Delia Bay

by Lauren Cooper

  I don’t know how or when we made it official that Luna had moved in with me, but I was happy to see all her things permanently at the cabin and a FOR SALE sign in the window of her apartment. Granted the woman had a lot of shit but I didn’t dare tell her that as she struggled to cram a ton of lace into my wardrobe.

  “Hey, what are you doing?”

  “We’re going to need more space once the baby is born” she mutters under her breath, her beautiful hair falling from the loose knot she has at the top of her head.

  “We’ll figure it out” I move the last empty box from under her feet and rack my brain for ideas on where we’re actually going to put this baby. I clock the chest of drawers in the corner and come to the conclusion that I can turn the bottom drawer into a crib.

  I’m kidding. Calm down Sandra, don’t go calling CPS on my ass.

  I loved having Luna here all the time now. The cabin felt more like home with her things mixed with mine. Silly things that she’d done like the lace curtain she’d hung over our bedroom door and the candles and smelly things that I had no use for dotted here and there.

  Just last night I’d lit a candle on the island in the kitchen and she’d gone all weird on me for a few minutes before explaining that the damned thing was ornamental and not meant for lighting. I’d pissed myself laughing and she’d seen how ridiculous she’d sounded.

  Fucking candles as ornaments. Not in my cabin.

  I shrugged out of my coat as I dumped the box outback, hanging it next to hers on the hook in the hallway before grabbing a beer from the fridge.

  “How are you feeling today?” I round the counter, dropping my bottle there before wrapping my arms around my girl. The oversized jumper she has on hangs off her shoulders, but she looks so damned sweet that makes me only want to rip it off her.

  “I’m good. Just want everything ready for tomorrow” she places her head over my chest, leaning her ear over the place right where my heart is. The same one she’s managed to pull back together more and more each day, the one she’s literally beaten back to beating.

  “Why? It’s just us for dinner, right?”

  “Yeah, I still want it to be perfect” she squeezes her small arms around my waist, pulling me closer until my lips are in her hair.

  “As long as you’re there it will be” I plant a kiss to her head and hold her tightly. No matter how long Luna needs me to hold her, I will. I’ll never be the one to pull away again, even if it kills me in the process.

  “This came today” Luna pulls away as she reaches for a Christmas card on the counter. The front is all glitter and gold forming a tree with Happy Holidays scribbled across the front. I take the card from her and smile softly when I read who it’s from.

  “That’s nice of them” I place the card back on the counter.

  “They left their number too, maybe we can call them one day?” she asks softly, her big blue eyes glaring up at me with slight worry.

  “Maybe, I guess they deserve it” I shrug nodding towards the card again. The Walkers were too nice for their own damned good sometimes, I both loved and hated them for it.

  That night we both crashed after watching some Christmas movies on the TV that Luna had brought up with her. I wasn’t opposed to having one now, before everything just reminded me of the things I didn’t have. Those stupid family commercials just shoved things down my throat that I already knew I was choking on. But now? Things were different and tomorrow I was hoping they’d be a whole lot different again.

  LUNA WAS UP AND AT ‘em before I had a chance to sort out my morning erection this morning, much to my disappointment. Grumbling I pulled back the thick covers and glanced outside to see the smattering of snow on the ground, the clanging and banging coming from the kitchen had me moving that before I could even yawn.

  The little dove was busy at the stove, pots and pans surrounding her and the counter tops. The log burner is on full blast, the heat radiating around the cabin nicely, so my balls don’t’ shrivel back into my body as I make my way towards her.

  “Merry Christmas little dove” I mumble against her bare shoulder, her warm skin beneath my lips has me instantly rock hard again and jutting against her back.

  “Mm, merry Christmas Blackbird” she smiles, tilting her head to meet mine before our lips brush slightly.

  “Need a hand?” I cock an eyebrow down at her when she pulls away a little, the slight blush rising on her cheeks makes my dick even harder and doesn’t the little dove just love it.

