Until Delilah

by Harlow Layne

  “When will I be discharged?”

  The nurse chuckles. “Out of bed once and you’re ready to get out of here.”

  It’s true. I don’t like staying in hospitals and I know I’ll get next to no sleep while I’m here.

  “You know where the PICU is?” she asks Max with hearts in her eyes.

  I narrow them at her, but no one seems to notice. At least I don’t think they do until I look over to my parents and they have cheesy grins on their faces.

  Max comes to stand behind me, ready to wheel me to meet our daughter. “Yeah, I know the way.”

  “Now that you’re awake, I think we’ll go pick up Beck and take him home with us.” My dad stands and helps my mom up. “If that’s okay with you?”

  “Maybe you can have him FaceTime me later.” I want to see my boy.

  “How about a phone call?” My mom suggests. “I think if he sees you beat up, he’ll be more worried than he already is.”

  While I hate that she’s right. I don’t want to put any more undue stress on him. He’s been through enough and I know it would better to see me in person like this rather than over the phone.

  “Your right but call me so I can talk to him.”

  “I will, sweetie. Don’t worry. Do you need anything, Max?” she asks.

  “I’m good. I might run home to grab a shower and some things for Delilah and then come back.”

  “Make sure to eat. You’ve barely eaten anything,” she tells him like she’s his mom. It’s strange having my parents like the man I’m with.

  “I will,” he tells her and gives her a small smile.

  After both my parents kiss me goodbye, Max leads the way down a couple of long corridors until we’re outside the pediatric intensive care unit. He pushes a button and once he tells them who we are, we’re given the all clear to come in. We put on robes and masks and then scrub our hands.

  It feels like forever before a nurse guides us through the area to where our baby’s incubator stands.

  “How long does she have to stay in there?” I ask as we near.

  “She’s actually being transferred to the nursery later today or she can be brought back to your room.” The nurse turns back to look at us. “That’s what’s preferred.”

  “We can bring her back. I don’t want to let her out of my sight after not being here for her the last two days.” Max places his hand on my shoulder and squeezes it.

  “Perfect. I’ll let you meet your daughter and when you’re ready to head back, we’ll do the appropriate paperwork.”

  “Thank you.” Placing my hand over Max’s, I smile back at him. “Are you ready to finally meet her?”

  “As ready as I’ll ever be.” He looks ahead and with each passing second his smile grows. “I guess it’s a good thing we got the room ready extra early, huh?”

  My mom spurred on the nursery by buying and shipping an entire furniture set after learning her newest grandchild was going to be a girl. Once it arrived, we set up the room with everything a baby could ever want.

  “Now, I’m glad the room’s ready for her. I don’t think I’m fit enough right now to do much of anything.”

  “I wouldn’t let you even if you tried. Now turn around and look who’s in front of you.”

  I turn, not realizing we’d stopped. The nurse already has her out and is placing her in my arms. Right in that moment, all is right with the world.

  The second I see her, I know her name.

  Luna.

  She shines as bright as the full moon on a clear night.

  She’s absolutely perfect.

  Her hair is so light it’s almost translucent. I can tell she’s going to be blonde just like me and her brother. My eyes flick up to Max. Even just like her dad.

  “She’s perfect,” Max says in awe.

  “Her name’s Luna.”

  “I think you’re right. She was born with the full moon high in the sky. Luna Black. It’s fitting.” Squatting down beside me, he runs one long finger over her peach fuzz hair and down her cheek.

  Leaning down, I kiss her forehead and breath in her sweet baby scent. “I love you, Luna.”

  Epilogue

  Max

  3 Months Later

  We all sit transfixed as a special new bulletin breaks across the bottom of the screen of the World Series.

  All three Stanton’s are now being held after further investigation into evidence that was found when Bradley Stanton attacked his ex-girlfriend in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, three months ago. She’d been in hiding after learning he ran a drug and human trafficking ring, forcing the women to sell drugs for his family. Since then, evidence has come to light that more than ten women were killed by one of the three Stantons’ hands.

