by Alora Kate
“You are so beautiful,” he said, and I melted into him. “You came out of the darkness, bold and beautiful. Stronger than ever. Braver than most.”
God, this man was everything to me.
“So did you, Linc.”
Without thinking, and keeping my eyes on his lips, I pushed off his chest and swung a leg over him. His hands went to my hips and mine were flat on his chest.
“My heart beats fast, heavy, and strong all the time, for all the wrong reasons, but you Lincoln…” I paused taking a breath because I was out of my comfort zone and wanted this to go well for the both of us. “You Lincoln, make my heart beat fast, heavy, and strong for all the right reasons. I like it when you do that to me, and you do that all the time. All you have to do is look at me.” He smiled and his hands on my hips started to move. “I’m going to kiss you now.”
He chuckled. “Okay.”
“With my tongue.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
“Yes.”
But I didn’t move. I just sat there, straddling him, feeling the sweat build up where my hands were on his chest. Feeling my heart beat faster. Heavier. Stronger than ever.
I want this to happen.
I needed this to happen.
I wanted to move forward.
“Ashton, if you aren’t ready we-”
I moved so fast, I felt like I had fallen on him when our lips smashed together. I waited. I was waiting to follow his lead.
He slowly moved his lips, and I did my best to follow him. Slowly our lips parted, and I felt the brief touch of his tongue on my lips.
It was amazing.
I pulled back. “I can do better.”
“Ashton.”
I slammed my lips on his before he could speak.
I just wanted him to kiss me.
I just wanted to kiss him.
And I did.
I kissed him many times and he respected my boundaries and never tried to make me feel uncomfortable. His hands never roamed or went where they shouldn’t.
He respected me one hundred percent.
He always did right by me.
He was always holding on.
I pulled back to catch my breath but stayed close to his face, and those lips.
“I love you, Lincoln,” I whispered, and watched his world change through his eyes.
“I know you do.”
“That’s how you reply?” I asked while his hands were slowly moving up and down my back.
“Are you holding on?” he whispered.
“Holding on to something I’ll never let go of.”
Chapter 25 - Epilogue, 6 years later
“I’m going to kill you!” I yelled at Lincoln as the pain in my stomach ripped through me, making me scream again.
“You got this.”
I hate it when he says that.
“Does it look like I’ve got this!?”
“A couple more pushes Ashton, and she’ll be out,” said Gary, Suzanne’s husband, who was in between my legs waiting for my baby girl to be born.
“I can’t,” I wailed as another contraction tore through me.
If I had been brave enough to give birth at the hospital, I’d have some drugs in me. But no, not me, I had to have a home birth with no fucking drugs. Suzanne had her hand on my shoulder and was encouraging me. “You’re strong Ashton, always have been.”
“Shut up,” I hissed. “Seriously don’t need a session right now!”
She just smirked at me, like I didn’t mean it but I did. I totally did.
“One more push, Ashton or you’ll have to go to the hospital,” Gary said, and I secretly hated him because he knew how much I hated the hospital.
“Don’t fuck with me, Gary!”
“Then push, Ash,” Lincoln said in my other ear. “Push. Push. Push.”
It was official, Suzanne and Lincoln were grounded and they were going to be upset when I deny them holding my precious baby in their arms.
Natalie, Nick, Mike, and Mom were outside the house waiting because I didn’t want them all in there. It would have been too many people. Natalie and Nick already had three kids, and his mom was re-married. Mike had a long-term girlfriend and was waiting for the right time to propose to her.
Four years ago, Lincoln and I moved about twenty minutes outside of the city because he was done with the bar scene and we wanted to start a family. Mike invested my parents’ life insurance money and I had enough to live on for the rest of our lives, but Lincoln still wanted to work and provide for our family. He went back to college for a nursing degree and graduated last year. He plans to work part time but I’d rather he be home all the time because I might not be able to handle being alone with a baby. It was still up for discussion.
The second break to his leg left him with a slight limp but he still ran. He also got me running once we were alone on our small property and I wished I had done it sooner. It helps my soul be free.
I still had issues.
Not many, but still, they were there. I fought through them all the time, but our life was great. We were great together.
Suzanne came to us on Mondays now because she only worked three days a week since she got married and had kids of her own.
Kids. My baby.
I was about to be a mom.
Again.
I gripped my legs and pushed with everything I had as the contraction tore me apart. I fell backward, completely exhausted, trying to catch my breath.
Lincoln had tears in his eyes. “You did it,” he said then disappeared but I knew it was because he was going to be with our girl.
I focused on the ceiling.
I focused on my breathing while everything went silent.
I just gave birth to a baby girl. I got a second chance at being a mom. I wouldn’t mess this up.
I was a mom.
I was told all those years ago that I’d never be able to have kids because of the scar tissue the Devil left inside of me. I told Lincoln that trying to get pregnant was a waste of time. I told him not to get his hopes up, but last year, a few months after we started trying, I was pregnant. It took a few weeks for me to fully grasp the reality of being pregnant and when I found out it was a girl, I lost it. I completely lost it. All I could think about was what happened to me, and that I didn’t want that to happen to her.
But Lincoln told me he’d protect her, just like he protects me.
I loved him more than myself.
He took care of my soul.
He took care of my heart.
But most of all, he takes care of us.
He waited for me, and that’s the true sign of love.
He waited.
He knew it’d all work out.
We got married two days ago. It was a Monday, and Suzanne had been bringing the marriage license with her every time she came, just in case. She’d been ordained online and waited for the moment to happen.
I heard my baby screaming, then Lincoln’s kind words calming her down. A few minutes later, he handed me our baby girl.
“Hope Natalie Walker, would like to meet her mom.” She was so beautiful, I started to cry.
I’ve never felt this kind of love before. I’ve never been so full of love that I felt like I would burst open. I’d do anything for her. I’d do anything for Lincoln, for our family.
I looked up at him, and he leaned down to kiss me.
“Thank you,” we both said at the same time. Our love was unexpected, but it came at the perfect time.
NO means NO!
Rape is NOT okay. Anytime you tell someone NO and they continue, it’s NOT okay.
If anyone needs help or support, please reach out to someone for help. You can contact me if you’d like, or visit this website: https://www.rainn.org/
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All about Alora Kate
Alora Kate �
�� Pen Name
There are many reasons why she chooses to use a Pen Name. She battled with the idea but in the end, it’s a dedication. Alora Kate is a dedication to someone special who left this world way too soon.
She loves to share her imagination and stories and only hopes you
all enjoy them as much as she loves to write them.
She’s a single mom of a five-year-old boy and a full-time college student studying photography and graphic design.
Connect with Alora
[email protected]
https://www.facebook.com/alorakateauthor
https://www.tsu.co/authoralorakate
Other Series by Alora Kate
The Four Seasons Series
The Aster Lake Series
Standalones by Alora Kate
The Price We Pay
Copyright © 2017 by Alora Kate
