I knew the time to make a speech and deliver our exciting news was fast approaching, so I decided I would take the opportunity to speak with Rick privately on the balcony. He was in deep discussion with Dean, Tash’s husband, about the Grand Prix when I politely interrupted.
“Excuse me, guys. Sorry, but could I talk to you for a moment, Rick?”
He looked at me sceptically. “Sure. I’ll be right a back, Dean.”
I motioned him to follow me out onto the balcony and around the corner to where the Crow sat silently in the night’s darkness. I led us both to the balustrade, hoping the twinkling city skyline would provide a calm and serene atmosphere. It didn’t seem to work, because I suddenly felt nervous as fuck, knowing the news I was about to deliver was going to hurt and anger Rick. And regardless of what he had put me through, I didn’t want to hurt him.
“Um...so are you having a good time? I know coming here, especially on your own, could not have been easy. I appreciate that you did decide to come, though. It means a lot to me that we can still share these types of moments in our lives together, regardless of what has happened.” I had made it clear that Claire did not form part of the invitation and that his ‘plus one’ could be anyone else but her.
“Yeah. Although Jake keeps giving me a death look, but apart from that it’s been alright. No matter what we’ve been through, Lex, we were friends before we became lovers then enemies, and friends are something I want us to go back to...no matter what. I don’t want us to be bitter anymore.”
“Good. I’m glad you think that, because I don’t think you are going to like what I’m about to tell you,” I looked at him as I bit the inside of my cheek. He turned to face me, a look of unexpected angst on his features.
I closed my eyes for a split second to muster the courage, then opened them and let it out. “Bryce and I are having a baby. I’m due in November. We are announcing it tonight...shortly. I wanted to tell you in person rather than spring it on you in front of our family and friends.”
He blinked a few times then turned to look back out over the city. He was deadly silent for what seemed like minutes on end.
“Rick?” I prompted him to say something.
“Could it be mine?” he asked quietly, barely sounding his voice at all.
“No.”
“How can you be sure? A November due date puts conception pretty fucking close to when we were last together,” he hissed.
“No, Rick! You are not the father of my baby. I’ve had tests and conception was weeks after we had sex for the final time.”
“Had sex,” he muttered angrily under his breath.
“Look, I knew you’d be angry, but it is what it is. At least I didn’t fall pregnant with Bryce’s baby while we were still together.” Shit! I just can’t fucking help myself, can I?
He looked at me with hatred. “I want a paternity test. The timing is too close.”
“You know what, Rick? Fuck you! You have no right to demand this. You cheated on me. You had another child with someone else. This child is not yours, it’s Bryce’s. You have two choices: either calm down and realise I’m telling the truth and re-join the party, or continue to act like a selfish prick who is grasping at straws that are no longer embedded in the earth and go home. What’s it gonna be?”
He pushed off the balustrade and in turning looked at me. “I want the paternity test.” Then he walked back inside and exited the apartment.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
After watching Rick storm away from me, I turned back around, facing the still night air that bounced off the surrounding buildings. The sounds of city traffic echoed quietly from 43 floors below, capturing me briefly in their humming lull. My focus shifted from the city ambience when I heard footsteps coming my way.
I’m not sure if it was the sound of his strides toward me made, or the sheer probability that it was him who would be looking for me, or even just the unmistakable feeling I got when he was in my presence. Regardless, I knew Bryce was making his way toward me, and when I felt his warm, strong, loving arms embrace me from behind, I felt at peace again; calm, content, happy and relaxed.
He rested his hands gently on my belly where our child was safe and sound. “Did you tell Rick?”
“Yes. Couldn’t you tell by the way he stormed out of the building?”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I knew he wouldn’t like the news, but I never expected him to think the baby was his and then demand a paternity test.”
Bryce spun me around to face him, nearly sending me vertically into the air from sheer rotational lift. “He said what?”
“He wants a paternity test. He said the timing is too close for him to just take my word for it.”
“He’s fucking lucky he has left the building. There is no way I will let him stake his claim to my child.”
“Bryce, settle down,” I said calmly. “No one will be staking claim to our baby but us.”
He wasn’t looking me in the eye, instead killing a focal point somewhere beyond my head with his murderous glare.
I reached up and touched his face. “Hey, look at me. This baby is yours. I am one hundred percent certain of it. So regardless of Rick’s pathetic attempt at whatever it is he is attempting to achieve by his demand, it doesn’t matter. He is wasting his time.” I tenderly rubbed his cheek bones with my thumbs, helping him let go of some of his anger. “I’m yours Bryce.” I placed his hands back on my stomach. “We are yours.”
He sighed dejectedly. “You were once his.”
“You know what? Looking back, I don’t really think I ever was Rick’s. I mean, on the surface...maybe, and on paper...yes. But deep down, I was waiting for you to come along and show me what it is to truly belong to someone: mind, heart, body, and soul.”
