He lowered his body onto mine. The heat that was coming from him kept me warm and protected. When he was with me, I felt like nothing bad could ever happen. Both of our hearts were beating hard against our chests. He rolled to the side. I sat up and gasped.
"Zander," I said, as I looked around.
There were lights hanging from the trees. It looked like something out of a movie. There was champagne chilling in an bucket of ice. Our table had candles lit and covered plates on it. There was a radio, but it wasn't turned on. I quickly got up and put my clothes on. He reached out and took my hand.
"Get dressed," I told him. "We need to talk."
He got dressed and looked down at me with worry in his eyes.
"I need to tell you something," I said.
"No," he said. "I need to go first."
He held my shoulders in his hands and looked down at me.
"I love you, Livie," he said.
"What?" flew from my mouth before I could stop it.
"I've loved you for so long. I wanted to go with you to prom, but I didn't want to ruin our friendship. When that fucker came back and said stuff about you, I had to get to you. When I came back here and saw you, I had to have you. Once I was gone, you were all I could think about. My mom told me about you and Mike and how in love the two of you were. I was devastated. I always thought we would end up together. I wanted to come back and tell you how I felt. She just kept telling me how happy you were with him. It was then that I decided to let you go. If you cared about me the way I cared for you, you wouldn't have been marrying him. That was when I picked some girl up and brought her back to my place. She was the one you saw me with. Every time I turned around, I thought you were there. It was horrible knowing you were with and marrying another man. I stayed away, but that didn't change my feelings. When I found out about the divorce, I knew better than to come back. It wasn't what you needed. When I came back for my dad's funeral, I came back for you. That night we made love was the most amazing night of my life. I knew how deeply I loved you then. It wasn't going to work. I had to go back to New York. I knew that. You had your bakery. You had two kids. I wanted to be a part of their lives, but I didn't want to be their father."
I wanted to speak, but I needed to hear what he had to say.
"That was what I thought anyway. When I got home, my house was too quiet. I couldn't stand it. I watched cartoons so I wouldn't be alone. I knew they were watching them too. When they called, I got so excited. I couldn't wait to talk to them again. I tried not to call you, but I couldn't help it. There were times I just needed to hear your voice. I would stay awake most of the night thinking of you. It hasn't gotten any easier. I can't stand being without the three of you. I was sitting at home this morning watching cartoons. All I could think about was sitting on the couch with one of the kids under each arm and you right there with me. I knew that I needed do something. My life was empty without the three of you in it. I looked around at my empty place and made a decision. When my phone rang, I jumped. It was April. She said Jack was worried about starting school and wanted to know if I could be there for his first day."
"What?" I asked.
"Don't tell them I told you. You have no idea how good it felt to know he wanted me there. How was I going to say no? I promised to be there when they needed me. I wasn't letting him down like my dad did me. I booked a ticket and packed my bags. I was going to be there for my boy. April admitted she wanted me there as well. I wasn't letting my kids down. That was when I realized I wanted them to be mine. I know they have a dad. You know what I mean. They have no idea I'm here right now. I love you, Livie. I can't go one more moment without you by my side, baby. I'm moving back here."
"No," I yelped.
Tears were falling from my eyes.
"Yes," he said. "I need you in my life. You're it for me. I love you with all of my heart. I'm so sorry for not being there when you needed me. I will make it up to you every single day. I sat in front of that television earlier and thought about everything. You're my dreams. You always have been. I don't care what I do as long as it's with you and those two beautiful kids."
He fell down on one knee and reached into the pocket of his pants. When he opened the box with the most beautiful ring inside, I gasped and covered my mouth.
"Will you please make my life complete, Livie? Will you let me be there every day for your children? Will you marry me?"
"I'm pregnant, Z," I said, as I fell to my knees in front of him.
His eyes widened.
"What?" he said. "When? Who? I didn't know you were."
The devastation in his eyes and the way his head fell forward into his hands said it all. What was he thinking? Who did he think I was?
"Whoa," I said. "Look at me, Z. You know you were my first. I was only ever with one other man in my life. You're the only one I've been with in four years. When you were home for the funeral and we made love, neither of us ever thought about protection. This baby is yours."
He looked up at me slowly. I'm not sure he was processing what I was saying.
"When did you find out?" he asked. "The doctor never said anything to me."
"I just found out this week. Everything has been so crazy in my life lately. I was exhausted but thought it was because I was doing too much. My mom came in my room and asked me if I was pregnant. I told her it wasn't possible. Then I remembered that we hadn't used anything that night. I bought a test that came out positive. I just went to the doctor. Seeing as what your last comment was, I made the right decision by going to another city to see someone."
"What?" he asked.
"I didn't want you to find out by someone in town or by the doctor you had reporting back to you on me. I wanted to tell you myself. The funniest part of all this is that I was leaving for New York tomorrow."
"Really?" he asked.
