by Skye Turner
Slumping back, he lets me fall onto the pillows. Cracking my eyelids open, I see him staring at me. “What?”
He chuckles and shakes his head. “Nothing. You are just a surprise, that’s all.”
“How so?” I ask. I really want to know.
“I don’t know. You just are.”
I frown. He chuckles and pulls me up before kissing my mouth softly. “Come on. We need to shower.” He stands up and stretches. Looking down, he smirks. “I’m covered in cum… Again. And you need to be clean for your appointment.” He looks at me in a joking challenge. “You showering with me?”
Leaning down, I kiss the tip of his dick. He steps back in shock. Chuckling, I whip my top off and let my panties pool on the floor. I’m nude in front of him and he’s just staring at me. He stops at my thighs and I can tell he sees the moisture there.
Crooking my finger, I whisper, “Come on, big boy. You invited me to shower and now you’re just going to stand there? Naked and gorgeous? Bring your fine ass into the bathroom.” I walk into the bathroom and turn the shower on as I call over my shoulder, “Or just stand there looking hot and messy.”
He throws back his head and laughs. “You are too much, girl. Damned if I don’t like it.”
We shower and touch and tease. By the time we get out, the water is cold, but we’re both flushed.
I head upstairs to get dressed as he gets ready downstairs. A bit later, we meet in the kitchen. I walk in and he’s sitting there talking to Dade. I take them both in. The sexy man of my dreams and the man who’s my protector and has always been my hero, my big brother. I’m so lucky.
Dade looks up and catches me watching them. He smiles. I see the question in his eyes. I shake my head at him and smile. He smiles back.
As I make my tea, I hear their conversation. Jude and Lexi are supposed to be back from their honeymoon later today and the band is meeting to talk about the upcoming tour tomorrow. They need to fill Jude in on what’s been happening since he’s been off with his bride.
I let them talk and sit down to drink my tea and eat a scone and some fruit.
Liam leaves the kitchen after stopping to kiss me, in front of Dade. Dade is staring at me. I stare back.
He chuckles and says, “So, baby sister… how’s life?”
Sticking my tongue out at him, I laugh. “Life is good. How about you?”
He laughs again. “You’re happy, baby girl. I like to see you like this. You’ve had me worried these past few months.”
Reaching for his hand, I answer him. “I am happy, Dade. Liam makes me happy. It’s just scary, too. He’s- well he’s Liam. It’s weird. I’ve been into him for a long time, but he seems to like me too. I think this is good. I just don’t want him to wake up and realize he doesn’t want to deal with me and a baby and everything, you know. It’s not his responsibility…”
Dade is silent for a long time. Finally, he smiles. “I know that. It is scary. It’s scary for him too, Clove. I know him. He doesn’t do this.” I frown. “But, he wants to do it with you. He’s tired of being Liam the rocker who fucks slutty groupies.” My brows raise at his language. Not that I’m shocked at it, I’m just surprised he’s talking like this in front of me. He laughs. “He wants to do this. He knows you. He knows you’re a package deal. He also knows I’ll kill him if he fucks up.” He raises my hand and kisses it. “He knows all that and he still makes you scream in my house.”
My face floods with color. Son of a bitch… Really, Dade?
He laughs heartily. “So because of all that… I trust him, I trust him with the thing that means the most to me in the world. I trust him with you, Clove.”
My eyes fill with tears. Damn hormones. Leaning over, I kiss his cheek. “I love you, Dade.”
He chuckles and squeezes my hand. “I love you too, baby girl.”
Liam finds us like this in the kitchen a few minutes later.
We spend a few more minutes with Dade and then head to my appointment with Dr. Bird. I’m nervous and excited!
In the car on the way over, I fill Liam in about this being my first actual appointment with Dr. Bird. He holds my hand and my life feels like I’m on track for the first time in a really long time.
I haven’t been to the office before, so I have mountains of paperwork to fill out and as I do it, Liam looks around at the brochures and all the pregnant women filling the waiting room.
I think a few recognize him, but no one says anything, they all just check us out from the corner of their eyes and play on their phones. I’m sure they’re curious.
