A Love We Deserve (True Love Book 2) (24 page)

“It fits so perfectly!” I say.

“That’s no accident. I swiped that costume-jewelry ring you sometimes wear off your bathroom counter. I wanted everything to be perfect.”

“I’ve wondered where that thing was. I thought I was losing my mind!”

He holds my hand and lovingly looks at the ring.

“I swear to you, Melanie, as God as my witness, I’ll do everything in my power to be the man you deserve. And the man your kids deserve. I won’t ever let you down.”

He leans down to kiss me – oh, those lips for the rest of my life, thank you God - and it turns heated. He breaks the connection for a second.

“You still hungry?”

I shake my head vigorously, and we take off toward the door to the elevator. One of the waiters is standing nearby and Brian shouts to him, “Y’all enjoy it!” as we run. We make it to his place in record time. I smell the fragrance before he opens the door. Roses. There are dozens of peach-colored roses on every surface of his home. There must be hundreds; it’s intoxicating. The large windows are glowing with the lights from the city. It’s beautiful in here. He makes quick work of lighting a fire; and is back to me in a flash.

“Before we get going here, can we talk for just a second?”

He looks at me, puzzled.

“Of course, sweetheart, anything. What is it?”

“I just want to know, when did you decide to do all of this? The proposal, I mean. When did you
know
?”

“Well, that’s not an easy one to answer. The first time we were together at my place after the game, I fell hard. I honestly had noble intentions when you came over. I thought we would meet here, and then grab a bite to eat. I was just dying to get closer to you. Something came over me when you were here. I was watching you as you looked out the window, and I felt like I’d been punched in the gut.

“I also had no intention of giving you the necklace that soon. When my mom first got sick, she and I talked so much about how important it is to make your life count, and not waste time worrying about things. If it feels right, do it. That advice has never let me down. After we were together, I called and texted you, but you were ignoring me. It was killing me inside. I thought I’d done something to upset you. My gut, and Katie, told me it wasn’t right to push it then, and I listened. When we first met and you were,
abrupt
with me, I knew I liked you. I felt the spark that night. I knew it wasn’t just physical; I’ve had plenty of that to know the difference. It was more.

“When you left that night before Christmas, I felt like someone had cut my heart out. I did everything I could think of to distract myself. I worked out, meditated, even prayed, but nothing helped. I missed you. That’s when I realized I didn’t want to waste another day without you in my life. I don’t care about what anyone thinks; you know that, so I could care less if they say we rushed it. You’ve had enough heartache; it’s time to have the love. Once I’d made up my mind, everything went smoothly. By the way, Katie and Jason don’t know a thing.”

For once! Katie will absolutely freak out when she hears this. I’m so glad he kept it private, just the two of us. I listen to everything he says, and my heart’s pounding.

“I felt so strongly for you, Brian, it scared me. I was worried that I was feeling too much too soon, and it freaked me out. That’s why I couldn’t talk to you; I had to figure it out. If I made one more bad-love decision, I don’t think I could have handled it. I knew in my heart you were different; I’d just been hurt too much.”

He had answered my question eloquently, and I don’t need to hear more. I need him to touch me. I take his large hand, and place it over my heart.

“Wow! It’s really going! You’re not going to pass out, are you?”

He’s laughing at me.

“No, that’s just my blood racing to get to other areas of my body, and
heat… them… up
.”

I kiss the tips of his fingers softly with the emphasis on each word. He scoops me up and heads down the hall to his bedroom. Along the way my foot swings and knocks over one of the vases on the table.

“Fuck it,” is all he says.

* * *

We’re both so nicely dressed it’s
almost
a shame to get out of our clothes. He looks damn fine in that suit. The man’s got a body, and the tight fabric just accentuates it. He’s out of the ensemble in less than a minute. I haven’t even stepped out of my shoes yet.

“Wait, baby, wait. I want to watch you undress for me. You’re so damn sexy, and those shoes are killing me. I might need for you to leave those on.”

He sits up on his pillows, and waits. He deserves an epic show. I walk over to the light switch, and lower the ceiling lights to the minimum. It’s creates a faint glow in the room, perfect for a striptease. The only problem is that I’m just wearing a dress. Not a whole lot to strip. I’ll just have to make it good.

I walk over to the floor-to-ceiling window, and press my body against it. It creates shadows in the room. I turn my back to him, and begin to unzip the back of the dress. I knew we’d be having sex at some point tonight, so I did put on my best over-priced undergarments. My bra is the lightest of silver see-through lace. So far, he can only see the back of it as I let my dress slide slowly down my body. I make the dress stop at my waist. I want to control this part. I face the window, as I inch the garment slowly down to reveal the top of my bra-matching garter belt. His breathing is heavy and I hear a subtle moan when he sees it. It’s sets my crotch on fire. He’s really going to love what’s next. I let the dress pool around my feet, as I expose my naked ass, and black stockings. I couldn’t find the matching thong I have with this set, but I figured he wouldn’t miss it. I was right.

