Peyton
Stars fill the night sky as Zane and Zoey ride their ponies in the front of the mansion. The night is chilly so Lexi and Max tug the kids off their new favorite things in the whole world and we all retreat inside to get some hot chocolate and wind the Christmas Eve party down.
Bobby and Effie have vanished it seems. I hope that rock star isn’t in our bedroom, the horn dog. He and Kip made up and agreed to work on music together, leaving Silas and touring behind them. They plan on inviting the rest of the band to join them and they’ll keep the Kip Dixon as the band name.
We go back to the Christmas tree room as I have named it. In a circle we sit around the huge tree, decorated with red and green ornaments. My entire family, Kip’s family, even his half-brother, Dalton, and his sisters, and mother came. Our friends Rachelle and the Lane’s. Everyone, except Effie and Bobby hold hands as we sing Silent Night.
Kip looks into my eyes as we sing the Christmas carol and his sweet smile makes me smile. I look away at our huge family and my heart fills with emotion.
Never did I know I could be filled with this much love and happiness. Of course the only thing that is missing is our baby, but next Christmas he’ll be here and we’ll make that one special for the little man.
I turn and look back at Kip and see the rest of my life in him. If it wasn’t for his tenaciousness I would be back in Texas, alone with my parents, most likely in bed by this time.
Kip has brought colors to my life I never knew existed. He’s the brightest star in my sky and I pray we have a long and happy life together, building our family.
The song ends and everyone claps. The sound of heels clicking over the marble floor comes from behind us and Kip and I both turn to see Bobby and Effie, a white bundle in her arms.
My heart stops and Kip jumps up, pulling me with him. “Who do we have here?” he asks as we go towards them.
“Is that?” I ask and have to stop as tears flood my eyes and my words are stopped by a huge knot in my throat.
Effie nods. “Surprise and Merry Christmas. Paxton David Reed-Dixon has officially been released, and he’s home now.”
I’m shaking and Kip pulls me into his strong arms. “You okay, Momma?”
Everyone laughs and I shake my head. “No, I’m beyond happy and my body doesn’t know how to react to that.” I laugh and wipe my tears away.
Effie smiles as Bobby has his arm wrapped around her narrow shoulders. “You want to take him?”
I press my hand to Kip’s chest. “You hold him, I’m too emotional right now.”
Kip kisses the top of my head. “I got this, love.”
He lets me go and takes our tiny son in a bundle of white and takes my hand in his and leads me to sit with him on a red sofa. I gaze at my little sleeping man as lights flash.
I look up to see everyone with their cell phones taking pictures of us and sniffle and wipe my eyes again. “You guys are terrible. I’m a mess.”
Kip touches my chin, his thumb brushes away an errant tear I missed. “You are not a mess. You look beautiful, let them take all the pictures they want. I want to be able to look back and remember this very moment. The moment you and I got to have our first born at home.”
His blue eyes hold mine and he slowly leans in. His lips touch mine and warmth spreads through me. I feel complete, like never before. Our son is home and we can start life as a real family on this early Christmas morning and I have never been happier.
Kip
A tiny cry I hear and wake up to find Peyton holding little Pax and trying to get him to breast feed. “Is he giving you trouble, love?”
“He seems to have an aversion to my breast.” She continues to try to get the infant to latch onto her large breast.
“Are you sure that he’s my son?” I ask as I sit up next to her in our bed and run one arm around her and one under our baby. “Here, let me show him what he’s missing.”
Peyton giggles. “Okay, Kip. Show him how it’s done.”
I take her breast and rub her supple nipple over his lips and sure enough he turns to it and latches on immediately. “There, see. I think you were doing it too hard or something. Just tease him with it, make him want it. You know, like any other male in the world.”
She presses her sweet lips to my scruffy cheek. “Thank you, Kip. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
Running my hand through her tangled hair I say, “You never have to do without me. We’re a team, you and I. We’ll do it all together.”
She sighs and leans back against my chest. I look over her shoulder and watch our baby eat. So much love moves through me. I had no idea I could ever feel this much. They never tell you that. No one ever tells you that you will grow what feels like a whole new part of your heart.
I can’t see how couples break up after having a child together. I can’t see ever walking away from her or letting her walk away from me. Not in a million years would I allow that to happen.
Peyton switches the baby to her other breast, and he squirms and goes all red faced as he’s about to cry in protest, then she rubs her nipple over his little lips and he latches back on. All the redness that had crept into his face immediately vanishes and he suckles contently.
“There you go, buddy. She wasn’t cutting you off.”
Peyton giggles and looks at me. “I think that’s exactly what he thought. You must have a mental connection with him already. You’ll be a great father, Kip.”
“And you’ll be a great mother, Peyton.”
I take her lips with mine only for a moment as the touch of them like that makes me ache for her. We have a little over two weeks before that can happen. The plan to surprise her is still in the works.
Everything has finally fallen into place. All that’s left to do is marry my son’s mother, the love of my life.
