Epilogue

My keys jingle in the lock as I turn it over and push inside. Warm air surrounds me, and I sigh happily as it whisks away the chill.

Autumn in Hildale Port isn't terribly cold, but today's blustery wind and rain sapped all the internal warmth from me, which makes the welcoming hug that is the penthouse all the better.

I can still hear rain pattering on the large patio doors.

"I'm home!"

My voice rings out, but then I see Luke and our little peanut in the living area.

Daphne is propped up on the couch, giggling away as Luke blows raspberries over her feet as he sits on the floor.

I'm warmed even more at the sight, and I quickly shuck my wet jacket, hanging it on a hook as I toe off my sneakers by the door.

Padding over, I get to the living room rug before I sink down onto my knees, crawl to the edge of the couch, and sit next to Luke.

"Hello, baby! Are you having fun with Daddy?"

She squeaks away happily, and I plant a kiss on Luke's cheek.

"She is now. She was trying to shoot poop at me twenty minutes ago."

I can't stop the laugh, but I look over at the giggling bundle and wag my finger at her.

"Daphne Carter Shaw, don't poop on Daddy."

Luke chuckles, pressing a kiss to the side of my neck as he wraps an arm around me.

"I can't say it was entirely her fault," he murmurs against my neck and then pulls back. "I was trying to help the poor thing out because she hadn't gone since?—"

"Two days ago. I remember. So, it worked, though?"

Luke frowns thoughtfully but then smiles. "I mean, yes? She went, but it did get on the wall."

"Oh no!" I can barely speak through the laughs raking through me. "But I mean, yay, right? Hopefully, her tummy feels better."

Luke grabs Daphne's feet, wiggling them as she continues to squeal and giggle and reach out for him.

"I think it does if her mood now is anything to go by."

I lean toward her, giving Daphne a kiss on her little cheek. "Well, good. I'm glad."

Stealing her down from the couch, I pull Daphne into my lap and sit her up between my legs.

We play and fiddle with each other's fingers while I make funny faces at her.

"How was work?" Luke rubs a hand up and down my back, laughing when Daphne giggles.

"It was good. The tests look good for the procedure tomorrow. And Beth's checkup evaluation went great."

Luke smiles. "That's awesome. I know she was looking forward to seeing her cousin for a playdate."

"How did drop-off go?"

I raise my brows, knowing that Daphne likes to be a bit of a stinker when we have to leave her at Auntie Kayleigh's.

Luke exaggerates a frown, leaning toward Daphne as he points at her.

"She wasn't having it at first, but then she saw her buddy, Chelsea, and I was immediately chopped liver."

"Oh, great! Was Dom or Chloe there?" I smile, still sticking my tongue out at Daphne.

"No, just missed them. But we'll see them Friday night for dinner."

I nod, standing up before picking up our little wiggle worm for a bit of a snack before bath time and bed.

"Oh, that's right. I asked for an early shift last week, so I'm sure we're good." Luke stands up, kissing the top of my head before we go into the kitchen. "Which reminds me. Chloe was thinking about having the girls' birthday party together since their birthdays are so close."

Luke turns down the corner of his mouth in a satisfied smirk. "Two for the price of one. I'm down."

"Ha!" I laugh as I seat Daphne in the high chair. "You sound like Dom."

"Oh—" Luke puts a hand to his chest "—the insult. Fine, fine, I guess we can have it all together."

Shaking my head, I go to the fridge to get some of the halved grapes Daphne has been liking, along with some milk and Cherrios.

"I can't believe her birthday is coming up so soon. She's already seven months old."

Luke nods, sitting down in a chair next to Daphne. "I know. Nothing makes time move faster than having a baby."

I nod at him with my eyebrows raised. "Right?"

With the snacks and a little bottle in tow, I head over to the table and present my offering to the Great Milk Monster.

"How was therapy?" I kiss Luke before I sit next to him.

"Good. Same old, same old. But I think the techniques are working for the nightmares."

Smiling excitedly, I smooth my hand down Luke's cheek.

"Good! That's something. Don't forget how much you've grown in seven months, either."

Luke becomes bashful, like he usually does, turning his head away.

"Yeah, yeah. Also, Cam is trying to cancel on Friday, so I need you to guilt-trip him into coming."

With a chuckle, I help Daphne with a piece of cereal.

"Me? Why me?"

"Because everyone else has already tried, and we need us all on board for this."

Shaking my head at him, I roll my eyes at Luke and give Daphne a few more pieces.

"Fine, fine. I'll help."

Daphne chows down on her little snacks, getting through half her milk. We save the rest for bedtime after her bath, putting it in the fridge.

After splashes and more adorable giggles, including some particularly great ones after Luke gives her a bubble hat, Daphne is dry, warm, and ready for bed.

I run to the kitchen and grab the milk, meeting Luke and the baby at the changing table where she's chewing on her favorite teether.

"Oh, man, another tooth?" I sigh. "Do we have more of that clove stuff?"

Luke smiles down at Daphne, answering me in a singsong voice.

"Already on there."

"Oh, you're amazing."

I kiss him on the cheek, and he lifts up Daphne to bring her to the crib.

"Hmm, I'm going to hide the milk, then."

"Smart," Luke whispers.

He lays her down while I turn on her music and soft light, which makes stars on the ceiling, added in for good measure.

I sing her a little song I made up, and we each lean over to struggle through a few kisses.

Luke looks back over his shoulder. "Night, baby girl. See you in the morning."

Closing the door as I leave, I whisper one last time.

"Good night, Daphne. First in a long line of superheroes."

The door closes gently, and while she stirs for a little bit, cooing and growling, Daphne settles quickly.

Luke takes me by the hand after we clean up the kitchen and dining room, pulling me toward the bedroom.

