Until Twyla Read online

  He roots in deep, his body trembling as his cock jerks inside of me. He pulls out and slams back in. The sensation of the heat of his release in the condom makes me quiver, and I whimper his name as he pulls back and thrusts in again, and then again. When he stills, I hold on tight.

  “I love you,” I murmur.

  “And I love you,” he answers, his breathing harsh.

  Minutes or possibly eons pass like this before he shifts, wraps an arm around me, and rolls us over so that I’m on top of him. When his not-really-softening cock jerks inside of me, I automatically clench around him.

  He hisses out a sound as I feel his cock thickening inside of me. “Again?” he asks.

  Lifting my head, I look him in the eye and nod.

  “Just like this,” I answer. “I want to ride you.”

  “Fuck yeah,” he rasps. “Let me change the condom and then you can have your way with me.”

  And I do.

  Twice.

  Chapter Eight

  Twyla

  It’s been five weeks since I moved into Jensen’s house. Five weeks of merging our lives together, something that fills me so full of joy that I can barely contain it. We said I love you to each other so early that I’m sure to a lot of people it would seem like there was nowhere to go from there. That’s not the case at all. I love him more every day. There’s no doubt in my mind that we are meant to be together. Jensen is the exact personification of what I wanted in a man. He’s honorable and so caring that he melts my heart, and I’ve never felt safer or more content than I do with him.

  Elias is in jail awaiting trial because he wasn’t granted bail. That’s very good news—but Todd is still missing, which isn’t. I want to work but Jensen is being all growly alpha about it. He doesn’t want me to take a job until Todd is in cuffs, but if this goes on much longer I’m going to lose my mind. I’ve spent my entire life go-go-going. While I am thrilled to have roots here with Jensen, I still need to get out of the house on a regular basis.

  To that end, I’ve been keeping up with all the new postings on JobList but I have to admit it’s causing me stress. I was fine with waitressing before but now I’m scared that I’ll get another asshole boss. I’d done two lengthy interviews with Todd before he offered me the job at the Starlight, and other than finding him harsh and borderline obnoxious, I’d never had any inkling that something was up with him. Certainly I’d never expected that he’d send me out to the parking lot like a lamb to the slaughter to be attacked by his cousin.

  As I’m scrolling the ads, a call pops up on my screen. I smile when I see that it’s Mallory. I’m becoming good friends with Jensen’s partner’s wife, which is awesome. I’ve also been enjoying getting to know the other cops he’s close to and their partners. Nico and his wife Sophie, Leo and his wife Carrie, and Aurora and her husband Neil, along with all of their kids, are hilarious. Jensen loves the way they’ve welcomed me into their group and I love the way they stick together.

  Hitting the accept icon, I bring the phone to my ear. “Hey Mallory, what’s up?”

  “Don’t freak out,” she says.

  Immediately, I freak out.

  “What’s wrong? Where’s Jensen? Is he okay?” I ask, my voice desperate.

  Please God, I silently pray, let him be okay.

  “He is, I swear it. They got a tip that Todd has been downtown camped up in an office building his grandfather owns that’s under renovation. When they arrived on the scene, he was standing in the service alley behind the building. He ran, they chased, and he fired off four shots. A bullet hit Jensen in the arm, but since Neil was the EMT we already know that it’s nothing major. He says Jensen will be out of commission for a little while, but otherwise he’s fine. John is on his way to pick you up and take you to the hospital now.”

  I’m already up and looking for my purse and shoes but I’m not thinking too straight and I’m also shaking so hard it’s freaking me out. If something were to happen to him, I’d lose it. He means everything.

  “You promise he’s okay?” I ask.

  “I swear on my life. The only reason he didn’t call you himself is because they’re stitching up the wound at the hospital now.”

  I nod before I realize she can’t see me and I need to speak. “Okay.”

  Looking out the front window, I see a patrol car speeding down the street.

  “I think John’s here,” I tell her.

