Blue Autumn in the Bayou (Gumbo Love) (37 page)

CHAPTER 37

A month after Autumn’s birthday
, she was scheduled to do her last show before the break for the spring season. She planned to take some time off so she could spend the next two months in New Orleans. With Reggie ready to drop a baby in days, she’d requested the time off months ago. Travis scheduled a meeting with Jacob Euclid, and while there in the city, would help Autumn prepare for her move to New Orleans.

Travis pushed the empty cup of coffee to the center of the table. He’d consumed at least eight cups since early morning
; about six cups more than he should have. He’d gotten two hours of sleep in two days. Worn out after his meeting with Jacob, the two men exchanged a few pleasantries before departing. Travis took the first cab he could catch. At this juncture he needed three things, to see his wife’s beautiful face, a long steamy shower, and a cozy bed to catch some Zs.

Autumn pushed the saucepan with the seared beef tips onto the back burner when she heard the lock click. And when
she heard Travis undo the second lock, her meal was all but forgotten. She hastily pulled the apron from her waist, revealing a snug tank, and exposing low-rise silk pants, and rushed to the foyer with a smile, ready to greet her husband. Her smile faltered when she saw his tired and weary face. She heard him sigh heavily, and his posture, normally tall and broad, slumped as he made his way through the door. 

“Hi
, baby,” he sighed heavily, his voice almost a whisper.

“Hi, sweetheart.” She tried not to let her disappointment
show, but it was too late. She smiled halfheartedly. The outfit she’d picked and all the pampering she’d done to jump-start their evening would have to wait. Still happy to see him, she leaned in and kissed his tired mouth, and reached for his bag. “Let me take that for you.” Autumn grabbed his hand and led him from the foyer.

Travis didn’t miss the
expectation not only in her face, but in her appearance as well. He was tired but he wasn’t blind. The sexy tank and crop pants, clung almost religiously to her bumps and curves. He also didn’t miss the disappointment evident as she greeted him.

Autumn sat down his bag
, lifted up on her toes, and then wrapped her arms around his waist. “I’ve missed you.” She captured his lips with heated desire.

Travis used what little energy he had left to reach around her and complete the embrace. “I miss
ed you too, darling. I’m sorry to be so worn out. It’s been a really long day.” He released her.

“Okay.” Her voice quivered a bit. “I should have dinner ready in a few minutes.”

“Thanks, babe, but I’m not hungry. I think I’ll just take a shower and lie down for a while.” He leaned down and pecked her lips once more before moving past her.

Autumn’s hands hung in the air
, where they were vacated by his warm waist. “Oh, well. Looks like I’m going to need another shower,” she whispered to herself. She headed back to the kitchen and began putting away food.

Travis stepped into the bedroom. He released the knot in his tie and began to unbutton his shirt when he stopped dead in his track
s. He turned and headed to the kitchen to find Autumn. She’d never refused him, even when it was in the middle of the night. He couldn’t erase the desire in her touch. He could feel her body tremble in his arms when he hugged her. Autumn didn’t ask for or demand much. He knew she’d spent time preparing a special evening for his homecoming. And although she was very passionate, she would never come right out and tell him she wanted him to make love to her tonight.

As
he reached the kitchen, the food aroma hit him, which meant she’d prepared a special meal. He was too preoccupied earlier to notice it. He found her at the counter with her back to him filling containers with food. With ease, Travis moved behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. One hand cupped a soft breast, while the other slid down the front of her and didn’t stop until it landed at the sweet spot between her thighs. He added slight pressure to both areas while he dropped his lips to her neck, and placed a tender kiss just behind her ear. Autumn surrendered quickly and completely when he pulled her into his hard body. “I love you,” he whispered into her ear.

“I know
,” she responded, a little short of breath.

Travis’s busy hands fueled a blaze that was already simmering.
“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, darling.” His hands continued to caress her hot spots.

Autumn responded the only way she could whenever he
directed all of his masculine attention on her as he did now. She moaned. Her body burned with unchecked desire. She turned in his embrace and rested against him. She could feel his manhood harden. “Yes, babe, I know,” she finally said.

Capturing her lips, Travis pulled her closer using
his strength to crush her against him. He moaned and lifted her to the open space of the counter top. With busy hands, he undid the top and lowered his mouth to capture the tips of beautiful mounds of flesh, one by one. He trailed kisses down the front of her flat stomach. She whimpered.

Instantly, h
e picked her up from the counter and carried her to their bedroom before he placed her on her feet. Neither spoke a single word. Autumn worked at the small buttons on his shirt until it was completely opened while Travis undid his belt buckle and zipper to his pants. It didn’t take long before they both were undressed. She looped her arms around Travis. The heat of their flesh sent a sea of goose bumps up and down her body. “I missed you,” she whispered into his mouth.

Travis placed Autumn on the cool comforter. The lip lock and the feel of her silky skin revive
d him. With hunger, he trailed wet kisses down the length of her, stopping and nibbling the buds perked at attention before moving to her navel and past the patch of soft, curly hair.

Autumn
obeyed the commands of his heated lips and tongue. She arched and rolled, willing her senses into a fog. When Travis arrived at the center of her trouble all day, she shuddered as he explored and teased her.

Autumn
’s familiar scent filled his nostrils, and made him harden and lengthen instantly. Travis paid homage to the one part of her body he knew would bring her pleasure, and she didn’t disappoint him. Autumn fell off an orgasmic cliff, after his tongue gently danced across the tip of her bud several times. He used the time it took her to descend to push inside her wanting body. He centered all of his vigor, fulfilling her most intimate needs. He gave her everything he had. Each stroke was a measure of how deeply he loved for her. When she exploded beneath him for a second time, he followed, as he grunted his sweet release.

