by Snow, Jenika
But despite my words, I could see they weren’t getting through to Aiden. He was too drunk, too hopped up on his emotions and anger to think clearly. And I saw what he wanted to do before he charged forward. I knew the fist was coming at me before it knocked into my jaw. And I let it happen, because it needed to.
“I should have told you from the beginning,” I gritted out, the pain radiating down my jaw and to my neck. “And I’m sorry about that. But that’s the only thing I’m fucking sorry about. Delilah is mine, Aiden.”
I was slammed into the wall from the force of Aiden coming at me again. The guy was like a fucking brick wall in front of me. The second punch came from my left, then the third from my right. And I took it, let my best friend get this out, because he felt betrayed.
I tasted blood, felt warm liquid slide down my no doubt busted lip. But after a second, Aiden stumbled back, slamming into the wall across from me. And that’s when I heard the bedroom door open. I snapped my head to the side and saw Delilah standing there, my shirt draped over her much smaller frame. She was pulling at the end of it nervously as she stared between me and her brother.
“Stop,” she said to Aiden. “Just. Stop.” She looked at me, and I watched as she swallowed, concern in her expression as she took in my face.
“I deserved everything he gave me—”
“No,” she said, cutting me off.
“You deserve a lot fucking more of this from me, Mal,” Aiden said, but there was no heat behind his words. He exhaled and ran a hand over his face, looking almost defeated.
“True,” I said. “I should have told you. I shouldn’t have kept my feelings about her from you.” I looked at Delilah. “Or you. I should have told you right away.” I held my hand out, and she came to me right then. I pulled her in and wrapped my arms around her, her body so much smaller than mine, petite and feminine and pulling every possessive and protective instinct in me to the forefront. “All I want is her.” My words were low, murmured against her hair.
“I love him, Aiden,” she finally said, turning in my arms so she could look at her brother.
Aiden stared at us for long moments, but I could see that anger he initially had wavering before finally giving way to acceptance. “What a fucking night,” he mumbled.
I didn’t know how to respond, so instead of saying something that could have things moving in the wrong direction, I just stroked Delilah’s back and held her close.
“I don’t need or want your permission to be with Mal,” she said, breaking up the silence. “But you’re my brother and I love you, and knowing you’re okay with this means a lot to me, Aiden.”
“You love him, D? Like really love him?”
She nodded, and I tightened my hold on her, kissing the top of her head.
Aiden looked over at me. “And you really love her?” The words were spoken slowly and quietly, and all I could do in that moment was swallow and nod.
Aiden finally sighed heavily and said, “It is what it is, and I’m not about to make my sister unhappy by not accepting this.” Aiden pegged me with a hard stare. “But hear me, Mal, best friend or not, you fucking hurt her, I’ll beat your ass so bad you won’t come out of it walking right.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. I had no doubt Aiden would hold up that end of the deal, but I wouldn’t have or want it any other way. “I’d rather hurt myself than ever do anything that would jeopardize what I have with Delilah.”
Aiden grunted and gave a short nod, clearly accepting that. “Good. Hoped you’d say that.” Aiden scrubbed a hand over his face again and exhaled. “I’m going to crash and sleep this off.” Without another word or backward glance, Aiden shuffled into his room and shut the door behind him.
I stood there with my girl in my arms, refusing to let her go. “I would have fought him for you, for the right to keep you as mine,” I said slowly. It would have torn me up to do that with Aiden, but I was in love with Delilah and refused to back down.
She tightened her hold on me, and whispered, “I know, but I’m glad it didn't come down to it. I don’t want your relationship with Aiden to be strained because of ours.”
I kissed the top of her head again, and we made our way back into her room, got undressed once more, not caring that I probably should wipe the blood off my face, and slipped under the covers. I just held her, inhaling the sweet scent of her hair, reveling in the fact that I could actually do this with her… just hold her, call her mine.
Aiden would need time to fully accept this, I knew, but this was the first step that needed to be taken. Of course, I hoped it would’ve been done differently and at a different time, but I was glad he knew. I was glad Delilah finally knew how much I cared for her.
And with that, I closed my eyes and held my girl, knowing from this moment on I’d never let her go.
Epilogue One
Delilah
One year later
I found a picnic table under one of the thick oaks on campus. After setting my bag in the scarred, weathered wood, I sat down. Fall semester had just started, and although the weather caused a chill to lance through the air and scrape over my flesh like a grater, I enjoyed being outside.
I liked people-watching, letting my mind drift, not having to focus on any one thing in particular.
And then I saw him. Mal. Mine.
A little sigh left me, and my heart decided to do a flip in my chest. I swore everything went in slow motion as I watched him come closer. His focus was on me. Only me. Despite there being a shitload of gorgeous girls at the university, Mal only had eyes for me.
I felt a sappy little smile cover my mouth, but I didn’t care. Mal made me feel giddy and beautiful and... happy.
