Embracing Us (Embracing Series)

by Delisa Lynn

  “Nikki, have you decided when we should tell everyone?” Brody says as he rolls over in bed next to me.

  “Soon, I’ve almost let it slip several times. I know that Lila and Tatum will be excited.”

  “You and Tatum have gotten close lately. I think that’s good. But how do you think Lila will feel about that?”

  “I’m not sure, I try not to mention either of them to one another. I know that what Evan had with Li is in the past, but this whole situation makes me uncomfortable.” I say and realize, that I cannot tell Brody about Lila and Evan.

  “Yeah, it’s awkward for sure. Do you know she cheated on Liam again? Evan said he spent the weekend with her when she was there. Wait… Nikki, how far along is Li?”

  Holy fuck, damn it. I can’t lie to Brody. But I can’t tell my best friends secret either. Ugh… Why have they put me in this position?

  “I…umm, I think six or seven months. I believe.”

  “Nik, her baby isn’t Evan’s, is it?”

  Damn, damn, damn. When she has that baby I’m going to kick her ass. Then Evan’s.

  “Not that I know of.” I just lied to Brody. I feel so bad for doing so. “Come on, let’s get up, we’re hungry.” I say as I grab his bottom lip between my teeth.

  “Mmm… You continue that and you won’t only be hungry for food.”

  Things have been going great with Liam and I, and the baby will be here in six weeks. I finally took time off from work. With everything that’s going on, I’m too stressed and that doesn’t help my clients much. Nikki called me a few weeks ago; she is pregnant. I’m so excited for her. She also informed me that her new friend is also pregnant. That would be the one and only Tatum Kelley, well soon to be Martin.

  I hope this baby isn’t Evan’s. I just can’t stand the thought of hurting him or my amazing husband. Liam wants to do it all, he doesn’t want me to tell Evan at all. Nikki said that Brody is questing her, I hope he doesn’t put it all together. At least until after baby bean is born.

  Nikki and Brody’s wedding is going to be awkward enough, without all the baby drama. Liam still says he is sure the baby is his. God I hope he is right and by the grace of God he is. Megan and I are going shopping and to get pedicures today. I love my girl time with her. She is amazing. I’m going to tell her about Evan today. I hope it doesn’t change our friendship.

  “Good morning, sleepy head. Come on get up, I have a date with Meg today. Are you and the guys still going to look at the building?” I ask Liam as I straddle him.

  “You stay up there, and there won’t be any getting out of bed for an hour or so. Yes, I should call Ash. But that can wait. I need some loving from my beautiful wife”

  “Liam, I just got dressed. Oh, that feels good. Yes, they can wait.” I say as I pull my dress over my head. He unsnaps my bra and starts kissing my breasts.

  “Mmm, I love you so much. I don’t know how I’m going to wait six weeks again.” He says as he lies me back on the bed and kneels between my thighs. “Fucking beautiful. All mine.”

  “Yes, all yours always, baby. If I recall, when I had the girls you didn’t. We couldn’t wait the six weeks. I think it was more like four… Jesus, Liam…please don’t stop.” I say as he slides my panties off with his teeth.

  “Looks like I wasn’t the only one turned on. You are so warm, so wet.” Liam says as he rubs circles around my clit.

  “Mmm, taste me…Please…” I say in a whisper.

  “Tell me Lila, what is it you want me to do? You want me to make you come baby?”

  “Oh God… Yes, please. I need you… Oh. Yes that’s what I wanted.” I say as I feel his tongue go between my folds. The things this man makes my body do. I’ ready to come undone with the touch of his tongue.

  He takes his time, licking and sucking my lower lips. My back arches and my hands are pushing his head further inside. I feel my toes curling, and I know I’m ready to explode.

  “Come, for me baby. Let it out, come. Then I will give you all of me so we can come together. You want to feel me deep inside of you baby?”

  “Oh God, yes Liam…Right there, lick me now, don’t stop. Yesss…” I moan as, I feel it down to my core. That is one of the greatest orgasms ever.

