When the group settles and they’re all quiet, Maddy clears her throat and says, “Thank you, guys, for coming here today.” She scans the small crowd and smiles cheerfully at them. Wrapping her arm around my waist, she tucks herself into my side and gently squeezes me. Out of pure instinct, my hand drifts down to her rounded belly, and rests there casually. She puts the glass down and places her hand over mine.
“It means so much to both Reid and I that you’re here to celebrate the completion of his internship and the start of his first real job!” She announces my accomplishments with such enthusiasm that it’s nearly impossible not to beam with pride.
“Would everyone please raise their glass?” When they do, she looks up at me, and even though her words are directed at the crowd, her eyes are glued to my face. “Reid, we are all so proud of everything you’ve achieved. We all love you very much and we know that this is just the start of a very long and successful career of helping those in need.” On her last words, everyone chimes in with “hear, hear.” Glasses clink and the volume of the room decreases back to that of a normal level.
Maddy stretches up on her toes and presses her lips against my ear. “I love you, baby. And I plan on showing you just how proud of you I am later.” Her tongue darts out and licks softly at my earlobe. Instantly, fire rages in my body as I am overcome with desire. Still close to me, voice still pitched low so that only I can hear her, she says one last thing into my ear. “Now, let’s enjoy your party and later you can enjoy me.”
Pulling her close to me, I lean into her ear. It’s only fair if I can repay the teasing. “I will most definitely enjoy you.” I reach down, squeeze her ass and pull her into the current evidence of my enjoyment. Her eyes widen in shock and maybe just a little bit of anticipation for later.
Maddy pulls away from me as Momma approaches us. She kisses me sweetly on the cheek “Congratulations, Reid. We’re all very proud of you. So, how does it feel to be a real working man now?” Her kind blue eyes are shining with pride. I now understand what Maddy means when she says that Momma makes her miss her own mother just a little bit less.
Maddy stays to my side, but her rounded belly covers up the erection that was just nudging into her side. No need for Momma to see that. “Weird. I mean, I’ve been there for four months, but I never expected to pull off the interview and actually land the job. I guess I’m a real grown-up now.” I laugh and wink down at Maddy.
Her eyes glimmer with amusement. “If you think you’re a grown-up, you just wait for this little bundle of joy to get here. Then you’ll see what it’s like—you’ll be one big, sleep deprived, working 9–5 grown-up, that’s for sure.” I know she means for her words to be a playful joke, but I’d be lying if I said they didn’t scare the shit out of me.
Momma throws her head back in a small fit of laughter when she sees my face contort into a knotted mixture of anxiety and apprehension.
Momma reaches out for Maddy’s belly. She hates when people touch her. Well, everyone except Momma, Mel and me, of course.
I’m pretty sure she’s a fan of when I touch her.
“Calm yourself down. You are both going to be amazing parents. I just know it. And I’ll only be a few blocks away.” I’ve never been more grateful for Maddy’s stubborn attitude about where we live. Right now, I’d move back into Maddy’s small bedroom at Momma’s if it meant not having to worry about taking care of the baby on our own.
After Momma leaves us to go find Evan, Maddy tells me to go hang out with the guys while she catches up with the girls. I know that “catching up” means more baby talk so I gladly make my way over to the bar where Dylan, Logan and Jack are enjoying their beers while the Mets game plays on the gigantic television mounted across from them. I know for sure that there will most definitely not be any baby talk on this side of the room.
It’s a rare occasion that the Mets are actually winning, so the guys and I spend the rest of the party talking stats and ERAs. They bust my balls about being all ‘wifed’ up and I bust theirs in return about being assholes. By the end of the night, we share one more beer, celebrating a rare Met’s victory and my new job. It feels good to be one of the guys again, even for a small chunk of time.
Sometime around nine, after most of the group has left, Maddy comes over to me and Dylan at the bar. “So did you have a good time tonight?” She wraps her arm around my waist and cuddles into my side.
Draping my arm over her shoulder, I say “I did, baby. Thank you for putting it all together. I was really surprised.” I kiss her head and she smiles again.