  “I think you need more of a hand than I do” she snickers, turning back to stirring the pot in front of her.

  “And besides, I think you’re a bit of a health hazard without any clothes on” she glances between my legs at the hard muscle sticking into her spine before she tugs her bottom lip between her teeth.

  “You could have me for dinner instead” I raise a cocky eyebrow at her but that only serves to aggravate the hormonal little wench as she swings the tea-towel at me, forcing me to spin on the spot so she doesn’t catch my crown jewels.

  “Okay! Okay! Bloody women” I huff, sulking off to grab some slacks while she giggles that all-girlish laugh behind me. Why couldn’t we have pizza for dinner? I was used to that anyway.

  The rest of the morning was spent with my being forced to help preparing dinner, it wasn’t exactly the worst thing in the world, the warmth in my chest just grew with each passing second. Christmas songs were playing over the docking station, the Christmas tree was lit up with a gathering of gifts underneath and Luna had lit some blood red, berry scented candles on the island.

  “Smells delicious in here” I finish making our drinks as Luna dishes up our dinner. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had a real home cooked meal within the comfort of my own four walls.

  I didn’t doubt for a second Luna’s ability to cook, not that it mattered to me. We could live off Pizza and beer for all I cared but as soon as she placed that piled high plate of home cooked food in front of me my stomach grumbled as if it hadn’t eaten a morsel in years.

  Was it your traditional type of Christmas? No. But that didn’t matter either. Luna had called on her Mama this morning to check that she was okay, the old girl was off volunteering at the local Soup Kitchen with Bethel and would see us tomorrow instead. I’d called the Walkers with a heavy ball in my belly to wish them a Merry Christmas much to their appreciation and surprise. Dinner went by in a blur of beer and orange juice, too much food and overstuffed stomachs, before we crashed on the sofa to watch TV under the twinkly lights of the tree and orange glow of the flames. I kept glancing out the window at the snow, watching as the greyish-purple clouds hung heavy over the bay. For my plan to work they had to fuck off and soon.

  We’d agreed not to get each other anything ridiculous for Christmas, because what was the point? Neither of us needed anything or wanted for anything and all our cash being saved for the baby.

  A little while later when the snow had finally let up and the sky was as clear as it would get, I shuffled from my spoon position before nuzzling kisses into Luna’s neck.

  “Can we do gifts now?” I nibble on the sensitive skin there making her squirm beneath me.

  “Yes!” she squeals, wriggling her ass against my needy cock.

  “Come on” I move against her back, ushering her up and off the couch.

  “You need shoes” I nod towards her sock covered feet.

  “And a coat” I smile when her eyebrow raises in question, but I keep my lips sealed.

  I shoved my feet into my boots by the back door, double checking my pocket for the gift I’ve had concealed for the past month is still there.

  Luna meets me at the back door wrapped to the high heavens in her favorite woolen scarf that’s wrapped tightly around her neck, her snuggly coat that she’s worn everyday this winter and her boots.

  “You look like a burrito” I plant a soft kiss to the tip of her nose as I shrug my own over my shoulders.

  “Why are you takin
g me outside?” she narrows her baby blues at me, but I ignore her and open the back door to the arctic air in the meadow.

  I couldn’t have planned it better if I tried, the sky was clear with a dusting of stars following the retreating trail of clouds right down towards the boardwalk. The crunch of snow beneath my feet has me reaching out to guide Luna in the direction of the meadow, the last thing I want is for her slip out here on the deck.

  “Reid” she giggles, tangling her fingers in mine. “Where are we going?”

  “Wait and see little dove” I tug her to my side, my breath creating a wave of fog in front of us in the cold night air. I walk us to the middle of the meadow, the grass and wildflowers that graced us in the summer have long gone but the sound of wildlife mixed with the chilly air around us, the stars dancing above us is all I need to give Luna her gift. The soft glow emanating from the cabin lights up the meadow just enough for me to see what I’m doing. Thank Fuck.

