"What the fuck did you say to her?" yelled Rose.
Then Adrian piped in. "Great! Can I marry her now? Ivory, come to me. Let me – Argh! Stop hitting me, damn it!"
"Guys, it’s fine," I said, waving a hand and wiping my eyes as Darius wrapped his hands around my waist to pull me to him.
"I'm sorry, I'm fine. The wedding can continue." I was flapping my hands around like a bird.
"Do you -"
"I love you." Darius lifted up the veil and bent down kissing me and I wrapped my arms around his neck.
"My son,” the priest began, “you can't kiss her before she says I do and I pronounce you -"
"I told you, I get the fifty bucks!"
"It's okay, dad-father-wedding dude. They're already married."
"If you both can stop dancing, we can eat the cake."
"Leave them alone," yelled Rose, trying to drag Adrian away from us.
"Cake?" I asked, lifting my head up from Darius's shoulder. "Where's the cake?"
Darius laughed and shook his head as he wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me after a bickering Rose and Adrian. "Cake," I said excitedly as I saw it, my jaw dropping.
"You're getting a piggy back ride on it," said Adrian. "I bought it myself."
I laughed when I saw the couple on top of the cook. Rose rolled her eyes and commented, "It looks like she's trying to stomp him."
"That's what happens if you steal my cake," I said, grabbing the knife. "Are those flowers edible?"
"No, don't eat them," Darius replied then placed his bigger hand on mine as we cut the cake.
"There's also champagne."
"Where?" I said as Darius fed me a slice.
"Oh my god." It was a tower of champagne glasses like a pyramid and I shared a look with Adrian.
"Let's do it." I was about to rush to follow him when Darius pulled me back.
"What? Oh right, sorry." I grabbed a piece and raised it to his mouth. "Eat."
He raised an eyebrow. “What?"
Oh right. "I'll have one glass. I promise I won't spill any on your suit either," I said, crossing my fingers behind my back. Who the hell only has one glass of champagne?
"Aluminium…"
"Dairy…"
He sighed and grabbed the slice from me. "One glass."
"Of course," I told him in a hurry and rushed toward Adrian. "Stop it, you're drinking it all."
The wedding was quiet but for the reception it was a bit busier. Alicia and Jake Cartwell joined us just after we cut the cake and she gushed about all the orchids.
The boys from the trip to the beach and volleyball game, Daniel, Jeffrey, Kyle, Henry and their friends and dates, have also come, making it a bit livelier as we danced.
"Hey, you!" I said, giggling as Daniel danced with me. Wheee, we were spinning.
"Hey, yourself. Look who is married."
"Well, I was married before," I told him, only for him to laugh. "And for your information, I really did play on a guy’s team," I said, remembering how sexist he was at the beach.
"I was kidding, little one. I knew that." He ruffled my hair and I smacked his hand away. That took me a long time to make my hair like this. Okay, Rose helped me.
"My turn!"
Adrian swapped with Daniel and I loved as he handed me a glass of champagne. "Don't tell your husband."
"Our little secret."
"So, are you going to answer my question now?" he said as I gave the empty glass to Rose who was walking around.
"What question?"
"The one I asked when I first met you."
"Which one, Adrian?" I asked, confused.
"How are you liking your new husband?"
Oh, that one. I laughed. "He's old now."
"I know he has grey hair. Not too late to go marry me, you know. We are in a church and I still have your old ring."
"You still have it?" I asked in surprise. Was he going to sell it for money? Because I want half.
"Go away, Adrian," Darius said as he stood by our side and grabbed my arm off his shoulder.
"She was dancing with me,” Adrian growled as he tugged me back, making me trip over my heels. “Wait for your turn."
"Stop being a cock-blocker," Rose arrived and grabbed Adrian's arm, tugging him away.
"They have their honeymoon. I don't get one with her."
"That's because they are married."
I raised an eyebrow at the three of them before turning around and walking toward the cake table. They can bicker all they want.
I grabbed myself a plate and a glass of champagne and walked over to the table, kicking off my heels and sitting down. Now this was what weddings were for, food.
"Have a safe trip!"
I laughed, running as rice was thrown on us and took cover in the limo. I turned around waving as Darius climbed in. "Bye guys. Try not to kill yourselves," I giggled
"Make sure you come back with a baby," yelled Rose and I raised an eyebrow with a comical expression on my face.
Adrian added, "If you guys get a divorce, I'll be the first in line, Ivory. Shit, stop hitting me, you little piece of -"
Darius slammed the door shut and I waved as the black limo drove toward the airport. I sighed as I leaned against the seat and stretched out. I looked at Darius as he took his tie off and laughed.
"What?"