  I look to find Delilah nowhere in the room and realize she’s been gone for quite some time now. It brings back a sense of deja vu that I don’t like. I can’t stand to have her out of sight for too long after what happened to her the night of the football game. The night she was beaten. The night our daughter was born.

  “I’ll be back,” I announce as I leave the room.

  Delilah’s parents and sister look at me with worry in their eyes, but the rest of the room can’t take their eyes off the TV and the breaking news.

  Heading upstairs, I find the bathroom door in the master suite closed.

  “Beauty?” I call as I knock on the door and open it. I’m shocked to find Delilah sitting on the floor with tears trailing down her cheeks. I move to sit beside her and then pull her into my lap. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

  Burying her face in my chest, I can feel her tears through my shirt as she continues to cry.

  “I got worried when you were gone for so long.”

  “I’m sorry,” she squeaks out.

  “Do you want me to get your mom up here?” She shakes her head. “Ava?” I question, but she shakes her head no again. “Your dad?”

  Delilah gets on her knees, straddling my legs, and hugs my neck. “I only want you.”

  “Well, you’ve got me. On the bathroom floor and all. It’s a good thing I splurged for the heated floors.” I chuckle and kiss the side of her head. “Tell me what’s wrong, beauty. I can’t help if I don’t know what’s got you crying.”

  “You know how I’ve been feeling extra tired and a little sick this week?” she asks through her sniffles.

  “Yes, but that’s normal. We’ve got a newborn who wants to eat every two hours. With Beck going back to school and you insisting on getting up in the mornings with him, you’ve been running yourself ragged. Plus, there’s that bug going around.”

  “It’s not just that.” She shifts on my lap and holds out a white stick. “I’m pregnant.”

  Words fail me. It’s not that I don’t believe her, but we didn’t think it was possible for Delilah to get pregnant with her breastfeeding. We’ve talked about having another child someday, but not this soon. She wanted to wait at least a year or two.

  Is she regretting she’s pregnant?

  Settling on my lap, her glassy blue eyes take me in. “I’m the poster child for unplanned pregnancies. Is it too much to ask for me to be married just once?” she cries.

  “Is that what this is about? You want to be married before the baby comes.” If that’s the case, I’ll drag her ass to the courthouse tomorrow and marry her.

  “It would be nice,” she huffs. “How am I going to have two babies? I’m never going to sleep again.”

  “Beauty, that’s what I’m here for. I’ll help you in any way I can. I’ll get up in the middle of the night and do feedings and change diapers. Whatever you want from me, I’ll do it.”

  Resting her forehead to mine, she nods. “You’d do all that and more, I know it.”

  “I would,” I agree.

  “At least this time, I’m in love with the father of my baby.”

  “That’s good to hear.” I kiss her nose and then each corner of her mouth. “Since we’re sharing good news here, I came to find you t
o tell you that Stanton the first and second are now both in jail right along with the third. You don’t have to worry about them any longer. You’re free.”

  Her eyes widen, and a beautiful smile breaks out on her tear-streaked face. “Really?”

  “Really.” My hands move underneath her skirt to find her without panties and cup her ass. “I think we should celebrate.”

  “What about everyone downstairs? Won’t they wonder where we are?” she asks even though she’s pulling her shirt over her head. Leaving her lush and full breasts on display for me. Dipping my head, I take one pink nipple into my mouth over the lace of her bra. My tongue swirls around the fabric, making her moan.

  “Do you really care about them right now?”

  Not wasting any time, I raise my hips and pull my jeans down to my knees and let my cock spring free. Delilah’s warm hands wrap around my length and starts to stroke.

  “Ride me,” I groan on the down stroke. “Later, once we have more time, I’ll eat that sweet pussy of yours.”

  Getting up on her knees, she positions herself until she’s got my cock at her opening and then she slowly starts to slide her way down. Her pussy is like heaven, and it’s all mine.

  “Oh god, you feel so good,” she moans, full of me, and starts to rock her hips.

