Daylin swatted away a loose hand that touched the hem of her dress.
“Don’t. Touch. Me,” she whispered, her gaze piercing his, a sly grin working across her face.
“Are you serious?” Maurice murmured, his heart pounding against his chest.
“Shhh. You’re talking too much,” Daylin warned, rising out of the bed to her feet.
Maurice rubbed his chin as he watched Daylin lift the hem of her dress, placing her thumbs inside the ribbon that was cinched on either side of her hips.
Daylin pulled the lacy fabric down the length of her legs and stepped out of the flimsy material.
“Hmm, how shall I keep you quiet?” Daylin inquired picking up the lace from the floor and passing it under his nose.
Maurice closed his eyes and savored the scent of her sex. A smile cracked his face, but he offered no response.
Daylin hung a single polished nail from her teeth as she strutted a circle around Maurice, her gaze traveling his form as he watched her.
“On second thought,” she said reconsidering her last statement, “I like the sound of your voice.” Daylin delivered a kiss and a lick before stepping behind Maurice.
Nimble fingers slid down the ripples of Maurice’s muscular arm. Daylin clasped one wrist then the other, binding them together with the red fabric. Guiding his body to turn to the edge of the bed, she invited him to sit down.
Daylin unbuckled Maurice’s belt, unzipped his trousers, and slid her hand under his boxer band.
“Oh yes,” he softly moaned as she caressed his pulsating hard-on.
“Shhh …” she countered, pulling his pants off his body. Daylin relished the taste of his skin as she planted a kiss then another on his glistening abdomen.
Taking a step back, Daylin pulled off the dress that masked her curves and draped it over Maurice’s face.
Daylin closed her fingers around the shaft of his throbbing erection.
“Oh shh …,” Maurice moaned as Daylin’s warm lips wrapped around his length, his breathing immediately growing uneven as she stroked him long, deep, and slow.
Daylin smiled as she caressed his length with her hand while Maurice struggled to free himself from the restraints placed on him.
Sweat dripped as Maurice shuddered with each passing touch, the ragged rise and fall of his chest announcing the oncoming orgasm.
“You better not,” Daylin warned, swirling her tongue on the head of his magnificence. Removing the veil from his face, she crushed a kiss on his moist lips.
“You’re not playing fair,” Maurice panted.
“Nope,” Daylin said with a chuckle, crawling onto the bed behind Maurice. Nimble fingers work to untie the knot that held Maurice’s wrists, red rings present from the tussle.
Maurice quickly pinned Daylin to the bed pressing his luscious lips against hers before unhooking the front clasp bra that held her full breasts captive.
Shivers prickled Daylin’s skin as Maurice dipped down to the smooth curve of her neck. She cupped his smooth head as he kissed her collar bone, her fleshy breasts, and finally her taut nipple.
Daylin sucked in a rush of air as virile fingers plunged into her sweet nectar, opening her folds, then stroking her jewel.
“Oh my … ” Daylin moaned softly, her breathing already becoming uneven. “This has to be a dream.”
“Shh …” Maurice quipped lifting his head. “You’re talking too much.”
Daylin sunk her nails into Maurice’s flesh as he continued his ministrations, her back arching into his touch.
Daylin’s hips swayed in concert with Maurice’s gentle caress as waves of pleasure raced through her body. Her hand slid down the moisture of his back and clenched with the next surge of delight, her climax approaching.
“Not yet,” Maurice said changing his position. Planting butterfly kisses along the inside of her thighs, Maurice spread her knees, preparing her to receive the love he desired to give her. Lifting Daylin’s long, smooth leg, he placed one stiletto-clad foot on his shoulder.
Maurice locked his gaze on Daylin’s hazy stare as he breached her walls, his stroke slow and deep, becoming one with the only woman he desired since his loss.
A single tear trailed behind her ear as Daylin felt a love that she’d never experienced before.
