by Delisa Lynn
I notice she doesn’t blush at the mention of his name anymore. Maybe she doesn’t have the same feelings she had eight months ago. Hell, those feelings should have been gone years ago.
“I’m going to eat. Will you join me, please?” She places her hand in mine. “Thank you. I love you more than you will ever know.”
I bend down and kiss her. She looks up at me with tears in her eyes, then her lips crash into mine again. We kiss until we both pull back, licking our lips. I can tell she’s still crying. I can’t think of any words to comfort her, so I show her how much I love her. I pull her back in my arms and kiss her again. I sit her on the counter and place small kisses on her cheek all the way down to her neck.
“Hmm, Liam. Please, I need you,” she begs.
I slide my hands up her thighs until I reach her center, and, with one tug, the lace boy-shorts fall to the floor. She is already wet. I love that my kisses turn her on so much.
She pulls me closer to her and says, “Touch me. Show me how much you love me.”
“We can’t, can we? Isn’t it too close to your due date?” I ask.
She unzips my pants, freeing my dick from all the pain my zipper was causing. She pulls my pants down my thighs and starts stroking me. She slides back on the counter and pulls her dress over her head. Her belly is so round; it makes her perky breasts much fuller. Her nipples are hard. I take one in my mouth as she continues to stroke me.
“Are you sure it’s okay?” I ask again. I know we shouldn’t with her being so close to delivering.
“I’m sure. All I want is to feel you inside of me.”
Even before the words completely leave her lips, I’m already inside of her. I’m as gentle as I can be. For the first time in a long time, I feel a closeness that I hadn’t felt for a very long time.
With every thrust, she moans louder. “Harder, please. You won’t hurt us.”
I give my beautiful wife exactly what she wants. I lay her back on the counter and scoot her ass to the end of it. Her legs are on my shoulders and the sight of her lying on the counter, completely nude, with me inside of her makes me even harder. I can feel her coming undone and I want to come with her. I give her a couple hard thrusts, making her body shake and her moans turn into screams. I know I can’t hold back any longer. I give her one last thrust as I feel every drop of me pouring into her.
“That was amazing. I’m still coming.” The smile on her face lets me know she is satisfied. She laughs. “I need my food.”
I help her up and grab a towel to clean her and myself off. She puts her dress back on and gets her food.
I can stare at her all day long. She’s as beautiful as she was when I met her ten years ago. I run upstairs and put some sweat pants on. When I come back down, she’s sitting at the table, staring at me.
“Look what you do to me. I can’t stop smiling at you. I love you so much.” She takes another bite of her food.
I kiss her forehead. “You know I love you more.”
Her phone is still on the counter. I quickly glance at it.
“So, no calls?” I ask.
“Nope, not yet. He will call back, I’m sure. Maybe not, though. I know he is happy and I’m happy, so there is nothing for you to worry about. The baby and I aren’t going anywhere.”
“I know. He will have to understand that Greyson is mine regardless,” I seethe.
“He is yours, Liam. I can feel it. He has to be, but the test will prove to us he is,” she says with tears in her eyes. I feel like all we’ve done the last eight months is cry.
Chapter Eighteen
Lila
It’s been over a week and Evan hasn’t returned my call. I call Nikki to see if she or Brody have heard from him. She said she wasn’t sure if Brody had spoken to him or not, so she would call him herself. I hope she won’t say anything before I get a chance to. Liam isn’t home. He and the guys are at the location for their new business. The girls and I just got back from a shopping trip. Now they’re napping, so I call Megs to come and hang out with me. I don’t want to be alone since I’m this far along.
“Hey, doll. You home?” I hear Megs say as she walks through the foyer.
“I’m in the kitchen, babe.” I grab myself a bottle of water and her a glass of wine.
She hugs me and then sits on the stool, next to the breakfast bar. “How are you? You look bigger than you did yesterday.”
