The Body Checker (Players on Ice Book 3) Read online

  Mom nods as I grab the big diaper bag from the backseat and hand it to Dad. “Sure.”

  “Oh…okay, then,” Quinn says, and steps up to Daisy to give her a kiss.

  “You two kids go and have fun,” Dad says.

  We get back into the car, and Quinn’s eyes are wide and wild when they turn my way. “Why didn’t you tell me you were doing that?”

  “I wanted it to be a surprise.” I pull into traffic and take a left instead of a right.

  “So that’s what the diaper bag was all about. Wait, your house is back that way.” She glares at me, that same deadly look she gave me the first day she showed up to help out with Daisy. “Now where are we going, Jonah?”

  “Now there’s the Ninja Chihuahua I know and love.”

  She punches me in the shoulder and it damn well hurts. “Ow,” I say. “Who taught you to hit like that?”

  “You, remember?”

  I laugh. “I remember. A girl has to protect herself. I’ll be teaching Daisy those same moves.”

  She laughs with me. “Good thing Daisy will have me, then.”

  “A really good thing,” I say, and slide my hand across the seat to capture hers.

  She looks away from me, stares out the window and takes in the city as I drive. After a while, she clears her throat and says, “Are you not going to tell me where we’re going?”

  “I thought I’d show you instead.” I pull up in front of a waterfront hotel and a valet comes around my side of the car.

  “Jonah, what’s going on?”

  “I know it was a pretend wedding, and that you’re doing all this for Daisy, but I wanted to at least make your wedding night special. I wanted to do this for you…you deserve that.”

  Her throat makes a sound as she swallows, and she pinches her eyes shut. I touch her face, run my thumb along her cheek.

  “Jonah. You didn’t have to do this.”

  “Did you not hear the part where I said I wanted to?” I reach across her and open her door. “Now, come on.”

  “But I don’t even have any clothes.”

  “Check the trunk. I packed your bag.”

  “Ohmigod, I can’t believe you did this.”

  “Believe it.”

  “There had better be panties in my bag.”

  I laugh as I get out of the car and pop the trunk before I hand the keys to the valet. “We won’t be needing them tonight. We probably won’t even leave our room,” I say, and Quinn’s face turns red. I grab our bag from the truck, and she shakes her head.

  “How did you do this without me knowing?”

  I wink at her. “I have my ways.”

  “Oh, I know that.”

  I go to the counter to check us in, and Quinn twirls around, taking in the opulence of the place. Once registered, I take her hand in mine and we head to the elevator, to our honeymoon suite. We get off on the top floor, and I lead her to the door. She stands back, and I open it, but when she tries to enter, I stop her.

  “Aren’t I supposed to carry you over the threshold?”

  She whacks me. “Cut it out.”

  “I’m serious,” I say, and scoop her up. She yelps, then laughs as I carry her into the room.

  “This place is gorgeous, Jonah. I didn’t need all this.”

  “You deserve it though.” I carry her to the window, and her eyes widen at the view of the harbor.”

  “What a spectacular view,” she says.

  “It is, but it’s not what I’m interested in looking at right now.”

  She slowly turns my way, and there’s heat in her eyes when they meet mine.

  “Me neither,” she says quietly, and puts her lips on mine.

  I kiss her, deeply, passionately, and no matter how many times I’ve had this women in my bed, it will never be enough.

  I carry her into the bedroom, and there’s a bottle of champagne chilling and a tray of strawberries. Rose petals have been spread across the bed.

  “Jonah, did you arrange for all this?”

  “Yeah,” I say, and set her down. “Do you like it?”

  “Do you even have to ask?”

  I grin at her, wanting to give her the damn world if I could. “Champagne?”

  “Please.”

  She reaches around me, her body touching mine, teasing me viciously, as she grabs a strawberry and pops it into her mouth. “Mmm,” she says, and my dick swells.

  “Into strawberries, are you?” I ask.

  “Mmm,” she moans again as I pour the champagne and hand her a glass. We clink glasses and both take a sip. Her eyes go wide.

  “This is so good.”

