by Ella Brooke
“So how has it been so far?” Diane asked a few minutes later as she measured her.
“Terrifying. Amazing,” Kit answered honestly with her hands over her head.
“That sounds about right. I only had twins, and it was intimidating enough.” Diane chuckled. “And I’m only 5’2”. Imagine that, if you will.”
“I won’t have to imagine for long.” Kit was a little grateful then that she was 5’7” with wide hips and not a very petite woman. She hadn’t loved her hips when she was in high school, but they were going to earn their keep this year for damn sure.
“I’m really glad I kept them. It wasn’t that much of a question, but the doctors kept pressing me. Probably because they didn’t think I’d actually take off work and take care of myself.” Kit shook her head. “But I love them. I don’t even know them yet, and I love them. It’s like Grant and I made this miraculous thing by accident, despite our best efforts, and I’ve been blessed with a magically expanding waistline that I hate for vanity and love because inside are our children.”
“I’m sure he just loves it. That’s all they see, or the ones that love you, anyway. Their magical wives, growing their children for them,” Diane said.
Kit pinched her lips to the side. She wasn’t his wife. Maybe in due time, but right now, it was just too much to plan a wedding. Grant seemed like he wanted to propose too, but he’d been holding back a lot so as not to overwhelm her, and she was a little glad.
“He does have that look,” Kit admitted. “His eyes are amazed every time he sees me. But that could be because I’ve somehow gotten bigger in the five minutes he took to go get a beer.”
Diane chuckled.
***
That night, dressed like a princess, Kit floated on Grant’s arm to their table on the rooftop of a fine restaurant. This was what he had wanted for their big night before, she could tell, although he’d changed the restaurant. When he’d seen her in the dress, Grant had teared up, just a little, and kissed her cheek before helping her to the car.
Within moments of sitting down to their table, the waiter brought them small bowls of lobster macaroni and cheese, and Kit made an obscene noise.
“Oh, I love you!” she cried.
“I know you,” he replied, grinning helplessly as he watched her dig in.
Their meal was sumptuous and lengthy. Kit was certain she’d put another inch on her belly by the end, and Grant had pulled his chair closer so they could hold hands.
“I have something to ask you,” he said.
“Well, I’m well buttered up now. Ask away.”
“I want you to leave your job.”
Kit looked up at him unhappily. Of course, he was right, but she didn’t have to like it.
“Not in the way you think,” Grant said quickly. “I want you to quit Gable & Pines and come work for us.”
“Do you really need me there?”
“Of course I need you! Kit, if it weren’t for you, I might’ve been facing a lawsuit. Or if not, extremely negative press about things I couldn’t even guess we could do.” Grant wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “We have litigators. We have contract lawyers. We don’t have the kind of legal mind who can help protect our Hustlers’ best interests and think outside the box of what we can really do.”
Kit rubbed her side thoughtfully. “And this isn’t just so you can have your girlfriend at the company and make sure I have easy hours?”
“Don’t even think that. Some will say it, of course, but they’re idiots. We need you.” He kissed her cheek. “Kit, you’re the missing piece.”
“All right. But you have to tell Benjamin how you stole me from them.”
“The joke’s on you, because I’ve been working on Pines for weeks about this.” Grant shrugged. “Not a bad guy.”
***
Kit dozed off in the car. She was helpless to it; her body was full and content, and so moments into the drive, she was dead asleep in Grant’s arms. He woke her only to help her out of the car, let her doze on him in the elevator, and woke her again as he lay her down on their bed to ease her out of her dress.
She sprawled back, yawning, and when she opened her eyes, she was in nothing but her underwear, and it was about ten o’clock. She rose, pulled on one of Grant’s loose sweaters, and went out to find him.
He was in his office, typing away at his laptop answering emails. She came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Grant smiled back at her as he finished up what he was doing.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, perhaps for the four time that day.
“Pretty good.”
“No nausea?”
Her morning sickness tended to come at random times, usually at the worst. “Nope.”
She slipped into his lap, and they kissed. His hand snuck onto her inner thigh, giving it a squeeze as she deepened the kiss. They were still like magnets, but they hadn’t done this enough since she’d found out about being pregnant. Oh, he wanted her. She could tell by the hungry way he looked at her. But he was committed to letting her set the boundaries.
Tonight was different, though. Something was alight in Grant’s eyes.
“It’s been long enough after we ate. Why don’t we go for a dip in the pool?”
Kit titled her head back. “It’s night.”
“So? It’s my pool.”
Kit considered that as she toyed with his hair. “I only have the one bathing suit.”
“All the better.”
“Perv.”
She wasn’t even sure she could get it on. But as a bikini, it wasn’t designed to cover her stomach anyway. And no one else would see them. If that’s what he wanted…
She went to change, fiddling with the straps to accommodate her plumper backside and expanded breasts. She didn’t even bother looking in the mirror except to check her hair, which would be wet soon enough.
