They're Strictly Friends (Tough Love Spinoff Book 1)

by Chloe Liese

  Lace covered her arms but plunged dramatically in the front, her breasts beautifully held yet suggested, the tan freckled skin of her chest glowing against the lace’s edge. Her veil and gown swirled with the wind, soft white like clouds and waves and snowy air.

  Then a distant wave crashed as Elodie was brought before me, and time suspended. I dimly registered the vicar welcoming everyone, emphasizing the importance of familial love and support of a marriage, then his invitation to begin our vows. But all I saw and heard was Elodie—her soft breaths, the rosy flush of her cheeks, her lips, smooth and pink like berries, and the beautiful swell of our baby pressed against the watery white material that flowed around her.

  “Luc,” Zed muttered. “Showtime.”

  “Right.” I sighed, earning our small party’s laughs. “Sorry, got a little distracted by this one.”

  Taking her hands in mine, I pledged Elodie my heart, my life, my fidelity, forever. Then it was her turn. Elodie began her vows, squeezing my hand softly.

  “Lucas, I—” She paused, a frown crossing her features as her grip on my hand intensified suddenly. She hissed quietly, her nails finding purchase in my skin.

  We locked eyes as I tried to silently convey my concern. She simply shook her head before drawing a deep breath and continuing her vows. “Lucas, I take you to be my partner, my dearest friend, my greatest love. I give you my heart’s promise to be faithful to you, to cherish, honor and adore you, for as long as I live.”

  The words had just left her mouth, when she once again gripped my hand forcefully.

  “Darling, you all right?” I muttered, leaning in. She was silent but nodded. Nairne looked concerned as she sat with Jamie on her lap, and Zed turned toward Noah to procure our rings from his waistcoat pocket.

  Our rings in hand, Elodie’s grip slackened in mine. “Elodie, I give you this ring as a symbol of my eternal vow of love and faithfulness to you, and you alone.”

  She smiled widely, tears gathering in her eyes as she pressed the ring on my finger and over my knuckle. “Lucas, I give you this ring as a—ohhhhh,” she grunted, bending forward as her hand squeezed my arm.

  Kai stepped forward, looking concerned. Temporarily he shielded us from the tiny gathering of people behind. “Elodie, talk to me,” he commanded quietly.

  Ah, Kai in physician mode.

  She shook her head rapidly, and groaned again. Kai’s eyes slid shut. “Right, think she’s in labor.”

  Her eyes snapped open as she looked to him in panic. “No,” she whispered, shaking her head furiously. “I can’t be in labor. It’s my wedding day!”

  Kai sighed, setting a gentle hand on her back. “Sorry, dove, babies come when they’re ready.”

  I stood in shock. “Kai, this isn’t one of those pranks like you used to pull, is it? Because it’s not funny.”

  “Luc, I would never.” He glanced uneasily over to Elodie as her brow creased again and she squeezed my arm hard. “I’d get your vows over and get her back in the car. She doesn’t need to be having a premature baby in a guest bedroom.”

  My mind snapped to action. “Right, back off, then, and let’s wrap this up.” Kai nodded, stepping to the side and waving off Mum’s concern as she rose in worry. She sat back down tentatively in her seat, glancing between us.

  “Well then, darling,” I said, “when you’ve got a next break, just finish the words about the ring, then we’re all set, okay?”

  Elodie frowned up at me, tears swimming. “I’m ruining it, Lucas.”

  I stepped closer to her, taking her face in hand. “Don’t you dare say that. It’s perfect.” I kissed her forehead. “It’s our baby, coming when they need to. Now don’t you worry your head, just finish those words, let the vicar bless us, and we’re going to leave these people to a smashing brunch while we go have a baby.”

  Elodie’s eyes searched mine, before her features set and she nodded sternly. “Right, okay—ohhh wait, another.” She scrunched her eyes shut, and I saw her biting her cheek. It passed soon, though, and she straightened up, inhaling deeply before finishing her part. “Lucas, I give you this ring as a symbol of my eternal vow of love and faithfulness to you, and you alone.”

  The celebrant, being a consummate English priest, had stood there with his nose up, smiling politely while hearing this entire fiasco unfold. As Elodie finished, he placed his hands over us, saying his blessing. “May the Lord bless and keep you, may his love uphold you in your darkest hours and your brightest days. And may your marriage be blessed as one of steadfastness, joy, and deepest love.”