"I knew you didn't want kids. I honestly thought that you didn't want me either. It was something I wanted to tell you in person. I wasn't going to ask you for anything. I was planning on doing it alone. I just wanted you to know before someone else told you."
"Of course you weren't going to ask for anything. You never do. Who knows?" he asked.
"Nobody," I said. "I was going to tell my mom and the kids when I came back."
He reached forward and took my hands in his.
"I'm going to be a dad?" he asked.
I nodded.
"I can't believe this. I'm not going back home. I'm moving here now. I'm going to be by your side for everything. There is no way you will be alone. The kids are going to be so excited. My mom is going to flip. How could you say that I wouldn't want you or the baby? I love you, Livie. I love you so damn much."
"You want me?" I asked.
"More than you will ever know. I want you, our baby, and the kids. I want the busiest, craziest, most amazing family. Please be my wife?"
"The only way I'll marry you is if me and the kids move to New York."
"What?" he asked.
"I want a fresh start for us. You belong there, Z. It's important to you. You have a practice and people who need you there. The kids will love it there. So will I."
"What about the bakery. That place is your dream. I won't let you give it up. I can move here. I'll work a few cities over," he said.
"You mean the bakery you paid half for?" I asked.
He let out a gasp.
"Yes, I know," I said. "After I figured out that you were the one paying for everything for Mike, I was thinking about things. When I began to put that together with the other things I found out you had done for me, I couldn't help but wonder what else you had done that I hadn't figured out yet. I was in bed one night and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I knew it didn't make sense that she had to sell it all of a sudden and cut the price in half. I did some digging and discovered you had paid the other half. I always thought that bakery was my dream. I was wrong. You're my dream, Z. You always have been. I've been in love with you since high school. It took a
ll I had to let you go when you left. There wasn't a day that went by that I didn't want to go to you. I didn't think you'd ever want me. I can bake anywhere. All I need is to be with you. Are you sure about this? Once I tell the kids, you can't take it back. I come with two silly little kids and a new one on the way. Do you really want the four of us taking over your place?"
"Yes," he said. "That's exactly what I want. I want the noise, the mess, the homework, the dinners, the baths, and the stories. I want it all. Most of all, I want your love. You have no idea how much I want this. I want my family with me. You and the kids are my family."
"No matter how many I times I dreamt of you telling me you loved me, it never came close to this. I love you, Z. I always have, and I always will. I want nothing more than to marry you and be a family."
He slipped the ring on my finger. It was beautiful, but I didn't care about that. All I cared about was being his. When he turned the music on, I smiled up at him. He pulled me to my feet and wrapped his arms around me.
"Dance with me," he said.
Zander wasn't the same man that had left sixteen years ago. He was so much more. I couldn't believe how demanding and in control he had been just moments before and couldn't wait to explore more of that. Then he held me tightly in his arms and spoke softly as we danced. He was everything perfect rolled into one. I had never felt as safe, protected, and happy as I did when I was in his arms.
He turned me in them, and I let my head fall back against his shoulder. We swayed back and forth to the music. His lips came down on my neck, and I moaned as he kissed me softly. I could feel him harden beneath his jeans against my lower back and wiggled my ass against him. His hand pulled me back as he ground his cock against me.
"Don't start something you don't intend on finishing. I've been waiting months to spank that sweet ass, baby," he whispered into my ear.
I moved back against him again.
"You've been saying that for months, but I haven't seen you do it. Don't tell me your all talk, Z," I whispered into the cool air, unsure of what he would do.
"Don't challenge me woman," he said. "Watch yourself."
"What are you going to do about?" I asked.
He grabbed my hair and pulled back. My neck opened to him, and I felt his tongue lick across it. I instantly clenched my thighs together. His knee was between them stopping me.
"No you don't," he said.
My thighs tightened around his knee, but he moved my legs apart.
"Z," I moaned.
"Legs apart, Livie," he said. "You're not going to challenge me with that smart mouth and then rub those thighs together when you get the reaction you're looking for. I know you're wet for me. You're enjoying yourself. I want you to think about what you're doing. Every time you've talked back to me or said something snotty, I've thought about my palm coming down on your bare ass."
He had one hand in my hair and the other over my clothed mound. He ground his erection against my ass. His hand went below my panties, and his fingers slid down against my pussy.
"You're so damn wet, Livie," he said into my ear, as he took it between his teeth and tugged on it. "You're thinking about me spanking you. I bet your wondering what it will feel like when I pull your shorts down, bend you over, and turn your ass pink from the palm of my hand coming down on it."
I shifted against him, and he laughed into my ear.
"Fuck, woman," he whispered. "Stop it."
"Or what?" I said sarcastically.
I enjoyed playing with him. He was so damn sexy, and I already wanted him again. As soon as I laughed, I heard him growl from deep in his chest. He reached around me and pulled the chair out from the table in front of us. Z kissed my neck, as his fingers slid out from my panties. I whimpered at the loss of his touch. He grabbed both of my hands in his and walked me forward two steps.
"Bend over," he commanded into my ear.