He
pulled himself up and Autumn clung to him as he moved on to his back. Satisfied, she cuddled with him for a while before she decided she would finish putting away the food. When she moved, he caught her with his arm. “Not yet,” his voice resonated low and husky.

“I’ll let you get some rest. I’ll be back in a little while.” She kissed his chin. The tired lines she saw in his face earlier were
gone.

“Stay with me for a little while, darling.” He rubbed her back.

“Okay. I won’t go anywhere.”

Travis sighed heavily and drifted back into a deep slumber. A few hours later, he peeled his sleeping wife off of him, and slid from the bed. After a lingering shower, he felt alive again. He could hardly believe what a couple of hours of sleep, especially after some good loving, could do for a man. His stomach growled, so he walked into the kitchen, remembering Autumn had cooked. He rummaged through the containers left on the counter. One of the containers was left uncovered and he knew why. His body stirred when he recalled the scene of her half-naked body seated on top of the kitchen counter.

Travis heated a plate of food in the microwave when the phone rang. He stood and with
a few long strides, picked up the phone before it went to voice mail; and hopefully before the phone disturbed Autumn. “Hello.” He looked up the same instance and saw her enter the kitchen; so much for not disturbing her. He captured her alluring gaze. “Sure hold on a moment, please. Here she is.”

Autumn walked up to Travis and accepted both the phone
, followed by a short kiss. “Hello?”

“You may have to come sooner than you think, girlfriend if you’re going to be my coach
,” Reggie answered breathless.

“What’s happened? Are you in labor already?”

“The doctor says it is false labor. So he’s given me instructions, of course.”

“Well, Travis and I are scheduled to leave tomorrow afternoon. You can’t do anything before then, Regina Brooks.”

“I think you need tell that to this little one, and not me.”

“I really mean it, Reggie. You better wait until we get there.” Autumn caught Travis’s quizzical gaze. A hint of a lazy smile grazed his face. She frowned at his mocking.

“Well Lil’ Sha, you better get here and soon. Until then, I’m on standby. Love you.”

“We’ll see you tomorrow. Love you too.” Autumn walked up to Travis with the phone still to her ear. She released it when he took it from her hand.

“Do you want me to change our flights?” He pulled Autumn against him.

“I want to be there when she has this baby. Yes, if it’s okay
with you.”

“
Sure, darling, no problem. I’ll book us on the first flight in the morning.”

* * * *

Autumn raced up the hallway of the maternity ward, Travis followed closely behind her. Reggie was finally in labor and dilated four centimeters. She and Trae were her designated labor partners. When she reached the desk she gasped for air. “I’m looking for Regina Brooks, I’m her labor coach.”

The nurse looked down at a chart
, and glanced back at the breathless Autumn. “She’s in the second door on the right.” She pointed down the hall. Travis caught up with her and attempted to follow her. “Ah, excuse me, sir.” She shook her head at Travis. “Can I help you?” Before he could open his mouth the nurse cut him off. “You’ll have to wait in the lobby.” She pointed toward the hallway directly in front of the nurse’s station.

“I’m the uncle.” Travis
’s voice trailed behind Autumn who didn’t bother looking back. She eagerly rushed to the mom-to-be in the second room on the right.

“Well
, uncle, you’ll have to wait in the lobby with the rest of your family. Straight through there.” She pointed at the hall directly in front of her.

Travis almost defied the woman but the warning in her eyes told him not to tempt her. “Through here?” He pointed in the direction she pointed out earlier. He watched Autumn disappear through a closed door. He looked at the woman again to size her up. He outweighed her by at least a hundred pounds. He could take her and the other two behind the desk.

“Yes, sugah. We’ll let you know when the time comes.”

CHAPTER 38

Travis found his family in the waiting room. They all stood to greet him when he walked in. “So, is there anybody at work today?” He looked at his brother and then his father as he hugged Diane.

“I think you forgot I work for myself, son.” Alvin hugged him next.

Michael didn’t say anything, only wrapped his arm around his brother’s shoulder.

“This is our first grandchild, Travis. We’re staying here even if Reggie is in labor for 48 hours. We’re not moving
,” Diane finally said.

Three hours later, a tearful Autumn came through the door. She went straight to Diane and
grabbed her hands. “Congratulations, Mama, you have a beautiful grandson. Tyler Alexander Brooks, and he’s gorgeous!” Reggie’s parents were still en route, so Autumn immediately texted them a picture and wonderful news of their new grandson.

Tears filled Diane’s eyes. Everyone else cheered. Travis pulled Autumn into his arms and squeezed her. “Woo hoo
! I’m an uncle and a Parran.”

“How is he? How is Reggie?” Diane ask
ed over the roar.

“Mom and baby are both fine.
”

The entire family, a few at a time, w
ent in to see Reggie, a proud Trae, and little baby Tyler. “You get some rest sweetheart. We’ll be back tomorrow.” Diane kissed Reggie’s forehead.

* * * *

After everyone finally left, Travis and Autumn went to the floral shop to purchase balloons and a teddy bear. On the way back, she walked ahead of him. “Come on, Travis. Quit being nosy,” Autumn fussed as she passed several doors propped open. Just as she was about to round a corner, she heard a low cry coming from a room she’d just passed. She doubled back and stuck her head in the room. She saw a man, strapped by several machines attempting to get out of the bed. No one else was there with him, so she rushed in to help him.