by Maren Moore
"What's this for?"
"I planned a night out in a few weeks for us, one last night with just the two of us before Rook is here."
"It's beautiful. Thank you for these gifts. Is that what you did all day, went shopping?"
His eyes twinkle, "Maybe. Not telling though. Time to feed both of my babies."
He gets up and leaves with a kiss to the cheek.
Every single day he surprises me more and more. Instead of my number one enemy, he's actually the only person I want by my side through this. My number one man.
Twenty
Hayes
36-and a half Weeks
Tonight is the night. I've been meticulously planning, covering every base I can possibly think of, which includes making sure our hospital bags are in the car in case of an emergency.
I'm taking Sophia to a restaurant in town that books two years in advance, which is fucking crazy because who knows what they want to eat two years in advance? But whatever. It's tastefully decorated, reeks of class, and has the most amazing lasagna in town. Sophia will love it.
"Babe, we've gotta go or we're going to miss our reservation." I call from the living room. I walk over to the mirror in the hallway and adjust my tie. I feel like it might be choking me to death, but I think that probably has something to do with my nerves.
"I'm coming, I'm coming." Her voice floats down the long hallway that leads to our room.
When I turn around, she's standing there with a small smile on her bright red lips, and goddamn, I think I've lost all train of thought.
Her long, blonde hair is curled and falling in waves down her back. The black dress I bought her fits her body like a glove. It looks incredible, like it was made just for her. She's forgone the Louboutins she loves and is in a small heel that still has me towing over her.
She's breathtaking.
"Baby…you..." I breathe.
Her cheeks flush, "I feel like a beached whale."
I close the distance between us, pulling her against me, "You are the definition of perfection, and I cannot wait to get you out of that dress. But...the heels stay." I growl.
"I might have to hobble to the bed, but if you're into it."
"Very, very into it."
She laughs as I lead her outside and lock up behind us. Once we're in the car I hold her hand the entire way to the restaurant until we pull up and the valet opens her door. When we walk in, her eyes are wide as she looks at me with excitement, and I know that it was worth the ungodly amount of money I paid to bring us here.
"Hayes, it's impossible to get in here…How?"
"Magic, babe."
The waiter leads us to a table in the back room where it's just the two of us at the Chef's table.
He'll be preparing our food tonight and bringing it out personally. Another ungodly amount of money spent to make that happen, but fuck, it was so worth it.
I pull out her chair and help her sit, taking her jacket and hanging it on the back of the chair before joining her across the table. The waiter brings our drinks and an appetizer of the best bread I've ever eaten my life, and Sophia looks at me with a smile.
"This is incredible."
"You're incredible." I tell her, "You know, I didn't just bring you here tonight because of your affection for Italian food. I knew it would make you happy, but I have an ulterior motive."
Her brow furrows in confusion.
I feel like the tie around my neck is tightening with each passing second, but somehow I manage to speak, "I love you. Our story is unconventional, and it isn't perfect by any means. But Sophia, St. James, at the end of the day, unconventional is the only love that's meant for me."
Realization crosses her face when I stand from my chair and drop down to one knee in front of her. Fat tears well in her eyes and her hand flies up to her mouth, the other I take in mine again. I can feel the tremor in her hand and I bring my lips to it.
"I never got the chance to ask you to marry me the way that you deserve. If I could do it all over, I'd make you mine from the start. Not for pretend, but forever. You are everything I will ever need or want in a woman, Sophia. The way that I love you will never fade. I want to spend every single day for the rest of forever showing you how perfect you are, worshipping you, loving you. I want to devote my life to our family. Yes, I said our, because there's nothing more in this world than I want than to put more of my babies inside you, as often as I possibly can.
She sobs and laughs at the same time as the tears pour down her face.
"Sophia St. James, will you marry me? For real this time, and for always? I need to be your husband, and not a pretend one. The real one."
The seconds tick by like hours. A drop of sweat pours down my back as I await her answer. Part of me is fucking terrified she might say no, that I might have to live apart from the only two girls I will ever need.
Then, she throws her arms around my neck and squeezes me so tight I can't even breathe while she whispers yes, over and over. I don't stop her until I pull her mouth to mine, and seal her fate.
Sophia. St James is mine, and there was never going to be pretending ever again.
"Thank fuck you said yes, or I was going to have to come up with some elaborate plan to keep you."
"Oh?" She sniffles, still laughing, until I grab her hand and slide the ring onto her finger. Confusion mars her features. "But..."
"I know. You have a ring, but it wasn't picked out by me, and it didn't feel right. This ring feels right. It's you, and it signifies my love and devotion to you."
The ring itself is a carat rose gold diamond oval, surrounded by twelve diamonds in an antique setting. It's everything I could have imagined for Sophia. When I had the jeweler make it custom, I told him who she was, provided him photos, inspiration and he made it based upon that.
"When did you get this?"
Ah.
"I had it custom made. I think I met with him two weeks after you moved in."
Her jaw drops this time. She's in shock, and I expected nothing less.