  “Okay honey. Call me if you need anything.”

  Sniffling, I thank her and start to say goodbye. “Wait! What happened to Todd? Did he get away?”

  I open the door as John pulls into the driveway, but stop walking when Mallory speaks.

  “Jensen fired on him. Todd didn’t make it.”

  I wonder what it says about me that I’m glad he’s dead. Not because of what he did to me, either. It’s because of what he tried to do to Jensen. No one who would shoot at a cop needs to be out walking around.

  The world is a safer place without Todd in it. The man who saved me twice in one night made sure of it.

  * * *

  I race into the emergency room patient area at high speed, needing to see Jensen with my own eyes. When John gestures to a room on the right I skid through the door so fast that I nearly knock Dr. Paige over.

  She takes it in her stride, waving away my apology as she steps to the side. “Glad to see you healed perfectly. If you take as good care of this guy as he took of you, everything is going to be fine.”

  I nod as I look over at Jensen. He’s wearing his uniform pants but instead of the usual shirt that goes with it, he’s in a loose-fitting tee that says Tennessee General on it. His left arm is in a sling and he’s sitting on the edge of the bed like he thinks he’s about to get up. Hurrying across the room, I stop him. “Don’t get up! You were just shot.”

  He shakes his head and grins at me. “I know, babe. My legs are good—it’s my arm that hurts. Everything is fine.”

  “No, it’s not because you were just shot,” I say again. “I need you to slow down and take it easy.”

  “He really is okay,” Dr. Paige says from behind me. “The entry and exit wounds were both clean. He needs to wear the brace to immobilize his arm for the time being but he’ll be back to normal in a few weeks. Just make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid like lift something heavy. I’m off to get his discharge papers going but don’t hesitate to call me if you need to.”

  I thank her without looking away from Jensen. He owns my entire heart and right now, I can’t do anything but look at him. He nods like he understands as he lifts his uninjured arm and cups my face with his hand.

  “I’m fine. We’re fine. Better than fine even because Todd’s no longer at large.”

  I move my lips and say thank you silently so that only he knows how I feel about that. He nods in a way that tells me he understands, and I’m reminded all over again of why I love this man. He gets me, and I get him. It doesn’t get better than this.

  “I’m going to go call Mallory,” John says.

  I hear the door close after him when he goes, leaving Jensen and I alone.

  “I was so scared,” I whisper.

  His grimace tells me he doesn’t like that I felt that way. “I’m sorry, babe.”

  Leaning in, I drop soft kisses on his forehead and both of his cheeks. “Don’t let it happen again,” I murmur.

  “I can’t control the future but I promise that I’ll always have my vest on. I go to work every day knowing that I’m the luckiest guy alive because I get to come home to you. I’ll never take that for granted or do anything that could fuck that up. I’m going to keep myself in good working order because I’m planning a long life with you, Twyla.”

  “Oh yeah?” I ask, my voice soft.

  “Yeah,” he answers. “In fact, I’ve been thinking. How would you feel about going to the Bahamas for our honeymoon while I’m off to heal?”

  I blink at him like an idiot as I process his words. “Honeymoon?” I ask.<
br />
  Grinning, he stands, reaches into the pocket of his uniform pants, and pulls out a black velvet box. “I picked this up from the jeweler before work this morning. Planned to ask you this weekend, but today I was reminded that there’s no time like the present. While Neil was taking care of me in the ambulance I made him call Aurora so that she could get the ring from my locker and bring it here.”

  Tears slide down my face unchecked as I look from him down to the box.

  “I’m one-handed Harry right now so you’re going to have to open it,” Jensen jokes.

  I sniffle-cry as I reach out and open it. I gasp when I see the ring. It’s a beautiful square cut diamond on a platinum diamond band.

  “Twyla Yvette Penn, will you marry me?”

  There’s no other answer but the one I’m about to give. “Yes! Yes, yes, yes,” I answer.

