances, watching him panic just because she was a bit tearful.

  “Don’t cry, baby. You can have whatever shade of peach you want. We’ll buy dresses in every hue if that’s what you want. Just don’t cry, please.” He sat on the sofa beside her, pushing aside a pile of wedding magazines. She winced as they slipped onto the floor. She’d had them all open to pages she was looking at. Drat. It was going to take her a while to sort that mess out.

  But then he lifted her onto his lap and she forgot everything else as she buried her face in hi
s chest. His thick arms surrounded her, keeping her safe.

  “I’m sorry, sunshine. I’m an ass. I didn’t mean it. I want you to have the wedding of your dreams.” He rubbed his hand up and down her back, easing the tension in her muscles.

  “But you don’t want that. I’m being selfish.”

  “Felicity Angelica Maria, there isn’t a selfish bone in your body,” he told her sternly. He tilted her chin up, giving her a firm look. “If anyone is being selfish, it’s me. I just don’t want you wearing yourself out over this wedding stuff, all right?”

  “I’m not,” she reassured him.

  He raised an eyebrow. “How many nights this week have you lain awake thinking about wedding stuff?”

  She bit her lip. “You noticed that, huh?”

  He rolled her onto her back on the sofa. Then loomed over her, placing his legs between hers and resting most of his weight on his arms which he’d placed on either side of her head. “I notice everything. I won’t have you making yourself sick over this.”

  “I won’t,” she said as he kissed his way down her neck.

  “Maybe I’m jealous.”

  “Jealous?” she asked as he knelt between her legs and grabbed hold of the bottom of the over-sized T-shirt she was wearing. It was one of his that she’d “borrowed.” All she wore underneath was a pair of briefs.

  He whipped the T-shirt up over her head, his gaze eating her up, lingering on her small breasts then moving down her tummy. When he got to her covered mound, he raised his eyebrow. “Nice panties, sunshine.”

  She looked down and then squealed. “Oh my God! You weren’t supposed to see these.”

  He gently removed her hands from the front of her panties. “Give me another look.”

  Groaning, she placed her hands over her face. “I need to do laundry, they’re all I have left.”

  They were black cotton underwear. Nothing remarkable. But on the front, right over her pussy, were the words: West’s property. He licked it. It’s his.

  West grinned. “Well, what it says is the truth.”

  “The girls gave them to me when we got engaged. This is the first time I’ve worn them.”

  “I think you need a pair in every color. Not that anyone will ever see them but me.” He ran his finger down the seam of her pussy. “I like staking my claim.”

  There was pure possession in his voice and it made her heart race with excitement. He slid a finger over her nipple. “Someone likes it when I get possessive.”

  “Just as well, since that’s your MO,” she told him.

  “That’s because I fucking love you. More than anything. You’re mine, Felicity soon-to-be-Malone.”

  “And you’re mine, West Malone.”

  “Damn straight.” He leaned in and took her nipple into his mouth, sucking strongly.

  Flick arched her back with a cry. He moved to her other nipple, biting on it gently before lapping at it with his tongue.

  “West, West, please.”

  He moved up her neck to kiss her. “What do you need, Flick?”

  “You. I need you.”

  “You want me to lick you? Claim you?” he growled.

  “Yes, yes!”

  “Are you mine?” he demanded.

  “Yes.” Always.

  “Do you need me to fuck you, Flick?” he crooned.

  “God, yes, please.”

  “Hmm, I’m not sure if you sound desperate enough. Let’s see how wet you are.” He moved off the couch. Standing, he slowly stripped off his shirt. She stared at him, studying the gorgeous cut build he revealed.

  West’s body was honed by hard work. Wide, thick with muscle with abs that just didn’t quit.

  “Sit up, sunshine. Take off your panties then spread your legs nice and wide. I want a good view of that pussy.”

  Shit. Shit.

  Sometimes she thought it was possible to come just from him talking to her like that alone. It was insane how much he affected her. How good he made her feel.

  She stood up so she could quickly pull her panties off. By then he was taking off his jeans and she was thoroughly distracted, waiting for his cock to be revealed. She wasn’t kidding earlier when she’d talked about how much she loved it.

  “Flick,” he warned. “Do as you were told.”

  What? Huh? Oh, right. Sit with her legs apart.

  Yikes.

  She sat back on the sofa and spread her legs. He paused with his jeans part way down his legs and took in his fill.

  “Fucking gorgeous.”

  Happiness flooded her at his words. He always made her feel like she was the most beautiful woman on the planet, even when she knew that wasn’t the case. Around West, she always felt special.

