Love Resisted (The Real Love Series) (14 page)

Allie nodded as he lifted her again. He let her slowly glide down again. “That’s me taking what I want.” She lifted up, then slid down. “That’s me claiming you.”

His words made her body tighten around him even more, as he felt her get hotter. He momentarily hated the fact that it was so dark in the truck, because he wanted to see every detail of her body as he took her. He continued their up and down rhythm, slow and controlled. “You’re mine now, Allie Baxter. Don’t even think about running from me again.”

He pulled her head down to his and claimed her lips again. The need to claim her in every way possible was feeding him. He told her she was his, and now he would show her exactly what he meant. He moved her up by her hip, then used the grip on her neck to lower her. He held the power, it was his pace, his claiming, and she submitted to it. Up, then back down. He watched her movements became fluid with his as they both sought their release.

ALLIE let Mike move her to his will, take charge of her body, claim her. The thought of this man claiming her made her grind against him, seeking her release. Mike groaned as his hold tightened, and his tongue became more demanding in her mouth. When he guided her up this time, he countered the movement and lifted his hips to meet her body. The forceful contact against her overheated core sent a jolt of electricity through her body, taking her breath away.

Holding her up, he prevented her movement as he began to lift his hips forcefully. She broke away from his lips and let out a noise—her plea for more. Mike complied. Letting go of her neck, he placed both hands on her hips and made her body do what he wanted it to do. His tongue found her nipple and pulled it into his mouth. With one hand still on the back of the seat for
balance, she cradled his head against her breast, silently demanding more.

Her gasps and his grunts filled the cab of the truck as the intensity between them mounted. She could feel his urgency, and it fed hers. The tingling started at her core and began to radiate outward—her release imminent.
Mike was right there with her, listening to her body because he picked up his pace, demanding more from her. When he pulled his lips away from her, he dropped his back to the seat, looked at her and said, “Give it to me. I want it.”

She gasped at his words, nearly sending her over the edge, and he knew it. His clutch on her tightened, and his pace faltered as he repeated himself. “Give it to me, Allie.”

A few more thrusts, and she detonated. The explosion took all the oxygen from her body as she cried out, filling the truck with her sounds of release.
Oh, sweet release
, she thought as she felt his body move once more before he grasped her hips impossibly hard and slammed her down against him. He held her there as he found his own release.

Heavy breathing and the s
mell of sex filled the air now. He loosened his hold on her hips, and Allie how she didn’t care if he left marks on her because of it. She opened her eyes, unsure when she’d closed them, and looked down at him. He was watching her as he once again grabbed her neck and pulled her lips to his, kissing her hard as they both still fought to catch their breath. When he broke the kiss, he made sure she was looking at him when he said, “You’re mine now, Allie Baxter.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

MIKE watched an unknown emotion cross her face before she composed herself. She leaned in and gave him a soft kiss, far calmer than the frantic pace from a few moments ago. It was gentle, and he felt like she was trying to convey something through it. Whether he was going to like what that message was, he didn’t know. Since she still hadn’t responded to his declaration, it bothered him more. She was about to say something when his phone alerted him to a message. Ignoring it, he continued to watch her. Raising her eyebrows in question she asked, “Aren’t you going to check that?”

“Of course not. Why would I want to do something like that?” he said.

Allie shrugged and said, “Listen, Mike,” before she was cut off by the sound of her phone ringing somewhere on the floorboard of the truck. She turned to see what time it was and said, “That’s Gillian’s ring tone, and it’s after ten. I have to answer that.”

She was already trying to lift her dress back up as she removed herself from his lap. Mike sighed at the loss of her body heat, then proceeded to deal with the condom. Pulling his pants back up, he heard her curse as she started dialing her phone. Looking back over at him, she gave him an apologetic expression as she placed the phone to her ear. She was struggling to hold her dress up, so he scooted
across the bench and helped her with the side zipper. “Jake? What’s wrong, where’s Gillian?”

Mike couldn’t hear the other side of the conversation, but he could tell that whatever it was, it had Allie tense. Wanting to comfort her, he rubbed her shoulders, and felt her relax just a bit. She asked questions, and apparently got answers as he patiently waited for her to finish the call. When she finally got off the call, she turned to him and said, “I need you to take me home so I can get my car. Gillian has been admitted, and I need to go see her.”