Maurice’s motion picked up pace; Daylin groaned as she welcomed each heavenly thrust he delivered to her. Eyes rolled back in her head as her muscles tightened around his shaft, a handful of the comforter pulled into the heated mix.
Daylin matched Maurice’s rhythm as he slammed into her, breathing ragged, tears welling up, both calling on God as the wave of their climax tore through them simultaneously.
“I love you, Maurice,” Daylin faintly sighed, parched, and collecting her breath.
“No more words,” he whispered, placing a kiss on her forehead. “We’re starting this lifetime here and now and round two will be better than the first.”
Chapter 12
Balmy nights of summer gave way to holidays, a new year, and fresh green leaves and blossoms in Woodland Heights as Daylin and Maurice took what they believed to be a divine opportunity at love.
“Pull your robe to one side, Dayle,” Maurice said holding up his cell. “I want all of your beauty in this picture.”
Daylin cocked her head to one side, her dark tresses framing her face, wet from the shower that ended an early morning love making session.
“Will all of this beauty fit into one picture?” she asked rubbing her round belly. “You might have to switch to panoramic mode to get it all in.”
Nothing made Maurice happier or more nervous than the day that Daylin announced her pregnancy during a surprise birthday celebration she held in his honor.
Daylin enjoyed having the attention that Maurice lavished on her before her pregnancy, but had to learn patience with him the further along she progressed.
Maurice was present for every doctor’s visit, asking more questions than Daylin, requesting copies of the doctors’ notes so that he could review them. He didn’t want to miss a weight gain, a measurement, or a heartbeat. He peered into Daylin’s bright eyes and knew he couldn’t stand to lose her or his daughter.
“Babe, I’m okay … we’re okay,” Daylin assured him as if she were reading his mind. “You’re too young for all the gray hair that you’re gonna get from worrying,” she said with a chuckle.
Maurice laughed, but paid close attention to Daylin’s face, her eyes closing and eyebrows inching toward the middle of her forehead.
“What’s wrong?” he asked worry coloring his voice.
Daylin shook off the pain as she blew out a gust of air.
“I’m good,” she said as she bowed her head and steadied herself on the counter.
Maurice’s eyes grew wide as saucers as he continued to watch Daylin’s face tighten once more. Taking a quick glance at his cell, he calculated the time until Daylin’s due date.
“It’s too soon for you to be in labor, Dayle,” he cautioned. “You still have three weeks left.”
“Babe, I’m fine,” she said trying not to yell. As she stood up to leave the bathroom, a gush of water splashed on the white tile. Daylin snapped a look at Maurice, who leapt forward and rushed to help her to a club chair inside the bedroom. Tapping on the screen of the cell, he waited for the call to pick up.
“University Hospital,” the man’s voice said on the other end.
“Yes, This is Maurice Wilson. I’m calling to let you know that Daylin Montgomery is in labor … ”
Smooth jazz from Maurice’s phone played low while the fluorescent lights glowed in the hospital room where Daylin and Maurice welcomed six-pound-four-ounce Soraya Le’Mar Wilson to their world.
“She has grey eyes like you, Babe.”
Daylin gazed upon their dark curly haired beauty with adoration while Maurice looked over her shoulder.
“And she has your beautiful lips,” Maurice said lifting the baby from Daylin’s arms. “How d
id we make something so lovely? Daddy loves you so much, Princess,” he whispered into the sleeping baby’s ear.
The attending nurse tapped on the door and entered the room while chatting with the technician. A sharp pain hit Daylin’s chest as she caught sight of a familiar face entering the room.
Ms. Hargrove, whose wide smile disappeared the moment her gaze connected with Daylin, flickered a look between the new parents and their bundle.
“What are you doing here?” Maurice barked as he remembered the woman from the media circus outside of the bank.
“After my son was murdered, I transferred from a neighborhood clinic to the hospital,” Ms. Hargrove explained. “I had a lot of time on my hands and working in the hospital has kept me busy. I started in the mother baby unit a few weeks ago. I like to love on the babies.”
“You need to leave,” Maurice said through gritted teeth. “Now.”