I don’t know what I would do without her. She’s a wonderful friend. I know she’s hiding something about her past. She has no family here in California.
“I hope you mean that in a good way.” I laugh as I punch her arm. “I’m so miserable. I can’t wait until Greyson gets here so I can have my body back. His head feels like it’s popping out of my vajayjay, and his Ellis feet are digging in my ribs. And I swear his ass is right here,” I say as I rub the left side of my very large belly.
“You will be back to normal soon. I can’t wait for the shower. Is Nikki coming out for it?”
“Yes, she will be here for a week. That’s if Brody will let her. She needs to get her dress altered and so do I. She is going to have a belly walking down the aisle. She texted me a pic of her ultrasound. I’ll show you.”
As I grab my phone, it starts ringing. I look down at the screen. At first I can’t pinpoint who the number belongs to. Then I realize it’s him.
“Holy fuck, it’s him, Meg.”
I freeze. She grabs my phone out of my hands and hits the speaker button.
“Hello, Lila’s phone. Can I help you?” she says, smiling.
“Umm. Hello, ma’am. My name is Evan Martin, and I’m returning Mrs. Ellis’s call.”
“Well, hello Mr. Martin. Give me just one second and I’ll see if Mrs. Ellis is available.”
She shoves the phone in my hands and whispers, “Talk to him, babe. It’s now or never. Don’t chicken out; I’ll hold your hand.”
She grabs my other hand. I can feel my pulse getting rapid and my heart fluttering. I clear my throat and take a sip of water. Meg squeezes my hand and nods, indicating I should speak. I can hear his breathing on the other line. I want to hang up. Now I’m regretting my decision. I turn the speaker button off.
“Hi, Evan. It’s me, Li-Lila. How are you and Tatum?” I ask. As soon as her name left my mouth, I wanted to kick myself for mentioning her.
“Hey, Lila. We are good. Thank you for asking. How are you and Liam doing? Is everything okay with the girls?” he asks.
Aw, he asked about my babies. I’m just going to blurt this out; that’s the only way I’ll be able to tell him without chickening out. God, I could really use some wine. In another month, I’m drinking the biggest bottle I can find.
“We’re good.” In one breath, I say, “I was calling because I’m pregnant and the baby might be yours. We will need to take a DNA test once the baby is here.”
I sigh once I get it all out.
He pauses. “Did you say the baby might be mine?” He pauses again. I know he is thinking about the last time we were together. “We haven’t slept together since you were here. How is that possible? You would be ready to have the baby by now; it’s been, like, nine months.”
“I’m due next week. I either got pregnant before New York, which would make Greyson Liam’s, or I got pregnant the weekend in New York, when you and I spent the weekend together.”
“And you are just now fucking telling me that you might be having my child next week? You haven’t thought to tell me before now? Is that what you are saying, Lila Rae?” he yells.
I can feel a lump in my throat. Evan never yells.
“Yes, that’s what I’m saying. I wasn’t sure, and the more I thought about it, I thought you should know. Liam will take the test when the baby is born, and then we will contact you if you want. Or you can sign your rights away.”
I know I shouldn’t have thrown that part in there, but hell, I wasn’t thinking straight. Hearing him yell made me even more nervous than I already was.
Of course he had to throw that in there. Why the hell does he want my baby if his precious Tatum is pregnant?
“Oh, okay. Well, my due date is next Thursday. You both are welcome to come to the hospital. They can perform the test once I deliver.”
That’s all I say. Both of us get silent.
“Li, I will be there in a few days. I have to tell Tatum and see if it’s okay for her to travel. But I will be there, and if this child is mine, you two better not keep him away from me. Ever! Thank you for calling. I’ll be in touch soon. Take care of yourself and the baby.”
“Okay, Evan. Thanks, you too. Goodbye.”
I hang up the phone and fall into Megan’s arms, sobbing. I can’t believe this is happening. This baby might be his and he already wants to stake his claim. I should have known it wasn’t going to be easy; there is no way he would ever give his rights up.
