by BJ Harvey
Her eyes are filled with tears as she nods her head up and down profusely, and my heart stops as I realize my firebird has just agreed to become my wife. She'll be mine forever.
I stand up and slide the ring onto her left hand finger before she jumps into my arms, wrapping her legs around my hips, our mouths crash together. Clapping and cheers surround us as we continue kissing, neither of us wanting to stop.
Eventually we have to stop, or else things will get graphic and we'll be up on public indecency charges. Without putting her down, I turn to look at the marquee again. Smiling at the sign that just made my life complete.
“Katelyn Marie McGuiness, Be my princess. My life. My wife. Marry me?”
KATE
I'm turning the tables on him today. We've both got the same day off for the first time in what feels like months, so I'm hoping to make the most of it.
Now that we're at our destination, Zan looks at me with a confused look on his face. “You wanted to come to Navy Pier Park? Why didn't you just tell me?”
“And spoil the fun?” I wink at him which earns me a growl as he sticks his hands in my sides and starts tickling me. “Zan, stop it. Not. In. Public. You'll make me embarrass myself again.” I can't stop giggling.
He pulls me in close and grins down at me. “Maybe I want that. It was fun. Okay, maybe not explaining to that woman that I was not attacking you in a park in broad daylight and that you were, in fact, laughing, not crying.”
I whack him with the back of my hand. “Stop it. It was mortifying.”
“Oh well, let's see what other trouble we can get into today then.”
Oh, Zander, you have no freaking idea what I have planned for you.
I'm so excited, I'm almost giddy. All the way around Pier Park, walking hand in hand, he keeps looking down at me with a puzzled frown. I swear, the number of times he's shaken his head at me today would be a new record. What can I say? Small things amuse small minds, but this surprise is going to blow his mind.
We stop in line for the landmark 150-foot-high Ferris wheel. I decide to start phase one of my plan.
“Babe, I love that we finally get to spend the day together. No work, no friends with babies, no sisters. I love them all to death, but I miss our alone time.”
His eyes soften as he leans down and brushes his lips gently against mine. “I love our alone time too.” He wiggles his eyebrows at me suggestively, making me blush.
Dammit, how does he always manage to switch the tables on me? Oh, that's right. Because he's Zander Freaking Roberts, the man who can charm the panties off me with one sideways glance. My future husband. Still can't get my head around that. It's been weeks, and I still find myself staring at my gorgeous ring, moving my hand to make it sparkle in the sun, and purposefully putting my hand forward to get people's attention.
As I said, small things.
“I haven't ridden this in a few years,” he comments, looking up at the giant structure as I pay for our tickets while Zander's not looking. He never lets me pay for anything, I secretly love it, but I also love beating him to the punch. It always results in punishment of the most delicious kind.
“Zan, you ready to go?”
“Babe, we need tick….ets,” he glares at me, and I see the gleam in his eye telling me that I'm going to pay for it later in other ways. Little does he know that, in a few minutes, he won't be thinking about who paid for what.
We take a seat in one of the gondolas. I shut the door to make sure nobody else comes in. For what I have planned, we won't be wanting an audience.
A few more minutes and we start moving. Knowing that a full rotation only takes seven minutes and that I'll have my work cut out for me, I drop to my knees immediately, positioning myself between Zander's now outstretched legs.
“Babe…” he says in his low, deep voice that reaches me deep down in my girly parts. “Don't start something unless you plan on finishing it.”
I start loosening his belt before undoing his button and zipper and inching his pants slightly down on his hips so that I can free his hard, straining cock.
I lean forward and lick the tip, my hand cupping his balls and gently kneading them in the way he likes as I suck the head of his cock into my mouth. I feel his hand in my hair as he fans it out around his legs.
As I continue to take him deep into my mouth, I start humming which causes his whole body to shudder with pleasure.
“We're halfway, babe,” he mutters, and I know he's not talking about the oral sex treatment I'm giving him. He's letting me know that I've got only a few more minutes until we're back at ground level.