Ms. Hargrove flashed a wily smile at the baby as she walked to the door.
“Beth,” Ms. Hargrove called to the nurse attending to Daylin, “I’ve been paged back to the nursery. Someone else will be in to do the intake for the family. Congratulations you two.”
The attending nurse left as the pediatric nurse walked in looking for Baby Girl Wilson.
“Aww. Is she your first?” the nurse asked Maurice who was rocking the baby. “How about we take the little princess to the nursery for her bath and keep her perfect for you.”
“No,” Daylin demanded, stopping the nurse short of her reach of the baby. “She stays here.”
The nurse withdrew and stepped back, a bit shaken by the harshness of Daylin’s tone.
“I’m sorry, Ma’am.”
“No, it’s fine,” Daylin said, softening her voice. “We just don’t want her away from us.”
“That’s understandable,” the nurse agreed, offering the parents a smile. “I’ll check her vitals and bring back a small tub of water, so you can bathe her.”
Maurice laid the baby in the bassinette for the nurse to do a quick check of her vitals.
The baby wriggled inside the bassinette, becoming fussy. Daylin glanced from the baby to the door and back.
Daylin breathed a sigh of relief as Maurice kissed her temple.
“Relax,” Maurice said touching his forehead to Daylin’s. “We’ll keep the baby with us. She’ll be fine.”
Daylin’s shoulders dropped, relieved, knowing that their baby was safe with them.
The nurse pushed the bassinette over to Daylin’s bedside and wished them well before leaving the room.
“Scoot over,” Maurice said, touching the side of the bed. “We’re tired.”
“We are?” Daylin asked with a chuckle.
“Girl, I don’t know how you’re not tired,” Maurice retorted as he climbed into the small space Daylin made for him. “We were in labor for seventeen hours.”
“You’re right,” Daylin agreed looking over at their baby who was on her way back to sleep. “We’re tired.”
Maurice pulled the covers over the two of them as they settled in for the rest of the night.
“Maurice,” Daylin yelled, panic setting in as she viewed the empty bassinette. “Where’s Soraya?”
“What do you mean?” Maurice questioned popping out of the bed.
“I woke up to feed her. She’s not here.” Maurice threw the door open and stormed to the nurse’s station.
“My baby is missing,” Maurice yelled at the young nurse behind the desk.
“Room number?”
“732”
Quick fingers tap the keyboard.
“Baby was taken to get her shots and a bath.”
“We asked that the baby not leave the room.”
The nurse pointed to the monitor as she scanned the information on the screen.
“That’s odd. I see the note here,” the nurse confirmed, her eyebrows reaching her hairline. “Let me call to the nursery.”
Maurice ran back to the room to find Daylin pulling off her hospital gown, searching her bags for clothes to put on.
“The nurse said the baby went to get her shots,” Maurice informed Daylin, his stomach in knots.
Daylin looked up from her bags, face wet with tears.
“Have you ever had a bad dream that you tried to wake up from but couldn’t? Like you were trying to wake yourself up from the dream?
Maurice stood, feeling helpless, blaming himself that he was too tired to hear any commotion in the room.
“I dreamt that she was in the room, Maurice,” Daylin cried pulling on her pants.
Moments later members of the hospital staff and security rushed in her room. The nurse’s creased forehead and turned down lips confirmed Daylin and Maurice’s worst fear.
“No,” Daylin cried, her heart constricting with pain.
“Where’s our baby,” Maurice questioned.
“Your baby,” a shaking nurse explained. “She’s missing.”
“How?” Maurice yelled. “Our baby was supposed to stay in this room.”
“The suspect was supposed to be going home for the night, but volunteered to stay over for another nurse,” said the head of security. “We think she may have placed the baby in a large tote bag of some sort and snuck her out as her shift ended. We’ve brought in the police and issued an Amber alert. The news media has been informed. We’re very sorry.”
“Sorry?” Maurice roared grabbing his head, losing the struggle to remain calm. “You’re gonna know sorry if you don’t find our baby.”
