by Ciara Cole
Rubbing on his chin, he let out a sigh. “I shouldn’t have shown up unannounced at your family home, but I was invited,” he said.
Leah rolled her eyes and muttered, “Eva.”
“Is it that wrong to want to get acquainted with your family? It’s not like I’m going to remain a stranger for much longer, considering we have a baby on the way.”
“I know what you’re saying, but I’m not sure how I feel about this.”
“I just want one less wall between us. I’m trying to show you I’m ready to take this deeper.”
“Are you, Derrick? Are you really?” asked Leah with a trace of doubt.
“Knowing that I even let you question that for a minute makes me want to hold you in my arms right now. I don’t plan on ever breaking your trust, Leah. I honestly have feelings for you and I’m not just saying that. I want this. I want all of it.”
“You know what? I believe you,” Leah said, smiling. Without another word, she took his hand, turned, and opened the front door. They walked in to join her family, and the small gathering gave as warm a welcome as Derrick could have hoped for.
After some minutes, Leah left Derrick with her parents and went into the kitchen to help with the food. Soon, it was time to eat, but Leah never imagined what would come next. She never would have imagined that earlier, Derrick had played the gentleman and asked her parents if he could ask Leah to be his girlfriend. Of course, they said yes.
It was during dinner that he chose to finally make things official between them. After he had everyone quieted, he turned to Leah and told her how much he loved having her in his life and loved the fact that they were having a baby. “You’re a true blessing I only hope I deserve. Leah, will you be my girlfriend?”
By this time, Leah had her hands over her wide-open mouth until she nodded speechlessly and Derrick grinned, hugging her while everyone cheered.
Leah was shocked and happy. She hadn’t always been the ‘perfect’ girl all her life, and having to live up to her family’s expectations had put a strain on her relationship with her parents. The way they’d accepted Derrick tonight and seemed happy he was making the commitment had Leah feeling a deep contentment. She was working again, had a healthy pregnancy, and now had a man to call her own. She promised to never look back again, but to face the future squarely and positively.
***
Leah had planned to go shopping for baby clothes with Eva and a friend, but when Derrick heard about it, he insisted she go with him instead. Since Leah felt bad about the last time when she’d gone without him to the hospital to find out the sex of their baby, she readily agreed.
Doing things together for the baby made them feel more like a couple than ever. Was marriage in the cards for them? Leah didn’t want to think that far ahead, and besides, there was still time for them to learn all they could about each other.
As for going shopping with Derrick for the baby, Leah knew it was going to be chaos. Since people started seeing them together more often, it was becoming clear they were a couple. It was definitely going to cause a stir if the paparazzi caught wind of them shopping for the baby and decided to tail them around.
“I’m not worried about them. I want us to have as normal a pregnancy as possible and do things that parents-to-be do,” Derrick said firmly as he drove them into town. “Taking Lamaze classes, going to the gym together, and making plans. This is like once in a lifetime for both of us, and I’m not letting the media stand in the way.”
“Well, if it’s what you really want to do,” Leah said, giving a smile. This just might be fun.
Being with Derrick and sharing special moments was all that mattered. She didn’t care, either, about the press or haters. She’d seen enough comments on the web to know that not everyone was going to be happy seeing her and Derrick together. How she looked, what she wore, and even her background were always up for discussion and critique. Why does she talk like that? She’s not even that cute. Why didn’t he just date so-and-so, the new ‘it’ model?
They could go ahead and keep picking on things Leah had no control over. She didn’t mind being an easy target, but if anyone came for her baby, then Leah knew she’d go ballistic. If her life was going to become public, then the outside world had to know what was off limits. Being pregnant made her all the more vulnerable, but she wasn’t going to be a wuss about whatever she had to face with being next to the Derrick Talbot.
Not that they were both over their own private issues. Derrick still wasn’t happy with her working for Blake Wright, but it was too good an opportunity to discard. She didn’t keep overly long hours and paced herself as her pregnancy progressed. She planned on quitting or taking time off soon, though she didn’t tell Derrick yet.