Part Twelve: Star Bright
Peyton
Lightning flashes across the night sky as I stare out the window. Pax fell asleep a little while ago and Kip is nowhere to be found even though it’s nearly midnight. He’s been so secretive this last week and I have to admit I’m beginning to get freaked out.
He’s left our bed for several hours each night. I suppose he thinks I’ve slept right through his absence each time, but I haven’t. A silent return he makes and I wake in the early morning to find him back in our bed.
A cold tension has begun to build between us. He’s never given me any reason not to trust him, but this sneaking thing is beginning to make me lose trust none the less.
The bedroom window looks out the back of the mansion. I watch a storm roll in as anxiety fills me. Tonight, I’ll wait up until he comes back. I’m not big on confrontation, but I have to do this.
If he’s cheating on me, I’ll try hard not to kill him, but it’ll be hard!
It’s been so long since I was able to give him what a man needs, but damn it, it’s because of his kid!
I don’t see how I can marry him, even though we got our marriage license about a month ago, if he can’t wait the amount of time it takes to recover from having a baby. It’s been hard on me too, but I guess he doesn’t care about that.
Anger takes over and leaves the anxiety behind as I start to pace the room. I walk past the bed and look at it. It’s a giant bed, and he stays well away from me on it as we sleep.
No sweet embrace do I wake up in. No soft touches in the night. No, all I get is space. All the space I want and more. But the problem is I don’t want space.
I love waking up and finding him wrapped around me. It’s been forever since I felt that and it’s killing me.
There’s been no reason to discuss it, since I couldn’t give him what he wanted anyway. But the fact is I’m open for business, so to speak. Today is the last day of my recovery period and the doc okayed me for physical activity, sex included.
Where is my partner? Who the hell knows!
All I know is when he comes through that door I’m going to have to fight myself
not to choke him. Footsteps I hear coming down the hall. I cross my arms over my chest and move to right in front of the door.
Kip’s going to know the jig is up as soon as he opens the door, the rat-bastard!
Kip
I have our parents downstairs. The justice of the peace has just arrived and now I’m on my way to surprise my love.
I fish around in my pocket and pull the wedding rings I picked up earlier today out. The platinum bands she and I picked out are perfect and I can’t wait to see it on her lovely, little finger.
Pausing in front of our bedroom door, I take in a deep breath. I’ll wake her with a kiss and ask her to marry me.
The room is dark as I open the door. “Whoa!” She’s standing right in front of me. “What are you doing awake, love?”
“Waiting for your ass to come back home!” She’s glaring so hard at me it’s almost as if I can feel the daggers stabbing me. “Where the hell have you been going every night for the last week, Kip?”
“Did you think?” I laugh and stop as she looks like she may find something and hit me with it. “Sorry, baby. I was setting things up. Getting things ready.”
I drop down to one knee in front of her and reach up for her hand. “What are you doing?” she shrieks. “You already asked me to marry you and I said yes. Or have you forgot that?”
With a smile, I pull at her left hand. “I know that, love. I have another question similar to that one. I thought it appropriate to get on one knee for this one as well.”
Her eyes finally settle into merely pissed off instead of death mode. “What are you talking about?”
“Peyton Gail Reed, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife this morning?” I ask and wait as the words sink into her brain.
“Tonight?” she asks, instead of just saying yes with her eyes filled with tears the way I envisioned she would. “How?”
“Is that a yes, love?” I chuckle.
“Answer me first, Kip.” She taps her foot and I find her adorable.
“I have a man waiting downstairs to marry us. Our parents are here to see to the baby. I want you to be my wife before I make love to you like I’ve longed to do since we came back from the hospital.”
There the tears are and she falls to her knees in front of me. Her arms go around my neck and she cries. “I’m so sorry! I thought you were cheating on me! I thought you were sneaking out to have sex with someone else.”
Running my hands over the silk of her nightgown, I whisper, “Is that a yes?”
She pulls back and wipes her tears with the back of her hand. A long sniffle she makes. “Yes! A thousand times, yes! I’ll marry you, Kip Dixon!”
Cupping the back of her neck, I pull her to me. Our lips touch and fire rips through me. In just a little while I’ll be able to feel her skin on mine and everything will be right in the world again.
I stand up and pick her up into my arms. Placing her on the bed, I say, “Wait right here. I bought you a dress, and it’s in the closet.”
Going to the closet I pull a box out from the top and take it to her. I watch her open it and her eyes light up. She pulls the white, flowing, Vera Wang wedding dress out that I had made special for her.
“You’ve got to be kidding me, Kip! It’s gorgeous. How did you manage to get this without me knowing?” The way her eyes sparkle fills my heart.
“That’s what I was doing in the middle of the night this whole last week. Getting things, making plans, making reservations. I wanted it to be perfect and you not to have to lift a finger.” My fingers run through her hair. “Your stylist is waiting for you across the hall in the other room to get you all dolled up and ready to meet me downstairs.”
“Kip,” her voice shakes. “I’m sorry for all the bad stuff I was thinking about you. I’m an idiot.”
“I forgive you, love.” I run my hand over her sweet, little head. “Now, go get ready and your father will come up and get you and bring you down to me once you're through. I can’t wait to make you my wife and whisk you away for the next two days to a private island in the Bahamas.”