“Oh fuck, Mel. You’re killing me.”

I turn around slowly, and let him see my sheer bra. I bend, and press my naked rear against the cold, plate-glass window for all of Chicago to see. I see him holding his
huge
erection and in a blur he’s on me. He pulls me away from the window, and his hands are forcefully squeezing my ass.

“This is mine, I don’t want another fucking soul to see it except me for the rest of our lives.”

He drops to his knees, and spins me around so that my cheeks are in his face. He kneads my ass, and gently spreads me open. I’m so aroused and I love him so much, I don’t care what he wants to do, I’m in. He’s kissing each cheek, back and forth, getting lower and lower.

“Can I, Mel?”

I close my eyes, and nod my head. I can’t believe it, but I want this. He folds me across the bed as his hands spread me open farther. He’s kneeling behind me like he’s praying to an altar. His tongue explores every crevice of my ass. He teases my hole, and I feel it pucker and retreat. It’s an erotic taboo, and it feels good. His hand reaches around to stimulate my clitoris to add to the sensation. His licking turns more aggressive, and I’m on the brink of orgasm. He senses it, and stops.

“Not yet, baby, I want us to come together tonight. I want you really turned on, I love the way your body feels when you’re aroused. It drives me fucking wild.”

I surprise him by grabbing his face and kissing him hard. I don’t care what he’s just been doing; I’m out of my mind with pleasure. He turns me back toward the bed, and gently pushes me down. He’s stroking my stockings from the top all the way down to my shoes, and back up again. He grabs my ankles and flips me over. He’s admiring the shoes. He holds my legs straight up, pulls them open and enters me. He keeps hold of my legs, and moves my body in opposing movements to his so that we crash together forcefully. My pussy clenches involuntarily around his cock. It feels so good, I’m not going to be able to hold back much longer.

“I feel you, baby, do you want to come with me?”

“Yes, Brian, you fill me up so much, it feels so good. I…”

Here it comes, wave after wave of sheer pleasure. I clench and scream out his name over and over again. I squeeze tightly; I feel his cock begin to pulsate inside me.

“Goddamn, Mel, your body...what it does to me. I’ve never had sex like this before. Your sweet pussy is the greatest thing in this world. You could bring me to my knees with it. Sorry to sound so crude, but you bring out the animal in me. I like your choice of underwear tonight, and the shoes. I think I’ll keep those shoes as a memento.”

“Oh no, you won’t, these are Jimmy Choo. No man separates a girl from good shoes.”

“I’ll buy you a whole closet full of fucking Johnny Chews, or whatever! Anything my girl wants, I promise to make it happen.”

He looks down at the ring on my hand, and kisses it. We’re doing it. We’re going to get married.

Chapter 22

Katie freaks out. We wanted to wait to tell her and Jason in person, so we enjoyed our little secret for a few days. We did call my family, and Brian had quite a long conversation with my dad on the phone. He took it into the other room, and was in there about an hour. Of course, I had told my mom all about him, even before we started dating officially, so they weren’t shocked. I would kill to know what Brian and Dad talked about, but Brian was all smiles when he emerged so I guess it went well. He had expressed his regret that he hadn’t gotten a chance to ask my father in person. It seems so silly in retrospect, a mother with three kids needing Daddy’s permission, but it was a sweet sentiment anyway.

“What? How could you not tell me when it happened? Why didn’t you call us?” Katie asked.

They’d barely been home an hour from their trip. We were waiting for them at their house with a bottle of champagne. She grabs my hand to look at the ring.

“Oh
wow
. Mel, it’s really beautiful. You both look so happy.”

Here they come: the waterworks. Brian and I look at each other, then at Jason. He rolls his eyes, and looks down at his watch. We sit patiently while she cries, and tries to talk, but her words come out garbled. It’s sweet; she’s a mess. Jason glances down at his watch again.

“OK, time. Ten minutes is your max, Katie, and new record. I’m proud of you. Can you guys imagine what she’ll be like on our kids’ wedding days?”

He walks over to her, and she starts to giggle. He leans down to kiss her and, as usual, the sexual tension in the room goes from zero to one hundred. Katie pulls grudgingly away from Jason, I can tell, and reaches for a glass of champagne.

“
We
can wait. Even though it’s been a
very
long week with our kids in the same hotel suite.” She throws a wink at a frustrated Jason. “Here’s to the happy couple. May you both find as much joy in your marriage as we have. We love you both, and wish you many years of happiness.”