  “I love the way I make you feel. I need to be in you so bad, I can’t wait any longer.” He says as he positions himself between my legs, he takes his length in one hand a raises my right leg with the other.

  Then in one thrust he’s deep inside of me making me moan and scream all over again. I’m screaming all sorts of profanity, when we make love, we are loud. We’ve never been able to be quite. Poor Rosa can hear everything. I’m glad the girls are with my mom. He looks at me and says, “Baby, you ready to come with me. Can you come for me again?”

  “Hmm, yes…When…Oh, please come now, I can’t hold it any longer.” I say. I feel Liam’s rhythm increase and then feel every ounce of him pouring inside of me, as we he groans against my neck.

  He gets up and walks into the bathroom and starts the shower. Damn, I already had my hair and makeup finished. This is so worth getting ready again.

  “Come shower with me, I know we messed up your hair. You re-washing it, or do you want to put it up?”

  “Carry, me please. No, I don’t have time to wash it and fix it. I’ll put it up, just don’t get it wet.” I say as I throw my arms around his neck, placing small kisses all over his handsome face.

  We shower, then I reapply my makeup and re-do my hair. I can hear him on the phone with Ashton. I feel so bad for him, he finally told his Christa he wanted a divorce. She isn’t taking it to well. Thank God he was smart enough and she was dumb enough to sign a prenup. If he hadn’t she would take him for everything.

  “Hey babe, everything okay?” I ask as Liam walks back in the bathroom.

  “Yeah, just worried about Ashton. Apparently one of Christa’s dealers has been going to the house.”

  “Oh no! That’s not safe for AJ or Ashton. Please have him bring little man over here.”

  “Okay, will you be okay with the both of them staying here? Kade, will be here until his condo is finished also. Can you handle a house full of Ellis men?” he says as he swats my ass.

  “Oh, you know I can. I will kick all of your asses.” I say as I try to lift my foot to his ass. But I can’t get it up that high. “Well once I have baby bean. Oh speaking of baby bean, he needs a name.

  “Well, what have you been thinking? I know we aren’t doing junior. So anything that pops out?”

  “I really like the name Lain, kind of like Blain just without the B. What do you think?”

  “I like that, maybe a middle name that starts with an A? So he will have my initials? That’s if you want. You know I’m okay with whatever you want.”

  “I really like Lain, and I just thought about this what about Greyson? After our grandmothers?” We discovered last year that both of our paternal grandmother’s names were Grace. They have both passed and I think that would be a great name to honor the two of them.

  “That would be perfect, you know our dads would be happy about this?”

  “I know. I think it’s perfect, Greyson Lain Ellis.” I say as I wipe tears from my face. Glad my mascara is water proof.

  “Do you have time to eat breakfast? Rosa has made bacon, I smell it.” Liam says as he kisses my neck.

  “No, I’ll grab something. I need to get going, now keep your hands and lips to yourself.”

  “Ahh, so just my hands and lips huh? You didn’t say anything about this.” He says as he rubs his length along my ass.

  “Ugh, I have to go. Meg is going to kill me if I’m late. Make sure you check on the girls, and they are staying home tonight. Our mothers can’t keep them forever.” I say as I walk out of his reach.

  I am meeting Megan at Panera for brunch. I told her that I have a lot of things to talk about. She and I have been friends going on four years now. We met at the firm. She is a fantastic lawyer and a beautiful lady. If I get my
way, she will be in the arms of Kade soon. I know they have a connection. She can’t stop talking about him, and I have noticed that he asks about her as well.

  “Hey there, preggers. That dress is super cute. You just had sex didn’t you?” Meg says as she grabs my arm and walks toward the mall with me.

  “Hi, thank you. And how the hell do you know. It’s my hair isn’t it?”

  “Oh, no, it’s that look all over your face. You always have a glow. But today, it’s the, ‘I just been laid’ glow.”

  “Omigosh, Megan! I can’t believe you said that.”