  “It’s so beautiful” Luna breathes as she glances at the sky above her. I take the opportunity to get to my knee, pulling the small box out of my pocket as I do. It takes my girl a second, but she finally looks down at me and gasps, her small hands covering her mouth.

  “Luna Perry, for all that you’ve done for me, for everything I will never be able to say thank-you for, for believing in me when no-one else did, and for loving me when I was the most unlovable person, will you do me the honor of marrying me?”

  I blurt the words out faster than I should have. They’d been running around my head since the minute I’d left the jewelry store in town. I was so damned grateful word hadn’t got around that I’d bought a diamond ring otherwise this whole thing would have been ruined.

  I prize the box open to reveal the engagement ring I’d purposely picked out for Luna, the champagne diamond ring glistened in the dark as a few fireflies whizzed past us from us interrupting their habitat but right now I was breathless and waiting on my life to answer me.

  “Of course, I will” she swipes at a stray tear travelling down her cheek and reaches out for me to get my feet. I take the ring from the box and slide it onto her finger, the perfect tear-drop shaped diamond fits her beautifully. My eyes meet hers and my lips drop to hers instantly, the pull undeniable and unbeatable.

  I had to force myself away from her, too aware of the freezing elements around us and the fact that Luna is pregnant. I pulled her back towards the cabin with her hand in mine, my inked skin protecting hers even if just a little from the cold.

  “I love you” Luna snuggled into my arm, her eyes trained on the ring on her finger.

  “It’s beautiful”

  “Good, it’s the least you deserve” I plant a soft kiss to her head before swinging the cabin door open and ushering her into the wall of heat. We shrug out of our boots and coats, draping them here and there before we both stop in our tracks and just stare at each other. Luna’s eyes are glistening with emotion, something I’m betting my own are mirroring right now. The beat of my heart in my chest is new, something I haven’t felt for years but tonight, the organ has had the final piece slotted back into place.

  Luna turns towards the bedroom, her back disappearing behind the lace curtain and beckoning me closer. I waste no time in stripping off my T-shirt as I enter our bedroom, the bed that was once covered in a bedsheet now has a bazillion cushions and throws on top of it, but my attention is all on the beautiful goddess spread out on top of it, the small swell of her belly glowing under the light of the lamp.

  I crawl my way up the bed until I’m on top her, my knees placed at either side of her hips. I lace my fingers with hers before bringing her ring to my lips and giving it a kiss.

  “I love you little dove” I whisper in the quiet of our room before I land my lips on hers. I’ll never tire of this feeling, the all-consuming, warming feeling of being with Luna. It’s drugging and addictive.

  I don’t know how long we spend kissing each other but when Luna sighs against my lips and rolls to her front I land beside her on the bed before my fingers start to wander.

  Running my fingers down her spine, the dip in the middle arches even more as my skin dances over hers. The way her body reacts to my touch has me rock hard in seconds, the mere thought of having her beneath me, on top of me has me totally and unapologetically unable to concentrate on anything else but her. Getting to her knees, Luna strips her top over her head, her long blonde locks dancing down her back and pushing her breasts out more so than usual. I know they’ve been sensitive lately but that only urges me to suck on them more. Reaching up I place a hand at the small of her back and pull her towards me before wrapping my mouth around one of her nipples. The soft mewl that leaves her lips has me rocking my hips against her, the need to hear the sound over and over again has me nipping at her a little too harshly.

  If I was to die right now, I’d die a happy man. I had everything I could ever want or need. My woman with my ring on her finger and my baby in her belly, I just couldn’t wait much longer to meet the little one that was going to wrap itself around my little inked finger and hold me to this earth in more ways than one.

