Authors: Casey Clipper
"Derrick," Courtney whispered appreciatively.
"Let me help you, sweetheart," he insisted, pulling the jewels from the box and placing one on each dainty wrist. Satisfied with his choice, he nodded approvingly. Love and devotion shined brightly in his dark eyes when he looked to her.
Her heart fluttered.
"Ready?" he asked.
Unable to form a coherent response, she merely nodded. It was at that moment she realized she'd fallen whole-heartedly in love with her husband. She hadn't seen it before.
She loved his dark side. That overprotective, overbearing alpha male that looked murderous when someone looked at her oddly. He paid attention to details. Not that Darren hadn't, but Derrick's attention was different. He wasn't blinded by his love for her. He saw her for who she truly was and loved her despite it. He reached deep into her soul and demanded it for himself, taking no prisoners, and refused to be denied. Darren had touched her soul but had never demanded it for himself. Unlike when she left Darren after the loss of her first pregnancy, Courtney would never be allowed to walk away from Derrick. He'd hunt her down, throw her over his shoulder, and smack her ass. Caveman style.
Yep, she loved him.
Russ smoothly came down hallway with ten-month-old Caitlin in his grasp. She held out her chubby arms to give her dad-da and mommy a kiss goodbye. It always tickled Courtney to watch Derrick coo at their beautiful daughter. It was so uncharacteristic of him.
After Courtney and Derrick finished their goodnights, Russ took Caitlin upstairs to her nursery, where he'd change her into pajamas, read her a bedtime story, and put her to bed. No two better nannies existed than Russ and Jarrett. Pure gold.
Derrick scooped up Courtney's shawl and placed it over her shoulders. They followed Jack and Carl to the waiting caravan of cars in the driveway to attend their first dinner party since Darren's murder.
***
Derrick
When they'd arrived at the party and were shown to their table, wine was poured, conversations flowed, and guests celebrated. It was an evening of pure relaxation for Courtney and Derrick.
After their full-course dinner had been served and dessert passed around, the band started to play. At the second bottle of wine, Courtney began to really loosen up and found herself in deep conversation with a group of wives in the bar area. Apparently a new designer boutique was set to open in two weeks downtown and it was all they seemed to want to discuss.
Bored to death, Courtney scanned the room, seeking her husband, who'd been pulled away to talk "business." She eyed him standing off to the side of the dance floor surrounded by five men, who hung onto his every word. She also noticed three young women hovering. They did everything they could to catch his eye but he paid them no attention.
Courtney found herself staring at her gorgeous husband, caught up in his impeccably good looks, his scorching gaze, his dignified stature, and his sometimes savage demeanor. It all called to her in an unexplainable level.
When Derrick glanced up, he scanned the ballroom, again, ignoring the girls, and caught her focused directly on him. His eyes sparkled with obvious love for her. What another enormous difference between Derrick and Darren. Derrick only had eyes for her. In fact, he made it quite clear any other woman might be a lower life form to him. Darren, on the other hand, was much kinder to women. A warm smile, a flirtatious wink, led women to believe they stood a chance to become his mistress. Derrick didn't give off the warm and fuzzies. He'd never allow her to believe for one moment that he was interested in another woman.
Derrick jerked his head in the direction of the dance floor. She smiled and nodded. Excusing herself from the group, she made her way to her husband, who met her on the side of the floor.
"Mrs. Murphy, will you give me the honor of a dance?" he purred.
"Mr. Murphy, I would love to." She flirtatiously batted her eyelashes. Her husband chuckled.
Lacing their fingers together, he led her to the center of the dance floor, wrapped his right arm around her waist, and took her right hand into his left. He pulled her flush against his body. She rested her head on his chest and allowed him to lead her into a soft sway around the dance floor.
Derrick leaned down and kissed the top of her head. She looked up into those dark eyes that were filled with love, desire, and worship. Courtney's hand snaked up Derrick's back, her body melted into his. Her eyes focused on his lips then back to his blazing eyes. His breath hitched.
Derrick
Slowly he leaned down, hoping he took the right cue, and placed a soft kiss on her lips. Courtney closed her eyes when his lips molded her hers. Their connection deepened, charged with electricity and seduction. When she parted her mouth, he took advantage and swept his tongue inside. Her moan vibrated down his throat and he dove deeper, lost in her taste. His firm grip held her in place while he devoured her and made loved to her with his silky tongue. They quit swaying, unaware of the audience they managed to gain. He moaned when Courtney’s kiss grew more forceful, like a hungry animal.
He reluctantly pulled away to catch his breath. "Courtney," he whispered. "I love you."
Courtney's eyes opened and filled with tears. "I've fallen in love with you, Derrick."
She changed his life that very second with her declaration. Courtney was
in love
with him. She didn't just love him. She was in love.