We all raise our glasses and this time it’s my turn. I begin to cry uncontrollably. Everything hits at once. I’m happy. It’s finally my turn to enjoy being with someone. My kids will have a strong, stable influence in their lives. Poor Brian is staring at me with an open mouth, probably because I look like I’m crying from sadness rather than joy. He takes my hand and pulls me into the next room.

“Are you OK Melanie? You’re worrying me. If you’ve changed your mind…”

He looks like he’s about to panic. I throw my arms around his neck and bury my wet face in his shirt.

“God,
no
! It’s finally sunk in just how happy I am. No waiting for the other shoe to drop, I’m just truly happy. I can’t remember the last time that a toast was for me and something good happening in my life. My shield is finally down, and I’m in love. I’ll never change my mind, sweetheart, please know that. I may freak out like this from time to time. Sometimes my emotions get the better of me. Not as often as our Kat in there, but I’m only human.”

I give him a reassuring kiss, and he wipes the tears from my cheeks. We walk back hand-in-hand back in to our friends.

“OK, what are the plans? You’ve both had days with your secret, but that’s over. We have a wedding to put on!”

“We’re not planning anything tonight, Kat, let them go home so you and I can have some time alone.”

Jason doesn’t mince words. He wants his wife, and
now
.

* * *

The wedding preparations have been easy. Brian and I decide on a small wedding at my house, just our closest family and friends. He’s been trying to get me to agree on a quick trip to the justice of the peace, but I want more for him. For
us
. Brian’s the one I’ve been waiting for my whole life, so this feels like a first wedding for me, too. Except I’ll have three kids standing by my side at this one.

Brian’s rehab has gone so well that he hardly even has a limp. He’s weeks ahead of where they thought he would be. We want to make sure we can fit in the wedding and honeymoon in before the beginning of training camp in July. He wants a two-week honeymoon with just me, then another two weeks with the boys along. When we sat them down to tell them the news about the wedding, they were happy. They gave Brian big hugs, and asked when he’d be moving in. I know a large part of their happiness comes from seeing me so happy. I think I’ve been a miserable grouch since their births from living with Chris. Even though I did my best to hide when I was hurt, kids always know.

We set the wedding date for May 9, which is also Mother’s Day weekend. That was accidental initially, but I think it was meant to be. That will give us plenty of time for our honeymoon, kid-moon, and enough time for him to move in and get settled before training camp. One thing we haven’t done, and he’s insistent about it, have been sleepovers. He doesn’t want to give the boys a bad impression. He’s occasionally been crashing over at Jason and Katie’s, and we decide he should keep the place by the stadium so we have a place to go after games. We can stay there when we want time alone, away from the suburbs. I have fond memories of that place.

Our first Valentine’s Day together is right around the corner: another holiday I’ve never been very fond of. Chris took full advantage of it, though, of course, not with me. I think he would make the rounds of all the women he was screwing, like a horny Santa Claus. Not one of them was on the “nice” list, all naughty, I’m sure. I would get the secretary-ordered dozen-rose special, along with a card with his name on it. They’d go right into the trash. Asshole.

Brian and I are going out for a quiet dinner. That’s it, and that’s all I want. No over-the-top crap, just a sweet night with the man I love. I begged him not to go crazy. He’s done so much for me that I want to give him a pass. I’m the luckiest woman in the world; I don’t need a heart box full of chocolate to tell me so. I used to buy three or four of those damned things the day after, when they were on sale, and eat them all. Not a great memory.

We have a table reserved at the little Italian bistro close by, and he’s picking me up at six. I haven’t felt well this week, and I’d like to make it an early night. I’ve been trying to steer clear of he boys, I don’t want them to catch anything. He arrives early, but sends me a text letting me know I have time. He stopped at Jason and Katie’s for a drink. Now that’s a man who goes overboard for Valentine’s.

I’ve thrown up twice while trying to get dressed. I don’t know what I could have eaten, but it’s not sitting right. Now that I think about it, I haven’t eaten anything. I don’t feel badly enough to cancel, especially on our first Valentine’s, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to eat. I clean myself up, and get as presentable as I can. I send him a text to come and pick me up. The sooner we go and come back so I can crawl into bed, the better. I hear him come in the front door just two minutes after the text. He must have been waiting.

“Hey, where’s my sweet Valentine?”

“I’ll be right down, honey.”

I hustle down the stairs, and rush into his arms. His aftershave is strong, and it makes me dry heave as soon as we hug.

“Oh God, Brian, I’m sorry!”

I run down the hallway and make it to the bathroom. I wretch and wretch, but nothing comes out. I don’t remember ever being sensitive to his aftershave before. Oh,
shit
. In a flash, the memories of my three pregnancies are rushing through my brain. I was highly sensitive to smells, sick in the afternoons, feeling blah one minute, fine the next. I feel like I’m going to faint. I
can’t
be
pregnant
, can I? Gee, Mel, count up how many times you and he have had unprotected sex.

