He pulls off his black t-shirt and climbs up the bed between my parted knees. But he doesn’t stop where I think he will. He stops at my stomach. With his blue eyes on mine, he lifts my shirt and presses a soft kiss to my stomach, right beside my belly button. “You have no idea how much I love this little baby already.”
Seeing him this way makes my heart swell with love. He’s right. He’s not the man he was when we met. Somewhere along the way, he’s changed—grown. He’s learned to live and love. He’s learned to take time off and appreciate the smaller things that make up the bigger picture. And he makes me realize that I don’t need grad school or an editing job at a top publishing house to be happy. All I need is love—his love.
He works his way up my body, pulling away clothes and pressing kisses to every inch of skin he exposes. When there’s nothing left between us, he takes himself in hand and positions himself at my entrance, pushing into me. The relief I feel when we connect is something I didn’t realize I needed, but something I now know I can never live without. A flood of love, passion, fear, and excitement builds inside of me, escaping as a single tear that falls from my eye. He wipes it away with his thumb, then kisses the wet skin that’s left behind. With that single action, I know he’ll always be here to experience all my tears. He’ll be by my side, crying right along with me for the happy tears. He’ll dry the tears I lose out of sadness. And he’ll be the reason I cry from laughing so hard.
My orgasm washes over me without even building, like my body was already filled with pressure, and it just took him to release it. When the first gasp leaves my lips, he thrusts harder and faster, until I’m nothing but a puddle of mush beneath him.
My eyes flutter closed with relief, but he pulls away. “You didn’t think I was done with you yet, did you?” He lies on his back and rolls me on top of him.
I slide down his hard length with my fingers splayed across his chest for support. I lift myself up, and let myself fall. His hands guide me by my hips at the perfect pace. His brows pull together and his lips part as deep gasps and moans leave his lips. His Adam’s apple bobs and his jaw flexes, like he’s so close to shattering but he’s holding himself back because he’s not ready for this to end. I’m so lost in watching the way he reacts to me that I don’t even notice when my next climax begins to rise. It rises higher than it ever has before, taking me to the highest mountain. As I move him in and out of me, I feel as if I’m standing on the edge, looking down at the rest of the world and wondering how they can live without this man in their lives, because I know I’ll never be able to again.
When my muscles clamp down around him, he loses all control and flips me over before pounding into me so hard the legs of my bed squeak across the hardwood floor. With a roll of his hips, we both let go together, falling over the edge of that highest mountain and shattering into a million pieces. We’re so entwined now, we’ll never be able to be separated. There’s no longer a him and a me.
Now, it’s just us.
Chapter Twenty
Griffin
Happiness swells inside me and I wrap my arm around El as we leave the courthouse. The judge pored over all the new information, and with Candice’s testimony, he threw out the case in addition to awarding us with the money we requested to cover our court costs and legal fees.
“We should celebrate,” Vincent says, patting me on the back.
“I would, but I already have a date.”
He offers up a wide smile. “Oh yeah?”
I nod and pull El closer. “I’m finally getting my girlfriend to move in with me.”
His eyes widen with surprise. “Does Alison know?”
She shakes her head. “No, and don’t you go telling her. I want to surprise her when she finishes with this job that has kept her so busy this last month.”
He holds up his hands, palms facing us. “Mum’s the word.” He pulls us both in for a quick hug, then starts walking backwards, away from us.
“As soon as Alison finishes up, all of us are having dinner together. Then you can tell her the good news.”
When he turns away, I face El, pulling her against my chest. “Are you ready for this?”
She nods, big smile in place. “There’s nothing else I’d rather do today. Let’s go pack.”
We spend the remainder of the day packing her belongings and stacking box after box in the corner for the movers. When we walk back into the house that is now ours, she sucks in a loud breath of air when she sees that the entire house is lit in candlelight only, with rose petals leading to the dining room.
She spins around to face me. “What did you do?”
I laugh and help her take off her jacket. “Go in and find out.”
She walks through the foyer and into the dining room with me following along behind her. On the dining room table, there’s a romantic candlelit dinner, flowers, and sparkling cider since she can’t drink champagne. In the center of the table are scores of tea light candles. They spell out Will you marry me?
When she spins around to face me, she finds me on one knee, holding out the ring. Her hands fly up to cover her mouth as tears flood her eyes.
“Griffin!” she cries.
“Janelle Ryder, I’ve belonged to you since the moment I met you. I can’t imagine where I’d be right now had you not walked into my life when you did. You saved me, in more ways than one. You saved my life, my soul. You and our child are all I need in life to be happy. Will you please do me the honor of giving me your hand in marriage?”
She giggles around her soft cries. Her hands still haven’t dropped from her face, but she nods her head, unable to find her voice.
I hold out my hand for hers. After a long moment, she lets it fall, and I pull her closer so I can slide the ring onto her finger, pressing a kiss to her hand once it’s finally in place.
Before I can stand to kiss her, she drops to her knees and presses her lips against mine. A laugh escapes as I kiss her deeply, but I pull her closer and get lost in our kiss, in us. Slowly, I lay her back on the floor and climb up her body, taking my place on top of her.