  Elodie’s hands gripped me violently as she bent forward. A wave crashed, though much nearer than any other I’d heard today. Her head dipped down before snapping up to me, wild with panic. “Lucas, my waters, I think they just broke.” And sure enough, liquid puddled at her feet, soaking the earth and setting my heart into a frenzy.

  “Amen!” I hollered, sweeping her up in my arms and nodding to Kai. “Let’s go!”

  Zed sprinted off for our car, starting it up and leaving it idling for us. Elodie’s father slipped into the driver’s seat and familiarized himself with the gears. I set Elodie gently in back as Kai jumped in the front passenger seat, slamming the door.

  “Seatbelts on, and let’s move!” Georges yelled, peeling out onto the gravel road until we were on the motorway.

  “Kai,” I hedged, peering nervously down at Elodie, who buried her grimacing face in my neck. “Are you sure we’re going to make it? She seems to be having a lot of contractions, rather close.”

  Kai shook his head. “I’m hopeful, yes. I’m just not comfortable risking a home birth, especially with her preexisting condition. Georges, you’ll need to stay on this road another five miles, and then you’ll see signs for the hospital. It’ll be a right. Once we’re on there, it’s another three or four to go.”

  Georges peered in the rearview mirror. “Right, so we’re thinking probably thirty minutes at most until we’re there.”

  “Hopefully, yes.” Kai nodded. “Though roads out here can be practically medieval, so don’t go too fast else we’ll be stuck delivering a baby on the roadside with a flat.” He turned so he was leaning over the seat, eyeing his watch while observing Elodie.

  She’d been so quiet, but her body hadn’t. I had fingernail marks dug into my every exposed skin surface and she’d bit clean through my suit by the feel of it. “Sweetheart, can you talk to me?” I whispered, kissing her hair softly.

  She whimpered, shaking her head furiously before doubling up in my lap. “Ohhh God,” she yelled, her fist slamming into my chest. “Ohhh my God, these…I can’t do these.” She gasped for air, just brutalizing my front with her hands as she worked through the contraction before falling back in my arms, her eyes glazed with pain and shock. “Lucas, that wasn’t right. The ones during the vows, I could manage those but this…” She shook her head desperately. “I can’t, I can’t do it.”

  “Elodie, look at me.” I tipped her face my way and gentled her cheek. “You’re strong, dearest, think of all you’ve been through these past months. You can do anything. It hurts terribly, I know, but you can ahhh—”

  I was rendered speechless as she snapped toward me with a violent contraction, sinking her mouth into the fabric of my suit at the shoulder, whimpering as she gasped for air. When this one was done, she pushed off me, sitting up and ripping out her veil. Next came her hands, clawing madly the back of her beautiful gown, searching frantically for the zipper.

  “Get it off, Lucas, NOW!” she yelled.

  Quickly I reached over her, pulling down the zipper. Underneath was thankfully a thin slip, like a silk nightie, that covered her down to mid-thigh, but questions of her modesty soon became moot.

  I dragged the dress off her, quickly balling it up and shoving it away. Abruptly she got on all fours in the back of the car, so I set my hand on her lower back and rubbed forcefully. Kai watched quietly, his face contorted with doctorly focus, but it was also laced with so
mething else—worry.

  “What is it?” I glanced his way as I leaned toward Elodie, pressing low on her back, and massaging her hips as she swayed and moaned like a dying animal. She sounded terribly pained, deep loud groans laced with wails petitioning for death.

  “Oh, God, I’m going to die, Lucas, I’m going to fucking die. And it’s all your fault!” she screamed, her eyes scrunched in tears and concentration.

  “They’re one on top of the other, mate,” Kai muttered, glancing at his watch and then her. “Georges, there’s your turn.”

  The car made a full ninety-degree shift, earning Elodie’s string of French oaths followed by more pleas to die. It was gutting me, and I was helpless, but I tried to keep my words positive, my hands directed toward comforting her body.

  “You’re doing brilliantly, love, we’re almost there, and then hopefully we can get you some medicine, so you don’t have to feel all this pain.”

  Elodie nodded furiously. “Yes, that’s what I want! Hurry up, Papa, please!” she howled.