He didn’t even slow as he rounded the picnic table, hauled me up and off the seat, and pulled me in close. He had one hand around the back of my neck, pulling me in and pressing his lips to mine. His other hand curled possessively around my hip, keeping me close to his body.
I melted against him, positively let myself go in everything that was Malachi.
God, he smelled good. He tasted better as he stroked the seam of my lips with his tongue. I opened for him, moving mine along his, not caring if this kind of PDA was lewd.
“God, I can’t get enough of you,” he muttered against my lips, and with a sigh of frustration pulled fully back, breaking the kiss. But his focus was right on my lips, this hungry expression on his face as if he could go for round two.
And I knew I sure as hell wanted him to.
After we sat down, we started talking about our classes, what needed done before the weekend, and then it was on to the domestic stuff.
After I graduated, I applied and had gotten accepted into the same university as Aiden and Mal. But it had been the one I’d always wanted to go to. It was just luck that the boy I was head-over-heels in love with happened to go there too.
I tried the whole dorm thing, which lasted all of one semester before Mal and I decided to just move in together. We’d been with each other every second of every day anyway, so might as well consolidate and live together.
We’d found this little one-bedroom apartment off campus, which although still ridiculously priced for what it was, was cheaper than staying in the dorms or on campus.
And here we were now, the last year a whirlwind of moments and emotions I’d only ever fantasized about. Thinking about being with Mal, loving him, having his love in return, made this no doubt goofy little smile form on my lips.
He caught my expression, and I watched as his eyes became hooded before he moved closer, his legs straddling the picnic table bench. With a strength that was so very masculine, he maneuvered me so I was now on his lap, straddling him.
“I can’t get enough of you,” he murmured, heated words against the side of my neck.
I had my arms around his shoulders, my chest pressed to his. He was so hard when I was all soft.
“It’s like every single day I want you more.”
I felt how ha
rd he was beneath me, and a flush stole over my whole body at the feeling, knowing I did this to him.
“I’m crazy for you,” he growled and nipped at my neck, and I chuckled right before a little sigh spilled from my parted lips.
And so was I, so crazy that I knew there was no going back from this, no stopping the love I had for Mal from growing until it consumed me.
Hell, it already did.
“I can’t wait to get you home.” He pulled back and nipped at my lips. “I need to be inside you.” His words were this low, deep rumble of pure arousal that set me on fire. “I can’t wait for a lot of things.” He had his hands on my hips, the look on his face changing from carnal pleasure to loving affection.
He leaned in and kissed my lips softly, and I sighed in contentment, nothing in my life feeling as good as being next to Mal.
“Tell me what you can’t wait for.” I leaned into him, resting my forehead on his shoulder, and closed my eyes and just breathed. When I was with Mal, I felt like I could actually do the latter. I felt like I’d been holding my breath the entire time until he came along.
“I can’t wait until we graduate. Can’t wait until I can marry you, see you walk down the aisle. I can’t wait until we buy our first house. I’m looking forward to us starting our careers, our futures growing.” He kissed the side of my throat, and I shivered in response. He slid his hand in front so it rested on my flat belly. “And I can’t wait until we can start a family.” That last part was whispered, all his affection and love wrapped up in those words.
“I can’t wait for all of that too, Mal.” And I couldn’t. Ever since I first met him, I felt my feelings for him grow exponentially. I knew he was something special. I knew he was supposed to be in my life.
He was meant to be mine just as I was always his.
We had our ups and downs. We had that push and pull every relationship experienced.
But at the end of the day, the one thing that never changed was that we had each other.
Epilogue Two
Delilah
Four years later
It was the rolling stomach and my salivary glands working overtime that told me I was going to barf. It was that sensation when you knew you were about to throw up everything you’d eaten in the last twenty-four hours that had my body rousing, my eyes opening, and my legs curling toward my belly.
When the sensation eased, I looked over my shoulder. Mal slept soundly beside me, his big, muscular body taking up so much of the mattress I felt like a tiny thing next to him on it.
I eased out of bed and made my way to the bathroom, my stomach cramping again, my salivary glands working double time. I closed the door softly, flicking on the light and standing there for a moment, trying to catch my breath. This wasn’t some case of food poisoning. I knew that in my gut without having any confirmation one way or another.
And as I thought about that, realization of what the future could hold for me—for us—reality slammed into me, and my heart started pounding faster, harder.
I walked over to the sink and got down on my haunches, opening the cabinet door and rifling around in the back. I found the little box I’d picked up at the pharmacy just earlier today, one that had been an impulse buy, the weight of it reminding me how very real this could be in just a handful of minutes.
I stared at that pregnancy test box, my throat tight for other reasons that had nothing to do with me sleeping next to the toilet and retching. My period was late… God, maybe even two months late. And with everything going on in life, I just assumed it was stress. But also… I hadn’t actually been thinking about it or worrying about it.