“I never want to live without you again,” I whisper, pulling away long enough to remove the clothing in my way.
“Then you won’t ever have to,” she tells me, another tear sliding out of the corner of her eye.
As the months pass, El plans our wedding and I plan the perfect wedding present. Since she doesn’t want to get married while she’s pregnant, the present comes before the wedding. I take her hand and help her into the passenger side of the car.
“Where are we going?” she asks, pulling on her seatbelt.
I laugh. “It’s a surprise.”
“Well, I hope it’s not a long ride, otherwise we’ll be stopping every fifteen minutes so I can pee. This baby is killing my bladder,” she complains.
“I’ll stop every five minutes if I have to. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the peace and quiet. God knows that once this baby comes, we won’t get any of that ever again.”
She giggles and rolls her eyes, but leans her seat back and gets comfy.
It took me months and months of looking, but I finally found it: El’s dream home.
I drive us out of the city and into the suburbs. At the end of Peach Street sits a two-story white house with a white picket fence and a two-car garage. I come to a stop in the concrete driveway and she stirs awake.
“Where are we? Are we here?” she asks, moving her seat into the upright position.
“We’re here.”
She looks out the windshield and immediately knows: this is our house.
“No way!” she squeals, opening her door and running from the car.
I jump out and chase after her. She throws open the gate and comes to a stop in the big green front yard, staring up at the house and its blue shutters.
“How? How’s this possible? I just dreamed this place up.” She turns to look at me with wide eyes, excitement flooding them and making them glow.
I
shrug as I slide my hands into my pockets. “It didn’t take much to get it how you wanted it. Some white paint, some blue shutters.” I pull out the keys. “Want to see the rest?”
“It’s ours? You already bought it?”
I nod. “It’s ours. We can stay here tonight if you want.”
She squeals with delight as she jumps into my arms. I pull her against me, hugging her close. I inhale her scent deeply, thanking the universe once again that it brought her into my life. Not a day goes by that I don’t do this.
“Come on. Let’s check out the rest.” I release all but her hand, and we walk up the sidewalk to the front door. The key slides into the lock easily, and the door opens.
“Wait!” I bend down and sweep her off her feet, cradling her to my chest as I take the final step into the house. “I have to carry you over the threshold.”
She laughs. “We’re not married yet.”
“No, but we will be, and this is our new house.” I set her down on the dark hardwood floor. As she stares off, taking in every little detail—the white crown molding, the shiny floors, and the big glass double doors that lead to the backyard—I want her.
She turns to her right and walks into the kitchen. She walks around the white tiled island and smiles. “I can’t believe you did this!”
I lean against the archway and shrug. “The house needed a few things, but I made sure it had it all.”
Next, she rushes into the dining room that circles back around into the living room. She stops in front of the double doors and opens them, walking out into the backyard. I step out onto the brick patio and see her looking for everything she listed in that little fantasy of hers. There’s a built-in grill and fireplace with patio furniture. There’s an in-ground pool with plenty of yard space left. There’s even a massive tree at the corner of the house.
“The treehouse isn’t in there yet. I thought that would be something I’d build with our son.”
She spins around with a smile in place. “This is amazing.” She rushes into my arms, and I pull her close. “I love you so much,” I whisper. I pull away. “But there is one more surprise.”
Her brows lift.
“Upstairs, in our master suite.”
Her grin returns as she pulls away and runs back into the house. I chase after her, following her through the living room, up the stairs, down the hall, and, finally, to our bedroom. She throws open the door and comes to a stop, looking at everything: the king-size bed, vanity, dressers, and lounge chairs in front of our own personal fireplace.
She pulls open one door to find a walk-in closet. It has drawers, shelves, hooks, and racks for clothing—everything a closet needs.
“In the bathroom,” I whisper as a hint.
She giggles as she spins around and runs from the closet to the bathroom.
I step into the room and see her standing in the middle of the floor. She spins around slowly. “You replicated your shower?”
I nod. “Yep. I knew it was your favorite part of the entire house. I thought, this way, we’d have a little piece of it with us.
Her smile is a permanent feature of her face now. She slowly closes the distance between us and presses her lips to mine. As I kiss her with every bit of love and passion she stirs inside of me, her fingers work on unbuttoning my shirt.
I pull away and study her expression.
She shrugs. “We have to break it in.”
I pull her against me and press my mouth to hers, never wanting this kiss to end, never wanting to let her go, and knowing that I never have to again.
Before I know it, I’m sliding into her as I press her back against the shower wall. Hot water sprays us from all directions. Her long blonde hair clings to her naked body: her luscious breasts, her back, and her growing belly between us.
Her breathing picks up and soft moans begin to leave her lips. Her muscles clamp down around my aching cock, and I know she’s about to fall over the edge of her climax. I break our kiss and watch as her facial expressions change from love and passion to relief and happiness. Watching her makes me feel more alive than I ever have before. Finally, I have a purpose. I have love. I have a life that revolves around more than just work and money. I have a family that will always be here for me. When I’m feeling weighed down by stress and frustration, she’ll be here to lift me back up. She’ll be here to make me smile. This house and everything in it will serve as a reminder that I have everything in the world I could possibly ever need or want. As long as I have her and our growing family, I’ll want for nothing.