He threaded his fingers through my hair, gripping the sides of my face and pulling me to him. The kiss he placed upon my lips and mouth was just about the most passionate, emotional and possessive kiss I had ever experienced, and after he pulled away, I literally had to be forced back to the present moment.
I was standing there, my head supported by his hands which were still firmly placed on either side of my face, and my mouth was open, confused by whether or not it still functioned. I slowly opened my eyes, finding his equally impassioned expression.
“I love you,” he whispered.
“I know,” I whispered back.
He growled. “Come on. The kids are on their way back from the arcade. It’s time for your cake and for me to tell the world that I’m the luckiest man alive.”
I smiled at him. “Oh good, because I have been desperately waiting...waiting for...cake.”
He raised his eyebrow at me. “Cake? Is that all you have been desperately waiting for?”
“Oh, Bryce, you have no idea how much I love cake.” I stepped us up against the balustrade and pressed my body against him, then hovering my mouth just over his and breathing hot onto his lips, I continued. “I love how sweet it is, how it rises, and I love it when it’s full of cream.” I licked my lips.
His eyes flared with desire. “That’s good. Because I have a huge cake for you.”
I reached down and cupped his erection which was now pushing against his trousers. “How huge?”
“Fucking enormous.”
I giggled as I gently squeezed him. “Can you feed me your cake?”
His eyes fluttered then closed. “Yes,” he groaned.
“When?” I whispered into his ear.
He eyes shot open. “Now.”
He was lightning fast, scooping me up into his arms and making me squeal as he walked briskly to the chopper. He opened the door and carefully placed me down. I scooted backwards along the seat as he climbed in and prowled toward me. Oh, Fuck. He is going to screw my brains out in the Crow with all our friends and family only metres away.
I would normally object to such a high risk sexual encounter, but the look in his eyes made it impossible to say no, together with
the fact that my sexed-up hormones were currently going crazy. He placed his hands on my calves and dragged them up my legs, taking my dress up with them. I pressed against the door opposite to the one we got in by, panting with excitement, my chest rising and falling while watching his passionate desperation for me. He reached my underwear and paused looking up at me.
I didn’t hesitate. “Do it. Do it now, Bryce. I want to feel you in between my legs. I can’t wait.”
He growled and tore my underwear apart, then leaned forward and stroked my damp clit with his tongue. Oh, God. Yes! I pressed my hand to the window and it slipped from perspiration. I giggled seeing what I had just done.
He looked up. “What’s so funny?”
“I just did a ‘Rose’ from Titanic.”
He looked at my smudged hand print on the window and chuckled then mumbled something about being ‘king of the world’. I laughed, but suddenly swallowed the amusement as his tongue hit that perfect spot, flicking away and sending luscious pulses right through me.
“Oh, fuck, Bryce.” A sweet orgasm rippled through me, as he flicked his tongue and sucked my clit. I reached for his head and lifted him to my face, feeling and tasting my desire for him. Then leaning in, I pushed him back against the seat and unzipped his pants. He shuffled them down just enough to free his ready and waiting cock. I grasped it between my hands, dragging them up to his tip then gently massaged the moist crown with my finger before climbing onto his lap and greedily engulfing him with my pussy. He groaned as he gripped my arse and helped me pump his cock.
“You have no idea how fucking happy I am right now,” he breathed.
“I think I do.”
“No...you don’t.”
I smiled and kissed him, only to hear what I thought to be Tash’s voice. “Oh Geezus! My eyes, my bloody eyes.”
Followed by Jade’s, “Is that?...Are they?...Fuck me, where’s the popcorn?”
I quickly glanced out the window and spotted Tash pushing a reluctant Jade back toward the apartment, all the while giggling and cursing at her. “Jade, get your arse out of here now.”
I didn’t care though because I was having my cake and...cream, yes I was having the cream too. Bryce jerked, groaned and gripped me tightly. Oh, fuck. I really do love cake and cream.
Dampened with sweat and giggling, I quickly climbed off him. “Oh my God, they saw us. I’m never going to hear the end of this.”
“I hope not. We just fucked in the Crow. I have wanted to fuck you in the Crow since the day Alexander was born.”
“Really? Little do you know I wanted that, too.” I sat for a small moment, blissfully absorbing the peaceful, happy aura surrounding us, and remembering that first time he buckled me into the front seat. “You have no idea how hard it was for me to keep my legs closed that time you were fishing for the set of headphones.”
“You have no idea how hard it was for me not to have pried your legs apart and kissed that sweet pussy of yours. I nearly fucking did, you know.”
I laughed, “I’m glad you didn’t.” I raised my eyebrow at him. “I’m glad you didn’t, because that very first time I felt your tongue on me was pure unadulterated bliss. I’ll never forget it.
“Neither will I, Hunny.” He leaned over, grabbed my hand and brought it to his lips. “Are you ready to do this?” He was staring at me, waiting like a kid on Christmas morning.
“No,” I replied. His smile plummeted, so I quickly added. “I need to get cleaned up. I’m not going out there in front of my family and friends, fully fucked and panty-less. I need underwear.”
