by E. L. Todd
This was real.
I pressed my face to hers and held her like I would never let go. My large hand almost spanned her entire back. Her baby bump pressed against me, and it was the most wonderful sensation in the world. “God, I missed you.”
“I missed you too.”
I cupped both of her cheeks and pressed my lips to hers. The second we touched, my body ignited. A thousand emotions washed over me, all of them powerful and unique. I felt painful longing for the woman in my heart. I felt desire for my wife in my bed. And I felt so much love I thought my heart would burst.
I tasted her tears as I moved my lips against hers. And I felt my own move down my face. I reluctantly ended the embrace then stared down at her slightly distended stomach. My hand moved to the bump and I knew my child was inside.
I breathed hard and couldn’t believe this was real. How did this happen? When did this happen? It didn’t really matter. I’ve always wanted a family with Skye and now I was finally getting it.
I lowered myself to one knee then rested my face against her stomach. If I listened hard enough, I thought I heard something stir deep inside. But it was probably just my wishful thinking. Then I pressed a long kiss to her stomach, showering my wife and baby with love.
Skye rested her fingers in my hair as she stared down at me, her eyes still wet.
I slowly rose to my feet and looked at her, knowing my eyes mirrored her own. “I’m going to be a father?”
She nodded.
“You have no idea how happy that makes me…”
“I do.”
I hugged her again and brought her to my chest. My face moved into her neck and I closed my eyes. Those three months of torture finally faded away. Now that I had this it seemed irrelevant. I was home, and I had a home waiting for me.
I wasn’t sure how long I stood there, but it seemed like an eternity. All I wanted was to stay like this forever. I’d spent so many nights alone, thinking about the woman I couldn’t be with. She waited for me the entire time, and she carried my child until I came home.
“I love you.” My voice came out as a whisper.
“I loved you too.” Her face was against my chest and her arms were around my neck.
I sniffed as I tried to control my emotions. I knew I had an audience, not that it mattered. My hand moved to the side of her stomach and I couldn’t stop touching it. My son or daughter was inside, growing at the very moment.
Skye pulled away from my embrace and gave me that familiar look of love and affection. “Welcome home, Cayson.”
I took a deep breath as I stared at her beautiful face. “I’m never leaving again.”
“I know.”
I kept my hand on her stomach. “Never.”
She pulled away from me and I felt cold at her absence. “Everyone else would like to see you…”
I loved my family but all I really cared about was my wife at the moment. But it would be rude to shut them out like they didn’t matter. I dropped my touch then moved to my parents. “Hey, Mom and Dad.”
Mom hugged me first, and of course she was crying. “Our baby is home…”
Dad gripped my shoulder. “Congratulations, son.”
“Thank you.” I was still in a daze. I came home expecting to be with my wife, but I got another addition to the family instead.
It was the best surprise ever.
I hugged my dad next. “Congrats to you too.”
“Your mother and I are very excited.” He gave me a smile, but there was a look of pride in his eyes.
I loved it when he looked at me that way.
“Cayson!” Clementine ran to me and jumped into my arms. “I never thought I would miss you so much.”
She knocked the wind out of me. “Hey, sis.”
She squeezed my hips. “I’m so glad you’re home.”
“Me too.”
Ward came next with his son in his arms. “This little guy missed you too.”
I squeezed Ward Jr.’s hand. “I thought about him a lot when I was gone.” I pressed a kiss to his forehead before I shook Ward’s hand.
“And you’re going to have your own soon.” Ward gave me a knowing look.
I smiled. “Yeah…I am.” I still couldn’t believe it. I only had five minutes to process it.
Sean came next. “I’m glad you’re home, son.” He hugged me tightly and patted my back. “We missed you.”
“I missed you too.” I returned the embrace but stayed clear of his back.
He pulled away and smiled. “I’m fine, Cayson.”
“I’m glad you’re okay. I’m sorry I wasn’t here.”
Sean shook his head. “I had twenty other people around me. Don’t worry about it.”
Scarlet hugged me next, and she practically lifted me off the ground. “You have no idea how happy I am to see you.”
“I’m happy to see you too.” I patted her back and stared at Skye in the background.
She gave me a gentle smile that told me we would have time together when this was over.
Slade came next. He threw himself into my arms and almost knocked me over backwards. “Dude, don’t ever leave like that again. It totally sucked.”
“I never will. And that’s a promise.”
“I missed you.”
“I missed you too, man.”
He leaned back and looked into my face. “It wasn’t the same without you. I had to play ball with Conrad and he’s a sore loser. I had to work out with Arsen, and we both know how demeaning that is.”
I smirked. “I’m back now. We’ll do all those things together.”
He rolled his eyes. “I’ll give you three weeks to…catch up on your sleep.”
I knew what he meant. “Thanks. And thank you for taking care of Skye.”
He rolled his eyes again. “How do you put up with her all the time? She’s the most annoying and high-maintenance person I know.”
“I never noticed.”
“I was pretty much a butler for three months.”
“I’ll pay you. How about that?”
He shook his head. “You don’t have enough money, man.”
I laughed. “I’ll pay you back someday.”
“I’m not holding my breath over it.”
I turned serious. “I really mean it. Thanks for taking care of her while I’ve been away. I feel a lot better knowing you were there…especially when she was pregnant.”