Finally, it’s my turn. The door opens and a pretty nurse calls my name. “Ms. Rodrigue.” I stand up and Liam looks at me, I ask, “Are you coming back?”
His face shows his hesitation. I say, “You don’t have to. You can wait here if you want to.” My voice falls at the end. I guess I really wanted him to come back with me.
He nods at me. “You want me to come back? That’s ok? I can go back there?”
Smiling at him in appreciation, the nurse nods at him. “Of course you can.”
He stands up and I hear two women sigh. Ha, I know. I do that too, ladies!
He doesn’t even notice, as he takes my hand and we follow the nurse back. She settles Liam into my exam room, asks me to pee into a cup, and then I have to be weighed. I’ve only gained like two pounds so far. She asks me when my last cycle was and uses a chart to find my due date. It’s August twenty-seventh. My baby will be here on August twenty-seventh.
We talk about pre-natal vitamins, she makes some recommendations, and then I’m ushered into the room and handed a paper gown. She tells me to get undressed with the opening to the front and have a seat on the table; that Dr. Bird will be in shortly. Once the door closes, I take the paper gown and change in the corner. Liam watches me.
I tell him that the due date is August twenty-seventh and he looks at me in shock. His face goes white. Walking across the room, I take his hands. They’re cold. “What’s wrong? What? What happened?”
He shakes his head and then smiles. “Nothing is wrong. That was John’s birthday. The baby is due on my brother’s birthday.”
My eyes fill with tears and I get all choked up. That’s amazing.
We talk quietly as we wait and in no time, there’s a knock at the door. It opens and a very pretty blonde walks in. She can’t be that much older than Liam.
Holding out her hand, to me, she says, “Hello, Ms. Rodrigue. I’m Melonie Bird. I apologize that I was unable to see you when you were hospitalized, but I hear that Dr. Bush took great care of you. Have you passed the stone? Are you having any issues?”
I smile at her. She’s really is remarkably pretty. Her skin has a nice glow to it that says she spent her vacation in the sun someplace.
I shake her hand and answer her. “It’s nice to meet you, Dr. Bird. Dr. Bush was wonderful while I was in the hospital. I have not passed the stone, but I am not in any pain.”
She smiles. “Wonderful. Well, I see that we are expecting in late August. I know that Dr. Bush did an ultrasound on you in the hospital, but if you are up for it, I’d like to do one myself. You should be about eighteen weeks, so we might be able to tell gender today.” I look at Liam. He’s got a look of amazement on his face. She looks at the both of us. “Is that something you are interested in knowing?”
Nodding, I say, “Oh yes, please.”
She chuckles and asks if it’s ok for Liam to stay for the rest of the examination. I shrug and look at him. After making sure I’m ok with him being here, he moves to stand by my head while she performs a pelvic exam and checks my breasts. Another knock at the door comes just as she’s closing my gown and saying that everything appears to be just fine. An ultrasound machine is rolled in by a technician.
She asks me to lie back on the table as she directs Liam to come stand near me. The gel is applied warm this time, and then she’s pressing the probe against my stomach. After a little bit of searching, a blip appears on the monito
r. I’m staring at my baby and I glance at Liam, his face is filled with wonder. He takes my hand.
Dr. Bird moves the wand around a bit and takes a few measurements and then she smiles. She looks at me, “Well, if you’re ready, I can tell you what you’re having.”
I look at Liam and he smiles; I nod at Dr. Bird. She brings the image to a particular spot and clicks a few times. The printer on the machine buzzes and some images are printed out. She points to a certain spot and asks if we see anything. I can see it. My eyes well with tears. Liam gasps and she confirms, “Congratulations, Mom and Dad, you’re having a boy.”
A boy. I’m having a boy. A baby boy. My eyes fill with happy tears. Glancing up at Liam, I see that his eyes are glassy, too.
Leaning down, he kisses me softly. “A boy? You’re having a boy? Congratulations, Clove.”
My heart fills with love. I’m having a baby boy. And Dr. Bird called Liam this baby boy’s father and he didn’t correct her. Whatever piece of my heart was holding back, crumples away… I’m so in love with him.
