Beautiful Dreams (The Beautiful Series)

by Rae, Alicia

“Yes, but I need you to promise me that you won’t tell him I’m with you.” I paused. “I need some time to myself.”

  “Okay,” she agreed. “I won’t tell him you’re here, but I can’t promise he won’t come over and break down my door,” Abbey added with a hint of amusement.

  “Thank you,” I whispered.

  “No problem,” she said fondly into the phone. “I’ll see you soon.”

  “Alright,” I responded. “Thanks again.”

  “See you soon and drive safe,” she said before ending the call.

  I merged back out into traffic and began to drive to her house. It only took me a short fifteen minutes before I was pulling up into her driveway. After exiting the car, I walked up to her front door. She opened it before I could knock.

  “Lily!” She pulled me into an embrace.

  I cried into her shoulders, not sure where so many tears were coming from. After I stopped, she held me at arm’s length.

  “I poured us each a glass of wine, and you’re going to tell me everything that is going on.”

  Wine? Crap. I wiped away my waterworks. “Um, can I just have some water, please?” I asked, following her into her condo.

  “Sure,” she replied without question. “Let me grab you a glass,” she added before walking over to the kitchen. She grabbed a glass from the cupboard and poured some water into it.

  My eyes scanned the room, taking in her exquisite home. Every wall was covered in some color of paint with magnificent masterpieces accenting the living room. Each piece instantly reminded me of Abbey, fitting her personality.

  “You have a beautiful place,” I said while still glancing around.

  She gestured me toward the large white sofa. Numbly, I sat down, and she handed me the glass of water.

  “Thank you,” she said with a smile. “It took me a long time to figure out how I wanted this place to be decorated.”

  “It suits you perfectly,” I said quietly in awe.

  After a beat of silence, she spoke, “So, tell me why you’re here, Lily.” She paused while swirling her finger around the top of her wine glass as she gazed at me. “What happened?” she asked softly.

  I let out a pained sigh, and I frowned as I felt the heavy events of the last forty minutes repeating over in my mind like a black cloud.

  “A woman showed up at Kyle’s house today. She’s…pregnant,” I said, choking out the last word.

  Abbey’s eyes bulged. “What?” she shrieked, nearly spilling her drink as she jolted upright. “How in the hell is that possible?”

  I shook my head while blinking back new tears. “I don’t know, but she looks at least six months along,” I said, not wanting to believe it was true.

  I could see Abbey doing the math in her head.

  “But that was before you,” she said quietly, sounding as if she was processing her own feelings, too.

  “I know,” I breathed.

  I decided not to tell her that I was pregnant, too. That was supposed to be announced when Kyle was by my side…during a happier time.

  “But it’s still going to change everything between us. I just needed to get away for a bit and clear my head.” I leaned my head back against her couch as I sank my body into it. “This is so messed-up, Abbey. I don’t know what to think.”

  “Well, did he talk to her?” she asked.

  “Yes, they were speaking when I left,” I responded. “I just could not stand the thought of being there while they had that conversation.”

  My phone vibrated in my pocket. I sat up, reached for it, and looked at the screen. It was Kyle. I disregarded it and set it down beside me on the sofa.

  “Are you sure you should ignore him?” Abbey questioned with a raised eyebrow and amusement underlying her tone.

  “I don’t know anything right now,” I admitted honestly. “I’m just trying to breathe over here.”

  She gave me a sympathetic smile. “That’s understandable…but, Lily, you should really talk to him even if it’s just on the phone. Just let him know that you’re okay before he sends out the search cavalry for you.”

  That does sound like something Kyle would do. I sighed. “You’re right,” I responded.

  I picked up my phone. I did not notice my hands were shaking until I tried to touch the screen to dial his number.

  He answered on the first ring. “Lily!” he exclaimed. “Are you alright?”

  “Yes,” I answered. My fingers rubbed the glass of water as I tried to distract myself from crying again. The sound of his voice made me want to go back home and be in his arms.