  “I’m trying, mon ange,” he called. “You can do this, Elodie.”

  She swayed her hips, leaning into the pressure I applied to her back and hips, before she dropped to her side.

  Breathing heavily, her hair slicked with sweat, Elodie was a vision of beauty and strength. I couldn’t help but smooth back those curls and kiss her forehead. “You’re the bravest woman I’ve ever known, Elodie Edwards, how many times have I told you that?”

  She smiled faintly. “Elodie Edwards. My married name…it’s so pretty.”

  I laughed as tears choked me up, nodding. “Yes, dearest, it is. It’s a beautiful name for a beautiful woman. Now remember what I said, when this next one comes—you’re brave and strong. You can do this.”

  Elodie squeezed my hand in hers and nodded fervently, before her eyes widened. “Ohhh God.” She turned from her side, back to her knees. “Fucking hell!” she screamed, devolving into more French obscenities. She panted, rocking, until a low feral noise filled the cabin, stilling all of us.

  Kai’s eyes widened. I leaned toward Elodie, glancing madly between him and her. “What was that?” I asked.

  Kai shoved his lanky form over the middle console, a feat of physics that two men well over six foot and an over-average height woman were all crammed in the back of an English sportscar. “Help me turn her over. Lean her back into your arms Luc,” he called.

  Absolute physician mode. Concerned physician mode.

  “Right,” he said gently, “Elodie, this is what—”

  “Don’t. Fucking. Touch. Me,” she growled.

  Kai shook his head silently, telling me what needed to happen.

  Turning her way, I braced for the worst. “Sorry, love, doctor’s orders.” I grimaced, gently hooking her arms in mine, causing her to fall back into my arms as she screamed like I was ripping out her lifeforce. Kai pulled on his gloves with a snap.

  “Where the hell did you get those?” I muttered in disbelief.

  He rolled his eyes. “I carry a physician’s bag, you idiot. Where do you think I keep them, tucked up my arse?”

  With clinical focus, he rucked up her slip. I ground my teeth as I heard the woman I loved wail in pain, her body writhing in agony as my bloody brother stuck his bloody fingers inside her most private and precious parts to me, feeling for our baby.

  He leaned forward gently, gazing off as he examined her, and Elodie called him something I was glad he didn’t understand in French.

  Pulling his hand out, he inverted the gloves and slid them off with practiced ease. “Fully engaged,” he muttered, rubbing his forehead and peering out the car.

  I blinked rapidly and leaned forward. “I’m sorry, what?”

  Kai glanced back to me, looking like he’d swallowed something nasty. “She’s completely dilated, the baby’s engaged.”

  I all but growled at him. “Remember I’m not a physician. Engaged, dilated, meaning what?”

  He rolled his eyes. “Meaning she’s started to—”

  “Arggghhhh,” Elodie grunted, tensing in my arms as she shifted to her side, grasping my shoulder in her hands like it was her lifeline. Her legs were spread wide open, nestled inside me, and Kai blanched as he peered down again.

  “Oh Christ,” he muttered, spinning around and fishing out new gloves. A few more items came sailing into the backseat over his shoulder as Georges white-knuckled the steering wheel and slammed on the gas. Hospital signs were in sight, and a sigh of relief escaped me, knowing we were almost there.

  “So close, love,” I whispered, kissing her hair.

  “Lucas, it’s so much pressure. It hurts,” she howled, her fist beating into my shoulder.

  “I know, darling, I know. You’re doing—”

  “Ahhhh!” she screamed, and her yell transformed into a ferocious grunt, her face going red.

  “Shit!” Kai yelled, tugging on his gloves, and sliding something underneath Elodie’s legs. “Baby’s right there, Luc!”

  I nearly choked in shock as I leaned over Elodie, cradling her in my arms. Maneuvering myself so I could hold her and still see, I peered over her shoulder, cursing loudly myself when the reality of the situation became clear. Elodie dropped back, taking haggard deep tugs of air and shaking her head. “I can’t! Oh my God, oh my God!” she cried, but she was already seized by another contraction as she curled forward, grunting violently, long and low.

  Kai’s hand cradled a tiny head, pink and covered in pale slicked hair, as Elodie gasped madly. “Oh my God, get it OUT!” she screamed.

