“No morning sickness?”
“None whatsoever.” She grinned teasingly. “I’m already liking this kid more than the others.”
Marcus laughed, the sound wrapping around her like the warmest embrace. He was wearing black silk pajama bottoms, leaving his chest and abs bare. Samara wore the matching top, unbuttoned low enough to expose the curve of her breasts.
Firelight danced across Marcus’s face, illuminating his dark eyes as he smiled at her. “I can’t believe you kept your pregnancy a secret from me. For three whole weeks.”
Samara grinned. “It was hard, but I really wanted to surprise you.”
“You definitely did. You surprised the hell out of me.”
“I know. The look on your face was priceless.”
“I bet it was. Seeing you up on that runway with the tiger…” Marcus shook his head, marveling. “It felt like déjà vu. Like coming full circle.”
Samara smiled. “Exactly.”
He stroked her hair, smiling softly. “I love all the Christmas presents you gave me this morning. But a baby...I can’t think of a more perfect gift.”
“I was hoping you’d feel that way.” Samara nibbled at the corner of his mouth, interlocking her fingers behind his neck. “We’ll have to start thinking of names.”
“Definitely.” Marcus smiled against her lips. “You know I’ve already started a list.”
She laughed. “Why am I not surprised?”
Grinning broadly, Marcus placed his hand over her stomach, long fingers splayed wide.
Samara watched him, her heart bursting from the profound depths of her love for him.
“I’m feeling just as amazed as I did when you were pregnant the first time,” he murmured quietly. “The thought of a life growing inside you…a life we made together…”
Samara smiled softly. “It is pretty awe-inspiring, isn’t it?”
“Definitely.” He stroked her belly through the silk pajama top. “I can’t wait to feel him kicking. Or her.”
Samara grinned. “Thankfully we don’t have to wait several more weeks to find out what we’re having. Mom says she’ll do her trusty necklace ritual whenever we’re ready.”
“Let’s do it tomorrow,” Marcus said without hesitation.
Samara laughed, laying her head on his shoulder. “We’ve got so much going on tomorrow. How about the day after? It’s supposed to snow, so I plan to laze around all day and stuff my face.”
Marcus laughed. “So you have been eating more than usual. I knew I wasn’t imagining things.”
“Nope. You weren’t.” She grinned. “Mom’s chef is phenomenal, but I’m really looking forward to the special dinner that Aunt Prissy, Mike and Lexi have planned for us. I got excited when I overheard them discussing the menu yesterday. Everything sounded absolutely delicious.”
“I bet,” Marcus said humorously, kissing the top of her head. “But you weren’t supposed to be eavesdropping.”
“I know,” she said sheepishly. “I didn’t mean to. I went down to the kitchen to get a piece of Mama Wolf’s pound cake—which disappeared way too fast, I might add.”
Marcus chuckled. “C’mon, now. You know Mama Wolf’s pound cake never lasts very long. Especially with a houseful of people.”
“I know,” Samara grumbled into his neck. “Some folks are gonna have to stay home next year.”
“The twins are hoping for a boy,” Samara murmured.
Marcus smiled against her hair. “I’m sure they’d enjoy having a baby brother. But a girl would be good for Milan.”
“For me, too,” Samara asserted, lifting her head from his shoulder. “We need some more estrogen in our house to balance out all that testosterone.”
Marcus chuckled, nibbling her lip. “What do you have against testosterone?”
“Nothing,” she said with a grin. “But your family has an overabundance of it.”
“Nonsense,” he guffawed. “There’s no such thing as too much testosterone.”
“Hmm. I beg to differ.”
“Yeah?” Marcus reached under the pajama top to wrap his hands around the curve of her bottom. “What’s wrong with testosterone?”
Samara shivered with a hot rush of desire as he kneaded her buttocks. “Nothing’s wrong with testosterone,” she whispered.
His eyes gleamed. “So you won’t mind giving me another son, right?”
She bit her twitching lip. “Um…”
He gently slapped her bottom, making her laugh.
“Just kidding.” She leaned down and kissed him softly before purring, “I’ll give you whatever you want, Marcus Wolf. Just as long as you keep loving me.”
He smiled against her mouth. Then he shifted beneath her, tugging his pants down just enough to free his big shaft.
“Oh my,” Samara breathed.
He palmed her buttocks and lifted her, sliding her against his strong bare chest. As her nipples puckered from the friction, she locked her legs around his waist.
Staring into her eyes, Marcus slowly lowered her onto his jutting erection, one glorious inch at a time.
As waves of pleasure rippled up her spine, Samara threw back her head and moaned, “Oh baby…”
*****
ALSO BY MAUREEN SMITH
The Wolf Pack Series
Treacherous
Inferno
Taming the Wolf
Seducing the Wolf
Recipe for Temptation
A Holiday Affair
This I Promise You
The Brand BROTHERS Series
Whatever You Like
Any Way You Want It
Whatever You Need
The Affair Series
A Legal Affair
A Guilty Affair
A Risky Affair
The Mayne Attraction Series
Touch of Heaven
Imagine Us
DENVER REBELS SERIES
Wicked Games
ECSTASY ISLAND SERIES
Stay With Me
ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
Ghosts of Fire
With Every Breath
A Heartbeat Away
Weapon of Seduction
Whisper My Name
Secret Agent Seduction
No One But You
Like No One Else
Romancing the M.D.
Novellas
Falling Into You
Treacherous
A Holiday Affair
Stay With Me
BY NAOMI CHASE
The EXPOSED Series
Exposed
Deception
Betrayal
Speechless
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Maureen Smith is the USA Today bestselling author of over 25 novels and five novellas, garnering critical acclaim for her sensual romances and heart-pounding romantic suspense. She has won a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award (nominated for seven total) and numerous Emma Awards. She also writes sexy women’s fiction under the pen name Naomi Chase.
Before becoming an author, Maureen interned with a former U.S. presidential candidate, worked at the famous Watergate complex, and did a stint as a reporter and freelance writer. She now lives in Houston, Texas with her husband, two children, and a quirky Miniature Schnauzer who follows her around everywhere.
Visit Maureen’s website and join her mailing list to receive updates about new books, current projects, and upcoming appearances. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached via:
Email: author@maureen-smith.com
Website: www.maureen-smith.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/maureen.smith
Twitter: @maureenwrites
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Maureen Smith, Oh Baby: A Holiday Novella (Wolf Pack Book 9)