One night, they had a little fight. There was a magazine article about Leah and Wright, with a photo placed on the page of her and Wright leaving a coffee shop. He’d offered to drive Leah home and the paps caught a few pictures.
Leah knew how Derrick was about Blake Wright. She knew he’d be pissed but never imagined he’d call and start yelling.
“Will you please not yell at me?” Leah said somewhat angrily. “You know how we constantly get accused of cheating when we’re both loyal and faithful to each other. They show pictures of you and your team mates partying in clubs and such, and now, they’ve started on me and Wright. I’m twenty-five weeks pregnant, Derrick! How could you think I’m up to anything with him?”
“So, you’re asking me to simply fold my hands and have to see crap like this all the time?” growled Derrick.
“I’m asking you to trust me like I trust you,” Leah told him softly. Leah knew she had to stand her ground about this. “And I do respect you and your feelings, but you can’t read something from a magazine and quickly jump to conclusions without asking me first. And by asking, I don’t mean yelling.”
Her reprimanding tone had a hint of teasing.
Leah could almost hear Derrick’s wry smile in his voice. “You’re right. How do I get you to forgive me?”
Leah chuckled. “No, it’s fine.”
“But I insist. How about this—why don’t I make you dinner?” Derrick asked. “My schedule is a lot lighter than normal. Just some practice, a few chiropractic sessions, and ice bath appointments. I gave my chef a week off, so I’ve been having clean meals delivered to my house weekly, but I’m thinking you probably wouldn’t want to eat that. So, can I make a date for Wednesday?”
“Wednesday it is then. A home-cooked dinner definitely sounds great,” Leah said, the enthusiasm from Derrick rubbing off on her.
“It’ll taste great too. I want to impress you with my cooking skills, and not with how well I can open a refrigerator,” Derrick joked. “What’s your favorite dessert?”
Leah felt her lips tilt in a naughty smile. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll be making dessert.”
***
Leah pulled up to the driveway and noticed that the lights in Derrick’s place were dimmed down. Just what did he have in store for her? She shut off the engine and chuckled to herself before hauling out of the car and heading toward the door. Just before she could knock, the door opened and there stood Derrick with a wide grin.
He looked far too smug about something, and Leah viewed him with amused suspicion. He kissed her in welcome and let Leah precede him into the house.
The first thing Leah noticed were the candles. They illuminated corners of the rooms, giving the atmosphere a romantic feel. She could smell a delicious aroma wafting in the air and making Leah feel hungry.
“What’s that amazing smell?” she asked as Derrick helped her out of her jacket.
“You’ll have to wait until you taste it,” Derrick replied. Leah sighed, yet she felt her anticipation mount. She let Derrick propel her from behind to the kitchen, where he stopped her at the entrance and then shielded her eyes with his hands. Now what?
“I’m not good with surprises, Derrick!” she protested between giggles.
; “This is a good one, I promise.”
She felt his lips graze her ear as he added on a whisper, “Now close your eyes.”
Tingles flowed up and down Leah’s spine. She dutifully closed her eyes and let Derrick guide her first through what she believed were the patio doors before lowering her to a cushioned chair. Soft breezes touched her skin lightly, and the weather felt fresh and reviving and warm enough to eat outdoors.
“Open your eyes,” Derrick said clearly.
Leah blinked her eyes open and then stared before her. The table setting couldn’t be more romantic, intimate and special, strewn with red rose petals and more beautiful candles. Overhead, there were tiny fairy lights entwined on the ornamental framework, offering more of a cozy and dreamy feel. On top of her plate was placed a single red rose. The low-light ambience and simple elegance of every item, from the dinnerware to the centerpiece, took Leah’s breath away.
“This is amazing,” Leah breathed. She loved that the centerpiece held most of her favorite flowers. It looked like Derrick paid attention to times she’d told him things about herself. Even dinner—when it arrived served in a cloche dish presented by Derrick, she saw it was a beautifully done steak, cooked just how she liked it.
