“What’s wrong?” I ask, kneeling beside her.
My heart racing that she was in pain, or something was wrong with the baby. She shook her head and pointed to the record player, and it was then I realized Ella Fitzgerald’s “Someone to Watch Over Me” was playing. But I didn’t get why she was crying.
“The song is making you cry?” I ask, still confused.
“I’ve never heard this before,” she says, pulling her hands down and looking at me with sadness.
“Ok…turn it off then?” Still confused, maybe this was another one of her pregnancy things.
“It’s beautiful,” she sighs, looking back at the record player.
I follow her eyes and we sit, listening to the song.
“It’s like she loves someone who she can’t be with, and she just wants someone to look after her,” she sniffles.
I listen to the lyrics, which of course I’ve heard a thousand times, but never really listened to. Standing, I take her hand and lift her to her feet. I pull her into my arms and we begin to dance, understanding that maybe this song is how she feels, and now I get it. We sway slowly back and forth until the song ends, and yet we still move, in silence.
“Just promise me that if this gets to be too much, I mean with me and the baby, that you’ll tell me, you won’t just leave,” she whispers.
My chest aches that she would or even could think that, but I realize in not answering her about getting married, she has the right to these feelings.
“Promise,” I reply and kiss the top of her head.
Little does she know, the day after she proposed, I looked in her phone book and got her parents’ number. Her mom was polite, a little stand offish, but she didn’t know me from Joe Schmo. After talking to her for a bit, I realize that she and Skye aren’t close. Her mom knew she lived back in Plantain, and that she worked at an auto shop, but that was it. However, she did know Skye was pregnant, thankfully.
So, after explaining that I was the baby daddy, and that I wanted to plan a surprise visit for Skye, she warmed to me a little. Even leading up to the day I was taking Skye on a day trip, I was nervous. Not about asking her dad, but that maybe Skye didn’t want her parents to know about her life. She told me how things went down with her sister after Tyler assaulted her, and I hadn’t thought about maybe her parents had done the same, and not believed her. But Skye never mentioned that, and I know for a fact that during her recovery, she stayed with her parents for a while before moving back here. So, with a million butterflies hitting my stomach with lead wings, we packed into the truck to head out on Saturday morning.
“I hate surprises. Did you know that?” she keeps saying.
“You’ll love this.”
I smile and I fucking hope my words are true.
“Can I have a hint?”
“It’s west.”
Which is clear since we are headed west on the freeway.
“And we’re only going for the day?”
We’d already been driving about thirty minutes, so I can see her wondering the further we got from home.
“Stop, put on some of your shitty music, and let me surprise you.”
She smacks my arm while giving me an irritated look, another effect of pregnancy, I think. All I do is smile and stick my tongue out at her, pulling it back into my mouth fast as she tries to pinch it with her fingers.
“Back off,” I tease.
“Tell me where we’re going?”
“I am never taking you on a road trip, remind me of this shit.”
We play smack one another’s legs back and forth, well I play smack, it seems like Skye really is taking her aggravation out on me. She’s lucky I love her so damn much; I think a bruise is forming on my right thigh. Ten minutes later she’s passed out, her head resting on my shoulder as Gin Blossoms “Found About You” plays over the stereo. I wish I could record this moment and live in it forever, the windows down on a magnificent summer day. Life from an upcoming city looking like an oasis on this desert road, my girl beside me as the wind blows and sends our hair blowing all over. Reaching over, I rest my forearm across our baby. I never get to feel it kick, even though Skye says it does I’m never in time.
Often I put my hand over her belly in hopes to feel something, not that I don’t believe there’s a baby in there, but I want the connection to our little person. The city is coming more into view, and the desert soon fades into trees and grass. I haven’t been to this city before, but I know it’s where the upper crust live, and wonder how someone like Skye came from here. She’s so simple and could give a shit about money or labels. Not saying everyone who comes from money is a snob, but I’ve met more of those than people like Skye, she is one in a million though.
I park out front a huge ranch style house, I can see where Skye gets her love of flowers, there are tons overflowing from beds and planters along the front of the house. I take a deep breath and shake out my hands, my nerves still killing me. There are more dangerous, intense things I’ve done with the club, when we were doing illegal dealings, but this takes the cake. Patting my jean pocket, before I bring my hand up and run along Skye’s hairline, moving the strands that had blown onto her face during the drive. She stirs slightly but doesn’t fully wake.
“We’re here,” I whisper.
I watch as her eyes flutter open before she sighs and looks up at me, God when she does that it goes straight to my heart…and my balls. Sitting up, she raises her arms and stretches while I just watch her, watch her slowly begin to take in her surroundings.
“What?” she says quietly before her head turns towards the house. “Nathan?” she asks looking back at me.
“I hope this is alright, I know you haven’t seen your parents in a while.”
She’s confused, like really confused, but at least she’s not pissed.
“I want to meet your parents.”
Her eyes search mine and I have no idea what she’s thinking.
“I talked to your mom and she said it was cool, she wanted us to visit.”