She playfully elbows Dylan in the side and winks at him. “I had a little help.” She smiles at me, as she echoes the words I’ve said to her so many times in regards to Mel. Don’t get me wrong, I love that Maddy and Dylan are close, but I have a feeling that this will not be the last time that they pull something over on me.
I shoot Dylan a wry look to which he responds, “Don’t blame me, dude. How am I supposed to say no to her? She’s relentless. I had no choice, really.” The exasperation in his voice conveys just how persistent Maddy was in this venture. He’s holding his hands up in front his chest as he laughs at Maddy and her “are you kidding me” face.
“Whatever, Dylan. Your arm didn’t need that much twisting.” Her eyebrows twist together in a stern yet playful way.
Dylan puts his hands down and reaches for his beer. Tipping his glass to me, he says, “No it didn’t. I’m really proud of you, Reid.” He chugs down his last mouthful of beer, and adds, “And I know that Shane would be proud of you too.” His words are a bit rough, laced with emotion. It’s clear that he still misses Shane.
Dylan clears his throat of the emotion that’s just settled there. “Alright, guys. I’m out of here. I’ll see you on Monday.” He shakes my hand and pulls me into a half-hug. After kissing Maddy on the cheek, he grabs his suit jacket from the back of his chair and walks away.
I swallow down the rest of my drink and place my glass on the bar. “Ready to go, baby?” Grabbing my suit jacket from the back of my chair, I pull it on and look down at her standing by my side.
Grabbing the lapels of my jacket in her hands, she whispers sweetly, “I’ve been ready to go since I saw you walk through those doors looking all sexy in this suit here.” She reaches up on her toes and kisses me slowly and seductively.
And with that, we’re out the door.
The twenty minute drive from Coopers to our home seems to take forever. We keep eyeing each other across the cabin of the Jeep. Our hands are in constant contact and I can see Reid’s desire growing—quite literally—by the minute.
Reid parks the Jeep in the spot next to my still-kicking, but old and beat up Honda Civic. Reid keeps bringing up the idea that I need a new car—well, that he needs to buy me a new car—but, I would rather save the money for the baby. He has a pretty difficult time coming up with any kind of response to that.
Thankfully, he chooses not to rekindle that argument as we walk past the car and towards our door. The second the lock clicks and the door closes behind us, his hands are on me. I can’t help the gasp that comes out as he lifts me off my feet. Sometimes I forget just how strong he is, but as he effortlessly hefts me and my five month-regnant belly, I’m in awe of him.
My awe quickly changes into desire and need as he carries me into our room and places me on my feet at the edge of our bed. Slowly and softly he undresses me, sure to touch and caress every inch of my exposed skin. Still fully clothed, he stands before me and unashamedly stares at my naked body. “God, you’re so fucking beautiful, Maddy.”
He moves to stand behind me and he sweeps my hair to the side. Moving my neck to give him better access, he begins torturing me with his talented tongue. He kisses and licks my neck and shoulder until my nipples are almost painfully erect. I arch my back and try to reach behind me to touch him.
“Oh no. This is all about you right now.” He coos into my ear as he ensnares both of my wrists in his big hand. My only respon
se is a garbled groan of pleasure. I love when he takes charge like this. I love soft, sweet and romantic Reid, but hot, controlling and passionate Reid is pretty fucking amazing too.
His breath is hot and heavy in my ear. “Now, can I let you go? Are you going to be a good girl and listen?” Leaning my head back onto his shoulder, I manage an “uh huh” in response. I feel the chuckle rumble in his chest behind me. The vibrations from his laugh, in combination with the feel of his lips on my neck, makes my insides spasm in delight. “Good. Now wrap your arms up around my neck,” he commands. My compliance is instinctual. There’s no point in not doing what he says. He owns me—body and soul, I belong to him.
His fingers trace their way down my arms, prickling my flesh in their wake. When he pinches my nipples, my knees buckle and he actually has to hold me up to keep me from falling. “I love that I drive you this crazy, beautiful girl.”
“Oh God, Reid. Please. I need you.” My breathy voice is lust filled and need driven. “You’ve got me baby. Forever. I’m all yours,” he croons as he lowers me onto the bed.