  Taking the ring from the box, I give it to Jensen and hold up my hand. We both laugh when we see that my hand is shaking. Dashing at my tears with the back of my hand, I focus on committing this moment to memory. I never want to forget the way having Jensen slide this ring onto my finger feels.

  I stare at the sparkly ring for a few seconds and smile. “It’s perfect.”

  “Yeah,” he agrees, “it fuckin’ is.”

  Looking up, I find him staring at me.

  “Spent years thinking the boom was a joke—until you, Twyla. I’m so fuckin’ glad I found you. I love you like crazy, babe.”

  “I love you too, Jensen. More than anything.”

  “Let’s get the hell out of here and get going on wedding plans then,” he says.

  And we do.

  Epilogue

  Jensen

  Two years later

  “Happy anniversary.”

  My wife’s eyes open slowly. It’s four in the afternoon and I’ve said happy anniversary at least twenty times today, but I have no intention of stopping before the day is over. I celebrate this day and this woman like other people celebrate Christmas. She’s my life and I will never lose sight of how lucky I am to have found her.

  Yawning, she gives me a drowsy grin as she moves to sit up. At twenty-nine weeks pregnant, she’s a bit slower than usual—and also a bit more tired, hence the nap. I do my best to ignore her ripe, naked body as I help her get comfortable. We’ve got something to do tonight and we can’t be late.

  “Happy anniversary to you, too,” she answers. “Thank you for tiring me out so I could take a nap—I needed it. Are you ready to tell me what we’re doing tonight?”

  I grin. “Nope.”

  She pouts her perfect lips and gives me a pleading look.

  “But I don’t know what to wear,” she whines.

  “That’s not a problem since I laid out your outfit for tonight already,” I answer.

  She grimaces and wrinkles her nose. “Are you sure it’s going to fit? I’m pretty sure the only things that are guaranteed to cover me these days are circus tents and your worn out tees.”

  I can’t help the groan that comes out of me as I picture her in my tees. The way her bump stretches the fabric and her hot-as-fuck tits jiggle a little when she walks turns me on so much it’s a wonder I get anything that doesn’t involve fucking her done. We had sex once this morning and once again before she took her nap and I’m already thinking about the next time I can be inside of her.

  “Trust me, it’ll fit,” I assure her.

  It’ll fit because I know this woman’s body like the back of my hand. I also know her online shopping habits and her password, which means it didn’t take much to click on over to her favorite maternity store.

  She tries to get me to cave and tell her where we’re going but I pretend to zip my lips as I turn and walk away. When I come back half an hour later she’s dressed and finishing her hair.

  “You don’t think this is too much?” she asks, turning to show me the front of the dress.

  Fuck. Why did I think this would be good for her to wear? Although it’s in no way indecent, the swell of her tits against the bodice of the sexy blush colored ankle length dress is hot as fuck.

  “I think you’re fuckin’ beautiful and I’m the luckiest man alive because you’re mine,” I tell her.

  She tries to guess what we’re doing as I drive to Bryson’s Steakhouse, but I don’t give in. She makes an excited sound as we pull into the parking lot. “Yes! I’ve been craving a Bryson’s filet.”

  “See?” I tease as I park the car. “You like surprises.”

  Throwing her head back, she laughs. “I like steak.”

  Laughing, I get out of the car and walk around to her side. After helping her out, I take her hand in mine and start walking toward the restaurant doors. “You’ve always liked steak but I gotta say, babe, your carnivore side has been elevated since you got pregnant. I’m thinking it’s highly unlikely that our daughter will ever want to be a vegetarian.”

  “It’s true,” she giggles. “Your little girl loves steak.”

  Fuck, every time I think about our daughter I get excited. She’s not even here yet and I already love her like crazy. I just know she’s going to be a little spitfire, just like her momma.

  Entering the restaurant, I nod at the hostess and gesture with my head toward the banquet room. Nodding, she smiles and stays silent as I guide my wife down the hall.

  “Wait,” she says as we walk, “the dining area is on the other side.”