I treat him to what I call my 'porn star' style. I go at him hard and fast, licking and sucking and using my hand to tightly grip his shaft as I jerk him off into my mouth.
“Fuck, babe. Oh hell yes. God, this is better than any fucking fantasy I could ever have. Suck me, baby. I'm coming. Yes, babe, take it all,” he stutters as he climaxes in my mouth and I swallow it down.
I sit back on my heels and proceed to tuck his softening cock back into his pants before doing his zipper and button back up again and taking my seat beside him acting like nothing happened. I feel his gaze on me as I slowly turn my head and look at him.
I see love. Pure, unadulterated love shining straight back at me.
I finally found it. That one true love that I'd been searching for. The one I've strived to find my entire adult life. I successfully waded through all the frogs, toads, dwarfs, and dragons. I no longer have to be insanely jealous of my deliriously happy best friend and her perfect dream guy because I have one of my own. He may not be a superhero, but he's my protector, my lover, my friend, and best yet, my future husband.
You see, I've found the kind of crazy love I was warned about.
I've got the love that makes my heart skip a beat. The love that makes me want to dance in the rain and bottle up the sunset while screaming at the top of my lungs.
The kind of love that authors write about, musicians sing about, and lovers dream about.
I have it, and I'm not giving it up.
I've finally found True Bliss.
The End….
Well, the end of Kate and Zander's story.
Want to know what happened that night when Daniel proposed to Mac, and when Mac experiences childbirth?
Keep reading to find two bonus chapters of these events in Mac & Daniel's lives.
Mac, Daniel, Kate, and Zander will appear again in Book 4 - Finding Bliss, Noah's story.
MAC
Since the guys got back from the bar, my dad won't stop smiling at me. I'm thinking he's drunk. I mean, he's no spring chicken anymore, so I'm guessing that a few hours and a few brews and he's toasted.
Maybe he's getting all sappy because his baby girl is twenty-five years old. Fuck knows, but it's starting to freak me out. Mom is just mom, always rubbing my belly and talking to 'her babies' as she calls them. And the babies are kicking the shit out of me and doing what feels like triple somersaults inside of me. Fun and games.
The baby shower is awesome, but god I'm tired. I'm so fucking tired that I can't wait to get home and relax. I might try squeezing into our tub, even if it means Superman has to hoist me out like a stranded whale. The embarrassment is the price I'll pay for half an hour of weightless heaven.
“You okay, gorgeous?” Daniel asks, taking a seat on the couch beside me.
“I will be in about half an hour when I'm stranded in the tub again.”
He laughs and wraps his arm around me. I rest my head on his shoulder, one of my favorite places to be in the world.
“I'm looking forward to swooping in and saving your beautiful naked body from your nightly tub predicament, but unfortunately, Mom and Dad's car broke down, so I need to go take them home. I've talked to Kate, and she's going to take the L with you and make sure you get home safe. I'm sorry gorgeous, but I'm the closest, and Dad hates Triple A.”
“It's fine. But can't I catch a cab? I don't think I've
got enough energy to ride the L tonight.”
“The L goes straight to our place and will be quicker. Kate will help, and all of your presents and the baby gifts are in my car...well, what I could squeeze in. The rest will stay here with Kate until I can do another trip.”
“I suppose. You owe me for this, you know that, right?”
“I'll give you anything, anywhere, anytime.”
“Really?” I say very slowly, the cogs in my head turning at warp speed. “That's a rather big promise, Danny boy. You sure you can deliver on such a big promise?” I ask, smirking at him.
He growls before leaning over and kissing me, deliberately teasing me with his tongue until he pulls away and rests his forehead against mine, looking into my eyes. My libido just jumped from nay to yay in 0.1 seconds, and now he's leaving me for an hour or two. Well, this sucks!
“Cock tease,” he murmurs against my lips as he gives me the softest of lip touches that I swear I can feel between my legs.
“Pussy tease,” I whisper, licking my lips and grazing his.