  He finished removing his jeans and boxers. Then he stood there, his magnificent cock firm, the heat in his gaze scorching. He knelt on the floor between her legs and grabbing her hair, twisted it around his fist before tugging her into him so he could kiss her.

  Boy, the man could kiss.

  He held her in place with his hand around her hair, stilling her movements. The light tugging against her scalp just made her clit throb even more.

  A moan escaped her throat as he drew back. “Fucking sexy.” He let her hair go as he moved his lips down her neck. She reached for him, grabbing hold of his shoulders to anchor herself.

  “Hands behind your back,” he commanded.

  She whimpered a protest but did as he’d said. This position pushed her breasts out, as though her nipples were begging to be touched.

  Newsflash: they were.

  But it seemed as though he was deliberately ignoring them. He kissed up her neck to her ear, biting lightly on the lobe. Damn. That shouldn’t be a turn on, but somehow it had heat pooling low in her stomach.

  “Please, please,” she begged.

  “Please what, my sunshine?” he asked huskily as he kissed down between her breasts. Her nipples were aching now.

  “Kiss my breasts.”

  “Hmm, like this?” He pressed his lips along the tops of her mounds.

  “No, no, no, stop teasing me, West!”

  “Oh, baby.” He gave her a fake look of sympathy. “We’ve barely even gotten started.”

  Uh-oh. She really didn’t like the sound of that.

  But then he moved his mouth to her nipple, sucking strongly and she forgot what she was worried about. He nipped lightly then licked her nipple soothingly. The other one was given the same treatment. He moved back and forth until she was a mess, begging for more, needing him to desperately touch her clit.

  It wouldn’t take much, a few taps and she was certain she’d crash over the edge into bliss.

  “Look how red and plump they are,” he said admiringly as he sat back and studied her nipples. “So fucking pretty.” He ran a finger over her sensitive nub and she shivered in reaction.

  “Please, can I touch you?”

  “Touch, no. But soon I’ll give you a taste of me.”

  She groaned at the thought of taking him into her mouth. She never thought she’d enjoy giving a blow job so much. But she loved giving him pleasure, watching his face fill with bliss.

  He moved his mouth down her stomach to her pussy. Then grabbing her legs under her knees, he forced them up so that her torso fell back against the sofa as he held her spread apart.

  “Fuck yes.” Leaning in, he took a long, slow lick. “I licked it, so it’s mine, right?”

  “All yours,” she groaned.

  He dipped his mouth down again, circling his tongue around her clit before flicking it. She rose higher and higher. She was so close. He drew his tongue away from her clit just as she’d been close to that peak.

  “Noooo!”

  “Oh, baby, you’re gonna have to work harder for that orgasm.”

  What? What the hell did he have planned?

  She moaned as he licked at her again. Teased her. Then drew away.

  “West! You’re killing me.” She moved her hands away from her lower bac
k and she reached for his head. What she thought she was going to do, she had no idea. Force his mouth against her until she came?

  Yeah. Right.

  West pulled back, her dew glistening on his lips. She panted, trying to catch her breath.

  “Did I say you could move your hands?” he asked sternly.

  Oh crap.

  She immediately placed them behind her back again and gave him an innocent look.

  He raised his eyebrows. “You can attempt to look as cute as you want, but we both know you disobeyed me.” He shook his head slowly. “And to think I was going to let you come.”

  Yeah, somehow, she didn’t believe that.

  West stood. “Now, I guess you’ll just have to wait.”

  She scowled.

  “Nope. Those big eyes and pouting lips aren’t going to work on me.”

  Drat.

  He grabbed his dick, running his hand along it. “Would you like a taste?”

  She nodded and parted her lips as he guided his shaft into her mouth. She sucked as he pushed himself in. They’d been working on her being able to take him deep without gagging. He drew out and pressed forward. She swallowed as he reached the back of her throat, and he moaned.

  “Fuck, baby. You feel so fucking good. That’s it. Take me. Damn. Damn. I’m not going to last long. You going to suck me down? Take everything I have to give you. That’s my good girl. My sunshine. So sweet, aren’t you?”

  She hummed as he kept thrusting into her mouth until he came with a shout. She swallowed hastily, watching him, loving the look on his face. And that she could do this to him. He looked relaxed, sated, and she smiled as he slid his dick from her mouth.

  “Somebody looks pleased with themselves,” he murmured.

  “You didn’t like it?”

  “Oh, baby. I didn’t like it. I fucking loved it. Nothing better than your mouth around me. Except for your pussy.” He winked at her. Then to her surprise, he reached down and picked her up, holding her against his chest.

  She wrapped her arms and legs around him. Was he taking her to the bedroom? But instead he moved to the recliner where he’d been sitting earlier.