by Folsom, Tina
“God, I missed you!” he murmured when he severed the kiss. “Please don’t ever leave me again.”
“Never again, I promise.”
“I’ll hold you to your promise.”
She reached for him, pulling his face back to her. “I want you.”
“You’ve got me, baby, body and soul.”
He tugged on her T-shirt and pulled it over her head, making her shiver despite the warmth in the apartment. His hands swept over her naked breasts, caressing them tenderly. She felt his touch more intensely now. The pregnancy had made her breasts more sensitive.
The pregnancy. Her heart stopped. She hadn’t told him about it yet, but she didn’t think she could keep it a secret until their wedding night. He needed to know, and she needed to tell him.
“Daniel,” she whispered just as he dipped his head to one breast and sucked her hardened nipple into his mouth, pulling on it gently, while licking over it with the full breadth of his tongue. The texture of it rubbing over her receptive flesh made her shudder with pleasure.
“Yes?” he murmured against her flesh.
“There’s something you need to . . . ”
“ . . . do?” he asked. “Anything you want, baby. You just tell me what you need.”
“No, something you need to know,” she tried again and took his head between both hands, lifting it off her breast and forcing him to look at her.
The passion that clouded his eyes made her womb clench in anticipation.
“I’m pregnant.” She let out a breath. “I’m having your baby.”
Warmth and adoration now radiated from his eyes. “I know, baby.”
Surprised, her mouth dropped open. “You know?”
He nodded, his hand now sliding gently down her torso until it came to rest on her belly. He stroked over it in slow movements. “I should have noticed earlier. When I touch you now, I can feel the changes in your body. Your breasts are fuller and so much more responsive when I touch them. And when I look into your face, I can see the glow. You’re radiant, Sabrina. I should have seen it. I should have known. It’s no surprise that you took everything so hard. You had such a burden to carry, so much stress to deal with. I should have realized earlier that your hormones were making everything more difficult for you. Had I known . . . ”
She put a finger over his lips, stopping him. “I wanted to find the perfect moment to tell you, but when everything took a turn for the worse, I couldn’t. I didn’t want you to feel obligated and marry me just because of the baby. Because I know you would have never let me go had you known.”
Daniel shook his head and laughed softly. “Sabrina, let’s be clear about one thing: I’ll never let you go, pregnant or not. We belong together. Without you, I’m only half a man.”
She pushed back the tear that threatened to run down her cheek at his loving words. “How did you find out? Holly?”
“After Jay let it slip that he saw you and Holly at the OBGYN office, I confronted her. She really had no choice but to tell me at that point. So don’t be mad at her.”
“I’m not.” She kissed him softly.
“Good,” he agreed. “Now, where were we?” He ran his eyes over her naked torso. “Oh, yes, I believe I was about to undress you completely and make love to you.”
She reached for the top button of his polo shirt and opened it. “Then what are you doing standing there fully dressed?”
He stepped out of her arms and pulled his shirt over his head, tossing it to the ground. His shoes, pants, and boxer briefs followed.
Then he tugged on the string that tied her sweatpants at her waist and loosened the knot. The material dropped to the floor with a soft whoosh, leaving her standing in only a G-string.
Daniel hooked his thumbs under the fabric and pushed it down, helping her out of the flimsy garment. A moment later, he swept her up in his arms and brought her down to lie on the sofa, his body braced over hers.
“Baby, if anything hurts, you’ll let me know, won’t you?”
Her forehead furrowed. “Why would anything hurt?”
He slid his palm over her stomach. “I don’t want to hurt the baby.”
She chuckled and pulled him down to her. “I’ve read that a pregnant woman can have sex well into the final weeks of her pregnancy without hurting the baby in the slightest.” Then her hand reached for his cock and wrapped around it. He was as hard as an iron rod, and it was exactly what she needed from him right now. She needed to feel him inside her, showing her how much he desired her. How much he loved her. “Take me.”
“If you put it that way,” he murmured and gripped her left thigh, urging her to open up to him.