"Nothing," I said in a sing song voice before I saw the champagne bottle and leaped for it. "Look, Dairy. Water!"
He sighed and grabbed the bottle out of my hands.
"Hey!" I said as I tried to grab it back.
"You've had enough. I don't think they let drunk people in the plane."
I rolled my eyes. "You own the plane, silly." I tucked my hand around his arm and leaned over, placing my head on his shoulder and yawning like a cat.
“No, it’s our plane,” he whispered, which made me blush. I swatted his shoulder.
"Where are we going?"
"It's a surprise."
He had said that for the past month every time I tried to ask him. I knew it was an island of some sort by the hints I kept getting.
"Hey, wife."
"Yes, milk?" I said, lifting my head up. He smiled and wrapped his arms around me and lifted me to sit across his lap.
"I love you."
"I know. Tell me something new," I joked, wrapping my arms around his neck and sitting forward as he chuckled.
"We're married?"
"That's old. I don't think the priest liked us very much."
"It's new. Well, he got paid."
"How?" I asked, confused.
"Because this time, we had a marriage by love," and with that he leaned down and kissed me.
EPILOGUE
"I'm never getting you pregnant again."
"That's what you said last time," Adrian told Darius as he munched on his apple. He was hoping Darius didn't hear him, but Darius did. He heard it and turned around glaring at Adrian.
"Who asked you for your opinion?"
Adrian raised his hands in defense. "Hey, I'm just saying what I observed. That was what you said last time and look where we are, again."
"Well, this time I'm serious."
"Of course."
"I am."
"Sure."
"I'm serious,” Darius persisted and waved a hand at Adrian. “I'm not going to put her through that pain again."
Adrian rolled his eyes.
"Of course. You might want to check out your son. He's eating your pants. Hey, Stephen ,my pants taste better."
Darius flipped Adrian off and looked down to see Stephen busily trying to place the end of his daddy’s pants in his mouth. Groaning, Darius bent down and picked up the three-year-old in his arms.
"Are you done yet?"
I narrowed my eyes as I looked away from Darius and Adrian and looked at Rose, who looked more nervous than me. The last contraction was more than half an hour ago. Right now I felt nothing. "Do I look done?" I asked, pointing to my overly large sto
mach.
My water had broken less than ten minutes ago and then they rushed me to the hospital. I wasn't sure which part was more embarrassing: swearing and flailing my hands that I knocked Jesse unconscious, or this happened in the middle of a very important business party, my screaming making many of the men pale. This is exactly why I don't go to these things.
I could still picture Darius's way too pale face and Adrian yelling "Name it after me" the whole car ride while Rose told him to shut up. Why did they have to tag along?
"You are awfully calm."
"There is always a calm before a storm." I mean, if my screaming in the car had anything to do with it, I was only going to get louder and I knew it was going to only hurt more. Especially since this was one stubborn child.
My first, Stephen, was easy. The pains came and then he came out. But this little devil I loved already was still inside me, sleeping, no doubt.
"Darius can't make his wife scream."
I closed my eyes. "Can someone just kick him out?" All I could hear was his annoying munching on the apple and it was really starting to get on my nerves.
"Don't yell at me," Adrian snapped, jumping to his feet. "This is all because your husband couldn't keep his dick in his pants! I really wanted to eat dessert!"
Rose grunted and slapped her forehead with her hand and sent me an apologetic look while my breathing got faster. And this time it wasn't to Adrian annoying me. It was ‘cause I felt it. It was like my spleen was being torn in half. Fuck, I forgot it hurt this much.
What was I thinking, wanting five kids?
"Breathe," Rose said as I bit my lip.
No, don't scream. Maintain your composure. Even if I had a high tolerance for pain, this was out of the world.
"What the fuck do you mean ‘breathe’? That's not going to get rid of the pain, is it?" I yelled and the whole room froze. Darius stopped pacing like a mad man, and Adrian dropped his apple as he went pale.
"Is it going to come out?" Adrian asked as he made a disgusted face.
That's it! I was going to get up and choke him but Rose beat me to it, standing up and walking up to him. "Out, now."
"But I want to name it after - Fu- Fine," he yelled as she smacked him. He got up, kicking the apple in the process, and stormed out. Rose took Stephen from Darius's hand and walked out, saying, "I'll get the nurse."
I closed my eyes, my nails digging into my own palms. Nothing in my twenty-five, nearly twenty-six years, could have prepared me for this pain. I felt hands pry my fingers away before they could draw blood and smelled the relaxing cologne, but it really couldn't take away this pain.
"Just breathe. Push and breathe. Just b -"
"Say breathe one more time, Darius, and I will seriously- Fuck!" I sucked in air. Maybe I should stop talking. The pain was unbearable. My eyes flew open and I bit my lip until it drew blood.