As she strolled out to the patio, Grant’s eyes widened comically. She covered her belly shyly, as if there was anything to disguise it at this point. There was something about how little this bikini did to clothe her that made her hesitant.
Grant, however, had no hesitations. His eyes were ravenous, devouring every inch of her flesh, and when he closed the distance between the two of them, his hands did the same. Kisses rained down over her neck and collarbone and breasts. He sucked and licked over her breasts, which were so swollen and sensitive that she moaned unintentionally. She could feel the tender flesh between her legs swelling and throbbing. Demanding.
She squirmed at the feeling, but Grant continued, massaging her left breast and lapping over it. When he slipped her bikini down to suck on her nipple, she gasped and clenched her legs together. Could a woman come just from someone playing with her oversensitive breasts? She might find out tonight.
But it became too much, and she pulled back, panting.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured.
“Don’t be. I’m just so…”
“I know.” Grant smiled.
He led her into the water, and she slipped in with him, enjoying the feeling of weightlessness. She was going to have to come out here more regularly. Both to exercise and to drive Grant crazy with the sight of her expanding body stuffed into various swimsuits. He appreciated the changes much more than she had so far, but she’d never been so quick to arousal before.
That was a bonus. Once in the water, which was slightly heated, Grant’s hands sprung to action once again. She could feel them moving up her thighs, squeezing and tasting her like her body was the most treasured delicacy. Small, needful mewling escaped her throat as his fingers worked their way up the side of her swollen, tight opening and rubbed her clit gently.
She went ridged, grabbing onto him and bucking her hips forward. She twitched, and a deep moan drew from her. While his fingers continued to wriggle inside her, Grant kissed her, dragging his tongue along her lower lip and then pulling it between his lips for a wet suck. Their tongues slid against one another, and her mo
ans vibrated into him as she came again, shuddering in his grasp.
“You’re so lovely,” Grant whispered to her.
“I love you,” she murmured.
Not yet satisfied, Grant slipped his hand under her bikini bottom to cup her ass.
“You’re gorgeous,” he groaned. “I want all of you.”
“You have all of me,” she replied, kissing his neck. “Take it.”
He slipped inside her still twitching lips, his erection so hard that she was surprised it hadn’t hurt him to wait. He grunted, softly, getting his hands in position behind her, and she grabbed onto the edge of the pool to maneuver them to the side. She used her other hand to press herself to him slightly and clenched herself around him.
“Oh, God!”
“More,” she demanded.
The greedy place between her legs rocked forward, allowing him to move them together as he sped up his thrusts. Murmurs escaped from him about how good she felt, how sexy she was, how much he loved her. And with every thrust and every murmur, she loved him a little more. For the moment, she didn’t care how big she got, how hard this was. They were in it together.
And they came together, his first time and her third that evening. Their bodies intertwined in an act celebrating what they had together and what would grow between them with a little patience, a little openness, and a lot of devotion on both sides.
Epilogue
Kit
Bridesmaids bustled around the side room, straightening dresses, curling hair, and checking lipstick and eyeliner. In the center of it all, Kit sat.
With her mother by her side, and two women fussing over her hair and makeup respectively, Kit looked around the room at her friends excitedly preparing for the ceremony. All that time. All that planning. Soon—finally—she would be married to the love of her life and the father of her children.
As if called, the girls appeared in the doorway with Tamara behind them. In her two-year-old glory, Angela was screaming about something as her sister Gabby trailed behind with wide eyes taking in all of the excitement.
“Aww, she’s sooo upset. What’s wrong, baby?” Kit held out an arm for Angela, whose shriek had caused two of her bridesmaids to visibly jump.
There, girls, she thought, enjoy some audible birth control.
Angela clung to Kit’s leg. Luckily, she wouldn’t be putting on her dress for another couple of minutes. Kit held a hand up to the hairdresser and makeup artist and leaned over to pull Angela up into her lap.
“What are you crying about? Where’s your brother, hm?”
“No!” Angela shouted. Because that was her favorite word in the world.
“I told you that you should’ve named her Devila,” Catherine joked, picking up the quieter Gabby. “And Jack’s probably with his father, or his grandpa.”
“Grandpa,” Tamara confirmed. “Grant’s ready to go, and Tyrese and Benjamin are giving him marriage advice, even though you two have been living together for two years and seven months, and Tyrese only married Adrian a year ago.”
Kit chuckled. “I’m sure Grant is happy to hear whatever weird story Ben has to share. He’s practically his best friend.”
“Don’t tell Tyrese that. He’d be hurt.” Tamara leaned over to the mirror and checked her makeup.
Angela decided then that she didn’t care about whatever had bothered her and was instead fascinated by the pretty dresses.
“They’re adorable,” Naima cooed.
“They’re loud,” April muttered.
“Oh, they’re both.” Kit laughed. “They’re worth it, but don’t get it twisted. Three is a lot of work. They’d gang up on us if we didn’t have help.”
“So the moral is, marry a billionaire so you can have a nanny?” April said.