After graduation, we’d gotten married in a simple, intimate wedding. It had been perfect. After that, we’d both found jobs rather quickly. Mal had found work as a mechanical engineer at a prestigious software company. And I’d gotten a position as a substitute teacher at the local elementary school, hoping it would lead to a full-time position.
And on top of all that, we were house hunting.
So I was feeling the stress of life and adulthood weighing down on me for sure. I hadn’t even realized I’d been so late until this afternoon when I passed the pregnancy tests and comprehended I hadn’t gotten my period yet.
I didn’t want to dwell or stress on it anymore, so I opened the box as quietly as I could, did the whole pee on the stick routine, then set it aside and sat on the now closed toilet lid and... waited.
It wasn’t as if we didn’t want children. We did. Really badly, if I was being honest. But we also wanted to be stable, have a home for our babies to grow up in, and have a comfortable life where we weren’t struggling.
Then maybe we should’ve been using protection.
I snorted at my thoughts. Mal was a... possessive husband. He liked going raw, being bare in me. He liked marking me. And what could I say? I loved it.
And as I eyed the stick resting on the edge of the sink, I thought about what it meant if the test said positive. At the thought of that, I grew excited, this happiness I’d never felt before moving through me so I couldn’t contain it.
A baby. A little piece of Mal and me wrapped in this tiny little person.
I placed a hand over my flat belly, imagining my stomach swelling, growing big with a new life. My excitement was short-lived as I felt that wave of sickness come back. I had the toilet seat up and my face hanging over it just in time.
And as I emptied my stomach, I felt strong fingers lift my hair away from my face. Another hand rubbed my back gently.
When I was certain I was done barfing and making a fool out of myself in front of Mal, I flushed the toilet, closed the lid, and was about to use my shirt to wipe my mouth, when a damp washcloth came up right in front of my vision. I didn’t know when he’d gotten it, but I was so thankful for this thoughtfulness.
I softly thanked him and took the rag, feeling the warmth of the water and knowing how lucky I was to have this man in my life.
He helped me off the floor, his hand still on my back as he rubbed it. I looked up at him, realizing his attention wasn’t on me but on the pregnancy stick that sat on the bathroom counter. This heavy weight settled between us, and I wondered if I should be the first to say something. He was still rubbing slow, gentle circles on my back and then curled his fingers around my waist, pulling me into the strength of his body.
“I realized today how late I was.” I licked my lips and tossed the damp washcloth into the hamper behind the door. “And when I was at the pharmacy, I picked one up. I woke up feeling sick and decided to take it.” I shrugged, although I didn’t know why I was doing that.
“Why did you wait until you got woken up tonight to take it?”
There was no accusation in his voice, no judgment. He was just curious. I shrugged again. “I guess I was a little bit scared, cautious. Nervous.” It was the honest truth, although it really made no sense.
I realized as I stood there and stared at that test that I did want this. I wanted a baby, even if life was hectic right now. I’d wanted to start a family with Mal since the moment we started our relationship. Every day, I feel even more in love with him, and I wanted us to take that next step.
“Did you look at it yet?”
I felt his gaze on me and looked at him, shaking my head slowly. “No, me and the toilet had to have a little talk before I had a chance.” The corner of his mouth lifted and he chuckled softly before turning his attention back to the counter. I found myself doing the same thing before pulling away from him and walking over to it. The angle didn’t allow me to see the little screen on the test that would tell me the results.
“I hope it says you’re pregnant,” he said suddenly, and I snapped my head to the side and looked at him.
I felt tingles race through me. I felt excitement and hope. “Yeah?”
He gave me this blinding smile, all straight, white teeth flashing. “And if it says you’re not, then I want to try, baby.”
My heart started beating fo
r a different reason now. All I felt was this happiness moving through me, the possibility that this was really going to happen, even if it wasn’t today.
“I want that too.”
His grin was just as big as mine felt.
I reached out with a shaky hand, picked up the test, and looked down at it. I blinked a few times, feeling as if time stood still as I stared at that little digital screen. There was no denying the word that stared back at me all bold and bright, a testament to what our future now held.
PREGNANT.
Mal didn’t say anything, just moved behind me, his heavy, reassuring presence giving me strength, allowing me to lean back against him, knowing he would catch me no matter what. He curled his hand gently around mine that held the little stick, tipped it up and toward him, and I swore I felt him smile against me.
He inhaled sharply, his chest filling with air before he exhaled slowly. And then he was spinning me around in his arms, the pregnancy test skittering across the bathroom counter as he embraced me. He lifted me up easily and put my ass on the granite, my legs spread so he could fit between them. He was about to kiss me when I covered my mouth and shook my head, laughing softly.
“Remember, I had an appointment with the porcelain god just a minute ago.”
He chuckled softly, and muttered, “You know I don’t care about that.”
I knew that, but I did, unfortunately, and there was no way I wanted him to kiss me with this flavor in my mouth. But he didn’t press it and instead tangled his hand in my hair, pulling my head to his chest so I was leaning against him. And then he just held me.