Quade's Babies - Brenda Jackson [49]
Six “Y ou make a good mom, Cheyenne.” Quade’s strong, husky and sensual voice seemed to float across her skin like a soft caress reminding her of that night he had touched it all over. She inhaled, not wanting to go there. Instead she tossed a, thank-you, over her shoulder and kept walking toward the living room, knowing he was following close behind. The babies had been fed and put back to sleep, but not before she had given Quade a quick lesson in diaper changing. He had even helped while she had given them a bath and dressed them in new sleeping attire. And then Quade seemed determined to sit and hold Venus for a while, actually rocking her to sleep. From the questions he’d asked, Cheyenne knew he was concerned with Venus’s weight. Although Cheyenne had tried to sound encouraging, she had to admit she, too, was worried about Venus. During their last routine doctor’s visit, Dr. Poston had said if Venus’s weight wasn’t up to what he considered a satisfactory level, he would be putting
Seven “S o, Quade Westmoreland, where have you been for the past nine months?” Quade saw anger flicker in the eyes of Sebastian Steele. The four men had come inside and stood in the living room, all in a single file, with arms folded across their chests staring at him, evidently waiting for his response to Sebastian’s question. The room was filled with thick tension and a part of Quade understood. He, his brothers and cousins would be doing the same thing if his cousin Delaney, who had grown up overprotected by her five brothers and six cousins, had gotten pregnant and it had taken the man responsible almost ten months to show up. The stubborn part of Quade felt he didn’t owe these men any explanation, especially if Cheyenne hadn’t given them one. But then another part—the one that understood the role of a protector—could accept how they felt and didn’t mind stating his case. Who knew? They might eventually become allies instead of enemies and help in his cause. Mimicking their stance,
Eight Q uade wanted it, as well. With a vengeance. With every part of his being. And tonight, just like the other time, he would give them both extreme pleasure. A part of him didn’t want to rush anything. He had wanted to wait and not make love to her until she agreed to be his wife—until the time when she saw that he, she and their babies needed to be a family. And although their marriage wouldn’t be based on love per se, it would be based on mutual respect, admiration and desire. But then another part, the part that was oozing with a degree of desire he could only reach with her, didn’t want to wait. This part wanted a repeat of that night in Egypt. Being around her had unleashed a host of memories he could not ignore. The fiery heat of them had burned a place into the core of his very existence. He drew her closer to him, leaned his mouth within inches of hers and said, “Do you know how many days and nights I carried the memory of what we shared with me no matter where I went?” “No
Nine C heyenne sat in the hospital’s waiting room and closed her eyes against the rush of emotions ripping through her. Everything had happened so fast. Quade had taken Venus from her arms and had begun resuscitation procedures while Vanessa had called 9-1-1. The rescue service had arrived within minutes and now she and Quade were here, waiting for the doctor to tell them what was wrong with Venus. Vanessa and Taylor had been left behind to care for Troy and Athena. “Our baby girl is going to be okay, Cheyenne,” Quade said, taking her hand in his. She glanced over at him and found comfort in his solid presence beside her. She loved this man, who less than an hour ago had taken their child from her arms and breathed life into her lungs. She had been in a state of panic and didn’t want to think what might have happened if Quade had not been there. She tightened her hand around his and leaned over to place her head on his shoulder, finding even more comfort in doing so. “I want to