by Erin Osborne
“But you and the babies are okay other than that?” I ask, still worried as hell about her.
“We’re fine.”
Finishing up cooking, I make our plates and set them out before going to wake Caleb up. When he sees me in his room, Caleb jumps out of bed and rushes to my arms.
“Hey, buddy. Did you sleep okay?” I ask him, pulling him up for a hug.
“Yeah. I thought I was dreaming,” he says.
“You’re not. I’m really here. Go to the bathroom and come out for breakfast,” I say, setting him down on his feet so he can do his morning routine.
I walk back out and grab the juice out of the refrigerator and pour us each a glass. As soon as everything is set up, I help Sam off the couch and hold her hand as we walk into the kitchen where the small table is.
“So, there’s no reason why you can’t come home with me. Is there?” I ask her.
“I don’t know, Playboy. There’s a lot I need to think about,” she says evasively.
“Well, then it looks as if I’m here until you make up your mind,” I say, waiting for Caleb to get up in his seat.
The rest of the morning, we spend together. I sit on the couch with Sam while we watch one of Caleb’s new movies. Shy calls and wants to know what’s going on, but I don’t tell her about the babies. I know dad hasn’t either because she would’ve said something about it. He’s letting us tell everyone in our own time.
Chapter Eighteen
Sam
PART OF ME is happy as hell Playboy is out of jail and here with us. The other part of me is trying to figure out what this all means. What it means for him as an individual, us as a couple not that we ever labeled what we were, and us with Caleb and the new babies on the way.
I feel as if the only reason he’s still in Torrino is that he saw me, found out I’m pregnant, and now wants to be in the babies' lives. I’d never keep our children from him, but it doesn’t mean he has to pretend he wants to be with me either. Playboy simply could want to be here because I’m pregnant and he wants to make sure I don’t disappear with the babies.
While I understand his concern, I would never take his children from him. The only reason I left Benton Falls to begin with is so no one would tell him I was pregnant before he and I talked. Now, it seems to have backfired on me and I don’t know what to do about it.
“Playboy, I think we need to talk,” I tell him after lunch.
“About what?” he asks, sitting down on the couch next to me.
“Well, I think you need to go back to Benton Falls. I have a lot to think about and you have things to do for the club, I’m sure,” I tell him. “I’ll think about moving back there, but for now, we don’t need to be on top of one another.”
“Where’s this comin’ from?” he asks, turning his full attention to me.
“Playboy, you didn’t want to have anything to do with me while you were inside. And I get why you chose to do that. However, if something happens again and you’re locked away, I won’t be able to do this again. It hurt so much when you didn’t want to have anything to do with me. I’ve been going through all this alone except for my friends here. Yes, it was my choice because I wanted to be the one to tell you about the baby,” I tell him. “But, I can’t have you here now just because I’m pregnant. It’s not fair to Caleb or myself. It’s not fair to you either when the one for you could be out there waiting for you to find them.”
“Sam, I know I fucked up when I didn’t have anythin’ to do with you. But, I’ve told you I meant it when I said I love you. You’re the only one I want in my life. It has nothin’ to do with the babies you’re carryin’ or anythin’ else. The only thing I want is you and Caleb by my side. The new babies are just a bonus and I can’t ask for anything more than us spendin’ our days together,” he tells me, holding my hand while looking into my eyes. “I have a house waitin’ for us to move into. I refuse to live there without my family with me. Caleb has his own room waitin’ for him and there’s plenty of room for the new babies as well.”
“I just need some time,” I try to tell him.
“Well, take all the time you need. I’m not goin’ anywhere. I’ll be here every single day until you decide to go back with me. And if you choose not to go back, I’ll talk to my dad and leave the club. For you,” he says, his eyes locked on mine and I know he’s speaking the truth.
“Playboy, you can’t do that. The club is not only your family, it’s your life,” I respond.
“Well, until you’re ready to go home, right here’s where we’ll be,” he informs me. “They can come visit for now and once the babies are born, we’ll go there to visit.”