Without breaking eye contact, Sabrina guided his cock to her sex, then released her grip on him. An instant later, he thrust forward and sliced into her in one continuous stroke until he was seated balls-deep.
She pressed her head into the pillow, her back arching off the sofa cushions as she received him. “Oh God!”
“Too hard?” he asked immediately and pulled back.
But before he could withdraw completely, she’d already slung her legs around him and crossed her ankles below his butt, imprisoning him. “You’re not going anywhere.”
Daniel shook his head, his eyes devouring her. “I don’t deserve you.” Despite his words, he plunged back into her. “But I’m not giving you up.”
“You’d better not.” She pulled his head to her and pressed her lips onto his mouth, kissing him with all the pent-up passion and love she felt for him. At the same time she poured all her hopes for a happy future into the kiss.
As they lay on the couch making love, the lights from the city reflected on their glistening bodies, moving as their bodies moved. In the semi-darkness of their living room, Sabrina felt renewed by the knowledge that Daniel would always come back for her, would never give up on her. And with his body he showed her that he desired only her, that his heart beat only for her. She felt it. With every thrust of his cock, she felt his heartbeat reverberate in her womb. With every kiss, she felt warmth spread in her heart.
“I love you,” she whispered between panted breaths and strangled moans.
They were mere echoes of Daniel’s sounds of pleasure as he took her more passionately and yet more tenderly than ever before. There was something reverent about the way he loved her tonight. As if he worshipped her.
Her entire body began to hum and vibrate under his ministrations, and she knew she couldn’t hold her climax back any longer.
“Now,” she urged. “Now, Daniel!”
He gazed into her eyes, and she could see it so clearly there: the love that needed no words. Then his eyes shut and he threw his head back. His jaw clenched and the cords in his neck tightened when he drew back and delivered another thrust.
With a moan, she let herself go and felt the waves of her orgasm wash over her at the same time as she felt the warmth of his semen flood her. His thrusts slowed as they rode out their climax together.
When Daniel finally stilled, he kissed her softly, then pushed a strand of her damp hair away from her cheek. He looked down at her as if he wanted to say something, but there was nothing that needed to be said. She could see it in his eyes.
He was happy to have her back. As was she.
25
Daniel held her hand as they walked to the back of the house where the tent was ready. Flowers were being brought in, and everything looked like a dream. But Sabrina knew it wasn’t a dream. It was reality. A reality that nearly hadn’t happened.
She squeezed Daniel’s hand, causing him to look away from the goings-on in his parents’ garden and gazing at her instead. His eyes shone with love when he murmured, “What?”
“Thank you for not giving up.”
He reached up to her face and brushed his knuckles over her cheek. “I would never give up on you or on us. We belong together. And we’ve created something together. Something beautiful.” He dropped his gaze to her stomach as if he could alr
eady see a bump forming there, though Sabrina knew she wouldn’t show for another two months at least. “No matter what happens in the future, I’ll never give up as long as there’s any love left between us. It’s worth fighting for it.”
“You’re not concerned that we’re having a baby so early in our lives together?”
“No, though it’s going to be hard to share you with somebody else who wants your love.” Then he chuckled. “Good thing is that we’ll have a very dedicated babysitter.” He motioned toward the tent where his mother was giving the florist and her helpers instructions on where to place the flower arrangements.
Sabrina laughed. Her mother-in-law would be a wonderful grandmother. “I fear that once we hand our child over to her for a day, she won’t want to give it back.”
“That’s a definite risk,” Daniel admitted.
“Daniel?” his father’s voice suddenly came from the house as he stepped out into the garden. When he spotted them, he added, “Ah, here you are. The Millers just called and said they’re coming to the wedding, and they’re very sorry about the mix-up with the calendars. They said they can make it after all.” He rolled his eyes.
Daniel shook his head. “Mix-up? It appears the Millers just read the New York Times and decided that it’s safe again to be associated with us.”
His father smiled. “It appears so. So let’s be gracious and welcome them. I’ve added them back onto the guest list.”
Sabrina pointed toward Raffaela. “James, you might want to let your wife know. I have the feeling she’ll want to rearrange the seating plan again.”
