Naima Simone is the author of sizzling contemporary romance and romantic suspense featuring hot alpha men and kick-ass heroines who experience the first bites of desire, the dizzying heights of passion, and the tender, healing heat of love.She is wife to Superman, or his non-Kryptonian, less bullet proof equivalent, and mother to the most awesome kids ever. They all live in perfect, sometimes domestically-challenged bliss in the southern United States.
Hi, everyone! Happy New Year! I’m dee-lighted to be here at Ramblings From This Chick to celebrate the beginning of another year, and to be able to do it by revisiting with two of my absolute favorite characters, Ronin Palamo and Kim Matlock—now Palamo—from Book 3 in my WAGS series, SCORING THE PLAYER’S BABY. This was an opposites attract, one-night stand, surprise pregnancy book that I just loved writing. And not just because my hero bears a marked resemblance to Jason Momoa. 😊 This scene is an original I wrote just for you guys, and it takes place a few years later after the end of Scoring the Player’s Baby ended. I hope you enjoy this peek into Ronin and Kim’s life on New Year’s Eve!
“What. Are. You. Doing?”
Kim Matlock Palamo glared at her husband, her fist planted on her hips.
Ronin Palamo, wide receiver for the Washington Warriors, glanced over his shoulder at her from his hike position across from their five-year-old son, Ori. Ronin’s long, dark hair flowed forward, and she forced herself not to concentrate on the thick, silken length of it. As well as ignore—or, okay, fine, not dwell over—the wide expanse of his back, his taut ass covered in baggy cargo shorts, and the muscled, tree-trunk width and strength of his thighs. Hell, even the man’s toned calves and muscled, bare feet were hot as hell. He was still lumberjack sexy, even six years after they’d met, had a sizzling one-night stand, a surprise pregnancy, a ton of drama and had fallen deeply in love.
But no, she refused to be distracted. Instead, she skimmed over all that hot maleness he exuded like animal pheromones and focused on the tiny feet and chunky legs of Samaria, their two-year-old daughter. Feet and legs that kicked and waved at her from under Ronin’s arm. Where he held her to his hip.
Like a damn football.
“Ronin Palamo, you will not throw our child,” she ground out. God, really? Only in her house would she even need to utter those words.
“C’mon, hala. Would I do that?” Slowly, he straightened from his three-point stance—bonus points for her that she even knew what that was—and turned to face her, grinning his wicked, you-know-you-can’t-resist-me grin.
It, and the endearment she adored, would’ve worked more effectively if Samaria hadn’t chosen that moment to wave her fingers at Kim and crow, “I’m a football!” in absolute glee.
“Hand over the kid and no one gets hurt…yet,” she growled at him, stretching her arms out toward him, struggling to keep her glare in place.
Deftly flipping Samaria right side up, he placed a smacking kiss on her forehead and set her down on the floor. Giggling, she ran head-long toward Kim in the reckless way that only kids who were assured in their safety and love did. Kim scooped the toddler up, cuddling her close and inhaling the sweet baby scent that still clung to her.
“She’s okay, Mama,” Ori said, skipping forward, his wide, cocky grin identical to his father’s. And why not? Except for her gray eyes, Ori was a mini-me of Ronin. “Uncle Dom throws Sammi, not Daddy.”
“Oh, really,” Kim drawled, sliding her husband tons of side-eye.
“Yeah. But he only punts her, so’s all good,” her son continued helpfully.
“Riiight. All good,” she repeated, now giving Ronin so much stink eye this room would need to be fumigated into the New Year. “Ori, take your sister into the kitchen. The cookies are finished cooling on the table.”
“Yay!” he raced past them, his long hair flying behind him, and when Kim set Samaria on the floor, he paused long enough to grab her hand and fly out the room.
“Now, wait a minute, hala.” Ronin approached her, hands out, palms up. “You know that kid is always coming up with some whoppers. Frankly, I think it’s all that Disney he watches.”
