Page 80 of Desire Me
Looking to the top of the staircase, Saint saw Elliot descending, Deacon at her side. And she did look great, just as Sydney had said, althoughprettywasn’t the word Saint would use. Sexy. Gorgeous. She was wearing a black catsuit that conformed to every curve of her athletic body, the top half baring her entire back, but full sequins in the front. His teammate had always been a fatigues-and-T-shirts kind of woman. Practical. Tough. Now, with love providing confidence and the same soft glow Saint saw in Rae’s eyes every time he looked at her, Elliot had gone from warrior to woman. Still strong, but with another facet to her.
And as beautiful as she was, she didn’t hold a candle to his Rae.
“There’s Mommy. Gotta go!”
Sydney ran for the stairs and her parents, leaving Saint with a lump in his throat. The little girl had been without a mom for so long; that she’d taken Elliot as her own touched him deeply. Elliot deserved to be loved like that. They all did.
And speaking of…
Turning to Rae, he slid his arm around her back, the feel of the silky material caressing his skin firming his length behind his zipper. “Wanna dance, cariño?”
Rae’s eyes widened. “Do you dance?”
“Do I have an ounce of Spanish blood in my veins?” His father was a romantic through and through; of course Saint knew how to dance. He had excellent rhythm, as Rae knew very well.
Apparently the thought occurred to her too, because a faint blush darkened her cheeks. “Way more than an ounce,” she answered, her voice husky.
“Exactly.”
He led them onto the smallish dance floor set up in the sitting room to one side of the grand foyer. Other couples swayed to the music; a few he knew. Con and his wife, Jess, had eyes for no one but each other, occupying one corner of the room. Jack and Maddie. King already had Charlotte in his arms too. Any excuse to hold their women in public. His friend winked his way as he spun Charlotte, then drew her back to him.
He didn’t see Dain and Olivia. Maybe they were relaxing somewhere in the house. Livie was almost a week past her due date at this point, and Saint’s regular phone calls with his team lead had told him how exhausted Dain’s wife was. Baby Brannan couldn’t come soon enough.
Rae sighed when Saint pulled her into the circle of his arms. They’d only arrived back in town yesterday, and his family had descended immediately. He and Rae were here only for the holidays before returning to Maine. Rae had decisions to make—about her business, her home, her life, not to mention the legal ramifications of her uncle’s death. The man had lived a secret life for years, gambling, shady business dealings. Untangling Conté from her life would take some time. Saint was more than willing to take a leave of absence to give her the time she needed, and the support.
But for just a little while, all of that could fade away. The song “10,000 Hours” by Dan + Shay filtered through the hidden speakers, filling the room. The soft rhythm, the feel of Rae’s body against his, her breath warm on his neck, her scent surrounding him… Nothing could be more perfect.
“Rather appropriate, don’t you think?” Rae asked after a few turns.
“Hmm?” His eyelids were at half-mast, his focus more on her belly against his hard-on than anything else.
“The words to this song.”
He forced himself to pay attention, beginning a soft croon in Rae’s ear along to the words. And she was right, the words were appropriate. They’d been thrown into this roller coaster of a relationship when even she didn’t know who she was. They’d learned together, and now, with every hour they spent together, he understood her more. Wanted her more. Loved her more. He’d gladly spend the rest of his life exploring her, adoring her. Protecting her.
“I already love you, Rae. No ‘gonna’ about it.”
Her smile was soft and full of the sweet heat of her arousal. “I have no doubt of that, Saint.” She raised a hand to rub along the just-shaved smoothness of his cheek. “I love you too.”
He leaned in, going for a kiss, but never got there. Elliot grabbed his arm before he could.
“Come on, we gotta go!”
“Go?” He shook his head, fighting the haze of desire. “Go where?”
“The hospital.” Elliot glanced over the room, caught sight of King, and put two fingers between her lips to give a sharp whistle. King’s head shot up. “Come on! The baby’s coming!”
Dain and Olivia’s baby? Saint met Rae’s eyes and saw his own excitement reflected there. “The baby’s coming,” he told her.
“I know.” She stepped out of his arms. “Let’s go!”
Which was how they ended up in their formal attire in the maternity waiting room at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital downtown. King and Charlotte, Elliot and Deacon (Sydney was with the housekeeper, probably getting hyped up on soda and desserts from the party), Saint and Rae. Even Jack and Con and their wives had joined them. The women kicked off their heels and the men loosened their collars, and they settled in, prepared to celebrate the New Year right there at the hospital, awaiting the arrival of new life.
“Have your cousins come around at all?” Elliot asked Rae. She sipped from a bottled water, her phone in her hand so as not to miss the latest texted update from Dain.
Rae wiggled her hand. “So-so. It’s hard, you know? None of us had even a hint that Francis had this other life. They’re struggling with the changes.”
“Have you decided if you want to offer one of them Francis’s place at the business?”