“You can’t do that,” I try again.
“I can do anything I want to do. This is my life and I don’t have one without you and Caleb in it. The babies are just a bonus,” he says. “By the way, do you know what we’re havin’ yet?”
“I do. We’re having boys,” I tell him. “If you grab my purse, I have something to show you.”
Playboy doesn’t say or do anything for a few minutes. Then, his face breaks out in the biggest smile I’ve ever seen. He’s happy we’re having sons. The next generation of the Phantom Bastards MC are resting in my stomach, growing until we can meet them and hold them in our arms.
“Look, we may not have anything here, Playboy. But, Caleb and I have a few friends, I have a job since I couldn’t find one in Benton Falls, and I won’t ever stop you from seeing your kids,” I tell him.
“This isn’t about the babies, Sam. This is about me bein’ head over heels in love with you and wantin’ to have you in my life. I want to make you my ol’ lady, marry you, adopt Caleb, and grow old with you. Why can’t you understand that?” he asks, kneeling in front of me.
“I’ve never had anyone want to be with me and only me before. It’s always been about what I could do for them on my back,” I answer honestly. “Now it just feels as if you’re doing this because I’m pregnant with your kids and you want to make sure you stay in their lives. I love you, Playboy. I just can’t go through the heartache again.”
“And you won’t. I’ll be by your side every single step of the way and we’ll get through anythin’ together. This will only work if. you're by my side, though,” he says. “Please say you’ll come home with me. That we’ll work on earnin’ the trust I blew out of the water.”
“I have a lot to do if I’m even going to consider moving back there,” I tell him. “I have to give my notice, make this place better so Carson can rent it out easier, and I have to pack everything up. It’s not an overnight process, Playboy,” I tell him.
“Well, I’ll be here to help you do it all. I’m dead serious. I’m not leavin’ without you,” he says.
I nod my head because I won’t ever be able to deny this man anything. He owns me, heart and soul. Caleb runs from his room; he’s been listening to us talk and I know he’s wanted to go home since we left. No matter how I’ve felt, Benton Falls is my home.
“What about a job?” I ask him. “I’m not gonna live on your money or the help of the club. I can’t do that anymore.”
“We’ll find you somethin’. But, when these babies are born, I want you to finish school. Get your degree in nursin’ and get a job doin’ what you’ve always wanted to do. It’s not gonna be easy, but everyone in the club will be there to help,” he replies.
“It’s been so long since I’ve been in school, Playboy,” I begin to say.
“Mama, we’re going home?” Caleb asks to make sure we’re really going back.
“Yeah, I think we are,” I tell him.
Caleb runs around the small living room like a mad man. He’s talking a mile a minute about seeing his Papi, Rayven, and everyone else. Playboy and I are laughing at him until he launches himself at the man who is making his dreams come true. As I said, Playboy can do no wrong in the eyes of my young son.
“Mama, you need to drink,” Caleb suddenly announces.
As he goes to the
kitchen to get me a bottle of water, Playboy just looks at me.
“He’s been like this since finding out I was pregnant and went to the hospital,” I answer his unspoken question.
Playboy nods his head and I see the smile he’s trying to hide. Yeah, he’s proud as hell of Caleb stepping up to ‘fill his shoes’. My son is missing out on his family back home and I need to think of him too. I can’t just stay here because I’m scared to let Playboy back in and something happen.
Caleb hands my water to me and then runs off to his room. I’m not sure what he’s doing, but I can hear all sorts of racket and noise coming from in there.
“I’ll check,” Playboy says, getting up and making his way down to Caleb’s room.
After a few minutes, neither one of them is back. So, I push myself up off the couch and go in search of them. It takes me long enough to get off the damn couch. But, as I get close to his room, I hear Caleb and Playboy talking softly to one another. I can’t make out what they’re saying, and I don’t want to interrupt the moment.
