“She told me she was walking away. She told me that we belong together and that she wouldn’t stand in our way. She left, Dax. I’m so sorry I have to be the one tell you.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. “Jesus, Charlee. By the look on your face, I thought it was going to be something terrible.”
“Dax, I just told you that your wife basically gave you to me.”
“She didn’t give me to you. I was never hers to give away. I told you, we were headed to the courthouse to finalize our divorce. Now could you please shut up and give me a kiss? I’ve been waiting since the minute you walked through that door. I’m a patient man, but, oh who are we kidding? We both now that when it comes to you, I’m anything but patient.” She was hesitating, and I was growing impatient. “Woman, if you don’t get over here, I swear I will try and get out of this bed. Do you really want to play around with my life?”
She slowly stood from her chair and leaned over. I could feel her warm breath caress my skin and I found myself pulling her head closer to mine. When our lips touched, electricity shot through me. Desire overwhelmed me, and I took advantage of her while I could. I felt her melt into me as my tongue slid across her lower lip. She granted me access to her mouth and our tongues moved in unison. God how I had missed her. She tasted sweet and every other care in the world faded away as she consumed me.
“I hate to interrupt, but we need to take you for one more scan to make sure everything is still looking good. Hopefully we can get you out of the ICU and into your own room downstairs.”
Charlee pulled back, flushed because of what we were caught doing. “Thank you, Tracy.”
“No problem. Glad you two made up.”
“There was never a question.” Charlee chimed in. She bent over and gave me a sweet kiss. “Okay, I’ll see you in just a few. I’m going to go grab something to eat in the cafeteria, but I’ll be back.”
She started to walk out the door, but I couldn’t let her leave without saying how I felt. “Hey Charlee?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
“I love you too, Dax.”
We had just gotten to the room where they do the CAT scan, when Tracy was suddenly in front of me. “She’s a keeper. You better take care of that one.”
“I will. I promise.”
When we got back up to my room, Charlee was nowhere to be found. My heart began to race, thinking that she smartened up and finally left my ass, but then she suddenly appeared. Her long blonde hair swung over her shoulder as she came to a stop in the doorway, her electric blue eyes meeting my gaze. This was the girl I was going to spend the rest of my life with. This was the girl I was going to have babies with, and this was the girl who made my life worth living.
Chapter Forty-Two
Charlee
“Can you two please be careful with that? And stop screwing around.” I swear Trevor and Dax were like infants when they were together.
“Calm down baby. We’re not going to break anything.”
I slapped Dax on his shoulder, as I leaned in and gave him a quick kiss. “If you break any of my stuff while moving your shit in here, I swear I’ll hurt you.” I joked.
“You love me too much to hurt me.”
“True. Please just be careful.”
“We will.” They both shouted as they continued moving my curio cabinet to the other room.
“I swear those two were dropped on their heads as kids.” Taylor and I both broke out in laughter. “So, everything you ever wanted?”
I grabbed a few books from the bookshelf to move to the other room. “Yeah, everything I ever wanted.”
“Hey Charlee, did you ever tell Dax about the baby?”
I dropped the books I was holding, barely missing my toe. “Taylor, shut up. No, he hasn’t asked and it just hasn’t come up yet.”
“Charlee. Don’t you think you should tell him?”
“Taylor, I really don’t want to talk about it anymore. And, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t say anything.”
Taylor walked over and wrapped her arms around me. “You know I would never tell. I was just asking.”
I hugged her back and finished putting the rest of the books in a box. I knew the question would eventually come up, but it had only been a month since Dax had been out of the hospital, and I wasn’t ready to make our blissful life complicated again. Dax had to be in the hospital for a few weeks to fully recover and then he was required to do physical therapy for six months.
The last week before he left the hospital was one of the best of my life. Dax and I had worked our feelings out and everything was on track. We talked about everything until we were blue in the face. Questions were answered, and more questions came to mind, but we were in a great place and nothing would change that. The next logical thing to do was figure out if this relationship was moving forward or standing still. I already knew I didn’t want to spend another night away from him and I was getting up the courage to ask if he wanted to move in with me, when he beat me to the punch. Before he could even finish asking me, I was already saying yes.
Now all we had to do was move all of his stuff in. I swear he owned more shit than any other person I had ever met. My house was a decent size, but we had to move pieces of furniture to make room for all the extra stuff.
Taylor was standing against the wall outside of one of the extra bedrooms, when I snuck up on her and scared the ever-living hell out of her. “Sorry, hun. I didn’t mean to scare you like that.” I lied.
“Shh. It’s okay.”
“What are we listing to?” I whispered back at her.
“Just listen.”
“Dax, why didn’t you tell me before now? All those times I came to visit you at the hospital, you never said a word.”
“I know. I’m sorry, man. Can’t you just be happy for me?”
Taylor and I both looked at each other in shock. Trevor was always my strongest advocate, even more so than Taylor at times. So why was he not happy for us now?”
“Of course I’m happy for you. That’s not what I meant at all. I’m just saying you should have told me sooner. I’m happy for you, Dax. I think it’s awesome.”