"Oh, my gorgeous wife," he gushed. "Let me take you home." It was an unusual, unguarded vulnerable moment from him. He allowed his emotions to get to him that one time. Courtney would be the single person able to create what he considered inner turmoil. He curled his arm around her and held her close. She belonged to him.
***
Courtney
Her body stiff, Courtney rolled over to find the bed empty but Derrick’s masculine scent lingered. She glanced at the clock to find she had slept in late. She never slept until nine. Maybe the wine combined with the hot sex with her husband last night exhausted her.
She grinned.
She felt terrific. Emotionally and physically. Consummating her marriage last night had been perfect, and there was not morning after guilt.
Derrick was a different lover than his brother. All consuming, worshiping her, caressing every inch of her bare skin committing her body to memory. The way he controlled her body was nothing she had ever experienced. He dominated her in bed but unselfishly brought her body to soar in ecstasy. Numerous times. They were equals in their bed. He took care of her first, made sure she was satisfied, before he allowed himself to go over his edge. She could still feel his velvet lips on her bare skin, nipping and suckling, creating sensory overload. Every inch of her body he claimed last night and vowed to continue everyday for the rest of their lives.
As Courtney remained in bed reminiscing every touch, kiss, embrace, moan, and profession of love between them, she heard her baby girl squeal downstairs. She chuckled. Derrick must have been entertaining their daughter. Abruptly it occurred to her they hadn’t used protection last night. She hadn’t gone back on the pill after giving birth. It was possible her and her husband may have bonded their marriage even deeper than they had considered.
After she climbed out of bed and dressed, Courtney went to the kitchen and found Derrick dressed in one of his signature dark, designer suits chuckling at their daughter, who was covered in food. When she entered the kitchen, he stood to greet her.
Derrick
"Good morning, gorgeous," he said, trying to gauge her mood and reaction.
"Good morning, handsome," Courtney said gleefully. She rose on her tiptoes to peck his lips.
Relief washed over him. He had her. Regrets didn’t haunt her. He grabbed her waist, yanked her against him, and plunged into her mouth, devouring her. He’d never get enough of her. She pushed against his chest, fighting him off.
"I have horrible morning breath," she squeaked.
He threw his head back and laughed. "I don't care, darling."
Caitlin mimicked her father laughing.
"I see she liked her cereal." Courtney waved to her daughter.
"Yes, I mixed some applesauce in with the rice and she loved it," Derrick said, gazing adoringly at his baby girl.
Derrick eyed his wife. She was staring him with that look that often meant something was running through that beautiful mind of hers.
"What is it, Court?"
"I'm not on the pill," she blurted.
A moment passed by before he processed what she meant. Realization dawned on him and he didn't even bother to try to hide his jubilation.
"You mean..." he said, his eyes glittering dangerously.
Biting her plump bottom lip, she nodded.
"Are you okay with it?" he asked, pulling her closer and caressing her soft cheek.
She nodded. "I'm not going to go back on the pill right now, if that's okay with you."
Trying to contain himself was a test in his self-control. "Courtney, you have no idea how badly I want you to have my child." He kissed her hard. “You’ve made me so happy in the past twenty-four hours, you have no clue."
She snuggled into his body. "Derrick, you have no idea what you’ve done for my heart, my soul, my mind, and now my body. I owe you everything." She looked up at him, her eyes swimming, blurring her vision. "I love you Derrick Murphy, with everything inside of me. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, by your side and creating a life together. I know you'll keep my babies and me safe. I know you'll love me with every ounce of your being. I love you. Always."
Derrick
Courtney screamed in pain while she held a death grip on Derrick’s hand. Sean leisurely waltzed into the hospital room.
“Thanks for coming. I’m sooo glad you could make it,” she spat.
Sean chuckled and shook his head. Derrick brushed her wet, matted hair off her forehead. Ryan laughed aloud while he prepped the baby's area.
“I was in middle of rounds, smart ass. I can’t help it that your child has decided to make an appearance in the middle of my workday,” Sean baited her.
“You know what, Sean,” Courtney strained with her receding contraction. “I’m going to have you hanging by your balls when this is over.”
He laughed. “Okay, okay, I’ll stop. Are you ready, honey?” His tone taking on that of a loving brother.
“God, yes. Get this baby out of me,” she yelled.
“It'll be over soon.” Derrick planted a kiss on her forehead.
Ryan placed her heels into the stirrups while a nurse placed a metal tray with instruments next to Sean. Ryan took his place on Courtney’s right side of the hospital bed to help her sit upright. When Sean finished scrubbing, he positioned himself to help bring Courtney and Derrick’s child into the world.
“Okay, honey, on the next contraction I want you to push,” Sean encouraged.
“Derrick, help me hold her up so she can push,” Ryan ordered.
Derrick gladly helped his wife to stay upright. Once positioned, another contraction came on. Courtney began to scream and push.
Ryan yelled at her, “Don’t scream
, push!”
She clamped her mouth shut and concentrated on pushing.