Skye looks away from me and back at the house, looking down, I notice her hands tightening around the fabric of her skirt repeatedly and realization dawns one me.
“Babe, shit I’m sorry.”
She doesn’t look at me and I feel like a total dickhead for bringing her back to where she was attacked. I let out a breath and rest my head back on the headrest, closing my eyes and mentally kicking myself.
“No,” she says, her body turning towards me, her hands resting over mine as she runs her nose along my jawline. “I just wasn’t prepared…I love that you want to meet my parents and that you asked my mom.”
There’s a smile in her voice, opening my eyes to confirm that she is.
“If it’s too much, we can go, I can be the asshole and stand your parents up,” I state.
She shakes her head and with her hand turns my face towards her for a kiss.
“Come on,” she bites her lip before sliding across the seat to the passenger door.
We meet on the sidewalk in front of the house, and I notice how awful my truck looks in this sprawling wealthy neighborhood. My truck is from the 60’s, but in pristine condition. Yet it still looks out of place here, we should’ve taken Skye’s Subaru. Then I laugh a little to myself, because her car, even though updated would look just as shitty as mine. Also, realizing then that she had that car when she lived her and didn’t care, so why should I. I wonder if we’re dressed appropriately, I’m in jeans and a grey t-shirt, Skye’s in a long green dress that’s tight across her chest and our little person. She takes my hand and leads us up the walkway to the front door.
“Wait, what am I doing,” she says.
“Huh?”
I ask in confusion as she pulls me off the stone path, and onto the lushest green grass I’ve ever seen, as we walk towards the driveway. I look around like someone will yell at us for being on the grass.
“I’ve neve
r used the front door,” she states.
Walking under an archway and past a BMW parked in the driveway, Skye opens the side door and announces our presence.
“Hello!”
We enter into a small landing with staircases going up to our right and down to our left, in front of us are two steps up leading to a kitchen.
“In here,” I hear a female answer back.
With Skye still holding my hand, we walk into the kitchen. To the right is the kitchen and beyond that a large sunroom where I see a man and woman sitting. The house is nice, but not updated and feels homey, lived in, and not overly formal. Her parents stand as we close the gap, they are older than I expected and instantly her mom’s eyes well up with tears as she places a hand over her mouth, looking at her pregnant daughter.
My eyes shoot to her dad trying to gauge his reaction, looking for any signs of anger, but he just smiles proudly at his daughter. I feel a bit relieved when I see her parents are also in jeans and casual shirts, her Mom with bare feet and it makes me think of Skye. I reach out my hand to her dad, as mother and daughter laugh and hug, I hear her mom ask about the baby.
“Nathan,” I say.
Reaching out his hand towards me, her father introduces himself.
“Tony,” he says, along with a firm handshake.
We size one another up. He’s a little shorter than me but looks built like he takes care of himself physically.
“Thanks for having us,” I nod.
“You are both welcome here anytime,” he says and I can see in his eyes he means it.
It’s so strange to meet people who don’t even know me, but are so open and welcoming, another thing I see Skye had inherited.
“Nathan,” I hear Skye and I turn towards her and her mom.
“Beth,” I smile and extend my hand. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”
She shakes her head and moves closer with her arms out, she hugs me, hugs me. At first I tense because other than Skye, no one has really ever touched me in an affectionate way since my mom. The thought and the reminder of my mom and this being Skye’s mom, causes my body to relax. Skye shoots me a grin over Beth’s shoulder and thank Christ she’s not mad about all this.
“Nathan, thank you for making this happen,” Beth says as she steps back.
“We’ve got some food on the table, who wants what to drink?” she asks.
“Tea please,” Skye replies at the same time Tony asks me, “beer?”
I notice there’s a beer on the table already where he was sitting so I reply, “Yeah please.”
Beth talks to Skye as we sit, and Tony gets the drinks. The sunroom looks out to the backyard, which is gorgeous and huge, there’s a pool on the right side of the lot with deck chairs lined up along the side. This reminds me of the house I grew up in, even down to the wind chimes blowing in the breeze. My mom loved gardening and it wasn’t something I realized I missed until Skye began her planting.
“Here you are,” Tony says handing me a cold bottle.
“So,” Beth starts.
Skye and Beth are sitting side by side at the end of the table while Tony and I sit across from one another with the table between us.
“Are you all settled?” she asks Skye.
“Yup, I got my old job back at the auto body shop…that’s how I know Nathan.”
Skye shoots me a warm smile, and I return it with a dopey grin.
“Yes,” Beth says, looking over at Tony and clearing her throat. “Can you explain all this to me?”
Skye opens her mouth to start but Beth cuts her off.
“I know your dad and I have tried to stay out of your life, but with a baby, we just want to make sure…that you’re okay,” she says.
Skye puts her hand over her mom’s.
“I know, Mom. Well, I worked at the auto shop for years before and I knew Nathan…before, before.” Skye waves her hand in reference to before that fucking asshole took her away from me. “I left Tyler and went back to Plantain for a wedding, Nathan and I...” she looks down at her stomach and laughs a little.
