This Girl Stripped

by Dawn Robertson

  “Thank you for coming,” she whispers, and clings to Levi.

  “Do you two need anything?” Star asks as she makes her way to Seven’s hospital bed. She climbs up next to her and pulls her into her arms. Star and Seven lay there for a while and Levi gets up to make his way back to the NICU to spend some time with their daughter, Marley Star Parker.

  “I’m okay, but Levi might be hungry.” Chrome and Diesel leave to grab something before Levi gets back. I’m sure they are both hungry as well since we weren’t able to eat our dinner.

  “She’s tiny.” Seven cries. “Three pounds, and eight ounces. She almost fully fits in Levi’s hand.” She wails harder. “It’s all my fault. I couldn’t even do this right.” Star just holds her tightly as she lets it all out.

  “You couldn’t have stopped this Seven. It happens, she’ll be okay.” Star comforts her. And I just sit and watch. I can’t speak; every time I try, my words end up in a lump in my throat. I’m trying to hold my tears back but it is impossible, so I excuse myself from the room and have a good cry in the family waiting room.

  “Paisley?” I hear Levi come up from behind me.

  I wipe the tears from my eyes, and turn to face him. “I’m sorry, I held it together as long as I could in there for Seven, but I needed to come out here and let it all out.” He nods in agreement, and I’m sure he knows the feeling because his eyes are just as red and bloodshot as Seven’s.

  “I never thought it would happen to us. Ya know? You see it on television and read about it in the pregnancy books. But, when you live like us, you begin to think you are above it happening because you can buy all the best medical care and testing.” He lets out a sigh and scrubs his hands over his eyes.

  “This is all my fault. I should have never pushed her. I’m responsible for it all. The break. Her running to Woodstock. The baby coming early. It’s all my fault. I can’t believe I pushed my wife that far. My wife! Paisley. God, I am a fucking idiot!” I feel bad for him. He’s beating himself up about it all just like I was.

  “Levi, you need to calm down and relax.” I’m trying to talk him down and I know it isn’t going to work. I have no idea what to even say to him. It’s sad because in my moment of need, both Levi and Seven took such good care of me. But now, I am so useless to everyone. I can barely keep myself together.

  “It’ll be okay, Levi. If she is anything like Seven she’ll be out of the NICU in no time and bossing you around.” I try and make a joke and we both laugh but it isn’t a genuine laugh. He totally humors me. But, he cracked a smile.

  “The Neonatologist said babies are born a lot earlier and survive without any major issues. I guess we’re all just so worked up. I wish I could get Seven to the NICU to see her. Even with all those tubes, she’s beautiful. She looks just like Seven.” He’s gushing over his baby girl. It may not be my place, but I know before I leave tonight to drive back to Woodstock and leave this town for good in the morning I have to get Seven into that NICU to sit with her baby girl.

  “I’m gonna go try and get Seven to see Marley. Sit tight and try to relax. The guys just went to get you some food.” I turn and make my way back to Seven’s dark room. I walk in with confidence and take command of the room. Exactly what Seven would be doing if she was in my shoes. I pull the curtains open and let the setting sun shine into the gloomy hospital room.

  “No more sulking! You have a baby that needs you right now. You are getting out of that bed and coming with me!” I yell at Seven and push the nurse call button. When the kind woman on the other end asks if I need anything, I demand a wheel chair.

  “You’re getting your ass out of this bed and we’re going to see that beautiful little girl. Word on the street is she looks just like her stubborn ass mother. I guess she’s starting off a lot earlier in life than you did. You should be proud.” I continued to sass Seven.

  The nurse brings a wheel chair and offers to bring Seven to the NICU, but we both decline. I’m bringing her, and I’m also going to make sure she goes in to see her daughter come hell or high water.

  She finally climbs out of the bed and sits down in the chair. I fuck with her and drive like I’m in the wheel chair Daytona 500. She actually cracks a smile for a split second.

  “You know Seven. She’s going to be just fine. Babies are born way earlier than her all the time and are perfectly fine after time in the NICU.” I am trying to cheer her up. “Levi said she’s strong and stubborn as hell. She’s already starting to pull at the tubes, which means she is basically a carbon copy of you.” That gets a small chuckle out of her.