Looking around the open door of my son’s room, I see Playboy sitting on the floor holding the bear he got for Caleb. My son is busy packing his things as if we’re moving today instead of in a few weeks. A smile covers my face as I realize he’s excited to be going back to Benton Falls.
Turning around to head back to the living room, I question every decision I’ve made since Playboy got arrested. Was I right to leave Benton Falls? Should I have let the ol’ ladies know I was pregnant? So many questions run through my head as I sit carefully back down on the couch and wait for them to come back out of Caleb’s room.
We’ve had dinner, Caleb’s room is completely packed and ready to move back, and now Playboy is helping me get to bed after helping me in the shower. He’s not happy I’ve been showering alone with only Caleb sitting outside the door. Now, he’s helping me in bed after putting one of my oversized tee-shirts on and a pair of panties.
Well, the panties make it as far as landing on the bed. They never make it on my body. Instead, Playboy fits his body between my legs and stares up at me for a minute. We simply look at one another and don’t say a word.
“Tonight is all about you, baby. I’ve been dreamin’ of tastin’ you since the one and only night we were together,” he tells me.
Before I can respond, Playboy lowers his head and swipes his tongue through my slick folds. I hear and feel him groan at his first taste of me. Closing my eyes, I let the sensations Playboy is causing flood my body take over.
“Look at me, baby,” he says, his voice husky and low as he pauses his ministrations for a minute.
Opening my eyes, I glance down toward Playboy. He’s concentrating on sucking my clit in his mouth while locking eyes with me. He doesn’t miss a beat as he slides a finger in my pussy while continuing to suck on my clit.
It’s not long before my body begins to tighten and I know my release is going to slam into me.
“That’s it, give it to me, babygirl,” Playboy says.
I reach down and thread my fingers into Playboy’s long hair. It’s so soft and feels like silk in my fingers as I keep my eyes locked on his. I can tell by his eyes that he’s smiling as my grip tightens in his hair the closer I get to the edge of the cliff he’s leading me to.
Finally, when I can stand no more, my orgasm crashes over me. Wave after wave flows from my body as Playboy doesn’t let up.
“Griffin!” I yell out, my head thrown back and my eyes closed.
Still, Playboy doesn’t let up as he brings me back down from one of the few orgasms I’ve ever had in my life. Actually, from the second one I’ve ever had in my life. Both have come from him and I don’t know what to make of it.
As Playboy sits back from me, he wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. Leaning over me, he places a kiss on my lips. It’s soft, sweet, and gentle. I’m the one that deepens the kiss, opening my mouth and sliding my tongue against his closed mouth. Playboy immediately opens his mouth and lets me deepen the kiss. I can taste myself on him as I wrap my arms around his neck and hold him close to my body.
When he finally breaks away, Playboy stares at me for a few minutes.
“I truly love you, Sam Hart, and I want to make you mine in every sense of the word. I’ll spend the rest of my life makin’ this up to you; of earnin’ your trust and respect,” Playboy vows to me.
“I love you, Playboy,” I answer him, running my hand down the side of his face.
“Get some sleep and we’ll get more things taken care of tomorrow,” he says, rolling from holding himself above me to lying next to me.
He wraps his arms around me and pulls me close to his body. One hand slides under my neck while the other one rests on my belly as it sticks out from my burgeoning belly. I burrow down into him and place my head on his chest. If I could lay like this in his arms for the rest of my life, I’d be content.
My only hope is that Playboy is telling the truth and he really wants to make this work between us. And that it’s not just because of the twins. It would gut me to think this is just because of them. But, he’s going to have to work to prove he wants me for me and nothing else.
That’s my last thought as sleep claims me. I dream of the life I’ve always wanted with the man in my bed. He’s always in my thoughts, dreams, and now he’s in my life. Time will tell what our story is going to be and how things are going to play out.