  I set my glass down and grab a strawberry. I run it over her lips then slide it into her mouth. “Just so you know, I’m into strawberries, too.”

  “Oh, really. Exactly how are you into them?”

  “Why don’t you undress for me, and I’ll show you.”

  She smiles at me, and I step back, my eyes on her body. She takes another sip of champagne, runs her tongue over her bottom lip and sets her drink down. Her hand goes to the buttons lining her sundress, and she slowly, painfully, begins to release them.

  “You’re killing me, Quinn.”

  She tugs her bottom lip with her teeth. “I know.”

  I fold my arms. “Keep it up and I’ll tear that dress off you.”

  Her chest heaves. “But this is one of my favorite dresses. It’s not replaceable.”

  “Then you better hurry the fuck up.”

  Her fingers work faster, and once they’re all undone, she shrugs from the dress. Fireworks go off inside my brain when she stands before me in a sexy white lace bra and matching panties.

  “Did you wear these under your wedding dress?” I ask. She nods. “You wore them for me, then?”

  “Yes.”

  “You’re pretty good to me, Quinn,” I say, and reach over my head to tug off my shirt. Her eyes go to my chest and she makes that sexy moan again. Fuck, man, I love the way she looks at me. “Like what you see, wife?”

  Her head snaps up. “Jonah, don’t call me that.”

  I step into her, capture her chin with my hand, and my lips come down over hers. I kiss her. Hard. Letting her know how hungry I am for her, what she means to me. I break the kiss and we’re both breathless, gasping for breath.

  “We just exchanged vows. Pretend or not, you’re my wife, and I’m going to fuck you on this bed, consummate this marriage…okay?”

  “Okay, husband,” she says, and my chest puffs up as her hands snake out, pop the button on my shorts. She releases the zipper and shoves my shorts down. Her hand goes to my hard cock, and she strokes it gently.

  “Fuck that feels good.”

  I put my hands on her face, push her hair back and revel in the hunger dancing in her eyes. She may have taken my name for Daisy’s sake, but there is no denying that she wants me in her bed.

  If only I could convince her to want me out of it, too.

  “You’re beautiful, Quinn. When I saw you in that wedding dress…” I shake my head, my mind going back to this afternoon. “I just couldn’t believe how lucky I was.”

  “You looked so handsome, Jonah. I was the envy of every woman who saw us walk into city hall today.”

  I reach around her, and unhook her bra. It falls to the floor and I drop to my knees to remove her panties. Once I have her naked, I stand and press my lips to hers. I turn, taking her with me, until the backs of her knees hit the bed. My mouth never leaves hers as I give her a little nudge, until she’s sitting. Her hands grip my hair and hold tight. Our lips part, and I go to my knees, and take one of her pink nipples into my mouth and suck.

  “Oh, Jonah,” she whispers, and I swear to Christ hearing her moan my name like that fucks me over in ways that almost frighten me. After having her in my bed numerous times, my need for her has grown, not diminished.

  I suck harder, and inch back until her nipple pops from my mouth. She visibly quakes, and the small smile on her mouth urges me on.
I lap at her other nipple, until it’s red and swollen and marked by my mouth. Then I go back on my heels and grab a strawberry.

  “Oh,” she says, when I put it between my teeth and take a bite. Juice bursts in my mouth, and I take the berry and rub it over her taut nipples. She quivers at the coldness as I get them wet, then close my mouth over them in turn, offering her heat.

  “I love the way you’re into strawberries,” she murmurs.

  I chuckle against her nipple, and squeeze the berry until juice is running over her stomach. “Lay back for me,” I say, and she lets herself fall, her arms going wide, her body completely offered up to me. My want for this woman is off the charts.

  Here I told her I was going to ruin her, but the truth was, she’s ruined me—for any other woman.

  I hold the squashed berry over her mouth. “Open,” I say, and place it on her tongue. She moans her approval, and I press my hands to the bed on either side of her body and run my tongue along her flesh. Her hips come off the bed as I lick the sweet strawberry juice from her quivering body.

  “Jonah,” she whispers, her legs automatically widening for me.