Her voice was strong and determined, but Mike didn’t miss the panicked look in her eyes. Her concern for her friend was evident, and he wasn’t about to let her do this alone. Sweeping her hair out of her face and behind her shoulder, he smiled and said, “Okay, what hospital?”

“The one she works at,” Allie said quickly.

“Okay, put your belt on, babe. I’ll get you there,” he said reassuringly. She may be good at putting up a strong front, but he knew she was worried.

“No, Mike. You can just drop me at my car, and I’ll drive myself there … really,” she insisted.

Mike gave her a sideways glance as he shifted back into his seat and threw his seatbelt on, watching her do the same. He said, “What kind of man do you take me for? I’m not letting you drive yourself when you look like you’re about ten seconds away from freaking out. I’ll get you there.”

She sighed and sat back in her seat, obviously giving in. “Okay. Thanks.”

“So is Gillian in labor?” he asked, knowing that if she talked, she probably wouldn’t get more upset.

“No. She’s been having issues with her blood pressure and swelling of her feet and ankles.”

Mike nodded, remembering that. She continued, “Well, I guess she was dizzy so Jake checked her blood pressure and it was very high. So he called the doctor, and they instructed him to bring her in. She’s coming up on the thirty-six week mark of her pregnancy so it’s still a little too soon for her to deliver the baby, but that’s apparently the only cure for her high blood pressure. But in the meantime, they admitted her for observation.”

“Sounds like she’s in good hands. I’m sure it’s helpful that Jake is a paramedic, don’
t you think?” Mike asked. He pulled the truck onto the road and had just pulled up to a light. So when she didn’t answer, he looked over and noticed she was looking down at her hands, twirling a ring around on her thumb. “Allie?”

She looked up at him, and he figured she must not have heard his questions, so he repeated them. This time, she nodded before looking back at her hands and said in a low voice, “I just need to see with my own eyes that she’s okay.”

“Then how ‘bout I get you there?” When she glanced back over at him, he winked at her. A worried, pathetic smile was all he got, but it was something. It was unfortunate that their evening was ending like this, but right now, he needed to get Allie to her friend so she could see that she was, in fact, okay.

ALLIE tried to remain irritated that Mike didn’t bring her home like she asked. But the truth of the matter was, she was glad he was there. It wasn’t like the guy hadn’t already seen her almost freak out before. His calming effect on her at the graduation party told her it was worth having him around, if only for that reason. Fortunately, the hospital was closer to their location than home was, so it really made sense for him to take her and drop her off. He could go home as soon as she got out of the truck.

They were sitting at a light, five blocks from the hospital, and Allie struggled to not just jump out of the truck and get there on foot. She wasn’t trying to get away from Mike or anything, but sitting at a light was suffocating when she needed to get there. He had pulled his phone out of pocket and snorted a small laugh. It irritated her, because there was nothing funny about right now. She couldn’t help the dirty look she gave him “Relax, Allie, we’re almost there, and Gillian sent me a message with her room number. You’ll see her in no time.”

“Why would Gillian text you that information?” she asked, confused, and maybe even a little betrayed.

Mike shrugged. “She knew you were with me tonight, so maybe she figured I was the type of guy that would make sure you got there. Did Jake not give you the info?”

Allie grumbled, “No. He told me to stay with you, and
that Gillian would be upset if she ruined our date.”

The light changed, and they made it another block closer before having to stop again. Allie sighed. Mike said, “Then it’s a good thing I’m going with you. You can tell Gillian we are still on our date.”

Allie laughed a little at his logic. Knowing Gillian would most likely be upset thinking she ruined their date, having Mike there
would
help calm the concern. She preferred to displace his need to be there on Gillian, rather than admit she might want him there, too. It almost made it okay in her head to keep him around, even if she knew it was an excuse. With a smile, she said, “Guess it’s a good thing.”

He smirked, giving her a glimpse of that smug bastard again, which only had her smiling more. She shook her head at him as he made his way into the hospital parking lot. Once they got parked, she jumped out before he could open her door for her. She took a moment to make sure her dress was on correctly and not too wrinkled from their interlude. When he came around to meet her, he crowded into her space and used both of his hands to move her hair behind her shoulders. Leaning forward, he kissed her softly. “Don’t worry. As disappointing as it might be for me, you don’t have that ‘just been ravished look.’”