“Sir, she can’t be far,” the supervisor assured Maurice, her pale complexion flushed red. “We have security combing the hospital and grounds as we speak.”
Maurice dragged a hand across his face then went to Daylin, his arms trembling as he reached for her.
“We’ve checked every wing and every floor of the hospital. Camera surveillance shows her walking out of the building with a duffle bag at 5:57 am,” a monotone voice reported from the walkie-talkie on the supervisor’s belt. “The baby nor the technician is on the grounds.”
“Oh my God.” Daylin said before she collapsed in his arms.
“Somebody help,” was the last thing she heard before her world went black.
Chapter 13
Forty-eight hours later and all leads to finding Baby Soraya and her captor hadn’t turned up any results. Maurice spent his waking hours posting pictures from his phone to both social media accounts. Support poured in from family, coworkers, and neighbors but all efforts came up empty.
Against law enforcement’s suggestion and the doctor’s orders, Daylin engaged her own investigation.
“I need some air,” she said, slipping on her shoes. “I’m going to the park.”
“I’ll go with you,” Maurice replied, racing to get his cell and keys.
“I just want a moment to myself, Maurice. I won’t be gone long.”
Maurice’s heart sank at her refusal to have his company, his protection.
Daylin looked at him as his eyes became glassy, but she had other ideas that if she told Maurice, he’d either stop her or kill whoever aided in Soraya’s kidnapping.
With plans to travel back to Deering Park, Daylin left to find their daughter.
The first stop was Aunt Ida’s house.
“Where is your sister?” An irate Daylin yelled.
She navigated the yard in front of the tan brick ranch where Ms. Hargrove’s sister lived.
Daylin rushed the concrete slab porch and banged on the metal door, screaming so loud the neighbors came out unto their porches, a few venturing into the street for a closer peek at the drama.
The woman inside looked out the picture window while holding a phone to her ear.
“I know you know where she is,” she yelled kicking the door. “She stole my baby.” Daylin ran looking into the windows that her view could reach. “Where is she?”
Moments later, a squad car arrived and the officer tried, to no avail, to calm Daylin down.
�
�Her sister stole my baby,” she roared at the approaching officer. “She won’t tell me where they are.” The throng of people gathered in Ida’s yard as the officer pulled Daylin to her car.
“Ma’am the Amber alert is still in effect,” the officer said, struggling to get her away from the house and crowd. “We’re doing all that we can to find your baby. You need to go home. You won’t be there if they find your baby if I have to arrest you for disorderly conduct.”
Daylin huffed, trying to stave off the tears before they drowned her.
Ida stepped out on the porch watching, her face twisted in disgust.
“I just want my baby,” she whined and fell into the officer’s outstretched arms, allowing him to escort her to her car.
The ringtone on her phone blared as she dropped down behind the steering wheel, Maurice’s name appeared on the screen. Pressing ignore, Daylin drove to the nearest supermarket, parked, and cried until no more tears would fall.
Daylin walked through the door to find Maurice in the nursery, sitting in the rocking chair. He held up the cell as she walked through the door.
“Why didn’t you answer my call, Dayle,” he asked, his voice shaking. “I’ve been calling you for the last hour.”
“I went to find Soraya,” Daylin moaned. “I just knew Joan’s family would know where she was.”
Maurice wrapped Daylin in his embrace, knowing they had no time to argue or be mad.
“Don’t scare me like that ever again,” he whispered. “The police called not too long after you left. They found the baby. Someone at the airport reported a woman fitting Joan Hargrove’s description. The police are holding her and the baby there.”
Maurice’s heart pounded as they approached a member of airport security who quickly showed them to a private area where they were to be reunited with Soraya.
Walking through the busy Metro Airport, they followed behind an officer passing a series of restaurants and gift shops on the ground level of the airport until they heard the high-pitched wail. Beyond the door, a female staff member was working to comfort the crying infant. She looked up when the door opened.
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