“Disney?” she scoffed. “Seriously—”
Before she could finish lambasting him about using their child as athletic equipment, he rushed her, picking her up in his big arms and swinging her around. She parted her lips to demand he put her down, but the scattering of kisses on her mouth, chin and cheek prevented it.
Laughing, she wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him close and pressing her lips to his. Soon, playful turned to hot and hot turned to nuclear. With a growl, he easily carried her across the room to the wall, devouring her mouth, his tongue plunging deep within hers. She met him thrust for thrust, moan for moan. God, it never got old. His taste, his scent, the hungry demand, the hard press of his body to hers. The insistent nudge of his cock against her sex.
Lord, this is how they’d ended up with babies one, two and…
“Daddy! Mama! Cookies!” Samaria yelled from the kitchen.
Grinning against each other’s mouths, they groaned.
“That kid gets her lungs from you,” he murmured, pressing another kiss to the corner of her mouth. “C’mon.” He slowly eased her to her feet. “I hope you saved some of that chocolate. I have plans for it that include you, messy sheets and no kids.”
Oh yes. He still did it for her.
“Five…four…three…two…one! Happy New Year!”
Kim snuggled against Ronin on the family room couch, watching the ball drop in Time Square. The kids had tried to make it to midnight but had conked out at least a couple of hours ago, leaving her and Ronin to bring in the New Year together.
“Happy New Year, hala,” Ronin murmured into her hair. Shifting, he lifted her, arranging her in a straddle across his lap. Dark eyes searched her face as he tunneled his fingers through her hair, shifting the strands. “Every time I get to say that to you is a gift. Because it means I’m going to have so many more moments with you and Ori and Sammi. It means there are 365 more mornings I get to wake up beside you and 365 more nights I’m blessed to fall asleep, curled around you. You are my gift, hala. My beginning, my end, my miracle. Thank you for giving me the promise of something more each New Year.”
Love swelled in her chest, shoving so hard against her sternum, she gasped under the pressure. Lifting her hands, she cupped his face, tipping it down and covering his mouth with hers. Unlike earlier, this mating of lips, tongues and teeth was slower, more tender but just as sexy. It spoke of a hard-won love, of heat that never abated and passion that had bonded them together and started their family. She curled her tongue around his, sucking, licking at him. Taking charge, she tilted his head to the side and delved deeper, savoring him, drowning in him.
“About Ori and Sammi,” she breathed against his lips, still tasting his kiss.
“They’re asleep, and as long as you keep the screams to a low roar, we won’t wake them,” he murmured, nipping her chin. “I believe in you, hala. You can do it.”
“Hate to break it to you, baby,” she replied. “But you’re the screamer. And we’re going to have to practice a little more on that since in about seven more months, we’re going to have another reason to be extra quiet at night.”
Shock swept across his face, and tipping his head back, he blinked up at her. But seconds later, joy lit his dark eyes like stars in a midnight sky. A wide grin split his mouth, and a booming laugh escaped him, shaking her on his lap.
“A baby? We’re having another baby?” he rasped.
“Yep.” She tunneled her fingers through his hair, cradling his head between her palms. Wonder that he was hers and she was equally his filled her. “And this one you will not punt, throw or go long with,” she warned, tightening her grip on his thick strands.
Laughing again, he pulled her tight, burying his face in her neck. “Thank you,” he whispered. “I love you, hala. So much.”
“I love you back.”
This was her, living her best life. Giving the man she loved beyond reason more.
I hope you enjoyed the glimpse into Ronin and Kim’s New Year! To win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me a book you plan on reading in the New Year!
Kim Matlock Palamo glared at her husband, her fist planted on her hips.
Ronin Palamo, wide receiver for the Washington Warriors, glanced over his shoulder at her from his hike position across from their five-year-old son, Ori. Ronin’s long, dark hair flowed forward, and she forced herself not to concentrate on the thick, silken length of it. As well as ignore—or, okay, fine, not dwell over—the wide expanse of his back, his taut ass covered in baggy cargo shorts, and the muscled, tree-trunk width and strength of his thighs. Hell, even the man’s toned calves and muscled, bare feet were hot as hell. He was still lumberjack sexy, even six years after they’d met, had a sizzling one-night stand, a surprise pregnancy, a ton of drama and had fallen deeply in love.