"Yes, baby mama, fiancé, love of my life. I have known that I wanted to marry you from the few weeks you lived with me. From the very second that you sat on my couch crying over Harry Potter at midnight while you devoured Toaster Strudel...I knew. Just the mother of my child, and you're perfect for me. There was never a question. It was just a matter of when you were going to be ready to see that my feelings for you were true and that you felt the same. Took you long enough."
I wink, and drop another kiss to her lips.
"This is...surreal. It's beautiful Hayes, the absolute most perfect ring you could've ever chosen for me. This is all so beautiful and thoughtful. It means more to me than you'll ever know."
"I'm glad, baby. If you're finished, I'd really like to get you home so I can fuck you until you're screaming my name."
She looks around then cries, "Hayes!"
"I promised to always be honest with you, and I honestly can't wait to get you home so I can be buried inside of you with my ring on your finger. For real this time. You look absolutely delectable."
Her gaze darkens, and she nibbles that damn lip that drives me insane.
"I guess it's time to go then."
An hour later, we're walking through the front door, a fumble of clothes strewn around the living room. My keys land next to the table, beside my wallet. My tie is somewhere on the ottoman, and we barely make it into the bedroom before she's fumbling with the zipper of my pants.
"Baby, wait, let me help with the dress," I groan and she shakes her head, placing her lips on mine until we're both panting.
"I need you. Now."
My fingers find the back of her dress in the dark, and I slowly lower the zipper, careful not to catch her. The black fabric pools at her feet and she steps out of it, breaking our kiss only to do so. She stands in front of me in matching candy apple red bra and panties, and her black heels.
"Fuck," I groan, "You're like a goddess, Sophia."
&
nbsp; She's the epitome of my dreams. Her stomach, big and round with my baby, her skin glowing and flawless. The pink of her cheeks from my perusal of her body.
"As much as I fucking love that underwear, I want it off. Bra too. I want you naked and spread out in front of me, so I can devour you, baby."
She walks backwards until her knees hit the bed, and she sits slowly, lying back so I can remove them for her. Sex this late in pregnancy was...different, but it was not any less amazing than before. I couldn't get enough of her body.
My fucking pleasure.
I drag the lace down her hips, and reach behind her to unclasp the bra, watching as her tits spill free. They look so delectable, I can't help but dip my head and capture her nipple with my mouth. She moans when my lips close around it, threading her fingers in my hair.
"I can't wait baby, I need you," My voice is ragged with need, and she nods.
I remove the button down and slacks, then my boxers, socks, and shoes and stand before her naked, as she is. She leans forward on the bed, wrapping her hands around my cock, before she closes her mouth around my head, sucking.
Fuck, I was not expecting this. Not expecting her to put my cock in her mouth, and now I'm that much closer to losing control. The glint of her ring in the moonlight catches my eyes, and I groan.
The best moment of my entire fucking life.
If I die right now, I'll die a happy man.
I pull back, pulling myself free of her mouth, despite her protests, and help her into position on the bed, with a plush pillow beneath her. She's on her hands and knees in front of me, her ass on display, and I bend down to take a bite from her cheek, causing her to yelp.
If she wasn't pregnant, I would spank the fuck out of her, but that will have to wait until later. Bending down, I run my tongue along her pussy, from her opening to her clit, only stopping to suck her sensitive clit into my mouth. Her back arches in response. I slide my finger inside of her, and continue my assault on her clit.
"Hayes," she moans breathily, the sound barely more than a whisper. I reach below her to her tits that sway with the movement of my finger inside of her, rolling her nipple between my fingers.
I can tell from the way she begins to shake around my fingers that she's close, and I don't want her to come without being inside of her. I take the head of my cock and rub it through her slit, coating myself in her wetness before slowly pushing inside.
Fuck, it's never felt like this.
She's impossibly tight and so fucking wet for me. I slide into her until I'm seated inside of her, and her hands are fisted into the sheets as she holds on. I take my time fucking her. Drawing out my thrusts slowly, languid, with no rush until she's pushing back against me, desperate for more.
"You need more, baby?" I ask.
"Please, please, Hayes. I'm so close."
Obviously, she's listening to my desire to hear her when she needs something. I pick up the pace, slamming into her over and over, mesmerized by the way her ass shakes each time my hips meet her. She's fucking perfect.
"I'm coming," she cries, arching up onto my cock, squeezing me so tight I almost see double.
"Fuck, Sophia," I curse, grabbing onto her hips as I fall over the edge, spurting inside her. My thrusts slow as I ride out the best orgasm of my life, pulling every ounce of pleasure I can from her body. I can see she's exhausted, so I pull free from her, and help her onto her side where she sighs happily on the pillow.
"You, Mr. Davis, make me a very happy woman," she murmurs.
I laugh, then walk to the bathroom to clean up and grab a warm towel to wipe her with. After I clean up, wash my hands, and wet the towel, I walk back into the bedroom to find her standing next to the bed, a look of panic on her face.
"What's wrong?" I ask, rushing over to her. "Are you okay?"
Her eyes are wide and she's staring at the floor in disbelief before her eyes dart back up to mine, "Um...I think my water just broke."
Twenty-One
Hayes
"Breathe, or you're going to pass out," Sophia says through gritted teeth.