"Now then." He leans me against the wall in the hallway. "I think it's time we had a good night."

I laugh against his chest, but it quickly turns to a hushed moan as his lips come to my neck, his hands reaching around for my ass.

"Mmm, I'm very okay with that idea." Dragging my hands up his arms, I wrap myself around him. "But maybe in the actual bedroom?"

Luke's playful nibbles on my skin make goose bumps skitter over me, and he lifts me up to carry me.

I wrap my legs around his waist.

He mumbles against my neck, "If you insist."

In no time, we're in our bedroom, and out of habit, when he sets me down, I reach back for the charging cord to plug in my phone and get the baby monitor going.

Luke draws the curtains, gets music playing gently in the background, and lights a few candles before turning off the lights.

He's back to me in a flash, his hands going for my scrub bottoms and pulling them down my legs.

Taking my socks and underwear along with them, I bite the side of my lip as I sit up and yank my top over my head.

I watch as Luke makes quick work of removing his pants as I get myself naked and then help him with his shirt.

His taut, muscular body gleams in the soft candlelight, and I'm immediately swept up into the moment when he crawls between my legs, leaning down to kiss me.

The feeling of his lips against mine, his hands roaming my body, is one I'll never tire of—and while I'm so incredibly grateful for Daphne, I'm happy that I don't have to worry about getting pregnant again.

Apparently, my being pregnant was extremely risky considering my medical condition, which, of course, makes sense.

So, between all the worry and the constant doctor appointments throughout gestation, we both agreed that removing the risk surgically was the best idea.

Plus, spontaneous sex is just the best.

Luke hums against my lips as he begins to work his kisses down my body, starting with my neck, where he playfully bites.

I'm already burning up—slick and ready for him.

Still, Luke keeps teasing me, working his kisses across my chest before taking a hardened nipple into his mouth.

"Oh, Luke."

My hips buck up off the bed as he toys with the sensitive bud.

His hand comes up to join his mouth in pleasuring me while the other squeezes my hip.

"I love these fucking nipples of yours, darlin'. I could stay here all night."

He pinches, and I arch again.

"Please don't." My words make him look up with a furrowed brow, and I smirk. "I want you other places."

A devilish gleam shines in Luke's eyes, and he bites my nipple again before dragging those kisses down my stomach until he's just above my center.

"Say please, darlin'."

Narrowing my eyes at him, I glare at Luke a little.

"Please."

I drag the word out, opening my legs up farther.

"Anything for you."

Luke shoves my thighs even wider, sinking down to tease just the top of my slit with his tongue.

I'm dying for more already, my hips squirming against his hold, seeking out more of the sensations.

He chuckles to himself, and I'm about to snap at him when he drags his tongue all the way across me, making me whimper.

"Oh fuck, yes. Please, Luke."

His hand moves between my legs to hold my folds open for him, and then his lips form a seal around my clit, sucking the needy bud into his mouth.

I cry out from the exquisite pleasure, and then Luke is flicking across it with his tongue.

"Oh, holy hell." I grip his hair, squeezing until my knuckles ache.

Luke's tongue dives deep inside me, swirling in circles until I'm mewling against him.

That's when his fingers press inside, thrusting in and out as he sucks on my clit again.

I fall apart in seconds, the climax washing over me from head to toe as I bite back the urge to cry out.

His fingers draw out every last ounce of pleasure, and Luke hums appreciatively as I melt into a puddle for him.

When I still, he pulls back, licking his lips like the incredible, sinful god he is.

"That's my girl."

Smirking as I catch my breath, I sit up, pulling Luke down to me so I can claim his lips and roll him onto his back.

Once he's there, I straddle his straining erection, notching the head at my entrance.

"My turn."

Luke is all smiles as I settle myself down over his thick shaft. He slides deep inside me, and we both moan.

I'm so full, his cock reaching incredible depths, and I begin to rock myself back and forth, fucking slowly and purposefully.

I adore the way he feels this deep, sheathed so far inside me that there isn't an inch that doesn't get to enjoy him.

We start up a rhythm, Luke's hands coming to my hips and helping me to bounce up and down.

So much of me wants to cry out, and I make a mental note to find a babysitter for an evening so we can do this a bit louder next time.

Luke bottoms out as I come down hard, and I let out a small yelp. Circling my hips, I sense him thickening even more inside me.

"That's it, darlin'. Oh, fuuuck."

I love the sounds he makes when I ride him like this, and I work faster, wanting another release as he finds his.

We're right at the brink, and just as Luke grunts low, his fingers digging into my hips, he comes, filling me with his warm cum.

I tumble over the edge at the sheer bliss of it all, my orgasm milking every last drop from him.

There is nothing that could be better about my life. I'll even take Luke's terrible taste in music.

THE END

Did you like Under His Protection? Then you'll LOVE Nanny for the Doctor: A Brother's Best Friend Romance.

* * *

As an ER doctor, I"m used to surprises, but my best friend's little sister—and now my son"s nanny—is the one emergency I never saw coming.

She's supposed to be tending to scrapes and telling bedtime stories, not sending my pulse racing with every smile.

I"ve got my hands full with ER shifts and single fatherhood; I don"t have time for wild nights with the nanny.

I keep telling myself she's just a temporary temptation, but who am I kidding? The more I try to resist, the more I want her.

Our agreement was simple: keep it quiet, keep it casual, nobody needs to know. Especially not her overprotective brother—my lifelong friend.

But as our stolen moments are turning into something deeper, I start seeing a different side of her.

She"s more than just the nanny; she"s the woman who"s taken over my every thought.

We thought we could handle a no-strings fling, but hearts don't follow rules.

And when she reveals a life-changing secret, I realize this isn't just a game anymore.

She's pregnant.

* * *

Start reading Nanny for the Doctor NOW!