"No more kids after this," Darius strained, wincing as my nails dug into his skin but said nothing, probably because it was nothing like the fu*king pain I felt now.
I nodded. No more kids after this. Why the hell did I want five? I was likely to pass away from pain from this one.
"Hey!"
Darius patted my hand as we heard Adrian's voice from the door. Darius calmly said, "I'll deal with this," but then flipped.
"What the fuck do you want, Adrian Hunter!" There were only a few times Darius swore, and most of them were in the hospital room.
"I'm trying to help."
I sucked in more air trying to breathe. Okay, maybe breathing would help, but it really wasn't helping the pain go away.
"Adrian, I swea –"
"Okay, I was just going to say that your mothers are downstairs. The quicker you get the baby out, the faster we can leave. Rose will stall them."
Oh shit, my mother. The last thing I wanted was my child to see his or her horrible grandmother's face first.
It did the trick because the next thing I knew, I was making a sound I never knew I was capable of and I was sure I was about to dig a hole in Darius's arm.
I leaned back into Darius's strong frame, feeling more tired than ever. He had somehow managed to get on the bed behind me, his feet dangling as I used him as a pillow. After twelve hours of painful labour, and another twelve as the doctors rushed around making sure everything was okay, and then another three just waiting, we were more than tired. I wasn't even sure how I was still awake, but holding her in my arms, sleep wouldn't come.
"Sapphire," he said, stroking her cheek with his pinky finger.
"What?"
"I want to name her Sapphire."
I laughed weakly. "Sapphire Quartz," I whispered, testing it out. It had a ring to it. We hadn't picked out names because we had wanted both genders to be a secret. So our parents didn't try to name them after themselves. Just a small surprise.
"No more kids after this," Darius warned from behind me for the tenth time and I rolled my eyes.
"I can't because your sperm screwed up their order," I joked with a chuckle. Not that I cared about the order. It was just a stupid teenage plan, it was all to chance.
He chuckled. "Thank god I did."
"Can we come in yet?" There was banging on the door and I sighed, looking up at Darius who shook his head. After the baby came out, the nurse had brought in Stephen, who was busy sitting on the bed staring at his sister with as much awe as Darius, and locked everyone else out.
It was peaceful after Sapphire had cried her lungs out and gone to sleep.
"Wwakkey," Stephen said, sitting up and reaching out with his grubby hands to touch her. Darius caught Stephen’s hand before he could punch the baby and moved him so he could gently touch her arm.
Light green eyes opened and I knew that they would replicate Darius's as she grew older. Judging by the soft black hair that was already coating her head, she was going to be a spitting image of him.
"Thank you," whispered Darius, kissing my neck.
"For what?" I said as I tried not to giggle. He always forgot I was ticklish.
"For giving me two angels."
The door opened and we saw the nurse slip in, struggling to close the door before the others come in. She looked tired as she saw us and smiled as she walked over.
"Hello, parents. How are you feeling?"
"Tired," I said. I was actually drained.
"Well, everything is organised, sir."
Darius nodded, carefully getting up and trying not to move us much before grabbing the bag from her.
"What's organised?" I asked as I watched the nurse walk behind me and move the blue curtain. I heard her unlocking something.
"Our secret getaway." He winked as he picked Stephen up. His wink still does things to my stomach.
"I can leave?" I asked in excitement. Last time I had to be kept overnight because Stephen was a drainer, but Sapphire already seemed to be quiet, her eyes blinking up at me. I was surprised she hadn't started crying again like Stephen did when he was a baby.
The nurse looked behind me nervously and I groaned. Darius, of course.
"There will be someone to come check up on you once you got home."
The nurse gently picked up Sapphire, and I struggled to get up.
"There are clothes in here," Darius said as he handed me the bag. I walked behind the curtain. My legs felt sore but the pain was bearable. I pulled out a long loose dress. I couldn't wait to get out of the hospital gown.
Slipping on the soft cotton material, I walked back and reached for Stephen.
"I think you should take it easy," Darius leaned back, greedily keeping his kids to himself.
"It's not as bad as the first time." It wasn't the first time I couldn’t even get out of bed, but this time I felt more active, the adrenaline still rushing in my body. Darius grunted but handed me Stephen. I smiled, feeling his soft body against mine.
"Did you miss, mummy?" I tickled his stomach and he laughed, throwing his head back.
"Come on."
The nurse
carried Sapphire, just to be safe, knowing me and stairs, and Darius took Stephen as soon as we arrived at the stairs, saying he was safer with him. But we all knew those two were inseparable.
Marriage by Law Page 39