But no, she refused to be distracted. Instead, she skimmed over all that hot maleness he exuded like animal pheromones and focused on the tiny feet and chunky legs of Samaria, their two-year-old daughter. Feet and legs that kicked and waved at her from under Ronin’s arm. Where he held her to his hip.
Like a damn football.
“Ronin Palamo, you will not throw our child,” she ground out. God, really? Only in her house would she even need to utter those words.
“C’mon, hala. Would I do that?” Slowly, he straightened from his three-point stance—bonus points for her that she even knew what that was—and turned to face her, grinning his wicked, you-know-you-can’t-resist-me grin.
It, and the endearment she adored, would’ve worked more effectively if Samaria hadn’t chosen that moment to wave her fingers at Kim and crow, “I’m a football!” in absolute glee.
“Hand over the kid and no one gets hurt…yet,” she growled at him, stretching her arms out toward him, struggling to keep her glare in place.
Deftly flipping Samaria right side up, he placed a smacking kiss on her forehead and set her down on the floor. Giggling, she ran head-long toward Kim in the reckless way that only kids who were assured in their safety and love did. Kim scooped the toddler up, cuddling her close and inhaling the sweet baby scent that still clung to her.
“She’s okay, Mama,” Ori said, skipping forward, his wide, cocky grin identical to his father’s. And why not? Except for her gray eyes, Ori was a mini-me of Ronin. “Uncle Dom throws Sammi, not Daddy.”
“Oh, really,” Kim drawled, sliding her husband tons of side-eye.
“Yeah. But he only punts her, so’s all good,” her son continued helpfully.
“Riiight. All good,” she repeated, now giving Ronin so much stink eye this room would need to be fumigated into the New Year. “Ori, take your sister into the kitchen. The cookies are finished cooling on the table.”
“Yay!” he raced past them, his long hair flying behind him, and when Kim set Samaria on the floor, he paused long enough to grab her hand and fly out the room.
“Now, wait a minute, hala.” Ronin approached her, hands out, palms up. “You know that kid is always coming up with some whoppers. Frankly, I think it’s all that Disney he watches.”
“Disney?” she scoffed. “Seriously—”
Before she could finish lambasting him about using their child as athletic equipment, he rushed her, picking her up in his big arms and swinging her around. She parted her lips to demand he put her down, but the scattering of kisses on her mouth, chin and cheek prevented it.
Laughing, she wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him close and pressing her lips to his. Soon, playful turned to hot and hot turned to nuclear. With a growl, he easily carried her across the room to the wall, devouring her mouth, his tongue plunging deep within hers. She met him thrust for thrust, moan for moan. God, it never got old. His taste, his scent, the hungry demand, the hard press of his body to hers. The insistent nudge of his cock against her sex.
Lord, this is how they’d ended up with babies one, two and…
“Daddy! Mama! Cookies!” Samaria yelled from the kitchen.
Grinning against each other’s mouths, they groaned.
“That kid gets her lungs from you,” he murmured, pressing another kiss to the corner of her mouth. “C’mon.” He slowly eased her to her feet. “I hope you saved some of that chocolate. I have plans for it that include you, messy sheets and no kids.”
Oh yes. He still did it for her.
* * *
“Five…four…three…two…one! Happy New Year!”
Kim snuggled against Ronin on the family room couch, watching the ball drop in Time Square. The kids had tried to make it to midnight but had conked out at least a couple of hours ago, leaving her and Ronin to bring in the New Year together.
“Happy New Year, hala,” Ronin murmured into her hair. Shifting, he lifted her, arranging her in a straddle across his lap. Dark eyes searched her face as he tunneled his fingers through her hair, shifting the strands. “Every time I get to say that to you is a gift. Because it means I’m going to have so many more moments with you and Ori and Sammi. It means there are 365 more mornings I get to wake up beside you and 365 more nights I’m blessed to fall asleep, curled around you. You are my gift, hala. My beginning, my end, my miracle. Thank you for giving me the promise of something more each New Year.”