Before he lies next to me, he strips out of his clothes. Standing before me, completely naked, his beauty is mouthwatering. His body is perfection—rippled bulging arms, hard defined pecs and just plain sinfully chiseled abs. Just thinking about what his body is capable of makes my heart thud in my chest.
The anticipation builds as he kisses a sensual path of pleasure across my chest. Pulling a nipple deep into his mouth elicits a shriek from me. While he’s still sucking at my breast—as if his life depends on it—his magical fingers begin their torturous assault on the other. The pressure is building—a giant, crashing wave threatening to take me under and lift me up at the same time.
My hips roll and buck. Need builds and my desire is out of control. Arching my hips once more towards him, I call out “Please touch me, Reid. Please. I need to come.”
He removes his beautiful full mouth from my breast and lets out a low growl. He might think he’s in control, but I know just want to say to push him over the edge.
His movements are so quick, that before I can even register what he’s doing, he’s down on his knees and he’s pulling my legs over the edge and up around his shoulders. His mouth is perfectly lined up at the juncture of my thighs and my legs are actually shaking waiting for him to taste me.
He runs his nose up my inner thighs and inhales deeply. It turns me on when he does this, when he gets so wrapped up in me that he becomes carnal and animal-like. Tracing my lower lips with the pads of his thumbs, he separates my folds and exposes my clit. The cool rush of air that he blows across it makes my nipples perk up and my insides gush with more wet heat.
“Reid . . . please . . .” My request is beautifully interrupted as his tongue laps at my dripping core. I feel my body melt as the pleasure washes over me.
Using his thumb, he gently presses against my hardened clit as he fucks me relentlessly with his tongue. Heat builds low in my belly and my hands fist in the crumpled sheets.
Just as my orgasm is about to swallow me whole, he switches tactics. Two large fingers slide into me easily and he curls them forward, stretching and teasing me. His tongue rolls around and plays with my clit. When his fingers find my g-spot, he latches onto my clit and sucks gently. Reaching up with his other hand, he cups my breast and kneads softly. It’s all too much. My body explodes in a blinding light; a kaleidoscope of neon colors cascades all around me. Muscles clench and pulse; my skin flames and flushes. The all-encompassing power of this pleasure is both numbing and searing. I feel nothing and everything at the same time. Wave after wave of pleasure rushes over me and I don’t even notice the bed dip behind me as Reid curls around me.
Holding my knee up in the crook of his elbow, he prods at my soaking entrance with the tip of his hard cock. In one smooth and fluid motion, he fills me completely.
His other arm wraps around me from behind and he starts kneading my breasts again. Jolts of white hot lightning flash to my core as the sensation of my second orgasm builds at a furious pace.
Grumbling into my neck, he calls out in an almost feral like voice, “Come, Maddy. Now. Come with me.”
His words and his fingers are my undoing as they pinch tightly around my pink tips. Feeling him gush and spill into me, throws me over the abyss and into the depths of utter pleasure.
Reid releases my leg and wraps his arms around my shoulders. Pulling my back close to his front, he kisses my neck, in between deep panting breaths. “My God, Maddy. I love you, baby.”
“I love you too, Reid.” As we lie in the warmth of our love, an odd sensation runs through my belly. I can’t put my finger on it right away, but when it happens again, I know exactly what it is.
I roll to my other side so that Reid and I can face one another. At my movement, he gets all concerned. He can be as controlling and dominating as he wants, but sweet and tender Reid is never all that far behind. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?” His words are heavy with concern. Ever since that first scare, he is always so cautious about sex. I think it’s cute that he’s so worried about me and the baby.
Pulling his hands to my rounded baby-bump, I say, “Yes, everything is perfect, actually.” And then it happens again. Reid’s body tightens and the look of concern returns to his face.
“Then what the hell was that!” He sits upright next to me, but keeps his hands in place. The rolling butterfly-like wave flutters again and he suddenly catches on. “Is that . . .” Another kick interrupts his words and he caresses my belly gently.