Yes, I most certainly can be fucking pregnant. When I walk back into the kitchen, he’s drying his face with a dish towel.

“I’m sorry, Melanie, I didn’t think I put it on any stronger than usual. I washed it off. Sorry, you’ll just have to put up with
au natural
.”

He’s smiling; it drops off his face when he sees me.

“What’s wrong? Are you OK? Come and sit down, I’ll get you some water. I know you’ve been sick; we shouldn’t have tried to go out tonight. It was selfish of me. I…”

I cut him off.

“I think I’m pregnant.”

I know there’s not a drop of color in my face, and now we’re twins. He goes ashen and sweaty in mere seconds. That’s not a good sign. He plops down in the chair next to me, and drops his head in his hands. I’m crushed. I certainly didn’t want or plan to be pregnant right now, but this is hardly the reaction I expected. It takes two to tango; he can’t just be mad at me!

“Brian, I’m sorry. We’ve been careless, I just didn’t think. I don’t know for sure, but my body is telling me yes. Please don’t be upset with me!”

He pops his head up, and he’s
smiling
.

“
Upset
? You think I’m
upset
? This is the best news I’ve ever gotten! Melanie, we’re going to have a baby!!!”

He gets down on his knees in front of me, as if I’m too precious to move. He reaches out for my queasy stomach, and kisses me there. He rises up to kiss me on the lips.

“Thank you, Melanie, thank you. I never, I just assumed, I thought you were probably on the pill. I know it was irresponsible of us, but I couldn’t be a happier man than I am right now. We need to find out for sure. Screw the dinner; we’re going to the drugstore for Valentine’s Day. I’ll buy you every test they have.”

He grabs my coat and purse, and guides me out to his truck. He’s moving me as if I’ll break. If I am pregnant, it going to be a long nine months.

“Yup, that one turned blue too. The other one had three blue lines. I’m definitely knocked up,” I say after we return home.

I was dehydrated before from being sick, and now I can barely make enough pee to use another test. No need, I know. Brian looks like he’s just won the lottery. We’ve talked about having more kids, maybe someday soon, but not now. I wanted to be married for a while first. Getting pregnant with John was the only reason Chris and I got married. Oh shit. I pray no one thinks this about our quickie wedding. Shit! The wedding! I’ll be huge by May.

“Are you as happy as I am? Melanie, I can’t even express how happy this makes me. I can’t really tell from your expression, though, how you’re feeling. Please talk to me.”

“I’m shocked, stunned, embarrassed, but yes, Brian, I’m happy, too. I happy to be having our baby.”

He forgets and lifts me quickly, immediately sending a signal to my brain to release anything I’m holding in my stomach, which, thank God, isn’t much. I scream, and he put me down so I can run to the bathroom.

* * *

In the following weeks, I do everything in my power to conceal my pregnancy. I don’t want anyone finding out just yet. We haven’t decided if we want to continue to hide it and move the wedding up or just be the pregnant bride at the altar on Mother’s Day. How ironic. Unfortunately, with my small stature, I’m showing faster than I ever did with my boys. My face is getting round, and my hips are a bit more full. I just put it off as being in love and happy.

I tell Chris about the wedding. He knew from the boys who I was seeing, and he acts less than impressed. He’s made a few disparaging remarks about Brian, the boys have told me. Asshole. The boys know better so they just let him talk. I’ve managed to be careful so that their paths haven’t crossed. Chris had the boys all weekend, and is dropping them off tonight. Easter is next weekend, and it may be the last visit for a while since the wedding is around the corner.

Brian stayed with me all weekend, and it was bliss. He has been so sweet. He’s been afraid to touch me sexually; worried that something might happen to the baby. I’ve been feeling better, and more than a little horny. That’s one of the secrets of pregnancy no one shares. The surge of hormones makes you want to have sex a
lot
, the way Chris feels all the time, I imagine.

Friday night Brian sleeps in the guest room; he didn’t want to be tempted. Saturday night I lure him into my bedroom by walking in front of him with nothing on but thigh-high stockings and gorgeous red pumps while he watches TV. Like a fly to flypaper, he follows me blindly. I let him take his time and run his hands slowly all over my body. I want to make sure he is comfortable touching me. One hurdle passed. Because he’s more
gifted
than other men, he is concerned that it would do damage.

“Here’s the wonderful thing about that. My body is very pliable when pregnant, and my ligaments and muscles are flexible. I can fit more than usual, so you should take advantage.”

His face has a combined look of concern and arousal; it’s hot.

“Are you positive?”

“I’ll show you.”

I lead him over to the bed and pushed him down on his back. I climb on top of him, as he unzips his pants and pushes them down to his ankles. He looks worried, but his cock doesn’t seem to care. It is fully erect, raring to go. I ease down slowly onto it, for his sake, until he is fully engulfed by my body.