  “What? Who the hell would be ashamed of getting fucked, by one of those Ellis men? You my dear, have a gorgeous husband and his cousins are just as sexy as he is. But you know I’m more partial to Kade. At least you are getting some, my battery operated friend, isn’t doing as good as it used to. Maybe I can get a piece of Kade.”

  “Bitch, quit looking at my hubs, he is off limits. But I have to admit they are all fine. You can have Kade, Ashton has too much baggage. You know he and I dated before Liam and I, right? Please find you a man, and lay off of the battery operated ones, of course you don’t have to deal with any drama from them.”

  “God, no. You never told me that. What happened? Trust me, I would much rather have a man inside of me then, vibrating silicone.”

  “Well, as you know his sister Addison was my best friend. I’ve told you about her. Any ways, Ashton and I dated for over a year but I wasn’t ready to have sex and he was and I was going off to college and he thought I would give in and when I didn’t, he cheated on me of course. Then I snagged up the other Ellis. Then a few years later poor guy got trapped by Christa and they had AJ. I actually almost lost Liam. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. You and I have become really close, and I love you and trust you.”

  “Wow, I didn’t know all of that. I love you too, you are one of my closest friends, and I adore your girls. What happened with Liam? Okay spill everything. Do we need extra napkins?”

  “Yes, extra napkins. Let’s eat before I get into all the detail, you may choke. You may also hate me after words.”

  “Oh, Lila, I could never hate you, sweets. We all have a past and secrets. I’ll save mine for another day though. If that’s okay?”

  “Of course, now let me eat my bacon, egg on ciabatta and I’ll fill you in.” I say as I take a bite of my sandwich. These sandwiches are so good. They were my daddy’s favorite. I remember he used to bring Eric and me here every Sunday morning.

  It’s so odd how the smallest things makes us, think of our loved ones that have passed. I think of Ads every time I eat popcorn or get a pedicure. Hell, I think about her all the time, there wasn’t a day that I can remember that we didn’t communicate in one way or another. I think of my grams when I eat peanut butter. She always made us peanut butter pie. See just the little things. We ate our brunch and went to sit at a table in the middle of the mall.

  “Okay lady spill it.” Meg says as she places her hand on mine.

  “When I was in college, I met a guy named Evan. Nikki’s fiancé Brody is his best friend, we all met the same day. He and I became friends, and he always wanted more. Well you know Liam was in the Army and become MIA. I ended up sleeping with Evan, then when Liam hadn’t returned, I started dating Evan and we got engaged. Then Liam came back. I chose Liam of course, but something was missing. My father died and Evan came to here and I slept with him. I know it was wrong, well almost four years had passed. Then seven months ago, when I went to New York for a friend’s wedding, I slept with him twice. And now the baby I’m carrying might be his,” I say and notice she hadn’t said a word. “So do you still want to be my friend?”

  “Oh sweets, of course I do. I’m no one to judge you. I have my own secrets as I said before. That’s for another day. Does Liam and Evan know?”

  “Liam does…sighs…Evan does not, and Liam doesn’t want me to say anything, he wants to raise the baby as his, even if he’s Evan’s. I can have a test performed now or wait until the baby is born. But he still thinks we shouldn’t. I’m so confused Meg.”

  “Okay, first of all Liam is a wonderful man. But he can’t tell you not to have it done, if you feel you should have it done then do so. If you don’t have it done and Evan never finds out that would be great, but if and when he does, then I’m sure it won’t be pretty. Does Nikki know?”

  “I know, that’s what I’m afraid of. She does, I just told her, and I’m afraid that she will tell Brody, who will tell Evan. So that’s where everything stands. I needed to tell you so I can get some advice from someone who doesn’t know Evan.”

  “Babe, the only think I can suggest is that you follow your heart. Are you still in love with Evan?”

  “Thank you, no I’m not. I have a love for him and always will. But Liam is my life, and I love him more than anything. I’ve hurt them both so much. Evan is actually engaged now.”

  “I know you love Liam, you two seem so happy and everything always seems so perfect between the two of you. Was Evan engaged then?”