“Pleased to be of service. Love you, and you two be nice to Mommy.” He kisses me, then leans down and kisses my belly before standing. He walks over to the kitchen where Kate and my parents are tidying up the last of the dishes, and I see a strange look exchanged between Kate and Daniel. Hmm, wonder what's up with that?
“Mac, you ready to get going? I think there's a train in fifteen minutes if you want to try make it. You're parents are leaving, so they said the can drop us at the station.”
“Can't they just drop me home? Then you don't have to leave here. I'm sure Zander is due back soon?”
“Zan's having dinner with Zach, so he won't be home until late.”
“Yeah, and we...ah, we have to get back to the farm. Feed the animals and all that,” my dad says rather quickly. I swear to God everyone around me has gone crazy. I thought it was the pregnant one who got baby brain.
“You guys are all acting really strange, but I'll go along with this harebrained plan. But you,” I point at Kate and narrow my eyes, “will have to stand up with me if I'm too big to sit down on the train, and you do not have permission to laugh at the round pregnant woman who has to be rolled down the aisle, okay?”
She sniggers and nods. “Okay. I promise not to laugh to your face.”
“Good enough.” I grin back at her.
Ten minutes later, Kate and I are standing at the platform waiting for the train to take me the three blocks to our apartment. Yes, our apartment. There is no way I'm moving back in with Kate. She's happy playing house with Zander, and Daniel and I are more than happy to stay in our apartment until after the babies arrive. Then we'll reevaluate.
Finally, our train arrives, and I waddle in like a big bellied duck, thankfully finding a bench seat to plant my ass in without any rolling required. Kate takes a seat beside me and suddenly seems really nervous.
“Hon, what's up? You've been acting weird since Daniel left. You okay? Is it Zander?” I put my hand on her lap, and she looks up at me and she looks like a kid that's been caught with their hand in the cookie jar. I see her tapping her heel nervously on the vinyl floor and she keeps crossing and uncrossing her legs.
“I'm fine, why do you ask?”
“No reason.” I shrug my shoulders. This night has just been one weird thing after another. There must be a full moon or something.
The train stops and a big group of people hop on, obviously heading out for the night.
“Any plans for tomorrow?” Kate asks me, looking very distracted.
“At this stage, I'll be sleeping in and lying on the couch. These babies don't let me get away with much anymore. I'm too big, and I'm exhausted easily. Don't get me started on the creative sex we have these days.”
“La la la, don't want to know!” Kate says, putting her fingers in her ears, which just makes me burst out laughing. She looks up and nods, then stands suddenly. “I've just got to go somewhere, quick. I'll be back.” She takes off down the train. What the fuck?
I turn back around to see Daniel standing in front of me.
“Daniel, why are you here? I thought you were helping your parents?” I ask, confused as all hell.
“I lied.” He shrugs his shoulders, offering me a bemused grin.
“You lied?”
“Yep.”
“Why?” My body tenses and I glare at him.
“There's something I need to do.”
“Something you need…what the fuck, Daniel? Everyone is acting strange as hell, and I'm so not in the mood for whatever shit is going down. I just want to go home, have a bath, and-”
I stop breathing when he bends down on one knee in front of me and takes my hand in his.
“Mac, eleven months, three days, twenty three hours and forty one minutes. That is how long you've been in my life and marks the day when you threw your phone across the train to get my attention.” I open my mouth to argue, but he gives me a stern look that says 'don't you dare'.
“As I was saying, that night I was captivated by your smart wit and that sexy smile. Since then, I've thanked God every day for letting you open your heart to me, and for making me fall in love with you.” My eyes start to fill with tears. He pauses for a second and pulls a small packet of tissues from his pocket. “I thought you might need these.”
“Superhero,” I mouth to him, earning that panty melting grin of his that makes me wet every single time he flashes it at me. By now we've got a silent crowd surrounding us, riveted at such a public display occurring on a Saturday night train ride.