She laughed. “Disappointing for you?”

He shook his head and gave her a serious look. “I’m gonna have to double my efforts next time.”

Next time?
That was a subject for later, because right now she needed to get up to Gillian. So she gave him a playful shove and said, “Does that include ripping off more than one article of clothing?” She didn’t give him a chance to answer as she started to walk away. She was anxious to get inside, to see Gillian, and make sure with her own eyes that she was all right.

MIKE slipped his arm around Allie’s waist and pulled her into his side while they rode the elevator up to Labor and Delivery. She was vibrating with tension, and Mike wanted to make a
joke about it, but figured it probably wasn’t the best time. When the elevator sounded their arrival, he took hold of her hand. Fortunately, his long stride allowed him to keep up with her tiny, fast-moving one as she made her way down the hall, following the signs for the room number they were looking for.

When they found it, she barely knocked as she barged in. Mike silently hoped it was a private room. Inside they found Gillian in bed, hooked up to a few different things, but to him, she looked fine. Jake was sitting in the chair beside her bed, fe
et up on the end of it, pointed at the television. When Jake saw them walk in, he frowned. “Dammit. You win, Gillian.”

Gillian laughed. “Of course I do. I know Allie the best.”

Mike watched as Allie made her way directly to Gillian’s side. “Are you okay? Is the ladybug all right? What is Jake rambling about, you win what?”

Gillian laughed and responded to Allie’s questions in order. “Yes, I’m fine, they just want to monitor me. The ladybug is perfect, and Jake and I had a bet as to when you’d show up at the hospital. I won.”

Allie leaned over and kissed Gillian’s belly. “What was the bet?” While waiting for the reply, Mike watched as Gillian scooted over a tiny bit, and Allie crawled up on to the bed next to her. Her arm was draped over the top of the bed, supporting her, and the other one rested on Gillian’s belly. It was almost like the two of them knew what the other one was going to do and accommodated for it. It was kind of cool, he thought as he pulled up a seat near Jake.

Jake answered her question saying, “I said you’d wait until morning to come, but Gilly said you were on your way.”

Allie snorted a laugh, clearly more relaxed now that she knew her friend was okay. “Silly Jake. Gillian always knows.”

“I know, I should’ve known better,” Jake said before glancing between Allie and him. “How was the date?”

Allie answered before he could. “Great. Mike took me to this concert in the park over in Point Loma. We totally have to go with the kids some time; it was such a cool atmosphere. We had a picnic and listened to music.”

Mike smiled at her when she glanced over at him, adding, “And we danced.”

Allie blushed, and it was adorable. Gillian said, “Oh that sounds like such a nice date. I would totally high-five you over there, Mike, but I’m on strict orders not to get up. Jake, give him a high-five for me, please.”

Mike laughed as Jake raised his hand and did just that. Allie smirked at him and giggled. “Did you know that Mike apparently had an acne problem as a young man?”

Gillian shook her head at Allie and smiled at him. “Sure, have a good time at my expense ladies. I guess I should be grateful that bit of information isn’t the first piece you shared. My ego would’ve been seriously wounded.”

Both ladies giggled, and Mike turned his attention to Jake who just smiled and said, “Sometimes their relationship scares me, it’s like they’re the same person. Or maybe each a half of a whole.”

Mike glanced back at the ladies and had to agree. It sure looked like the two woman were very close. From what he could guess, having been friends as long as they’d been, they’d gone through a lot. He was glad Allie had Gillian, but she had him now, too. Whether she knew it or not.

The four of them chatted and relaxed into the late hours of the night. He wasn’t sure if they didn’t get kicked out because they were in Labor and Delivery, or if it was
because Gillian worked there and they let it slide. But when he saw that Gillian was resting comfortably, and Allie had fallen asleep next to her, he knew it was time to get his woman home. Tapping Jake on the knee, he pointed over at the women and smiled. Jake whispered, “Told you, two halves of a whole.”

Mike nodded and slowly shifted Allie off the bed. Helping her to her feet, it took her a moment to figure out where she was, before she gave him a sleepy smile. Leaning into him, she sighed as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. He guessed she wasn’t completely awake and that was why she wasn’t guarded. When he looked back up, Gillian was awake and watching him. She smiled. “Take care of
our girl.”

Mike winked and made his way out of the hospital to take Allie home.