  He let out a sigh of relief. “Where are you?” he asked with concern.

  “I’m okay,” I answered, not wanting to tell him where I was. I knew I wasn’t ready to see him quite yet.

  “She’s gone, Lily.” His tone was off, and he sounded like he was pacing back and forth. He paused. “Can you please come home now, so we can talk about this? I’m losing my mind over here.”

  I bit my lip, unsure what to say. After a moment, I asked the question I was dying to know. “Is it yours?” I whispered. I knew it was completely out of his control, but I could not help that I wanted him to say no.

  “I don’t know,” he said in a sad voice. “I was with her for only a short time.”

  At the possibility, I felt like a knife entered my chest. I knew that he had been with other women, but it was still something I never wanted to hear about—especially not six months later with a baby entering the picture.

  I thought about how I might have felt differently if I had known from the beginning, but finding out this way just felt so wrong. It hurt, and I could not ignore the agonizing ache it left inside of me.

  “Please come home, so we can work this out together,” he said. His voice sounded miserable and defeated.

  I lost the battle to fight back my sobs. “I’m not ready yet,” I said softly.

  Kyle hesitated for what felt like an eternity. “Okay, I’ll give you some space,” he said before letting out a deep breath. “I love you, Lily. I’m going to make this right.”

  “Please do,” I said barely above a whisper, praying more to myself than saying it to him. Then, I hung up.

  I gathered the courage to look up and make eye contact with Abbey. Her eyes were filled with tears, and her right hand was on the center of her chest.

  “Damn, Lily,” she said quietly. “You just broke my heart. I can only imagine what you did to his.”

  Her words hurt more than I could have ever imagined.

  “I know what I did…because mine feels the same way,” I replied despondently.

  Abbey let me be after that, knowing that I needed some time to myself. She brought me a blanket, and I curled up underneath it on the couch as I let the darkness pull me in.

  “Lily!” a voice said in an effort to wake me.

  After tossing and turning all night, I tried to pry my tired eyes open, and I remembered I was at Abbey’s home. I let out a deep sigh, feeling the ache in my chest, as the night’s prior events entered my mind again.

  “Lily! Wake up, damn it!” Abbey said.

  My eyes popped open, clouded with morning haze. Abbey was standing in front of me, dressed and ready to go somewhere.

  “What?” I replied sleepily as I turned on my side to face her.

  “What was her name? The pregnant woman?” she asked.

  “Amber…but she never said her last name,” I answered, wanting to close my eyes. Then, I dozed back off.

  Sleep was better than reality.

  I awoke again several hours later. I glanced around Abbey’s apartment, only to find it empty. I remembered her waking me up and looking as if she was leaving.

  Needing a drink of water, I made my way to the kitchen. I noticed a pink marker sitting on the counter. A note was written on a white paper towel.

  Even feeling like complete crap, I had to laugh at her signature. Still thirsty, I searched her cabinets for a cup, and then I filled it with water fr
om the front dispenser on the fridge.

  My mind wandered while taking a long sip.

  Something doesn’t add up…

  Hope surged in my chest.

  An hour later, I was contemplating going home to talk things out with Kyle, and then the front door opened. Abbey strolled through…with Kyle right behind her.

  My eyes were stuck on his. He looked beyond tired, and he was dressed in the same clothes as yesterday. My heart fluttered alive with longing to feel him in my arms.

  As I took a step closer, I realized that even if the baby was his, it was before us. We would have to make it work. I loved him, and nothing would stand in the way of us being together.

  “Lily,” he breathed, closing the distance between us with long strides.

  With the last step, he gathered me tightly in his embrace. I inhaled deeply, reveling in his intoxicating scent that I adored above all else.

  “God,” he said in a soft tone along my ear. “I missed you, and it’s only been twelve hours…twelve very long hours.”

  “I missed you, too,” I replied, blinking back tears. I hugged him harder, never wanting to let go.

  After a moment, he drew back. “Come sit with me,” he said, leading me to the couch. “We have a lot to talk about.”