The food looked like a masterpiece, and Leah couldn’t wait to dig in. She took a big bite and her eyes widened with each chew. Derrick’s grin grew wider also, seeing her face light up in enjoyment.
“How did you pull this off?” Leah asked in wonder. “It all looks and tastes wonderful.”
“Let’s just say I had to get better acquainted with my mom’s cookbooks,” joked Derrick. “She gave a few helpful tips, too.”
“So now you’ll be cooking a lot more? I could get used to this,” she teased.
“For you, I could try. Though this is the one dish I’ve managed to perfect, so let’s not get our hopes up,” Derrick said, a rueful smile tilting his lips.
Leah pouted playfully, then took another appreciative bite. Her eyes roamed the beautiful scenery around them. “You really made time to set all of this up?”
“Yes. I took a day off to cook for a special girl.”
Derrick grinned and moved his hand to cover hers. His touch was light and gentle, turning her on immediately. How did a man give a girl goosebumps and butterflies at the same time?
They went on eating and didn’t speak a whole lot—the food was that good. Leah was also busy thinking about her own little surprise she had in store.
As if reading her mind, Derrick asked about her plans for dessert.
“Well, after the suspense you built up earlier when I arrived, you’ll have to just wait and see.”
Derrick laughed at her words and Leah joined in, their mirth filled with gentleness and bonding. This sweet, unrushed feeling of togetherness was a change from the norm, as the usual surge of crackling physical awareness took the back burner tonight. At least for now.
Leah felt happy and content. Being Derrick’s girlfriend and sharing special time together felt so . . . comfortable. Was that what it was? A relief, knowing that you could really start to have a sense of belonging with the man you cared about? For all her talk of not needing labels or symbols, the fact that they’d become a real couple was heartwarming. To have a man to call her own, knowing they were exclusive, pulled a lot of weight off her mind. This was no longer just a hookup but maybe the start of something bigger, better, and long-lasting.
Leah felt she could start to really breathe again since she’d found out she was pregnant.
“Ready for some dessert?” she asked with a teasing smile. Derrick had cleared away the dishes from the last course and now grinned in anticipation at Leah, who added, “Only catch is, you have to eat it all off me.”
Derrick’s eyes blazed. “I’ll be sure to clean my plate.”
***
Chocolate dripped down her chin to land on her bare breasts for Derrick to lick off.
Strawberries and whipped cream lay in wait for their enjoyment. Derrick dipped his head to lick some chocolate off Leah’s nipple, and she tipped her head back, savoring his tongue caressing her heated flesh.
Derrick picked up the bottle of chocolate sauce and dripped it onto her bulging tummy and let it run down between her legs. Subsequently, he licked it all up too.
Then came the whipped cream, which he scooped up from the bowl next to the strawberries and spread all over Leah’s sex. He pressed gently on her shoulders to lay her back down, her hair spreading over the pillows. Derrick soon lay between her legs and swept his tongue over her chocolate and whipped cream covered mound.
Leah moaned in pleasure at the soft teasing of his lips and tongue as Derrick licked off all the sweets before plunging into her wetness and tasting her own savory sweetness.
Derrick growled as the flavors all mingled in his mouth. He slipped his fingers inside to stroke her and build up the flames of passion higher and higher. Leah’s love juices soon began to flow out of her, coating his fingers and tongue.
He moved up her body, kissing and licking as he went. He reached her lips and kissed her deeply. Leah gasped as she felt his hard, throbbing length against her flesh.
“My turn,” said Leah, surprising Derrick as she suddenly pushed him on his back against the pillows.
She bent and bit his throat, right beneath his jawline where it was most sensitive. Derrick moaned and one of his hands fisted her thick hair. Leah nibbled and licked on his skin, loving the taste of him. That wild scent of his she couldn’t place, that heady mix of man and sex, was as tempting as ever. He had her on fire.
“Leah,” Derrick groaned.