“What?” she asks as her eyebrows go up. “The baby! I don’t think it’s a good idea to leave….”
I press my finger to her lips. “Peyton, he’ll be fine for two days. Our parents are all going to be here to take care of him. Sure, he’ll be spoiled rotten when we get back, but that’s okay.”
“But, I’m breast feeding…” she moans as she looks at the dress again.
“I talked to the pediatrician and he’ll be just fine on his formula alone for a couple of days. Just relax and go get ready.” I pull her up and walk her across the hallway.
I leave a kiss on the top of her head before I turn back to get ready myself. “By the way, Peyton, I love you.”
“I love you, you sneaky man,” she says just before she disappears into the room.
Finally, she’s going to be my wife!
Peyton
At nearly two in the morning on Tuesday, January fourteenth, I’m walking with my father down the staircase to marry my one, true love. My heart is pounding and I’m shaking as we go towards my future.
“It’s funny how you two started out going to get married almost a year ago and we all thought it was way too sudden,” Dad says as we walk to the wedding march.
“Then one kid and months later, we finally are,” I say.
“You look happier than I can ever remember you being.” Dad gives me a pat on the back of the hand he’s holding. “I think you two will make a pretty great family, Peyton.”
The water works begin and Dad hands me a handkerchief he pulled from his pocket. “Thanks, Dad.”
“You're welcome, honey.”
We take the last stair and I look up to find a man holding a Bible. Kip stands in front of him and looks at me. Mom and Chloe stand together on one side and Sebastien holds our baby, Paxton, near Kip.
I smile as I realize Kip and Paxton have on matching black suits. Kip really put in the work for this wedding. His smile is made more brilliant by all the candles lighting up the room.
Pax coos at me as I walk by him. I reach out and run a hand over his little, blonde curls. My father places my hand in Kip’s and more tears flow over my cheeks.
He’s all I can see. Kip smiles making my knees weak. He pulls me around to look at the man who’s about to say the words which will make us one.
My heart’s pounding so hard I can barely hear the words the man’s saying. A little something about how life will be different now I think I catch, but mostly I just look at Kip and my mind is moving with thoughts only of him.
Kip leans in and gives me a nudge. “Answer the man, baby.”
I look at the dark haired man. “Is the answer, I do?”
He gives me a nod and my family laughs at me. The pounding in my chest grows and I decide that I should concentrate on what the guy is saying. He may ask something completely inappropriate and I don’t want to say yes to anything I don’t believe in after all.
He asks Kip if he promises to love and cherish me forever and Kip agrees to. The idea that Kip will be around forever now is kind of freaking me out.
This summer I thought the thing we had was fleeting. Gone before it began. Then the baby happened and Kip found me and found out what I was keeping from him and instead of being furious or running for the hills, he did just the opposite.
Another nudge from Kip and I say, “I do.”
It’s a given no matter what Kip asks of me I will eventually do. He’s pretty trustworthy and so adorable it’s hard to tell him no about anything.
The next thing I know Kip is putting a ring on my finger and I’m handed a ring to put on his and now I know what’s next and I can hardly wait. He better plant a great one on me.
It’s been forever!
Kip
Stars fill the night sky as we fly on our private jet to the Bahamas. Peyton is drying her eyes again. She’s cried about a dizzying number of things since the festivities beg
an.
“What’s this flood about, my darling wife?” I take her hand and pull it to my heart.
The plane is beginning to level out and we’ll soon be able to move about it. First stop is the bedroom!
“I already miss Paxxie Poo!” she whimpers as she wipes the tears away.
“He’ll be back in your arms before you know it,” I say then kiss the top of her head. “You look stunning by the way.”
She fluffs a curl. “Do I really? Even with all the crying I’ve been doing?”
“Yes you do. By the way, why so much crying? I admit I thought you’d cry some, but, love, you’re crying about everything. When you cried about how pretty the jet was I really had to question if you’re happy about this marriage at all.”
“No! God, Kip!” She looks at me with the most earnest expression I think I’ve ever seen on her face. “Everything is making me so happy. I’m like a lunatic, I’m so glad you and I are married now. I swear it.”
The captain comes over the speakers, “Feel free to move about the plane guys. Champagne is next to the bed, newlyweds!”
Unbuckling our seatbelts quickly, it seems both of us can’t wait to get to that bedroom. “Race ya!” I say with a laugh.
Peyton’s giggles fill the cabin and I pick her up and carry her to the bedroom. As I open the door, we see that rose petals have been strewn over the bed.
“How sweet, Kip,” she says then her hand cups the back of my neck and she pulls me in for a kiss.
The sweetest kiss ever. I slip my tongue past her luscious, red stained lips to stroke it over her tongue. I kept our kiss somewhat chaste at the end of the wedding ceremony as my want for her is nearly overwhelming.
A fear ran through me that I’d not be able to stop once I felt her tongue mingling with mine. They way my pants are becoming increasingly uncomfortable is a clear indication I was more than right.
Hacked For Love & The Dom's Songbird Page 45