Chapter Nineteen
Liam
Things with Clove have been great for the past six weeks. We’re getting to know each other and spending every second of our spare time together. I’ve been busy with the guys, trying to get the tracks sorted out for the new album and tour in a few weeks. She’s been insanely busy getting everything in order to kick off the website with Blue and Bradi. She’s had photo shoots and camera crews in and out of here.
They are set to go “Live” this week. If we didn’t live in the same house, things would not be going as well because we are both working full days and only really seeing each other at night. But it’s a good busy, and the more I get to know her, the harder I fall for her. We’re taking it pretty slowly, all things considered and I’m actually really enjoying it.
The band has finally settled on fifteen new tracks for the album and we have a week before we head into the studio to start recording it. We’re all in the media room at Dade’s and we have shit spread out everywhere.
Jude and Lexi returned from their honeymoon about six weeks ago and we’ve been busting ass on this stuff ever since. I am welcoming the little break from the chaos. It never bothered me before, but I have my lady now, and well, I want to spend some time with her.
Paw has also been asking to meet her, so I think a trip that way is in order this week, as well. Bradi, Blue, and Clove are together working on some last minute stuff for the Launch Party, being held Thursday night at Java and Sweeties. It’s slotted to be huge and we’re all VIP’s on the guest list. With Bradi’s marketing and Blue’s connections, the industry is basically coming to Baton Rouge this week. All of the papers are buzzing about it. Social media is abuzz and people are flying in from everywhere to attend the party. We’re so proud of them.
I bet Rock Hard Magazine and the idiot Jagger’s are shitting their pants. As they should. Blue is about to show them how insignificant they are. The only reason they are where they are is because of her.
Clove and I sleep together every night, though we have not actually had sex, yet. My body is yearning for her and I know she’s burning for me, too. It’s getting harder and harder not to just take her the longer we’re together. But I said I’d wait and I’m going to wait, but I’m pulling out all the stops, because I need to have her in every way possible, and soon.
I haven’t told anyone, but Alec is also looking for a place for me. I think I’m going to ask Clove to move in with me, so the place he finds needs to be perfect. I need a large house with room for a nursery and also a yard for him and any future babies to play in.
A few months ago, I’d have thought that the idea of having an actual baby and possibly more babies, of settling down with one person… would scare the shit out of me. But instead, with every passing day, the idea of losing Clove and of her deciding she doesn’t want me or realizing she’s too good for me, is what scares me.
Dade snapping in my face alerts me to the fact that I’ve apparently spaced out of the conversation. I look up and he’s standing over me with a grin. “My baby sister occupying your thoughts?”
Jude, Jessie, and Cruz all laugh. Flipping him off, I smirk and answer. “Yup. She’s naked, too.”
The guys almost fall over laughing and Dade shoves me. His look of disgust makes me laugh. I shove him back good naturedly. “Hey, you started it!”
Then, laughing at him as he tries to contain his discomfort at the idea of me picturing Clove naked in my mind, I stand up. I wasn’t thinking of her naked, but I am now. Slapping him on the back, I call out as I walk to the bar, “Relax. I wasn’t thinking of her naked. Not right this second, anyway.”
He mutters, “Asshole” and scrubs his hands down his face as he shakes his head.
Just then my cell pings with a text. Scooping it up, I swipe to see who it is.
“Clove
Hey sexy. Fancy a meal? About to head that way with Blue and Bradi. Erik, Lexi, Micah, and Alec are tagging along, too. Y’all about done?”
My goofy smile can’t hide my happiness. Jessie calls out, “Wipe that ridiculous smile off your face. You look like a dumbass.”
Jude slaps him up side the head and Cruz laughs as they start to wrestle. Nothing but a bunch of man children.
Dade rolls his eyes and walks to the bar to get a drink.
I text Clove back.
“Liam
Hey gorgeous. How are you feeling? We just wrapped up. Songs picked and we have a break for a few days before we head to the studio next week. Are you free for a few hours tomorrow? Someone really wants to meet you.”