She raised herself up to look him in the eyes and purposefully pressed her lower half into him, hearing his breath escape in short bursts. With a sultry smile, she dipped her lips to his body again and slowly kissed her way down, savoring the rippling flesh exposed for her enjoyment.
Leah could taste her juices as well as the chocolate and whipped cream on his skin. From his throat, she slid down to his nipples, licking and biting gently until he hissed at the pressure.
Leah smiled slightly, reaching between them to trace the outline of his member with her fingers. Derrick bucked into her hand, and Leah bit on her lip sensually.
“Looks like someone needs to learn to be patient,” she teased as she edged her face down to rub her cheek along his prodigious length.
“Don’t toy with me,” Derrick half-growled before squeezing his eyes tight and swearing out loud as Leah took him in her mouth. He tangled his fingers in her soft, full hair while she bobbed her head up and down.
“Just like that, baby,” said Derrick, groaning at the sensation of Leah jacking his erection while licking on his sac.
“Mmm, you like that?” she purred before sliding him back into her mouth.
“Fuck, yes,” he said, his stomach taut. “Shit. I’m close.”
He sounded like he hadn’t expected to be, and neither did Leah, not so soon. She’d never really tried giving head before. This was her first time, and she’d never imagined she’d intuitively bring Derrick pleasure even with being unpracticed.
Leah felt his fingers in her hair try to pull her gently away, but she kept sucking. She couldn’t take all of him in, and she used her hand around what she couldn’t reach with her mouth.
Derrick’s hands in her hair guided her movements, and Leah followed his lead, relinquishing control. Her lips stretched and ached, but Leah didn’t remember to feel tired, loving the texture of his ivory flesh on her tongue.
Leah could hear Derrick’s uneven breath, and she gained confidence, running her tongue along the underside and the tip of his hardness. This new experience fascinated her hands and mouth as she felt drowned in every flavor, every ridge, and the combination of softness and hardness that she feasted on.
Suddenly, Leah sensed a certain pulsating vibe of veins and muscle in Derrick’s member. She sealed her mouth tighter around his girth, knowing the moment he began to come into her mouth. Le
ah swallowed and sucked greedily, pulling forth every drop of Derrick’s creamy goodness.
Moments later, she took out him out of her mouth, the loud popping sound echoing in the room.
That had felt good—and tasted great too. The next instant, Derrick growled and captured her lips in a kiss that put all of tonight’s other kisses to shame. Biting and sucking on her bottom lip, he took hold of her hips and settled her on his manhood, sliding into her sheath as he thickened and lengthened in record speed.
Leah cried out against his lips as he brought her down with sensuous slowness and drove against her inner walls, pushing her to the edge over and over.
“Don’t hold back, baby. I love to hear you scream,” rasped Derrick.
Leah’s body shook and convulsed at his darkly tinted words. The mating lust shot from him to her, making their linked bodies feel fused into one. The junction of their union was soaked with Leah’s juices, her moistness tight around thrusting Derrick. Magic seemed to flow all around them, pushing them into each other in the giving and taking of the greatest pleasure and the awakening of their most carnal, most animal sides.
“Derrick,” gasped Leah. “I’m so close.”
“Then you’re ready for more.”
More? Leah’s head spun. What could possibly take her even higher? She was soaring close to the ceiling already.
Without warning, Derrick drew his length out of Leah’s dripping entrance. Her shuddering moan echoed in the room. Taking advantage of her helpless state, Derrick kneeled between her legs as she leaned back, arms propped behind her on the bed. He licked his way up from her inner thighs to her slit. Groaning deep in his throat, he tongued her clit, rolling and pressing. Leah’s body jolted and her hands gripped his hair.
Giving a wolfish grin, Derrick captured the engorged nub into his mouth and sucked hard. He heard Leah squeal and he paused, careful not to hurt her, but the way she jerked his head back to the center of her thighs let him know she was loving it.
“Derrick . . .” she panted as his tongue grazed her folds. He glanced up at her and saw the total submission smoldering in her chocolate eyes. He growled in appreciation before his tongue delved into her wet, hot vagina.