When he leaned over my back, I moved down with him without argument. He put my hands on the chair.
"Leave them there," he said.
His voice was rough and deep in my ear. I found myself getting even wetter than I already was and my ass pushed back against him. He growled out and held my hip in his hand still. His tongue came out across my neck and I moaned. When he moved my shirt up and over my head, it slid down my arms and onto the chair. He placed tiny kisses all over my back. When he took my shorts and panties down my legs, I shook my ass at him. I heard the rumble in his chest and knew I was getting to him.
"You have no idea what you're doing, Livie," he said through clenched teeth.
I heard the zipper on his jeans and turned to look at him.
"Eyes forward," he snapped.
The man standing behind me wasn't the same that had left me sixteen years ago. He was still so protective and sweet. I knew he would never hurt me. There was a new side as well. It was rough and commanding, and I honestly couldn't wait to explore it. He was going to be my husband. It still felt like a dream to me. He was really there with me, and I wanted nothing more than to please him.
I could hear him moving out of his jeans and couldn't wait to feel him deep inside of me. When his hand pushed down on my lower back and my ass moved higher into the air, I felt a shiver run through my body. Without warning his hand came down on my ass and I yelped with shock. The sound of the smack was worse than the sting. When he did it again, I felt the sting even more. He moved to the other side and took my hips in his hands. He pulled me up higher so I was on my toes. When he smacked that side, I found my yelps turn to moans. His big hand rubbed away the sting, and I felt myself getting wetter. He continued switching sides until I couldn't take it anymore. I felt my juices running down my inner thigh.
"Z," I moaned.
He moved closer and leaned down toward my ear. I could feel his rock-hard cock against my ass.
"Yes, baby," he whispered.
"I need you," I moaned.
"What?" he asked, as he moved to back away.
"Please," I begged.
He came back over me.
"What, baby?" he asked.
"I need you," I moaned. "I need you so damn bad."
The head of his cock rubbed against my entrance. He was driving me crazy. He wrapped my hair around his hand and pulled to open my neck to him. When his teeth scrapped against my neck, I moaned and moved back against him. He barely entered me and stopped. I moved against him, but he didn't move. He kept kissing tiny kisses around my neck. I couldn't believe the control the man had. I could feel my wetness dripping down my leg. When I pushed back against him again, he pulled tighter on my hair. I was looking into his eyes, silently begging him. He didn't move. I made sure our eyes stayed connected. He was the only man I could ever imagine having the ability to be my undoing. He still wasn't going to move. The dark intensity in his eyes had me moving against him more. I couldn't take it. I needed him deep inside of me.
"Z," I begged, but he didn't move.
We were still, and our eyes were locked together. I knew when he finally made me come, I was going to explode into a million pieces. I couldn't wait another second. It was more than I could handle.
"Fuck me," I begged. "I need you to fuck me, Z."
His mouth covered mine with such an intense pressure. He plunged his tongue into my mouth at the same time that he thrust into me completely. I moaned out into his mouth. There was nothing soft and gentle about the way he was taking me. He was claiming me as his. I had never been fucked so hard and deep before that moment. He was reaching places I didn't even know were possible. I was moaning and calling out his name mixed with stuff I couldn't even understand. His hand in my hair held me in place, and his mouth ravaged mine. My lips were going to be sore. There was no doubt in my mind. His other hand held tight on my hip, as he fucked me hard. Each plunge had me rocking on my feet. My legs felt like they were going to give out at any moment. He was making me his. I knew nobody would ever make me feel the things he did. He was it for me. I was going to love him forev
er. I would do anything it took to please him. He was mine. I brought one hand up and wrapped it around his neck and kissed him with so much passion.
"Harder," I moaned. "Don't hold back, Z. Give me all of you."
His eyes widened and his chest moved as he took a deep breath. Both of his hands went to my hips to hold me as he plunged in so deep. I screamed out his name over and over.
"You're mine, baby," he growled out. "I love you so much. You're fucking mine. Do you hear me? I will always take care of you, Livie. I love you, baby."
He rocked into me hard, and I exploded around him like never before. He thrust into me hard and roared my name as he filled me. When his body came down against my back, I moved against his warmth. He was mine, and I was his. I would never let him go again.
"I love you, Z," I whispered.
He helped me into my clothes before getting dressed himself. Z pulled out a chair for me to sit. He lifted the covers from our plates and sat down beside me. I couldn't believe everything he had went through to make the night so perfect. When he looked over at the champagne he had chilling, he laughed.
"I guess we'll skip that for tonight," he said with a smirk. "I can think of something else we could have skipped tonight."
I burst into laughter.
"I was thinking the same thing when I heard you rip that package open earlier. There was no way I was going to say anything. That was potentially my last moment with you. I wanted to enjoy every second of it."
He stood up and pulled me to my feet to wrap me in his arms again. I would never get tired of that. It was the only place I wanted to be.
A Blast from the Past (A Second Chance Romance) Page 16