Love swelled in her chest, shoving so hard against her sternum, she gasped under the pressure. Lifting her hands, she cupped his face, tipping it down and covering his mouth with hers. Unlike earlier, this mating of lips, tongues and teeth was slower, more tender but just as sexy. It spoke of a hard-won love, of heat that never abated and passion that had bonded them together and started their family. She curled her tongue around his, sucking, licking at him. Taking charge, she tilted his head to the side and delved deeper, savoring him, drowning in him.
“About Ori and Sammi,” she breathed against his lips, still tasting his kiss.
“They’re asleep, and as long as you keep the screams to a low roar, we won’t wake them,” he murmured, nipping her chin. “I believe in you, hala. You can do it.”
“Hate to break it to you, baby,” she replied. “But you’re the screamer. And we’re going to have to practice a little more on that since in about seven more months, we’re going to have another reason to be extra quiet at night.”
Shock swept across his face, and tipping his head back, he blinked up at her. But seconds later, joy lit his dark eyes like stars in a midnight sky. A wide grin split his mouth, and a booming laugh escaped him, shaking her on his lap.
“A baby? We’re having another baby?” he rasped.
“Yep.” She tunneled her fingers through his hair, cradling his head between her palms. Wonder that he was hers and she was equally his filled her. “And this one you will not punt, throw or go long with,” she warned, tightening her grip on his thick strands.
Laughing again, he pulled her tight, burying his face in her neck. “Thank you,” he whispered. “I love you, hala. So much.”
“I love you back.”
This was her, living her best life. Giving the man she loved beyond reason more.
*****
I hope you enjoyed the glimpse into Ronin and Kim’s New Year! To win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me a book you plan on reading in the New Year!
After a divorce from her cheating football player ex, PR whiz Kim Matlock would rather drive a pine tree through her walled-off heart than work at the Seattle Wedding Expo. And the last thing she expects is to be grabbed and kissed breathless by a hot giant of a man looking to fend off a stalker. She doesn't want emotional entanglements, but she can't say no to one scorching night with the sexy stranger.
To her shock, she finds out afterward that a) he's a pro football player, aka her kryptonite, and b) she's pregnant.
But nothing could have prepared her for his response...
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Omg ! I Floved 💗your WAGS series i so didn't want it to end 😩. But I i think this was an absolutely cute epi! I always wonder what happens years done the line .
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!💋
That epilogue is so sweet!
ReplyDeleteLoved this. In 2019 I plan to catch up on several cozy mystery series I've missed.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the excerpt. I'm looking forward to reading the WAGS series.
ReplyDeleteLori
Fun addition to the story! I just loved the "playing football with the kid" part! LOL.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to reading Take Me Again by Carly Phillips. It comes out this month.
I so love scenes like that!! Thank you so much for the chance, Naima:) One book I'm looking forward to read in the New Year is "Bone Church" by Victoria Dougherty. Wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year xo
ReplyDeleteI absolutely loved this!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love all your books, this one was one of my top ten. I hope you keep spreading joy to us all through your books. Happy New Year to you and your family!!
ReplyDeleteI haven’t got to the book #3 yet, so I’ll wait to read this until I do. But THANK YOU for sharing this lovely scene, Naima!
ReplyDeleteSounds good!
ReplyDeleteThis was a terrific read, Naima! Love this reminder to reread ;)
ReplyDeleteSounds really good. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteloved that teaser
ReplyDeleteLoved the excerpt and the cover gods sure smiled on you
ReplyDeleteGreat scene! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteSounds awesome can't wait to read it.
ReplyDeleteSo sweet! :) Great scene!
ReplyDeleteHot giant of a man? Count me in, LOL!
ReplyDeleteThank you all for stopping by and reading!! And I'm so glad you enjoyed this peek into Ronin and Kim's happily ever after after the happily ever after. Happy New Year!! <3
ReplyDeleteThanks for the extra scene, I plan on reading Someone to Trust by Mary Balogh
ReplyDeleteSounds very good
ReplyDelete