“Thanks.”
Taylor and I quickly ran down the hallway and straight outside to grab some boxes. When the guys came walking out a minute later, we pretended to be in an in depth conversation.
Dax came up behind me as I bent over to pick up a box, wrapping his arms around my waist. “I can get that.” He pressed his lips against my neck, causing me to get goose bumps all down the left side of my body. “Come inside with me for a second.”
“Dax, we need to get this stuff inside before it rains.”
“Trevor and I will get it. Just come with me for a second. I promise it won't take long.”
I let him pull me up the porch steps and all the way up to our bedroom. He kicked the door shut and before I could turn around, he was wrapping me in his arms. His lips moved across my bare shoulder and up the side of my neck, causing me to let out a small moan. His hands slid down my sides and to the waistband of my shorts. I knew exactly what he was wanting, and I wanted it too. More than anything. I let him undress me slow and meticulously. When my clothes were pooled at my feet, I slowly turned in his arms and began to undress him.
I stood back as I pulled his shirt over his head, taking in the decadent sight in front of me. His broad shoulders pulled his skin tight, exposing his defined muscles. I ran my fingers down his well-defined abs, then all the way down to the deep v that disappeared below his waistline. I took my time unbuttoning his shorts, before pulling them and his boxer briefs to the floor. We both stood there admiring the other as desire took over our every thought. I figured he would pull me up and press me against the wall, but I was pleasantly surprised when he gently picked me up and laid me back against the bed.
The mattress dipped with the weight of his body as he crawled over to me. His mouth descended on mine slowly, causing my body to involuntaril
y tremble. As his lips pressed against mine, my ravenous side took over, wrapping my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist. I dug my heels into his backside, forcing him against my entrance. My hands grabbed the back of his neck, keeping his mouth on mine.
With every movement our mouths made, the wetter I became. Without wasting another minute, Dax slowly began to push into me. I arched my back into his body as he pushed himself deeper, stretching me to fit his length. With every thrust, my body moved closer to ecstasy. Dax started to move faster, and my legs grew tighter around his waist. My nails dug in deep to his back muscles, but for once never breaking the skin. I could feel my walls started to tighten around him, as I got closer. I didn’t want to finish before him, so I tried my hardest to hold off until I knew he was close. His lips left mine and made there way across my jawline, and over to my ear.
Just as I was about to explode around him, he whispered softly into my ear. “I love you, Charlee.”
“I love you too, Dax.” I responded quietly before letting myself go.
He wasn’t far behind and as he finished, my name slipped between his lips. I hugged him tightly against my body before he rolled over onto his side next to me. We both tried to catch our breath as I rolled over to face him.
“See, that wasn’t so bad.” He laughed. “I told you it would be quick.”
“You’re so dumb. Hey Dax, there’s something I need to tell you.” I didn’t want to ruin the moment, but now seemed as good a time as any to let him know about something important. “Remember when you asked me if I was really pregnant when I talked to you all those years ago?”
“Yeah?”
“I was, and it was yours.”
Dax propped himself up on his arm as he looked right into my eyes. “I’m confused.”
“No, oh god no. I didn’t get rid of it or anything like that.”
“I never said that’s what I was thinking.”
“I can tell it crossed your mind. I miscarried about a week after I talked to you. The pregnancy hadn’t been the easiest thing on my body and the doctor warned me that it could possibly happen, but I didn’t believe her. I thought if I could carry to term, that I would find you and let you know. Unfortunately, there was nothing to tell.” I hung my head in shame. I knew keeping it from Dax was the wrong thing to do, but after the way he treated me when I went back, I wasn’t willing to let him be a part of my life. Dax’s finger slid under my chin, pulling my face up to meet his lips. He kissed me briefly for a few seconds before he pulled me tightly against his chest.
“I’m so sorry, Charlee. I’m sorry for everything that happened, but most of all, I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you. You deserved to have someone be there to help you through something like that, and once again I failed you.”
I shook my head. “Dax, I didn’t tell you this to make you feel bad. I told you because I always want to be honest with you and you deserved to know. I know our relationship has had its ups and downs over the years, but I want this to last forever.”
“I do too, Charlee.” He paused briefly and then asked me a question I wasn’t prepared to ever answer. “Was it a boy or a girl?”
I looked deep into his eyes, “Do you really want to know?”
“If it’s not too painful for you, I would.”
I glanced down at my intertwined fingers, not able to make eye contact with him for fear of crying. “It was a girl.” A small sob escaped my throat and I tried to cover my mouth to prevent any further emotion.
“A girl, huh? I’d bet she would be just as beautiful as you.” His hand slowly stroked the back of my hair. “I’m sorry, Charlee.” I knew it was all he could think to say.
We were just about to get up and get dressed when the bedroom door came flying open. Dax quickly grabbed the sheets and covered me up, leaving himself exposed.
“Damn it, Trevor. Get the fuck out.” Dax threw a pillow at Trevor, barely missing his face.