She doesn’t reply immediately, so I walk over to Dade and sit down next to him. He’s staring into his whiskey. He’s been doing that quite a bit lately. He still acts the same around us, but when he’s alone, I catch him staring at nothing a lot, as if he’s somewhere else.
He glances towards me when I sit down. I pop open my beer. “What’s up, man?”
He looks at me and says distractedly. “I don’t know. What’s up?”
Rolling my eyes at him, I play with the label on my beer before glancing across the room. Jude and Jessie are rolling around on the floor and jabbing each other in the ribs. Cruz is just watching them with a slight smile. Turning back to Dade, I say quietly. “Everything ok, Dade? You seem kind of out of it every now and then lately.” He looks at me. “I mean, is it because I’m with Clove?”
That takes him by surprise. He shakes his head and chuckles. “Dude, seriously? Do you think I’d let you live in my house and sleep with my sister if I had a problem with you and her?”
Shrugging, I take a sip of my beer. “I don’t know. Probably not. If it’s not me and Clove, what is it? Something is on your mind, man.”
He smiles at me. “It’s not you and Clove. Trust me. I’m happy there’s a you and Clove. You two are a great couple. I mean that. She’s a lot more confident lately. I thank you for that. She came back from L.A. pretty broken, Liam. No man wants to see his baby sister like that.”
He sighs and traces the rim of his glass. “I raised her. She’s my sister, but I raised her for the most part. I wanted to kill him. I still want to kill him. To do that to her. To treat her that way… God! It killed me to have her call me when she found out. She pretended to be so strong, but I could tell it was killing her. I told her to come home, but she refused. She said she wasn’t going to come crawling back home just because she trusted the wrong man.” He closes his eyes. “Then a few weeks later, she called me to say she was pregnant. She was terrified. She hated L.A. and she hated the house. She couldn’t stand to be there. She didn’t want him to know. She never wants him to know that she’s pregnant.” He looks at me and really looks. “I’m glad she’s with you. You’re a good man, Liam. You’ve always been a good man. You’re the kind of man I wanted her to be with. And watching you two now… I’m glad you’re together.” He claps my shoulder. “I couldn’t have picked a better man for Clove if I tried. I
mean that, man.”
My throat feels oddly tight. To have Dade tell me that. It really means something. I whisper out, “I- I think I love her, man.”
He smiles at me and winks. “I know.”
Huh? He knows? How does he know? I didn’t even know. Not until I said it. Well, shit! I love her. I love Clove.
My face must have my shock written all over it. He laughs again and gets up. He leans down, “Relax. She loves you, too.” He walks out of the media room.
My phone buzzes in my hand.
“Clove
I’m free tomorrow. And I’d love to meet him, too. On the way now. See you in a few. Get those lips ready for me.”
I stare at my phone. I’m in love with Clove. Dade says she’s in love with me. She’s meeting my grandfather tomorrow. And she’s having a baby. Two months ago, my life was completely different. Two months ago, I was not happy and I didn’t like myself very much. Two months ago, I would have laughed if someone had told me this would be my life now. I much prefer my life now.
I decide to go shave and brush my teeth before my girl gets home.
Whistling, I walk out of the room.
A knock at my bedroom door intrudes on my pep talk with myself about half an hour later. Before I can say “come in” she’s squeezing through the door. Her stomach is slightly rounded now. Watching her cross the room in the dresser mirror, I take in her figure. She’s still slim, but in her leggings and boots with her flowy top, her bump is slightly visible now. Stopping behind me she looks at me in the mirror. “Hi,” she says.
Turning, I smile down at her as I take her in my arms. “Hi.” She leans up and I lean down and our lips meet. It’s a slow exploration that quickly heats up. My hands knead her ass and her hands trail over my stomach. When we pull back, we’re both breathless. She exhales and wraps her arms around my neck. I lean into the curve of her neck and breathe in the scent that is all Clove. It’s like magnolia and cinnamon. It’s unique, just like her.
She squeezes my neck and runs her nails down my back until she reaches my jeans. Taking me by surprise, she cups my butt and pulls me into her. My eyes fly open and see her smirking at me as she licks her lips. Brushing her breasts against me, she purrs into my ear. “Liam, I’m ready.”