Shit, she's right, I expel the breath I've been holding in. Okay, think Hayes. You prepared for this. You planned for this.
Hospital bags.
Right.
"Okay, come on, St. James, we've got a baby to birth." I rub my hands down my face, trying to get my thoughts together. This was ten times easier when it was just practice and I wasn't face to face with my very pregnant fiancé and getting a front row seat to her pain.
Her eyes roll, and she winces, placing her hand on her stomach.
"Shit, that is like five minutes apart. We have to go."
"Wait, you're timing my contractions?" Her tone is surprised.
"What do you think I read that baby book twelve times for? Bags are already in the car. All I need to do is grab your pillow from the bed, and we're on our way, babe."
I grasp her hand tightly in mine as I help her out to the car and into the truck, just in time for another contraction to hit, contorting her face in pain. Her grip on my hand tightens, and I'm slightly surprised by her strength. But I've heard that women in pain are a force of nature.
"Be right back." I drop a kiss to the side of her head and run inside to grab her pillow, turn off the lights, set the alarm, and lock up. The next time we're here, we'll be carrying Rook through the front door. It's the last time I'll walk out of this door without having my girls to come home to.
The thought spreads happiness in my chest, blooming into parts of me I never knew existed.
I jog back to the truck, throw her pillow in the backseat, and get inside.
"Hayes," she says the second I slam the door shut.
"What?" I look over at her and see her knuckles turning white as she's holding onto the door handle of the truck.
"Hurry up. Please, for the love of God, hurry up!"
Fuck. Okay. I turn the truck on and throw it in drive, pull out onto the highway. I go eighty in a fifty-five and for the first time, Sophia doesn't complain about my driving. The closer we get to the hospital, the more intense her pain gets, and the second I screech to a stop at the emergency room entrance, she cries out in a contraction. Shockingly, my timing is impeccable.
"God, I'm so sorry, baby," I mutter, feeling absolutely helpless. I hop out of the truck and run over to her side, helping her out.
Nurses rush outside with a large wheelchair and greet us at the ramp.
"Hi, wow! It looks like it's baby time." An older nurse smiles and grabs Sophia's other hand, helping her into the wheelchair. I don't want to let her hand go for a damn second, but I have to move my truck.
"Hayes," Sophia says, "Call Holly and your family. Make sure they can get here."
"I know, baby, I will."
She nods and squeezes my hand while a smile tugs at her lips, "It's time, you over protective, annoyingly handsome daddy. Are you ready?"
"Born ready." I grin.
"Alright Dad, we need to get Mom inside and hooked up to monitors so we can watch baby's heart rate. You take care of the truck and bags and meet her inside. I'm Nurse Abby, if you need anything." The older nurse smiles and starts wheeling Sophia away.
Excitement and nerves course through me. Today is the day we've anxiously awaited for the past nine months, and it doesn't seem like it's real that it's finally here.
Today's the day I get to meet my girl.
I park the truck and grab our bags, all while juggling phone calls to notify our friends and family. Holly almost busts out my damn ear drum with her scream, and Scott quickly took the phone and said they were on the way.
Sophia and I already discussed that we would like Holly and Scott to be Rook's godparents. It seems only fitting, since they are our best friends and we're the godparents to their kids. If something did ever happen to either me or Sophia, I can’t imagine anyone else but Scott and Holly raising our kids.
They are phenomenal friends and even better parents.
Fuck,
this is real. I'm having a baby. We’re not leaving this hospital without a baby.
I run back to the hospital, carrying all twelve bags. Okay...three bags, but they're packed so damn heavy it's like twelve, and I ask the front desk to direct me to which room she's in. I make it up to the third floor in record time, especially carrying the load that I am, and walk into chaos.
"Hayes," she screams, clutching the bed rails as Dr. Martin stands between her legs.
"Dad, it's time to have a baby. Mom is ready to push." Dr. Martin smiles.
Fuck, I think I'm going to pass out. I sway on my feet, squeezing my eyes shut, desperate for the wave of dizziness that just hit me to pass.
"You okay, Mr. Davis?" one of the nurses bustling around the room asks.
"Yes," I squeak.
I throw the bags in the nearest chair, dizziness be damned, and rush to Sophia's side, grabbing both of her hands in mine.
"It's going to be okay, baby, you're so brave, so damn strong."
Her grip on me is crushing, and she nods, taking a deep, long breath.
"Alright, Sophia, are you ready to push? On three?" Dr. Martin asks.
"It hurts," she cries, tightening her grip on my hand.
Holy fuck, we're having a baby!
The nurse hands me a damp rag, and I put it on Sophia's forehead to cool her down as the sweat pours from her. Even with her hair sticking to her forehead, mascara running down her cheeks, and her makeup completely gone, she is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.
This moment is everything I was terrified of, and now, I am in complete awe of the woman lying before me. She's so strong.
"You are a goddess, Sophia. Hold on to me, baby, we'll get through it together and meet Rook." I smile down at her, and she softens slightly until another contraction hits her full force.
"Now, Sophia!" Dr. Martin says.
Sucking in a huge breath, she grips onto me with both hands and then expels that breath and pushes so hard the bones in my hand crack under her grip.