“Shh, it’s okay, baby girl. Call Liam now, or do you need me to?”
“No…yes. I don’t know. Yes, call him. I need him.”
She calls Liam and I go check on the girls. They are both still sleeping. I text Nikki and tell her everything. She sends me a text back.
You did the right thing.
What have I done? I’m not only destroying my family, but Evan’s too. I can’t give him my child.
***
Liam
I’m sitting at lunch with the guys and just shooting the shit when my phone rings. I notice it’s Megan. I instantly pray nothing is wrong with Lila or my girls. Li is so close to delivering I hate leaving her alone.
I answer and Megan tells me everything is okay, but Lila talked to Evan and wants me to come home.
I excuse myself from the guys and head home. He better not have yelled at her. I wanted to be there when she talked to him. I knew this fucking shit was going to happen.
“Goddamn it,” I yell as I hit my steering wheel.
I just want to get home, hold my wife, and tell her everything will be fine. We’re going to get through this, but who the hell am I kidding? This shit is tearing me apart just as much as it is her.
All I can think about is him coming and taking my child, then my wife going with him. No way in hell is he getting my family. I will do whatever it takes to keep them. My phone starts ringing again. It’s Ashton.
“Hey, bro. What’s up?” I ask.
I didn’t say anything to him when I left the restaurant because Kade doesn’t know yet, but I’m sure Ashton figured out what was going on.
“Everything okay? Did Evan call?” Ashton asks. “I didn’t want to say anything in front of Kade.”
“Thank you for that. Yes, he called. I’m on my way home now. I don’t know what he said to her. I talked to Meg, so I’ll call you after I talk to Li. And Ashton, thanks for caring, man. I love you, brother.”
He sighs. “Anytime, man. I love you too. Please call me and let me know that Li will be okay. Should I tell Kade anything?”
“Yeah, explain it all to him. Everyone’s going to know soon enough and I’m sure he will ask questions.”
***
“Lila, babe, where are you?” I yell as I walk through the front door.
I’m worried about her. She went into labor early with the girls. This pregnancy has been smooth sailing, but I hate thinking he may have upset her or yelled at her. I will beat the shit out of that home wrecking bastard.
“Liam, oh baby. He called. I told him everything. He said he will be here next week and he will not sign his rights away, that he and Tatum will be in Greyson’s life. I was so nervous and I was just rambling. He was upset. He didn’t really yell, but I can tell he wanted to. He wanted to know why I was just now calling him.”
“It’s okay, baby. We will get through this. I will not leave your side. I’ll handle Evan; he won’t ever yell at you.”
“I don’t want you guys fighting. He has a right to be upset. I know I’d be upset if someone called me nine months after you slept with them and said they might be having your baby.”
I want to say that wouldn’t happen because I wouldn’t do anything like that, but I don’t. I don’t want to upset her any more than she already is. I hope he is ready to be confronted when he arrives. I’m not holding anything back. I’m telling him exactly what I think of him, about how much of an asshole he is for fucking my wife, not only once, but four times.
“I won’t fight with him, Li. I’m talking to him, though. About everything. So, as soon as Greyson is born, they can do the test, right?”
“Yes. I think I need to lie down. I’m not feeling so well,” she says as she grabs my arm. I help her to the bedroom and lay her on the bed.
“Is that better, love? You look a little pale. Are you having any pain at all?”
I want to make sure she isn’t having contractions, she could go into labor at any moment now and that shit scares the hell out of me.
“I’m good. Just a little tired. Can you see if Meg’s okay and if she will take the girls out on the beach? I want you to stay with me.”
“Yes, Ashton and Kade are on their way here. Kade knows. I hope you aren’t mad.”
“I’m not mad, but he probably thinks I am some sort of whore.”
I wrap my arms around her and kiss her. I know she isn’t a whore. She’s only been with two guys.