  “Not tonight,” I tell her.

  Stopping at the double doors, I push them open and smile as our friends and family yell “Happy Anniversary!”

  Everyone is here. My parents, Twyla’s parents, our neighbors and all of our friends. Hell, half the precinct is in this room right now.

  Twyla’s jaw drops as she looks around and takes it all in. The pink and purple centerpieces, the balloons, the DJ, the three-tier cake that’s on a table in the rear of the room—and the reverend from our church who’s currently standing beneath a flower festooned archway.

  “What is this?” she asks, her voice thick with emotion.

  Wrapping my arms around her, I pull her close. “I married you so fast that you never got a wedding reception. When our daughter asks to see our wedding album, I want her to see more than just the two of us at City Hall. I want her—and the brothers and sisters we give her— to see family. She’s going to know that even though her parents are so crazy that they fell in love in less than a day and were married within six weeks, they’re still crazy ass in love. Our kids are going to know that we choose each other every day, and to that end I plan to marry you all over again as often as I can.”

  Her lower lip trembles as she takes in what I’ve said. “God I love you,” she whispers.

  “I love you, too—forever, and even beyond that. Ready to get married, Mrs. Reed?”

  Her answering smile melts my fuckin’ heart. “Always, Mr. Reed.”

  The End

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  About the Author

  Ella Fox is the USA Today Bestselling Author of Consequences of Deception, The Hart Family series & many other sexy and exciting books.

  Ella is an avid reader, lover of music and all around goofball. She grew up loving to read. That's not surprising considering the fact that her mom is USA Today Bestselling Author Suzanne Halliday!

  Also by Ella Fox

  The Enamorado (In Love) Series

  I Don’t

  I Want

  I Need

  Novellas

  Sin’s Temptation

  Sweet Like Candy

  Amber’s Allure

  Out of Formation

  Until Mallory

  Until Twyla

  Rated Ex (currently available on the Read Me Romance podcast)

  The Hart Family Series

  Broken Hart

  Shattered Hart

  Loving Hart

  Unbroken Hart

  Missing Hart

  Finding Hart


  The Renegade Saints (Rockstar Romance) Series

  Picture Perfect

  Twist of Fate

  Between Us

  Something to Believe In

  Standalone Books

  Consequences of Deception

  All That’s Left to Hold Onto

  Strictly Temporary

  Disrupt

  Happily Ever Alpha World books

  2019 HEA Books

  Until the Tequila ~ Brynne Asher

  Until the Lightning Strikes ~ Elle Christensen

  Until Twyla ~ Ella Fox

  Until Midnight ~ Gwendolyn Grace

  Until Mayhem ~ Layla Frost

  Until Merri ~ Suzanne Halliday

  Until Ellory ~ Elle Jefferson

  Until Her Smile ~ Samantha Lind

  Until Valerie ~ Jessica Marin

  Until Fools Find Gold ~ Mary B. Moore

  Until Mercy ~ C.C. Monroe

  Until Tennessee ~ Sarah O’Rourke

  Until Mani ~ Rochelle Paige

  Scary Hot ~ KD Robichaux

  Until Joe ~ CP Smith

  Until I Make You Mine ~ Jenika Snow

  2018 HEA Books

  Until Arsen ~ K.L. Donn

  Until Avery ~ Brynne Asher

  Until Brandon ~ Natasha Madison

  Until I Saw You ~ Jordan Marie

  Until Kayla ~ CC Monroe

  Until Leo ~ Rochelle Paige

  Until Mallory ~ Ella Fox

  Until More ~ S. Van Horne

  Until Nox ~ Layla Frost

  Until Rayne ~ Elle Christensen

  Until Sunrise –~Sarah O’Rourke

  Until Susan ~CP Smith

  Until The Summer ~ Elle Jefferson

  Until We Meet Again ~ KD Robichaux

  Until You~ Samantha Lind

  Until You’re Mine ~Jenika Snow