  “I really did have a perfect life. I just saw Evan and well, my hormones started controlling me. I swear, I saw him and I was instantly wet. I know that’s wrong, but that’s how it was. I’ve made a vow to myself that I’m done with him. I will have to see him and his fiancé in a few months at the wedding.”

  “Damn, is he that hot? That’s the way it is when I see Kade. Oh the wedding, let me guess he and his woman are also in the wedding party?”

  “Yes, he is very attractive. And of course they both are. Nikki and Brody are even moving to where they will be living. So if Greyson is his, then eventually they will know.”

  “Greyson? You guys finally picked a name? I love it.”

  “Yes, we decided this morning. Okay, let’s go get those pedicures and I’ll be ready for some pretzels.” I say as I give my friend a hug.

  My mind always goes back to the conversations that Evan and I had about children and what Bryn did to him. All the heartache she caused him, aborting his child when he begged her not to. If this baby is his and I don’t tell him, then I’m no better than her. The thought run through my mind, over and over. Should I do this for my husband, so he will be content knowing that Evan can never be a part of the baby’s life. Should I do what I feel is best and tell Evan everything. Either way, I’m screwed, feelings are going to be hurt and hearts will be broken. If the baby is Liam’s then we have nothing to worry about.

  We can just move on with our perfect life and put all of this behind us. I don’t want Evan to find out from someone else. I know it will break him. He has moved on from me, and I know he loves Tatum, but he would never stay away from his child. This baby will be here very soon, six weeks to be exact. And I think I need to do what’s best for us all. I hope I’m making the right decision and that Liam will forgive me for what I’m going to do.

  Our baby boy will be here soon. In less than six weeks. We will be adding another Ellis man to the house. Ashton, AJ, and Kade are all living here. Ashton gave Christa the house, in exchange for all rights to AJ. She will probably sell the house anyways. We found a building for our new company, that Kade, Ashton, and I are opening together. We are starting ‘Ellis Boys Inquisitions.’ I’ve always wanted to work in investigations, when I was in the Army, that’s all I thought about, because Kade and I have been discussing it since we were teens.

  We had talked about it a year or so ago and then when Lila, decided to take her little trip. I knew them that it’s what I wanted to do. We decided to also let Kade partner with us at the Wine Venue. So he moved here from Texas and is waiting for his condo to be finished.

  We are meeting with the contractors today for the new location. It’s about twenty minutes from home and the Venue. We haven’t broke the news to Uncle Gil that he will be working more hours at the Venue now that Ashton and I both are going full time at the investigation location. Lila loves the idea of me working with the guys. I would love for her to s
tay at home and not go back to work, but I know she will. She loves working at the firm.

  Pulling up in front of the new building I see Ashton and Kade already waiting for me. I didn’t see the contractor and I thought I was running late. I get out of my truck and walk over to where they are standing.

  “Hey, where is the contractor?” I ask as I look at both of them.

  “Hey man, he is in the building. We thought we would wait for you to get here.” Says Ashton as he pulls me in for a bro hug.

  “What the hell took you so long anyways?” Asks Kade as he gave me a fist bump.

  “I was hanging out with Lila, we were hanging baby clothes. You know the baby will be here very soon. I’ll probably take a few weeks off, if that’s okay with the two of you?” I ask, but hell it’s my company too. They should have no problems with it.

  “No worries dude, we got this. We actually have a few new cases that I brought from Texas. That’s if y’all want to work on them with me?”

  “Of course we will,” Ashton and I both say in unison. Kade looks at us and laughs. He had that same laugh that Ashton and I have, a deep loud Ellis chuckle.

  We go in to talk to the contractor and get things rolling. The building is fairly large, and we want it to have three offices. We also want a lounge, so if for any reason we needed to bring the kids in with us, they will have a place to play.

  “Does all this look okay with the three of you?” Bob, the contractor, asks as he hands me a set of blue prints. I look at them and look at my cousins, and they agree that it’s perfect.

  “Okay, I have a date so I need to get going.” Says Kade, I knew he and Meg were talking. I just hope he didn’t hurt her, he has a past. Hell, I’m sure she does too.