“Dude, sorry. I just came to get you to help. It’s raining and all your shit is getting wet, but if you're busy.” He laughed.
“I’ll be out in a minute.”
Trevor left, leaving the door open as he took off running down the hall. Dax and I looked over at one another and burst into laughter. I wish I could say it was the first time Trevor had walked in on us, but I’d be lying. Trevor had a bad habit of not knocking.
We both dressed quickly and made our way outside. It was pouring rain and all of Dax’s boxes were soaked through. Trevor was kicking most of them into the garage just to get them out of the way, but Dax didn’t like that idea very much. He ran over and smacked Trevor on the back of the head.
“You’re going to break all my shit, asshole.”
Half an hour later, we were finally finished bringing all of Dax’s stuff inside and moving all the furniture around. I threw myself onto the plush leather couch, moaning in pain. “I’m spent.”
“Me too.” Taylor flung herself onto the couch cushion next to me.
“I’m going to order some pizza. Everybody cool with that?”
“Trevor, wait a minute.”
Taylor and I both looked over at Dax, wondering why he was stopping Trevor from providing food. I pushed myself up on my elbows and glared at Dax. “Why are you trying to starve me, baby?”
“I’m not trying to starve you, you whiner. I have something I need to say first.”
“Oh-kay.”
Dax made his way over to me, pulling me into a sitting position. Once I was looking at him, he dropped to one knee and pulled out a small black velvet box from his pocket. My hand flew up to my mouth as I fell to the floor. “What are you doing?”
“Just be quiet for a minute. Damn woman, give me a break.” He laughed. “I have loved you from the moment I saw you almost thirteen years ago and I can’t imagine another day without you. I want forever with you, Charlee. Say you’ll be my wife.”
A stray tear fell down my cheek as I nodded my head. Dax picked me up off of the ground and swung me around as I wrapped my legs securely around his waist. “Of course, yes.” I whispered. When he finally set me back onto the ground, he kissed me. He kissed me in a way that he had never kissed me before, and I knew from that moment on that I would never be the same. We would never be the same. After all this time, we found our way back to each other. We defied the odds and made each other a priority and nothing would ever change that.
Epilogue
Dax
I stood at the end of the flower filled aisle, waiting for her beautiful face to come into view. It didn’t take us long to get to this point. It had only been a month since I asked her to marry me, but we figured why wait? I glanced around the small church at all of the familiar faces that we had accumulated over the years.
I watched as Taylor made her way up the aisle with Katie by her side. It was amazing to see how she had grown over the years into an amazingly smart and beautiful young girl. Taylor smiled at Trevor and I couldn’t help but look over at him with a questioning look. He shrugged his shoulders as he smiled wide, and I almost started to laugh.
I knew one day those two would figure their shit out and make it work. They belonged together, just like Charlee and I did. I glanced down at the floor, and then back up as everyone stood. Charlee and her mother came into view and my heart skipped a beat. She looked absolutely gorgeous. Her hair hung down over her bare shoulders, her curls grazing the top of her dress. Her veil sat at the back of her head, cascading down the back of her diamond-encrusted dress. She looked perfect as she made her way towards me.
I could see her hands trembling as she held on tight to her bouquet, and I wanted to go to her. I wanted to ease her fears and let her know that everything was going to be okay. But I knew she didn’t need my reassurance. She was strong and stubborn, so even if she did need my help, she wouldn’t ask. With every step she took, it brought her closer to our forever and me. I pushed my hand back through my hair and felt Trevor put his hand on my shoulder. I looked over at him w
ith a nervous smile. I was nervous that I would never be able to provide her with everything she deserved, but I was also nervous that she would suddenly change her mind and take off.
“Just breathe, man. She’s almost here.”
I nodded and looked back at Charlee as she kissed her mom on the cheek and turned to face me. I reached for her hand, helping her up the two steps that lead to her being by my side. I leaned in and kissed her on the cheek as she took her place next to me, and we faced the minister. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her as we faced one another reading our vows. I promised to love her forever, and she did the same. Our vows were short and sweet and to the point. Before I knew it, we had said I do, and it was time for me to kiss my bride. Our lips instantly melted together and we were sealed for life.
We quickly made our way out of the church and hopped in a town car that would take us to the reception just up the street. The minute we were securely in the back seat, Charlee pounced on me. Her flowers flew across the seat as our lips moved passionately together. I pushed my hands through the back of her hair, gently tugging it as my lips made their way down her neck and across her collarbone. Before we could get too hot and heavy, I pulled back.
“You know we’re almost there right?”
“Do I look like I care?”
“Why Mrs. Harper, are you threatening to take advantage of me?” I quickly pressed my lips against hers and smiled.
“Always, Mr. Harper.”
“Well, it’ll just have to wait because we are here.” I reached for the handle to open the door, but she caught my hand before I could open it.
“Wait, I have a surprise for you.” She reached into her small purse and pulled out a white stick. My eyes went wide as I instantly recognized what it was. “Congratulations, Daddy.”
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