  “Well, kids, I’d love to stay, but I have to get scooting along to work,” Abbey said affectionately. Then, she made her way to the door. “You guys can let yourself out. Just lock the door when you leave. I’ll see you later,” she said, waving good-bye with a wink.

  Kyle sat down on the sofa and pulled me onto his lap. His gentle hands stroked my hair off my face. “It’s not mine,” he said in a rush. “The baby is not mine,” he added to clarify.

  I exhaled a sigh of relief. I had been prepared to support him either way, but I could not help feeling elated to know it was not his.

  Caressing my hand with his, he continued, “I should have known right away that the dates didn’t add up, but I was in too much shock to think past her telling me she was pregnant.”

  “Why would she do that to you?” I asked, feeling confused. I was hurt that someone would intentionally lie to him and create such an uproar.

  “After you left, she asked me for money…a lot of money. She said that she needed to go back to school to support the baby.” He paused. Anger rose in his voice as he said, “She thought that I would just pay her off without questioning if it was mine or not since she’d heard that I was getting married.”

  My feelings matched his at her lack of honesty. That was beyond such a horrible, dishonest thing to do.

  “Abbey called me this morning, ranting, once you told her who it was. Her detective instincts kicked in, and she came over to the house to help me work out the dates. I had already figured out the truth last night, but I wanted to make sure before I told you, so Abbey and I went over to Amber’s house to confront her.” He hesitated as a broad affectionate smile spread across his face.

  “Abbey remembered Amber and ripped her a new one before I could even get two words out.” He shook his head. “It was awesome. Anyway, Amber started crying and broke down. She told us that the dad was some deadbeat, and she desperately wanted to give her baby a future. Abbey said she would make some calls and try to help Amber join some groups for single moms that could connect her with the resources needed to better her education.”

  “Wow,” was all I could say as I shook my head, completely stunned. Then, compassion took over. “I hope she is able to find help and give her baby a better future.”

  “I hope so, too, but I’m still pissed that she would even try such a thing.” Kyle let out a deep breath as he turned to face me. “But it’s over now.”

  I shifted in his embrace, placing my legs on either side of his waist, as I snuggled into his warmth. I had missed him so much. “So, you knew where I was?” I asked, changing the subject, while cupping his face with my hands.

  Kyle nodded. “Yes, it was a guess at first, but then Abbey texted me last night to let me know that you were here and safe. She told me though if I came over, you’d know that she’d broken her promise to you, and she had already done so by letting me know you were here,” he said, his voice full of sincerity, as he shook his head. “It took everything I had not to drive here and haul you home with me…where you belong,” Kyle added, bearing his feelings with a fierce protectiveness ringing in his voice.

  There’s my overbearing, sexy alpha. His dominant nature was one of the many things that I absolutely loved about him. It made me feel cherished to know that he’d do anything for me and never let me go.

  I rubbed my hands up and down his unshaved morning face.

  Kyle closed his eyes, lowering his forehead against mine. “Don’t ever do that to me again. It nearly fucking killed me to stay away.”

  “I’m sorry,” I breathed, meaning every word.

  “You’re mine, Lily, forever,” he whispered, caressing the back of his hand down my cheek.

  His brownish-green eyes flashed back at me, taking my breath away.

  “You have been since the moment I laid eyes on you.”

  “I love you, too,” I responded.

  He kissed me and didn’t break our connection until I felt breathless and dizzy.

  “Let’s go home,” he whispered against my lips.

  All I could do was nod in agreement as my heart thudded in my chest. He stood with me in his arms, and he carried me to the door. The look in his eyes said it all. He did not want to let me go.

  I chuckled lovingly at his domineering ways. “I, at least, need my shoes.”

  Grinning, he finally set me down. I slipped my feet into my flip-flops and double-checked my back pocket to make sure I had my phone.

  Having everything I’d brought, I grabbed his hand and tipped my head back to look at him. “Take me home, Kyle.”