  “You want my mouth here?” I say, and adjust until I’m balancing on one hand, the other going between her legs. I touch her lightly, play with her clit, and she moans and moves beneath my fingers.

  “Yes, please,” she says, and I chuckle. I love this uninhibited woman who has no trouble giving or taking in the bedroom. I kiss a path lower, and when her sweet perfumed scent of arousal hits me, I know I’ve found heaven, and it’s sweeter than any strawberry.

  I drop to my knees again and bury my mouth between her legs. As she cries out my name, I suck her clit into my mouth, swirl my tongue over it. She gasps and grabs at me, a desperate sort of need in her eager hands.

  Knowing just how to please her, I insert one finger into her core, and find that hot bundle of nerves that drives her crazy. I stroke deeply, and her muscles tug me in as they clamp tight around me. Jesus, I’ll never tire of pleasuring her this way, especially when she makes such sexy noises, letting me know just how much she loves it.

  I keep my finger inside her and reluctantly tear my mouth from her clit. Right now, I need to see the pleasure on her face. Her hips come off the bed, and I nearly lose it. The sight of her like this, all warm and wanting as she lets me do things to her body, is a total mind fuck. Quinn unleashed. I fucking love it.

  “Jesus, you are so sexy.”

  She squirms and her beautiful breasts jiggle. For a moment I think about putting my mouth back on them, but burying my face between her legs again wins out. I suck on her, eat at her like a man starved. Jesus, it’s hard to keep it together with this kind of need tearing through me. I quickly remind myself to slow down. This is Quinn. A woman I’m in love with.

  A woman I’m pretty sure I’ve been in love with my entire fucking life.

  I push another finger inside for a snug fit, and every muscle in her body tightens. “I love when you come for me,” I say from deep between her legs. My words push her over the edge and the next thing I know, she’s coming and coming into my mouth. I drink her in, but no matter how many times I release the dam, my thirst for her will never be quenched.

  “Jonah,” she pants, and my cock throbs, urging me to get inside, and fast. When she stops trembling, I grab a condom from the bag I packed and slide it on.

  “But I want you in my mouth,” she pouts as she sits up.

  “No time for that,” I say, and position myself in the middle of the bed. “I need you to ride me, Quinn.” Her eyes light up, obviously loving that idea, too. “I want to see my wife’s face when she comes all over my cock.”

  I hold her arm to balance her as she tosses one leg over me and straddles my body. She cups her breasts, plays with her nipples, and I groan. “Such a boob man,” she teases.

  “When it comes to you, I am. Your breasts are beautiful. Everything about you is beautiful.”

  She shies away at that, and I touch her face.

  “Hey, I’m serious.”

  Instead of responding, she reaches beneath her and grips my cock. “I need you inside me, Jonah,” she says as she positions me at her entrance.

  She lowers herself onto me, and as I sink into her body, my brain shuts down. Nothing but pleasure, for the things she does to me occupy my brain. Her hips move, rotate, massage my cock, and I clench my teeth. I grip her hips and lift her up and down, and her head falls to the side as she rides me.

  “Quinn, look at me,” I whisper.

  Her eyes open and meet mine—and something deep and profound passes between husband and wife, something there is no coming back from.

  “Quinn,” I whisper.

  “Jonah,” she says in response, and I pray to fuck I’m not the only one invested in us right now.

  Our bodies move, become one as he we make love, and our eyes never lose contact. I keep my hands on her, and she holds my arms as we work in tandem to bring each other pleasure. I lift my hips, power into her, and her clit rubs against my body with each downward movement. Her eyes dim, her lids close slightly, and she releases the softest, sexiest moan as she lets go, her cum hot on my cock.

  “Yeah,” I say, as sensations center in my groin, and unable to hold out any longer, I release inside her. Her eyes open a bit more and the soft smile on her face curls around my heart. It’s strange, but sex with her is different this time, better now that she’s my wife.

  Sated, she falls over me, and I smooth my hand down her damp back, hold her close, never, ever wanting to let her go. If I told her that, would she believe me?

  Would she stay on as Daisy’s mother?