Lying back down beside me, he gazes lovingly into my eyes as our baby dances and swims beneath our entwined hands sitting atop my belly. “That’s the most amazing thing ever, Maddy.” He whispers seemingly fearful that if he speaks with as much joy as he’s feeling, he’ll scare the kicking away.
Lost in his amazement, his eyes regain their focused seriousness, and he gently brushes his knuckles over my cheek. “Marry me,” he whispers and my world spins off kilter for a moment.
He’s rendered me speechless. We haven’t spoken about this since Christmas when I thought he was proposing to me. Since we both agreed that it was just too soon, neither of us have felt the need to bring it up again. The bed moves as Reid rolls to his side. Grabbing his boxers from the floor, he slips them on as he walks over to the other side. He reaches into his nightstand drawer and pulls out a small black velvet box. Holy crap! He wasn’t kidding that he had this planned out already.
Walking back to my side, he grabs my robe from the hook on the back of the door. I pull it around my chest as he kneels on the floor before me.
Still unable to speak, the silence stretches, and Reid fills it with his rather spontaneous proposal.
“Please, marry me. Just because we haven’t talked about it, please don’t think that I haven’t thought about it non-stop. I have this whole big thing planned out. Flowers and candles and all that romance shit, but right here, feeling our baby move inside of you . . . you’re mine and you always will be, nothing will ever change that please don’t make me ask again . . . please just say yes.” He’s begging.
He cracks open the box and a familiar ring sparkling back at me takes my breath away. Holding the beautiful two-carat, platinum set round solitaire ring before me, he looks up into my eyes lovingly.
“Is that . . . ?” I can’t even finish the words. Thick, heavy emotion clogs my throat and the tears start pouring down my cheeks.
“Yes, sweet Maddy. Your Aunt Maggie gave it to Momma years ago. I guess she knew that she wouldn’t always be around, but she wanted you to have your mother’s ring.” He swipes his thumb across my cheek, clearing some of the tears.
“I know we’re young and we haven’t been together long, but I love you and I want to be with you forever. Madeleine, please marry me. Please do me the honor of being my wife.” His last words are a hopeful whisper.
A lone tear trickles down my cheek and cleanses away any concerns I might have had. He’s right. Who’
s to say how old you have to be to feel a love like this? There’s no requirement on how long you have to be together in order to make a marriage work. I know in my heart and soul that there will only be Reid. Seeing my mother’s ring shining back at me is almost like she’s smiling her approval down on me. So when the word “yes” escapes my lips, I feel nothing but absolute certainty that he is my forever.
Epilogue
Eight Months Later
Friday December 20, 2013
The heavy wooden doors of the church are closed before me. I hear the organ playing beyond it, and even though he’s not here physically, I can feel my father’s presence beside me. He would have been so happy to walk me down the aisle today, but I know that he and my mother are smiling down on us. I’m sure that Becca and Shane are smiling at us too.
After she straightens the long train of my ivory wedding gown, Melanie stands in front of me. Her eyes are shimmering with tears of joy. She pulls me into a tight embrace. “I love you, Maddy. I’m so happy for you. You guys are just amazing and you deserve today more than anyone I know.” Mel makes one more adjustment on my veil and I get caught up in the memory of the day we found my dress.
Standing in front of a rack filled to the brim with some of the most beautiful dresses I’ve ever seen, I am completely overwhelmed. How on Earth am I supposed to pick one of these? They all look the same.
“Melanie, this is ridiculous! I’m nine months pregnant and shopping for a wedding dress. I feel like there should be an MTV reality show following me around or something. Can’t we do this after the baby is born?” I huff and flop into the chair that the attendant has just brought out for me. My ankles are huge and the sweltering summer heat of mid-August is not helping at all.
As Cammie steps out from behind the rack of dresses, her arms weighed down by about ten of them, Lia hands me a bottle of water. “Okay, so Cammie is about the closest to you size wise, so she’ll give you the best idea of what they look like.” Lia decides for the group. I think the idea of wearing a wedding dress freaks out Lia. Needless to say, Cammie jumps at the opportunity. I’m pretty sure that Jack and Cammie will be the next to get married.
The Love Series Complete Box Set Page 47