“We're a family now, and we're just starting our lives together, the four of us.” He places our combined hands on my belly and wouldn't you know it, one of the little ninja babies kicks right on cue, making us both laugh quietly.
He clears his throat, and our eyes meet. I'm struck back by the emotion I see staring back at me. This man is mine, and he wants to make sure that I'm his.
“You call me your superhero. If I am, I only have superpowers because of the strength and love you give me. I will be your lover, your best friend and a super daddy to our terrible twosome.”
Happy tears are streaming down my face now. Just ask me the question, dammit!
“So eleven months, three days, twenty three hours and forty-two minutes ago I started falling in love with you and this afternoon I asked your father a question, and with his permission, I can now ask you. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife, the mother to my children, and my soul mate until we're old and grey and wrinkly in all the wrong places”
I sit there in shock, my hand enclosed in his as his other hand reaches into his shirt pocket and pulls out a turquoise Tiffany's box with the signature white silk ribbon. He opens the box to reveal the most gorgeous ring I've ever seen, and I gasp at its beauty. A huge diamond flanked by two smaller stones, a pink diamond and a sapphire. Then it dawns on me that there is one for each child.
My hand shakes in his as I struggle to keep my composure. Time stands still as he looks at me, his eyes soft and full of love.
I've never thought about this happening to me, even when I'd fallen in love with the beautiful man kneeling in front of me. This is the kind of thing that happens to other people, never me. You read about big dramatic proposals where the woman is swept off her feet, but this is more than all of those moments put together because this is happening to me, and the man that I love more than life itself is looking at me, patiently waiting for my answer. I can see the worry in his face; he's expecting a level ten Mac freak out. Well, he's about to get the surprise of his life.
I swallow down the huge lump in my throat. “Yes,” I answer, my voice quivering as another tear falls down my cheek. “Yes!” I yell, leaning forward into Daniel's waiting arms.
“Abso-fucking-lutely,” I whisper against his lips as I kiss him hard. This is not a polite, public peck. No, this moment deserves more than that. This is a full on, passionate, no holds barred kiss. I pour everything I have in
to this kiss, leaving him no doubt as to the certainty of my answer.
I sit back in my seat as he slips the gorgeous rock on my finger. He stands and holds out his hand for me, pulling me up and enveloping me in a huge hug. The crowd around us cheers loudly as Kate suddenly appears beside us.
“Congratulations, hon.”
“You... you…. God, you were in on this, weren't you?”
She gives me a sly smile, and I pull her into our hug.
Best birthday ever!
MAC
Holy crap, this burns.
For something that is supposed to be one of the best experiences in your life, it feels worse than the day after a hot Indian curry.
Whoever said childbirth was beautiful was obviously high on pethidine or delusional. It's sweaty and gross, and there is nothing sweet or nice about it.
For twelve fucking hours, I've been in this hospital being monitored after my waters broke this morning. Eight hours of contractions, or 'payback' as I like to call it. I thought period cramps were bad enough. Times them by a hundred, and add sharp pains in the cervix, and you'd be close.
I look over at Daniel, and as much as I love to see the gorgeous, supportive, loving man that I've chosen to spend the rest of my life with, all I can see right now is the man who gave me twenty minutes of pleasure and inadvertently caused the last twelve hours of stabbing poker pain to my nether regions.
I love him to the moon and back, but all I can think about right now is the fact that all he had to do was stick his cock in me. I'm the one who has to push two watermelons out a hole the size of a lemon.
After this, he'll be lucky to touch the sides of my vagina the next time we have sex. Hell, that's even if I let that lethal weapon of mass impregnation come anywhere near me again. Superheroes make twin ninja babies who love practicing judo, or yoga, or god knows what all through the night for the last three months of pregnancy.
As another contraction hits me, I grab Kate's hand and squeeze the life out of it.
Oh shit, what if I really am going to give birth to demon spawn like in the movie Aliens. Holy mother of all things holy, it feels as if they're trying to claw their way out.