  Cupping her tits, I kiss along her jaw and the column of her neck. Moving back up, I nip at her earlobe. I feel her walls start to flutter around me. I love how responsive she is and how easily she is to make come.

  “I need more. Please, Max, I need to come now.”

  Never one to deny her, I run my hand down between us and gather up her juices to rub slow circles on her clit with my thumb. Wanting to come with her, I piston my hips up increasing our speed. We turn frantic on the bathroom floor not caring how loud we are or about the people who are downstairs. With Delilah in my arms, she shudders and moans her release into my neck. It’s only moments later I surge up and let loose inside of her. Coating her inside with my seed.

  Pride swells up in me knowing Delilah loves me, I impregnated her against the odds, and I’ll get to see her round with child again.

  Lifting her head, Delilah looks up at me with sleepy, sated eyes. “I think you just claimed me.”

  “Fuck, yes, I did. And tomorrow, if you want, I’ll take you down to the courthouse and claim you all over again.”

  “I like the sound of that, but maybe we can do something small here with our family before the weather turns bad. That’s if you’re proposing to me.”

  Tipping my head back, I laugh. Never did I dream I’d propose marriage on the bathroom floor, but here I am doing just that. “Delilah Williams, would you do me the great honor of becoming Mrs. Max Black?”

  “Yes,” she cries with tears of joy in her eyes. “Oh god, I’m going to be a mess of emotions.” She laughs. “Are you sure you want to marry me?”

  “I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life.” Standing with her in my arms, I set her on her feet and right her skirt. “Now let’s get cleaned up and go downstairs to tell everyone the good news.”

  Afterword

  Have you checked out the other amazing stories in the Happily Ever Alpha World? Click on the link to continue reading another Happily Ever Alpha Book -> Aurora Rose Reynolds’s Happily Ever Alpha World

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  Acknowledgments

  My family- your support means so much. Thank you for all of your encouragement and giving me the time to do what makes me happy.

  Aurora Rose Reynolds, Jessica Marin and Boom Factory Publishing: Thank you for giving me the opportunity to write in this wonderful world.

  Wendy and Amanda: Thank you for reading my words before they’re ready for eyes to see them. Thank you for your feedback and loving Max and Delilah.

  Kelsey and Carmel: If it wasn’t for our online writing, I’m not sure how many books I’d get done. Thank you for always being there. Thank you CJ for giving Beck’s polar bear a name when my mind went blank.

  Thank you Kristen Breanne for making my story into a book.

  To all my author friends, you know who you are. Thank you for accepting me and making me feel welcome in this amazing community.

  To Give Me Books, thank you for all your knowledge and for helping me make Until Delilah a success!

  Lovers thank you for always being there.

  Team Harlow’s Girls: Each and everyone of you are amazing. Thank you for all of your support. You ROCK!

  To each and every reader, reviewer, and blogger - I would be nowhere without you. Thank you for taking a chance on an unknown author.

  About Harlow

  Harlow Layne is a hopeless romantic who is known for her contemporary writing style of beautiful slow-burn, sweet, sexy and swoon-worthy alpha and fast pace, super steamy romance in her Love is Blind series.

  When Harlow's not writing you'll find her online shopping on Amazon, Facebook, or Instagram, reading, or hanging out with her family and two dogs.

  Indie Author. Romance Writer. Reader. Mom. Wife. Dog Lover. Addicted to all things Happily Ever After and Amazon.

  Also by Harlow Layne

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  The Model - Workplace Romance

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  The Doctor - Raine’s story - October 14

  The Rocker - Coming February 17, 2022

  Hidden Oasis Series

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  Til Death Do Us Part - Accidental Marriage, Insta-love

  Willow Bay Series - Forbidden Romance

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  Basic Chemistry - Student/Teacher - Sept. 2, 2021

  First Down - Sister’s Best Friend - Nov 18, 2021

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l

  Risk - Forbidden, Sports

  Affinity - Part of the Fairlane Series - Accidental Marriage, Enemies-to-Lovers