James sighed. “Oh dear.”
Sabrina stroked over his shoulder. “Well at least they’re not invited to the rehearsal dinner tonight. If she had to change the arrangements for tonight, she would really be stressing out. At least there’s still time to make changes for tomorrow.”
Her future father-in-law made a dramatic grimace. “I’m assuming neither of you wants to do the honors?”
Both Daniel and Sabrina shook their heads in unison.
“You can do it, Dad,” Daniel encouraged him as he marched toward his wife.
“Do you think we’ll be like that when we’re an old married couple?” Sabrina asked.
“You mean still in love? Still playful?” He pressed a soft kiss on her lips. “Yes, all of that. I promise you.”
Before she could lean into him and kiss him back, footsteps from behind her made her turn her head.
Sabrina’s breath caught in her chest. “Mrs. Vogel?”
The female partner of Yellin, Vogel, and Winslow, the firm who’d fired her only days earlier, stepped onto the porch. “I’m sorry, Miss Parker,” she said hesitantly and pointed back toward the house. “The front door was open, and there was nobody in the house. I’m sorry to intrude.” She motioned to the tent. “You’re busy. So I won’t keep you long.”
Sabrina swallowed and instinctively reached for Daniel’s hand.
“Mr. Sinclair.” Mrs. Vogel nodded at Daniel. “I’ve come to apologize to both of you. On behalf of the entire firm, I’m terribly sorry for the manner in which we treated you. It was inexcusable. We should have known that it couldn’t be true. We should have trusted in you and your integrity. I could give you a hundred excuses why we terminated your employment. You know, reputation, image and such. But what it boils down to was that we made an error in judgment. And for that we’re truly sorry.”
Sabrina nodded numbly, surprised at the thoughtful apology. “Thank you, Mrs. Vogel. It means a lot to me.”
“That’s not all. I know you might not trust us anymore, Miss Parker, but we do value your work at the firm. You’re an excellent attorney, and we would hate it if we’d lost you for good. I’m here to offer you your job back. That is if you still want it.”
Sabrina could barely believe her ears. “You’re offering me my job back?”
With a smile, Mrs. Vogel nodded. “Take your time to make a decision. But we would love it if you returned to Yellin, Vogel, and Winslow after your honeymoon.”
Sabrina exchanged a long look with Daniel, who smiled at her encouragingly. Then she looked back at Mrs. Vogel and stretched her hand out to her. “I’d love to.”
Mrs. Vogel let out a relieved breath, shaking Sabrina’s hand. “Thank you. And congratulations on your upcoming wedding.”
Moments later Mrs. Vogel was gone.
“I can’t believe it!” she said and threw herself into Daniel’s arms.
He turned her in a circle as if she were a horse on a carousel.
“Congratulations, baby!” He laughed. “See, everything is fine now.”
“Almost everything.” She smiled wistfully. The wedding was back on. The guests were coming. She had her job back. But there was still one thing that wasn’t right.
“I wish my father would come back and walk me down the aisle tomorrow.”
Then everything would be perfect again.
26
“And you’re sure he’s still there?” Daniel asked Tim as they both got out of the car in front of the Mill House Inn in East Hampton.
Tim nodded. “I sweet-talked the girl who works the front desk. She would have called me if he’d checked out.”
Daniel couldn’t suppress a smirk. “A girl, really?”
“Hey, she totally thinks I’m straight.” Tim shrugged. “Not my fault that her gaydar isn’t working. Anyway, she hasn’t called me. Looks like he’s reluctant to leave after all. Maybe he just needs a gentle push in the right direction.”
“I hope you’re right. Do you know what room he’s in?”
“Twenty-two. Up the stairs, turn right, then an immediate left.” Tim’s cell phone suddenly rang. He pulled it from his pocket and looked at the display. “It’s the PI.”
“Take it.” Daniel watched as Tim answered the phone. They’d managed to get the story retracted without the PI’s help, but it wouldn’t hurt to find out what the private investigator had found out about Audrey.
“Yeah? This is Tim.”