“I love you, El,” I whisper as my own releases builds and washes over me.
Her hand moves up to cup my cheek, our eyes locked together.
“I love you too, Griffin,” she says around a small smile.
My hips become erratic, no longer controlled by me, but by my love for her. With one final thrust, I empty myself into her with a jerk and a loud moan of her name.
I freeze as I lean my head against the crook of her neck, trying to catch my breath and lower my heart to a more normal pace. Her fingers thread into my hair, gently combing it into place. Finally, I have control over my body enough that I can remove myself from her and place her on her feet.
“So, what do you say? Are you ready to move in here? I left the nursery alone so you have total control over how it’s decorated.” I grin. “I thought maybe your sister could help on that end.”
She smiles wide. “I love you so much.” She wraps her arms around my neck and stares into my eyes.
“I love you more than I can even express, El.” I close the distance between our mouths, pressing one long kiss to her sweet lips.
Epilogue
Five years later…
Janelle
“Come down from that treehouse and get this grill started, Griffin! You know Vince and Alison will be here for dinner any minute!” I yell up at the new treehouse that’s now in place.
He sticks his head out the window, a big smile on his face. “I’ll be down in just a second,” he tells me, getting pulled back inside by our oldest, Quinton.
I laugh and shake my head as I let myself back inside. Isabelle, our three-year-old daughter, is bouncing around in the living room, singing along with her favorite cartoon, and Jules, our one-year-old daughter, is playing quietly in her playpen.
“No jumping on the couch, baby,” I tell Izzy as I pass through to the kitchen. I pause when I step into the messiest room in the house. I shake my head and laugh as I look over the sink full of dishes, the spilled chocolate milk on the island, and Buster, our dog, who’s licking baby food off the floor and gnawing on a spoon.
This is the American dream, I remind myself as I walk across the room to pick up the spoon that Jules threw. “Give me that, you silly dog,” I mumble, snatching the spoon away from him.
The doorbell rings, and before I can even get to it, in walk Vince and Alison.
“Aunt Allie!” Izzy screams as she runs across the floor into her arms.
“Hey, man,” Griffin says, stopping in the entryway and giving Vince a hug. “Glad you could make it.”
“Of course. If you think I’d miss out on this circus, you’re crazy,” Vince laughs. “Now, where’s the little man?” He rubs his hands together as he pushes himself into the living room. “There he is!” I hear him yell.
“No wrestling in the house!” I shout at them just as I hear a loud thunk.
Alison walks up to me, still holding Izzy in her arms. “You know, this time next year, you’ll be a little cousin,” she tells Izzy.
My mouth drops open. “Are you serious? Finally?”
She laughs and nods her head.
“What’s a cousin?” Izzy asks.
“A cousin is what you get when your auntie and uncle have a little too much wine,” Alison tells her with a laugh.
“Although you don’t always get a cousin when grown-ups have a little too much wine. Sometimes, you get a little sister,” I add on, nudging Griffin in the ribs
with my elbow as he walks past.
“Ouch.” He stops and rubs the spot. “I was just doing what I was told. You said three kids and a dog. And what do we have?” His eyebrows skyrocket, waiting for my answer.
“I said three kids,” I agree, “but I didn’t say I wanted them so close together.”
“You love it and you know it,” he says, leaning in and pressing a kiss to my forehead.
“I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” I hold out my hands and Izzy leaps into my arms. “Why don’t you go play with Uncle Vince and Quinton so Mommy and Aunt Alison can start cooking?”
Izzy nods, and I set her on her feet. The moment her feet hit the floor, she runs off into the living room.
Alison’s eyes grow in size. “Man, I wish I had all that energy.”
I snort. “Ha, me too. That one is zero-to-sixty the moment she wakes up. Quinton’s the lazy one who will stay up all night and sleep all day if you let him.”
“What about Jules?” she asks, picking up a strawberry and popping it into her mouth.
I shrug. “She’s still in baby sleep mode. Once she’s out, she’s out. I mean, a stampede of rhinos could come through here and she wouldn’t wake. However, let daddy touch mommy and that’s a whole different story.”
Alison laughs. “Funny how that works.”
I stop what I’m doing. “Yeah, I read an article that says babies have a sixth sense for that type of thing. Survival of the fittest or something like that.”
“Shut up,” she laughs out.
“I’m serious!” I gather all the ingredients to make a batch of deviled eggs. “Start peeling those eggs, would ya?”
She picks up the bowl containing the already-boiled eggs. “I’m still shocked that you learned how to do all of this. To be honest, I expected you to stay in that fancy mansion Griffin had, being waited on by maids and chefs.”
“Some days I curse myself for not keeping the staff he had. But then, I look at everything I have and everything we’ve accomplished, and I don’t worry anymore. I love my life.”
Baby Mistake: An Accidental Pregnancy Romance Page 13