He climbed out of the chopper and helped me out the other side. “Come on then,” he said as he playfully smacked me on my bum and placed his hand on my hip, holding me to him as he led me to his office.
***
After a sneaky trip via the private elevator to our bedroom to clean up, Bryce and I re-joined the party and positioned ourselves behind a small table which had been set up on the step that looked down into the lounge area. The room had been decorated with hundreds of silver and blue metallic helium balloons with matching spiralling twine that dangled from each balloon’s securely tied lip. There were also approximately twenty large bouquets of white and blue roses, placed meticulously around the room. Trust Bryce to find a way to have blue roses for me. I smiled at their brilliance, which was nothing in comparison to the man standing next to me. The room looked magical, but it was still very simple and elegant, and I was grateful Bryce had stayed true to his word when he promised he would not go overboard. I really did not want that.
I had been appreciatively taking in the surrounding scenes, and had not initially noticed the enormous three-tiered cake that had been placed on the table before me. It was perfectly centred and looked stunning and delicious. It also kind of looked like the Empire State Building. No shit! It stood about one meter high with long rectangular panels of white chocolate secured to each side of the three square tiers, and each tier was topped with fresh raspberries. It was simply stunning and looked utterly delectable.
“I told you my cake was huge,” he whispered to me.
I shook my head at him and giggled. “You’re not wrong. You really are something else, Mr. Clark. White chocolate and raspberries, you honestly think of everything.”
He pulled me into his side as a number of waiting staff quickly passed out glasses of champagne to our guests. “I think of you, Alexis. You, our families, and no one else.” He kissed the top of my head then gently tapped his glass, in order to gain the room’s attention and hush the verbal communication flowing around it.
When the conversations passed to silence, Bryce began to speak. “Firstly, I just want to thank you all for coming today, to celebrate Alexis’ birthday. We both really appreciate you all taking the time to share this evening with us.” He let go of my side and placed his hand on the champagne flute he was holding, peering into it. “Look...I’ll start by addressing the elephant in the room by saying that it is no secret Alexis and I found each other under somewhat controversial circumstances.” He moved his gaze to me, a hint of guilt flickering in his eyes. I winked at him, encouraging him to go on.
“Controversial or not, the truest crime of all would have been to ignore true love. From the moment I laid eyes on this beautiful woman standing next me, my heart decided to once again function as it was designed to, and honestly, the feeling that came over me shortly after meeting her for the first time literally shocked the shit out of me.”
Everyone in the room let out a chuckle which seemed to relax Bryce.
“So, there I was, my heart going berserk, telling numerous parts of my body that my true love—my soul mate—had just entered my life. And knowing that it was criminal to ignore what I was feeling, I had no choice but to act. To say that I deliberately pursued Alexis is indeed correct. Do I feel guilty about that fact? Well...at that time yes, yes I did. But, knowing that she too felt the same way about me, but refused to let herself accept it, enabled me to push aside that guilt. Look, I guess what I am trying to say is sometimes in life you know you are going to do the wrong thing, that what you are about to do goes against everything you stand for. But there are also times in life when you have to ignore the morality of the problem that faces you and go with your heart. Because at the end of the day, your heart is what truly makes you happy. And Alexis is my heart, entirely.”
The room was completely silent, but the loud thudding noise my heart was making as it pounded in my chest was deafening. I had tears streaming down my face as I looked up at the man who fulfilled every part of my being.
He noticed me crying and gently wiped away the salty menaces that were trickling down my cheeks. I helped him rid my face of the moisture and choked back anymore tears that threatened to fall. I looked out over the room of smiling faces, some of which were even crying—my mother and sister being two of them—and some were playfully scoffing at Bryce’s romantic declaration—my brother and Derek being two of those.
I cle
ared my throat. “Wow! I can’t really top that ca—”
“Yes you can,” he interrupted, smiling at me.
I knew exactly what he meant. “Actually, yes I can.” I took in a deep breath and felt my face stretch into an enormous grin. “Tomorrow I turn 36 years of age, and during those 36 years I have experienced a lot. I have learned what it is to be a daughter, sister, friend, wife, and mother. I have learned what entails commitment, devotion, loyalty, love, hurt, and loss. But I think what I have learned most of all in my life’s journey, is that no matter what difficult situation you face, there is always reprieve, always a light at the end of the tunnel. Even if at first that light seems dim and not worth trying to reach, there is a light and it is worth reaching. It’s worth grasping and doing everything you can to brighten it. All of you—my friends and family—are my light, and I truly appreciate having you all in my life.”
I placed my hand around Bryce’s hip and leaned in to his shoulder. “As most of you are aware, I have recently had to fight for reprieve during a very wounding, lightless time in my life, but it was a fight worth winning because the path that lies ahead of me now at age 36 is the most exciting path I will ever walk. It’s a path I plan on taking with all of you, with my two beautiful children, with this wonderful amazing man who I now know to be my soul mate, and with our precious little miracle that is growing strong as each day goes by.” I gently caressed my stomach.
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