Lots of hmms, uh huhs, and ohs came over Tim’s lips while he listened to the PI on the other end of the line. Then he finally said, “Email me the file. Thanks, man.”
He hung up, a crooked grin on his face.
“He found something?” Daniel asked, curious now.
Tim chuckled. “Oh, you’re so not gonna believe whom our little tramp Audrey slept with when she was sixteen.”
“Whom?”
Tim shook his head. “Tell you afterward.” He motioned to the entrance door of the B&B. “Now, go and give him a piece of your mind. I’ll wait here and make a few calls.”
Daniel didn’t press Tim for an explanation, opened the door to the beautiful building and stepped into the foyer with the dark wooden floors and the white walls which were hung with pictures of old ships and other maritime motifs. He glanced to the little reception area. A sign stood on the counter next to a little bell: Ring me for service!
Just as well that nobody was manning the reception. He much preferred going upstairs without being seen. Following Tim’s instructions, he found the room in question immediately. He knocked and waited.
There was a sound coming from the inside, then the door was opened.
Sabrina’s father wore a pair of pants and a wife-beater shirt. He looked unshaven and unkempt. Daniel inhaled. And he’d been drinking, he added to his quick assessment.
“What do you want?” George Palmer asked.
“I want to talk to you.”
By way of reply, George opened the door wider and stepped aside. Daniel entered, closing the door behind him, and looked around. The TV was on mute. The New York Times lay on the sofa in front of it, and a bottle of Jim Beam stood on the side table, a half empty glass next to it.
Daniel took a closer look at the newspaper and was able to read the date: it was today’s edition.
“You read it?” he asked George without turning his head to him.
George walked around and
slumped down on the couch. “Yeah.”
“So you know it was all a lie.”
His future father-in-law didn’t look at him, but nodded his head. He reached for the glass and took a large gulp.
“Then what are you doing here sulking? You should be sobering up to be ready for the wedding tomorrow.” Daniel stepped over a pair of dirty socks and walked around the sofa to stare down at him. “Damn it! What’s the matter with you? Your daughter needs you!”
George scoffed and lifted his lids for a moment, but dropped them again quickly, as if he couldn’t look Daniel in the eye. “She doesn’t need me. Not after the things I said to her.”
“That’s not true. Every girl needs her father to walk her down the aisle, no matter what happened before.”
George shook his head. “I called her a call girl! Don’t you get that? I can’t take that back. All the apologies in this world won’t be enough to restore my relationship to my daughter.” He sniffed, and Daniel noticed how the older man’s eyes grew moist with tears. “I’ve screwed up. I should have trusted her. I should have known! She’s my little girl. She would have never done anything like that. Why didn’t I believe her? Why didn’t I take her word for it?”
Daniel lowered himself and moved the newspaper aside to make space on the couch, before sitting down next to him. “We all make mistakes. That’s what apologies are for.”
“I’ve made one too many mistakes. She deserves better than me.”
“You’re still her father. She loves you. Are you really going to ruin your only daughter’s wedding day by staying away from it? By letting some stranger walk her down the aisle? Do you know how that will make her feel?” He paused for a moment. “She’ll feel abandoned by her father. She’ll think you don’t love her anymore.”
George jumped up. “That’s not true! I love her!”
Daniel got up too, jabbing his finger in George’s chest. “Then show it! Don’t wallow in your own sorrow!” He pointed to the bottle. “Do you think alcohol will resolve the rift between you two? I can tell you it won’t! The only way you can fix this is by going to Sabrina and apologizing to her. She’ll forgive you. I promise you. Your daughter has the most amazing capacity for forgiveness, and I know that for a fact. In the past, I’ve hurt her worse than you did. But she forgave me. And it’s taught me a lot about your daughter. It’s taught me who she is and who I am. And who I would be without her. That’s why no matter what happens, I will always ask for her forgiveness, and I will always do whatever is in my power to make her happy. Because the thought of seeing Sabrina unhappy breaks my heart into a million pieces. So, if you love her only a fraction of how I love her, then you will be at that wedding, or I promise you, you’ll regret for the rest of your life that you weren’t part of the happiest day in your daughter’s life.”