  Without another word, he led me outside to his car. I glanced at my car and then back over at his.

  Kyle chuckled while twirling his keys in his hand. “Don’t even think about it, beautiful. I’m not letting you out of my sight for the rest of the day,” he teased.

  “But what about my car?” I asked lightly.

  He shook his head with finality. “We’ll get it another day. It will be fine here.”

  I rolled my eyes at his bossiness even though I did not want to part from him either. I climbed into his car, and he held my hand the entire ride home.

  Twenty minutes later, we pulled into the driveway.

  “So, what do you want to do for the rest of the day, beautiful?” he asked as we made our way into the house.

  I looked down at my clothes from yesterday and then at his day-old apparel. “First, I think we both need a shower,” I replied, tugging him in the direction of our bedroom.

  Wordlessly, we both undressed. Then, Kyle reached for my hand, and we entered the shower stall. As soon as the water touched my skin, it felt like a much deeper cleaning than a regular shower.

  I reached for the shampoo and rubbed the suds into Kyle’s hair. He closed his eyes, absorbing my touch, while letting out a soft groan of pleasure. He returned the favor with his large yet gentle hands as they lathered the shampoo into my hair. I shut my eyes and let the sensations wash over me while cleansing away the last twelve hours. We kept our hands on one another for the entire shower as if we both craved the contact.

  After rinsing the conditioner out of my hair, he suddenly pivoted me to place my back against the cool tile. Water cascaded down the sides of his face and onto his rippled shoulders before finally going down his chest. I was mesmerized by the sight of him.

  Kyle lifted my hand to his chest, and I felt the steady rhythm of his heart beneath my palm. My breathing deepened with the intensity of his stare.

  “You make my heart beat, Lily,” he said quietly while looking directly into my eyes. “Having you gone for only one night felt like an eternity.” He shook his head while gripping my behind with his other hand as he drew me closer. “I don
’t ever want to feel that way again,” he growled before seizing my mouth with his.

  I moaned against his lips as he kissed me reverently. I bucked my hips forward to meet his hard erection. A deep hum of approval tore from his throat as he lowered both of his expectant hands to tighten around my thighs. He hoisted me up, and I locked my legs around his waist as he supported my weight. Each flick of his tongue sent persistent shocks of pleasure throughout my groin. My arousal increased with every unsteady breath.

  As if reading my mind, he positioned himself at my entrance. I drew in a swift breath as I lowered myself onto him at the same time he thrust upward, filling me. Like this, I could forget about everything else except us. He powered up into me with the strength of his hips while bracing my weight. Delicious sparks launched throughout my core as desire for him rippled over me. I undulated against him, not holding back.

  Within seconds, I was crying out and coming around him. Kyle gritted his teeth as he withheld his release while languidly plunging in and out to prolong my wave of release.

  “Jesus, Lily, that was fucking hot,” Kyle whispered roughly against my ear as he breathed heavily. “But it’s not over yet, beautiful,” he added while I was still coming down from my peak.

  Suddenly, he took my mouth with a kiss that was hot and urgent. Then, his plunges intensified as he expertly rocked his hips to brush along my hypersensitive inner muscles, creating a delicious friction within me. His deliberate thrusts had me on the verge of coming again all too soon. But this time, I wanted him to fall over the edge with me. When his muscles began to tense, I knew he was close. I bent forward and took his full bottom lip into my mouth, gently biting on it, as I clenched my sex around him, letting my orgasm tear through me. We both groaned out in pleasure as we let go.

  With the warm water pouring all over us, I listened to our labored breaths slowly return to normal.

  Kyle shifted back, so I could see his face.

  “Want to wash up again?” he asked with a satisfied grin.

  I gave him an impish smile as I quickly agreed.

  Tuesday and Wednesday were spent finishing last-minute errands for the wedding. We dropped our final payments to each vendor and talked with each of them. It was shocking to me that it had taken us two full days to finalize last-minute details, but there was so much to go over. For a moment, I felt like I was never going to see the light at the end of the tunnel.