Chapter Nineteen
Playboy
I’VE BEEN IN Torrino for the last two days. While I’ve loved it being just Sam, Caleb, and me I know I have to get back to the club. Not saying things are going on, but I don’t have a reason to stay away. Not in the eyes of the club, at least.
I’ll stay no matter what for Sam and Caleb. But, the club needs me and I’ve already been on a run and was in jail for weeks. It’s time for me to start pulling my weight and I can’t do that from four hours away. My problem is I don’t want to leave Sam and Caleb here alone either.
Caleb has been up my butt when we’re not busy. He’s been talking more than ever before and I love that he wants to help and wants to talk to us. Now, we can’t get him to stop talking and we laugh because it’s like he’s finally learned he doesn’t have to be quiet or express his opinions because he’s afraid we’re going to be mad or yell at him. None of us ever will.
I’m up early this morning. Caleb and Sam are still sleeping and I want to take a shower and have breakfast ready before they get up. So, I jump in the shower after checking on them and quickly wash. I don’t linger in the shower at all. Just as I go to get dressed, I hear my phone ringing in the pocket of my jeans. Grabbing it out quick, I head to the living room so I don’t wake either one.
“Yeah?” I ask, not bothering to look at the caller ID.
“Son, need you home,” my dad says, not bothering with any small talk.
“What’s goin’ on?” I ask him.
“Got another shipment and somethin’ is goin’ on with Lash’s club. I think we’re gonna have to head there to help out. Not makin’ any plans without you here,” he tells me.
“Okay. I’ll talk to Sam as soon as she wakes up,” I answer.
“How’s she doin’?” he asks me.
“As good as can be expected, I guess. I don’t know much about this kind of thing,” I respond.
“Well, I’ve kept a lid on it, but you know things are goin’ to change once you get back here,” he tells me.
“I know. We need to get her a doctor there because she’s still on light duty and I want to see for myself that everythin’ is okay and the way it should be. I’ve missed out on so much already, Dad,” I tell him.
“You have. But, there will be more than just this baby and you’ll see everythin’ for that pregnancy,” he says, laughter in his voice.
“We’ll see,” I say. “I’m gonna make breakfast and then talk to her about comin’ back sooner than planned.”
“Let me know what’s goin’ on. I’ll have some guys
meet you at the halfway point,” he says.
“Do I need to be worried?” I ask him.
“Not at all. Just don’t want to take any chances,” he responds. “Call me before you head out.”
My dad hangs up before anything else can be said. We don’t need to say anything else. I’ve got my marching orders and now I need to get Sam on board with heading home now instead of doing everything we talked about doing, giving notice to Carson, calling her doctor to make arrangements to get everything switched, and taking our time packing the house up.
Heading to the kitchen, I grab the eggs, bacon, and pancake mix. There’s orange juice that we’ll finish this morning and I grab out an apple to split between the three of us. Sam is going to bitch about the amount of food, but she needs to eat a good, healthy, balanced diet and that’s what I’m giving her.
It doesn’t take me long to get the food made. I’d kill for a cup of coffee, but Sam doesn’t have it in the house because she can’t drink it. She told me it was too much of a temptation and she doesn’t want to do anything to put the babies at risk. She gave up coffee when she was pregnant with Caleb too.
Once I have the plates filled and set out, I fill our glasses with orange juice and make my way in to get Caleb and Sam. I wake Caleb up first so he can use the bathroom while I get Sam up and help her out of bed. She’s in a pair of shorts and a long tee-shirt, so I don’t have to worry about helping her dress. Or wanting to get another taste of her before letting her get out of bed. One is never going to be enough.
“Sam, baby, I need you to get up now,” I say gently, sitting on the edge of the bed closest to her.
“No. Need sleep,” she murmurs in her sleep.
“Breakfast is already on the table and Caleb is up. Need to talk to you too,” I tell her.
This gets her attention. Sam wakes up and glares at me. No, she didn’t get a lot of sleep last night because the babies were apparently sitting on her bladder and she had to keep getting up to go to the bathroom.