“Don’t mention it.” He patted my shoulder. “Everything is absolutely perfect. We just went to the doctor the other day and he said the baby is totally healthy and Skye is doing great.”
“Thank you,” I said with a nod. “I’m glad.”
“Hey,” Conrad said irritably. “You’re holding up the line.”
“Shut up,” Slade barked. “He’s my best friend.”
“We’ll have time later, Slade.”
Slade gave me an incredulous look.
“We will. I promise.”
He reluctantly stepped aside.
I greeted everyone else and exchanged hugs. I was grateful I had so many people who loved me, but right now I wished they hated me. All I wanted to do was be with my wife. But I put on a fake smile and greeted all the people who came out just to welcome me home.
“Let’s head back to the house,” Sean said. “We’re having a welcome home party for you.”
Was he joking?
“We got hot wings and peanut butter fingers,” Slade said.
“And cheeseburgers,” Trinity said.
Fuck, I didn’t want to socialize with them for the entire evening.
I moved to Skye and grabbed her hand. “I really appreciate it but we’re going to have to take a rain check for tomorrow night.” I wasn’t going to wait another five hours until I was alone with my wife.
Slade grinned from ear-to-ear. “Kidding. You think we’d do that to you?”
“The party is tomorrow,” Trinity said. “We’ll see you then.”
Thank god. I grabbed m
y bags then pulled Skye with me. “We’ll see you then.”
They all waved and didn’t follow us.
Slade spoke to Trinity. “How much do you want to bet he doesn’t show up tomorrow?”
Trinity laughed. “Everything I own.”
***
I tossed my bags on the ground in the entryway, and I heard the distinct crack of something breaking.
“Oh no,” Skye said. “What was—”
I scooped her into my arms and carried her up the stairs. “I don’t give a damn what it was. The only things I care about are in my arms.” I carried her into our bedroom then lay her down gently.
She looked up at me like a vision. Her hair was across her shoulders, and her baby bump was noticeable in her dress. It made her a million times sexier but in a way I couldn’t explain.
I stripped off my clothes in a heartbeat. I didn’t plan on putting anything on for the next twenty-four hours. Then I moved on top of her and kissed her belly through her dress.
Skye stared at me with wide eyes.
“What?”
“You’re…really buff.”
My body had changed a month into my trip. Now I didn’t even notice anymore. “All I did was exercise and eat healthy.” My fingers moved to her zipper and pulled it down. When the dress was loose, I pulled it away. Skye kicked it off like she was just as eager as I was.
Her bra and panties came next, and when she was naked underneath me I seriously thought I would explode then and there. She was so much better in person than through a computer screen.
My lips found her stomach and I placed kisses across every inch of it. It was the sexiest thing I’d ever seen, and that surprised me because I’d already been with Skye for years.
Her fingers dug into my hair as she watched me worship her.
I wanted to make this moment last forever but I knew it wasn’t possible. Three months without making love to my wife had destroyed my stamina and endurance.
I moved her further up the bed until her head was on the pillow. I positioned myself between her legs and made sure I didn’t rest myself on her stomach. My nose rubbed against hers then I kissed her.
I touched her everywhere, savoring the fact we were together. Her skin was just as soft as I remembered. She felt exactly the way she used to. My lips took hers like they would never let go. Her tongue danced with mine and sent shivers down my spine.
My heart ached as I felt her in my arms. I’d fantasized about this moment so many times and now it was really happening. My senses were overloaded and I couldn’t comprehend everything.
I leaned over her, and my cock found her entrance like it had a hundred times. The second I pushed my head inside, I stopped and moaned into her mouth.
Shit, I forgot how good she felt.
Skye moved her nails down my back and to my ass. Then she gently pulled me entirely within her. Her moan almost came out as a scream. She panted underneath me like she was just as worked up as I was.
I rocked into her slowly while I fisted her hair and kissed her. The connection between us couldn’t be broken by anything. We were together, and now we were starting a family. It brought tears to my eyes, but good ones.
“I love you,” she whispered into my mouth.
“I love you too.” All I was thinking about was her, but I was also trying to control myself at the same time.
“It’s okay. We have all night.” Skye knew I was struggling. She broke our kiss and looked up at me with desire in her eyes. Her tits were bigger than usual, and now they were even more irresistible.
I thrust inside her while I locked my gaze with hers. Unable to control myself, I released inside her. It was the best orgasm I ever had, and I filled her with more than I realized.
She pulled me further into her. “I can feel it.”
My heart skipped a beat at her words.
When I finished, she kissed me again and wrapped her legs around my waist. Her hands dug into my hair and down my back. She couldn’t get enough of me and I couldn’t get enough of her. Within a minute, I was hard again.
I moved into her slowly while my lips felt hers. “Is this real?”
“Yes, Cayson. And it’s going to be real for the rest of our lives.”
A Girl Like You
Book Thirty-Six of The Forever and Ever Series
There will be a two-week period before the next installment is released.
AVAILABLE AUGUST 24th
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Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed reading Skye and Cayson’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you could leave a short review, it would help me so much! Those reviews are the best kind of support you can give an author. Thank you!
Wishing you love,
E. L. Todd