  My wife?

  Or would she run in the other direction, because a ready-made family is the last thing that she wants?

  16

  Quinn

  “You got married?! To this…this…whore?”

  Whore?

  Oh, no she didn’t!

  I’m about to throat punch Shari, but Jonah puts his hand on my arm to stop me.

  Honest to God, I hadn’t expected this today, not after the wonderful night Jonah and I had in the honeymoon suite. We’d only just gotten home and put Daisy to bed for her nap, when Shari showed up at the door, screaming and ranting and calling me names.

  I glare at her. I’m angry—not at the name calling, that I can handle. I’m angry that she didn’t list Jonah as the father, that Zander had to run around to get the name of the doctor, that she left no instructions for Jonah, and neglected to tell him about her shots.

  “Don’t you ever call her that.”

  Jonah’s voice holds a level of warning that frightens even me. Shari, however, doesn’t seem fazed.

  “Hand Daisy over,” she demands.

  “No. I’m going for custody, Shari. You disappear, show up here drunk, and then threaten me, call my wife names?”

  She looks at Jonah—then laughs in his face. A chilling laugh that prowls through my blood and sets off alarm bells. Why is she laughing like she knows something we don’t? My stomach sours and bile punches into my throat. Oh, this isn’t good. This isn’t good at all.

  “Hand her over, Jonah! She’s not even yours.”

  Jonah stands there, his entire body stiff, then he falters backward, like he’d just been sucker punched. I suppose he has been. We both have been. I put my arms around him, to help absorb the shock as my own body begins to shake almost uncontrollably.

  “You’re lying,” he finally says through clenched teeth.

  Shari plants one hand on her hip and inches her chin up. “No, I’m not.”

  As if refusing to believe any of this, he shoots back with, “Then why did you tell me she was mine, and drop her off here to bond with me?” He puts his hand on his stomach, like he’s about to vomit, too.

  “Not only are you a big fucking deal now, Jonah, when I found out I was pregnant, Zander was in love with Liz. He wasn’t going to marry me, and Daisy and I need to be taken care of. But now…” Sh
e throws a disgusted look my way. “Her.”

  Jonah grips the back of his neck, like his head is about to split in two. His eyes are wide, frightened, and it takes me back to the day Zander called me to help and I showed up here, Jonah nursing a hangover.

  “Jesus, Shari, tell me you’re lying. Tell me Daisy is mine.”

  “She’s not.” Her gaze leaves Jonah and goes to me, and I plant my feet, ready to shove her out the door if need be. “Why do you think she has your eyes?”

  “Oh. My. Fuck,” I say, and sink onto the bottom step of the staircase.

  Jonah drops down next to me, and I’m guessing his legs are as weak as mine as the pieces fall in to place.

  “Daisy is Zander’s?” I blurt out.

  “Jesus, Shari, what the hell is wrong with you? Why would you do this? Fuck, I knew the condom didn’t break that night, and Daisy is almost a month younger than you led me to believe.” He shakes his head. “You were with Zander after me?”

  As Jonah works out the details, I grab my phone and call Zander. When he answers, I tell him to get here right away. I hang on to Jonah, my heart pounding in my ears, disorienting me as I take all this in.

  Shari snarls at him, “Get a paternity test done, Jonah. I’ll be by tomorrow to collect my daughter. Have her ready.”

  With that, Shari leaves, and Jonah and I stare at each other, neither speaking, barely breathing as we sort through this turn of events. Twenty minutes later we’re both still on the steps, unmoving, the front door still wide open after Shari’s departure.

  Zander comes through it, and when he sees us, his entire body stiffens. “What?” he asks and glances up the stairs, panic on his face. “Is Daisy okay?”

  I nod, and push to shaky feet. Jonah stands with me.

  “Zander,” I begin. How do I tell my brother he’s Daisy’s father? “Let’s sit.”

  We all move into the living room, and Zander leans forward, braces his elbows on his knees. “Does someone want to tell me what’s going on? You both look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

  “Daisy…” Jonah begins. “She’s not mine.”

  “What the fuck?”