  Daybreaks & Sun Rises

  SEVEN MONTHS LATER

  I was grateful for the warm sun on my cheeks as I rode back to the cabin on my bike. The winter had been harsh and long, which, according to Luna was unusual for Delia. Spring had taken its sweet time in gracing us with its warm sun and flourishing flowers much to my woman’s dismay. A few months ago, she’d had to give up surfing owing to her growing belly and the doctor’s advice. It hadn’t stopped her from wading into the water and swimming a little here and there but the risks with surfing were too much for even the most professional surfers to contemplate. It had been seven months since Christmas, such a small amount of time yet so much had happened since then. So much being a fucking astronomical amount in the form of Gus handing money from his pension to us as if it had grown on a damned tree, to Luna selling her apartment and getting the money to build the much-needed extension on the cabin, to the Walkers dropping by at least once a week to check in on Luna as if she were their own daughter. I’d been shoved aside long ago, the ever-growing baby bump had taken precedent over everyone in town, not that I cared obviously. The little one was growing each day, its kicks becoming harder and more prominent against my stubble covered cheek each morning. Luna had less than two weeks to go now and the cabin was almost complete with the refurbishments we’d had built over the past few months. The frozen ground meant we’d hit a few hiccups along the way but the two additional bedrooms and extra room adjoining the living room meant we had ample space to grow into.

  I’d told Luna we could buy somewhere new, but she loved the cabin too much and insisted we stay.

  Tonight, I was on my way back from town after grabbing a few baby essentials from Mrs. Perry, things of Luna’s that she’d kept and wanted to hand down to this baby. The walk was getting busier with each passing day, tourists were growing in numbers and everywhere I looked I was getting flashbacks from last summer.

  It’s crazy how much things can change in a year. Hell, it had taken me ten long years to realize that I could move on from my past, that it was possible. Luna had made me see that in just one summer.

  The dirt road up the cabin was as bumpy as ever, the grass in the meadow was as high as the truck now, the huge daisies growing there lining the side of the road. The cabin looked totally different now with the extension on the side, the wrap around porch Luna had added was decorated in potted plants and hanging baskets, the swing from out back was now out front so she could sit and stare at the sea all day.

  I grabbed the bags full of baby blankets and linens from Mrs. Perry and headed up the gravel pathway to the front door. The feeling of overwhelming panic has me dropping the bags at my feet, the eerie silence around me is pierced by a groan of pain coming from inside. I don’t know how I got through that front door, but I don’t remember pulling my keys out.

  “Luna?” I call out to her but
the second I lay my eyes on her I know something is wrong. Hunched over the back of the new sectional in the living room, her eyes squeezed tightly shut and her hips rocking from side to side has me behind her grasping at her hips in less than a second.

  “What is it baby?” I scan her face for any sign of injury but when I come up empty I spot the trail of water on the floor.

  Fuck.

  “Have your waters broken?” I place my hand at the small of her back, rubbing slow circles over the taught skin there.

  “Yes” Luna gasps, her contraction easing enough to allow her to stand upright.

  “Okay, close your legs while I get the bags!”

  I run like a bat out of hell from the baby’s room to the truck, throwing two bags in the back along that god-awful maternity pillow that Luna has favored over me for the past six months. I’ll be burning the thing as soon as this baby is born, who knew that once you got your woman knocked up you’d be replaced by a weird shaped stuffed cushion?

  I run back inside and help Luna slide her feet into some flip-flops, the same ones she’d cried about just a few months ago because she’d wanted to wear them, but it was too cold.

  “Ready?” I pull her towards me slowly, my hands at her hips can feel the muscles there contracting.

  “Let’s go have this baby” she smiles up at me, her eyes tired but full of excitement.

  “You got this little dove” I plant a chaste kiss to her lips because as much as I’m loving this blissful little moment, I’d rather not have a baby in my living room. I need all the medical professionals there if Luna or the baby needs them for my own piece of mind. Luna had opted for a water birth anyway and that was as about as far as I was going within the confines of my madness.