“We understand,” her mom replies.
“So when I went back to Plantain, I found an apartment attached to a house. Long story short, the house is owned by Nathan but I didn’t know that until I’d already moved in. We reunited and now we live together, and everything is as it should be,” she shrugs.
Trying to steady my breathing as the nerves somewhat ease, I didn’t know how I was going to tell her parents that we hooked up once and this was the result. I’d somewhat side stepped that when I spoke to her mom on the phone.
“Everything happens as it should,” Tony states. “Well, we’re happy for you,” he says looking between both of us.
We have comfortable conversation, and I find out that Tony is also a car man, interested in the classics, so from then on out we have no problem talking shop. We grill steaks, as Skye and Beth prepare corn and salad. I like these people and see where Skye gets her disposition, both her parents seem easy going.
“Hey Nathan, can you run in the house and get a plate for these?” Tony asks.
“Yeah.”
I walk in from the sunroom doors and see Skye at the kitchen counter, she’s alone and her eyes are trained on a spot on the floor near the bathroom. She’s so fixated she doesn’t hear me enter the house, I walk to the front of the counter and still she doesn’t see me. It appears she’s trying to take deep breaths, her hands shaking while holding the wooden spoons inside the salad bowl.
“Skye,” I state quietly.
She startles, looking at me, her eyes trying to focus from whatever zone she was just in.
“Sorry.”
I reach out and take her hand. Something just took my happy woman who was having a great time, to a sober quiet shell. My eyes glance over to where she was looking, but I don’t see anything.
“That’s uh…that’s where…” her voice trails off.
Moving around to the other side of the counter, taking both her hands.
“Hey,” I say.
My arms wrap around her waist as my hands spread over her belly, resting my chin on her shoulder and she leans back into me.
“I was just here doing this and then the memory came back.”
I know anytime she flashes back to her previous life, it pisses her off. I want nothing more than for us to be alone, and I’d fuck her on that spot to banish the memory, and replace it with a good one…one of us.
“Where’s your mom?” I ask.
“She ran to the store just now.”
“Hold on,” I tell her.
Grabbing a plate, I head back outside, handing it to Tony.
“Skye needs me for something, do you still need me?”
“Nope, should be another fifteen minutes and food’s ready,” he answers.
Heading back into the house, Skye is still mixing the salad before I grab her by the hand, and pull her into the adjacent bathroom. I can’t just fuck her on the floor, so this will do.
“What?” she gasps as I slam the door shut, locking it, grabbing her face and planting a kiss on her lips.
“I want to erase whatever you were thinking in there.”
After a moment, she relaxes and begins to kiss me back, my hands palm her tits before I yank down the top of her dress and get at that bare skin. Her nipples are slightly larger with pregnancy, also a little rosier, along with a whole lot more sensitive. So basically, as soon as my hands touch her, she detonates.
“Oh God,” she moans, letting her head fall back, as I lift her ass onto the sink.
My lips attach to her neck, her hands lifting the bottom of her dress up and parting her legs. My hips fill the space, while I make quick work of removing my cock from my jeans, stopping her before she can feel what’s in my pocket. Slipping her panties to the side, she’s soaking wet as I rub the head of my dick over her lips and folds. Our breathing is loud and quick, and my cock feels like
it hasn’t had release in weeks, even if it’s only been a few hours.
Pushing inside her, I can’t stifle my guttural moan and Skye’s hand flies to my mouth, pressing her palm over my lips. She looks at me and smiles, biting her lower lip before I push into her so deep her smile fades and her mouth slackens. Her knees are propped in the crook of my arm so I can get deeper, her body jerking with every thrust, her eyes looking up at me like the temptress she is.
“Your cock feels so fucking good,” she whispers.
My hands grip her hips tighter as she continues to say filthy shit to me, causing my thrusts to break rhythm, the scent from her pussy driving me insane.
“I’m so wet for you, can you feel it dripping down your balls? I love when you’re loud for me, makes me so hot, all I want is for you to come all over me. Do you want me to touch my pussy?”
“Goddamn,” I mumble because her hand is still over my mouth.
Her fingers move to her clit and she begins to rub, urgently and shakily. My balls tighten, her little inhales and exhales hitting my face. I jostle her hand free from my mouth, pushing her back so my lips can taste her nipples. My upper body curls over her as I fuck her, grabbing her ass and pulling her into me.
“Ohh, ohh, I’m coming, I’m coming,” she moans into my hair.
Her pussy tightens around me and I come, groaning low against her skin. This woman drives me insane, my hips keep thrusting and even though I’ve just come, I want her again. But I can’t, because I hear noise coming from outside the door.
“Shit,” I pant.
Letting her legs fall from my arms, as I tuck my dick back into my jeans, Skye covering her mouth to stifle her laugh. I’m freaking out, but she looks calm as can be, casually slinking off the sink, the dress of her skirt falling back into place, while she pulls her top back up to cover her red spotted chest from my mouth.
Come as you Are: Plantain Series Book Two Page 21