  “All right, El, one last push and you’re done, dove,” he muttered, his eyes fixed on the baby’s head, which was faced down from us, completely silent. That wasn’t right, was it?

  “Oh Goddddd,” Elodie screamed, doubling up and growling with an almighty heave of her body, before a rush of waters and blood and beautiful, tiny baby fell into Kai’s hands. He lifted our child up, setting the little one on Elodie’s chest, and in that moment my fears were erased as a shrill screech pierced the air.

  I wrapped my arms around both of them, kissing Elodie’s face, taking her lips in mine as she craned back. I kissed her, muttered words of praise and comfort, stroking her hair and holding her in awe. She wept loudly—exhaustion and love pouring out in every sob—as Kai glanced toward the imminently approaching hospital.

  “Is she all right?” Georges called. I caught his frantic eyes in the mirror. I knew mine were filled with tears, my throat was caught with emotion, so I settled for nodding frantically and trying to croak out a yes.

  Kai patted his shoulder. “You did brilliantly getting us here, Grandpapa. She’s fine, both she and Elodie, they’re both fine.”

  Our tiny baby wailed on Elodie’s chest.

  “Mon chouchou, mon mignon, shhhh,” Elodie whispered against our baby’s head.

  I tugged off my jacket, laying it over my wife and child like a blanket, so only our little one’s soft head was exposed on Elodie’s bare skin. Kai’s words finally sunk in.

  “I have a little girl, Kai?”

  He smiled my way, clapping my thigh as Georges pulled us up in front of the hospital. “A girl. You’ve the two loveliest ladies in England right there in your arms.” Grinning, he threw open the door and ushered the nurses our way. “A goner for sure.”

  Thirty-Four

  Lucas

  Water dips and swells around me, the waves cool and salty. The ocean covers more of the earth than land, its depth and scope requiring a mere mortal’s respect. The sea can swallow you up, unless you learn its ways, to listen and obey its nature.

  I turn, the tug of the sea telling me where the shore belongs, and a powerful wave sends me hurtling to land. Standing, the sun glides over my bare skin, a balm and bath of heat as I wipe off the brine already crystallizing on my skin, shake out its weight from my precious ears. A weight of being watched falls on me, and finally I open my eyes. Morning light, a faint blob, but the aura that swims around it is sign
ificant—movement like a nightgown and wild hair.

  Elodie.

  A field of tall grass and flowers. Buttercups and vetch, sea pink and English stonecrop, their details lost to me as the ripple of sea breeze through them paints their colors and dimension for my heightened ears. A queen holding court among her subjects, Elodie—my sun and water, rooted to the earth, chestnut and gold, bronze and rose and sapphire.

  Down onto the grass, tenderly. The slide of hands along skin, tidal pools of cotton puddled round her waist, tan taut skin, round and heavy. The heat of bodies joined, the gasp of air over mouths that seek and love, incantations of our names rising in the morning air.

  “Loulou?”

  Dark. Still night, or early morning. I groaned, mumbling as I fought to settle back into my dream. I was just getting to the good part.

  “Loulou?” Elodie whispered, hands sliding down my stomach, my cock, my bollocks, massaging my thighs and back up. Resting on my chest, scratching my stubble.

  Bugger it, the dream could go hang. This was much more promising. “Mmm?”

  “Lucas, I want to make love. Wake up,” she sighed, kissing my neck, her hands gliding over my shoulders, down my ribs, lower.

  “Uh—” I grunted at her hands working me forcefully. Christ, it had been so long. Since the baby. “Can’t,” I muttered, my hands seeking hers, trying to still them. “Baby.”

  She laughed against my skin. I felt her smile. “The doctor said I was clear yesterday, and now I want you, Lucas. You were just too distracted with her to listen.”

  I smiled, eyes still shut. “She’s distracting. Perfect,” I mumbled.

  Elodie sighed happily. “I know, she’s your favorite girl.”

  “And you’re my favorite woman,” I muttered, hauling her close over me, my eyes blinking open. I pressed my lips to hers, sighing at the bliss of their touch, fitted perfectly, the heat of our contact setting my body alight.

  “I didn’t hear, you’re right, but I want you, darling, of course I want you, even if it’s”—I glanced toward the large digital clock—“only five thirty in the bloody morning.” I groaned at the early hour and her touch, as she swept her hand over the head of my cock.