“Or get in good with your parents because they love to babysit.” Catherine brushed Gabby’s hair behind her ears. “You can’t wait to stay over with Grandma and Grandpa, don’t you? We’re going to have pancakes!”
“Pancakes!” Angela squealed.
“Don’t get them going!” Kit scolded. “I still have to get down the aisle.”
Catherine rose and lifted Gabby onto her hip. “How about I go find her brother and make sure everything is on schedule.”
“People will wait,” Kit said. “There’s an open bar.”
***
Everything seemed to grow brighter as Kit stood at the back of the expansive patio looking at the rows of people dressed in their very best. Grant’s mother had tried to get them to send out a “What Not to Wear” list, but Kit had been determined to not be a bridezilla. She wanted everyone to be comfortable for the evening, including herself.
And that edict notwithstanding, she had chosen a gorgeous Oscar de la Renta gown in a very light blue with white and silver lace over the bodice and a blue organza ruffle train.
“I have triplets, Adele,” Kit had said during the fitting. “No one is going to be fooled by white. Also, the color washes me out. I’m the bride, let me be.”
Plus a tiara. Because why not look like someone out of a fairytale on your wedding day.
Her heart was beating so loudly that Kit couldn’t hear herself think. She couldn’t even hear the music beginning to play as her bridesmaids, all in solid blue, made their way down the aisle on the arms of groomsmen.
She rose up onto her toes as Angela and Gabriela came down the aisle, with Catherine behind them so they didn’t get too distracted, and tossed petals everywhere. Adele, who had complained ceaselessly until she was given a real part in the wedding, walked behind Jack to make sure that he didn’t take the ring from the pillow and put it in his mouth.
Kit had to smile. They were wonderful. Her life—her crazy, busy life—was so much fuller and so much more satisfying than she’d ever thought possible. It was hard with the triplets, but she and Grant had help, and they had each other.
Seeing Grant waiting for her at the end of the aisle in his gorgeous suit with the light blue shirt underneath to match her, she held her breath. They were already partners in everything else. All they needed was this one thing. One more moment, and it was all official.
Her nerves lit on fire as her father stepped forward. She hadn’t even registered the sound of the strings beginning to play Bach’s “Air on a G String.” Kit swallowed hard and let her father guide her down the steps. All eyes were on her.
The only eyes she noticed, though, were Grant’s. He was looking up at her as though she were the only person in the world. This wonderful thing that had started between them, so big and truly awesome that they were too young to even handle it at first, was finally being acknowledged.
Kit couldn’t say she remembered most of her wedding day. It all went by so fast. The vows, the way her voice had cracked with tears as she’d said “I do,” the way her girls had looked in their dresses and Jack had looked in his little suit. It was all so much. Then they were dancing in front of everyone, and listening to toasts, and greeting all of their friends and family.
She left the wedding without having eaten more than a few bites, and her hands were shaking for so many reasons. Low blood sugar being the obvious culprit, but also from excitement.
Before the door closed, she insisted on giving each of the triplets another hug and a kiss, and orders to behave for their grandparents. And then, for the first time in a while, she and Grant were alone in the back of a limo.
Grant squeezed her hand, looking down on her with stars in his eyes. “I had your father put this in the car for you.”
Kit gasped when she saw that he had a plate of the meal they’d served their guests: chicken roulade with roasted vegetables. On the side were a few of the crab cake and bacon-wrapped shrimp appetizers, which they had also not been able to eat, and some rolls with butter.
She planted a firm kiss on Grant’s lips before taking the wrap off of her dinner. “You do love me.”
“To love a woman is to feed her properly. Especially when that woman has given you so, so mu
ch.” He chuckled. “Besides, I got to eat dinner while you were caught up with every relative known to man, so this is only what you deserve.”
“It’s still very sweet of you.”
“Kit, I will always take care of you. You, our children, and everything else.” Grant rubbed his hand over her thigh. “I’ve never seen anyone more beautiful than you tonight. Except maybe you when you were pregnant with the triplets.”
She scoffed. “Beautiful disaster, but do go on.”
“I stashed some cake, too.”
“You are my soulmate.”
Grant smiled and rested his head on her shoulder.
“I’m going to miss the kids so much,” Kit sighed. “But I’m glad to have you to myself for a little bit.”
“They’ll join us after a few days,” he reminded her.
“I know, but I’m their mother. It’s hard not to be with them.”
“I feel the same.” He brushed the back of his fingers over her arm. “But I’m selfish sometimes still. I want you to myself.”
“That’s okay, too.”
Kit set her dinner down. The future sprawled before them, two partners in life, parenthood, and even business. As hard as things could be, it seemed to get easier between them. They had a rhythm, the two of them. When they’d first known one another, they had been out of sync, falling in love at different times, needing each other unequally. Now, they had both done their waiting, learned to hold each other instead of run. Their hearts beat as though one, and whatever came before them, they could weather.
Their lips met as energetically as though it were their first time. They had always been drawn to one another. Now they never had to be apart again.
THE END
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