“Stop, no one thinks that. Now rest, I’ll be right back.”
I pull the blanket over her body. Her belly is huge. I know Greyson will be here very soon.
I go down stairs to ask Meg to take the girls out, but she and the kids are already walking around the beach. Ashton and Kade pull into the driveway. When I meet them at the driveway, I can tell Ashton already told Kade by the way he’s staring at me.
“Hey, brother. Everything okay?” Ashton asks as he gives me a bro hug.
“Yea, Li is tired. I’m going to lie down with her for a while. Meg has the girls on the beach. Why don’t you get AJ and come back and I’ll grill some steaks and chicken.”
“I’m going to find Meg,” Kade says, smiling.
I laugh. “No public affection in front of my babies.”
He shakes his head and heads to the beach.
“I’ll get AJ and come back,” Ashton says. “You need anything?”
“No, I think we have everything. I’m going to lie back down with Li. She looks really worn out and miserable.”
***
I walk back in the bedroom and find Li sitting in the middle of the bed with a box of pictures and a baby book. I can tell she’s been crying. I smile at her. Then I walk over to our ginormous bed and sit down next to her. Still not saying anything, I pick up one of the pictures and notice it’s a picture of her and Addison, probably from when they were around ten years old. In the picture, they’re wearing feather necklaces and have microphones in their hands.
“What’s all of this? I thought you were tired, beautiful?” I ask as I put my arm around her and place a kiss on her wet cheek.
“I was. Well, I am. I just wanted to find some pictures for Greyson’s baby book. Ads and I were, like, ten and thought we were country singers. We were singing “Jolene” by Dolly Parton. This picture came from your Aunt Nancy’s album. Do you ever wonder what Addison would be like now? How the girls would be around her?”
“Ahh, you know my aunt loves her country music. You little ladies were adorable. This picture reminds me of our girls and how inseparable they are. I do wonder what she would be like…Well, she would be a mother herself. I know she would have loved the girls and her child. She and Eric would already be married. She would probably be in jail, though. She would have beat the shit out of Christa for doing what she’s done.”
“Yeah, she would have killed her
for sure. I know Eric has to miss her as much as we do. I hope he never forgets about her and how much she loved him. I keep thinking about the day she found out she was pregnant. Liam, she was so happy, and she was already glowing. What pictures should we use in the baby book?”
“Well, I think this picture is perfect. Let’s see what else is in here.” I flip through the album and point to a picture on the right corner of the fifth page. “Oh, I remember this one. That was the day of graduation. We had a great summer that year.”
I look through the pictures with her until I come across a picture of Lila with Evan and Addison. I try to hide my sadness, but Lila notices instantly.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t get rid of it. I know you hate him, but he was one of my best friends. Addison liked him. She threatened to cut his balls off if he hurt me,” she says with a laugh.
Even though seeing him all loved up next to my woman upsets me, I reply, “It’s okay, you don’t have to get rid of his pictures. I mean, I don’t want to look at them every day, but you can keep whatever you want.”
This picture was taken while I was laying in that hospital bed, thinking about Li and praying that I would find my way back to her. All that really matters is that I did find my way back.
She smiles. “Thank you. I’m so lucky. I couldn’t ask for a better husband or father for our children. I know this sounds cheesy, but you are a one of a kind. If Ashton and Kade want to be like you, they have a lot of work to do.”
“I’m pretty lucky myself. I think I snagged a pretty fine lady.”
“Pfft, look at me. I look like a cow,” she says, motioning in front of her.
“No, you don’t; you’re beautiful. I’m going to miss how big these are.” I put my hands on her boobs. She smiles.
“Yeah, you and me both. They’re going back to normal soon. I’m not tired anymore. Is Meg still downstairs?”
“Yes, and we are having a cookout, so go put your bikini on,” I say, slapping her ass.
“Ha, ha. Funny, Liam. I’ll stick with this sun dress. These things are so comfortable.”