  “I’m gonna miss you Paisley.” I want to cry, and I really don’t want to leave Seven now, especially since she’s in such a vulnerable position yet again. My mind is flooded with second thoughts about the move, but I know it really is something that I have to do for myself. I couldn’t change my mind now. It’s not only too late, but Diesel is so excited to be around his family again. I couldn’t take that from him.

  “I’m gonna miss you too, Seven. I don’t wanna go, but I need to. You know how that goes. You’ve done it before. But, we always have Facetime. God knows between the two of us and the family we have every Apple product known to man.” That gets another laugh and I want to start keeping track. It’s like my own little mini scoreboard.

  “Here we are.” I say as we pull into the NICU. “You want me to come in with you, or is this something you need to do on your own?” I leave it up to her. If it was me, I know this is something I would need to do on my own. My job is done, it was getting her here and making sure she finally went in to meet her daughter,

  “I’m gonna do this on my own, but thank you Paisley.” I smile and help her up. The nurses of the NICU take her from there. They walk Seven through the hand washing steps and get her covered up in those disposable paper jackets. Blue really isn’t her color.

  I look down and rub my belly. “You'd better stay put buddy.”

  On the Road Again

  “You know you are the best girlfriend ever,” Diesel moaned as his hands gripped the steering wheel tighter. “But you play so unfair.”

  I run my tongue up the length of his dick, and let his erection pop free from my mouth. “What is it you were saying? I’m unfair? Isn’t this what every man dreams of? Road head?” I laugh and continue going down on him as we drive. It’s dark out and we will be pulling off to find a hotel room for the night soon. We’re somewhere in Virginia and have been in the car since five this morning. I am done with the day.

  I could also use a good fucking, but that is a total different story.

  “Shit, Paisley,” Diesel moans as his dick grazes the back of my throat. “Your mouth feels so good.” I know he’s close. He always starts talking when he’s about to come.

  When I wrap my lips around the tip of his dick and suck, while my hands massage his balls, he completely loses it. His warm come floods my mouth and I swallow every last drop. When I finally adjust myself and look up at him, he is grinning from ear to ear.

  “That was the best shit ever. I love you,” he says as he links our fingers together. “Ready to stop for the night? There should be a couple decent hotels off the next exit. There were a couple signs back a ways.” I nod. I am exhausted, and I’m in need of a bathroom and stretching my legs. I’ve napped on and off, but never really rested. I’m sure I will sleep like a rock tonight after I get laid.

  I didn’t sleep much last night. Between the anxiety of moving and Seven having the baby, I haven’t been able to stop worrying. When we talked to Star earlier this morning, Seven and Marley were doing better and the NICU staff actually had to kick Seven out of the NICU because she overstayed her welcome. Life was going to be just fine and Seven was already rocking her role of mom.

  “I am more than ready to get in bed with you for the night,” I give him a wink and he laughs.

  “You are a fuckin’ animal, Paisley. I can’t keep up with you half the time.” He razzes me. My sex drive has become an ongoing jo
ke between us. I know he loves every damn minute of it though.

  “I don’t hear you complaining when your dick is bottoming out inside this perfect pussy.” I’m getting bold with him. My comfort level is higher than it has ever been with anyone in my life. Everything just comes so easy to us.

  “You gotta get on top tonight, Princess. My legs are killing me from being in the truck all day.” Fine by me, I get off easier on top anyways. With my growing belly constantly getting in the way, it has been the easiest way for us to have sex in the past two weeks.

  “Strip.” I demand. Maybe I should pull a Seven tonight, get all bossy. I mean, seriously, if I could boss her around last night, making Diesel my bitch would be pretty simple. I laugh to myself as he starts to get undressed. Like a child he jumps on the bed, bouncing a couple times, except he’s completely naked. Fuck, I love every inch of his damn body.

  “On your back.” I pull my shirt over my head and toss it onto the bed next to him.

  “Demanding tonight aren’t you?” He laughs. “It’s sexy.”

  “Is it? I kinda like taking charge.” I slide my yoga pants down my legs and I’m standing in front of him naked. His dick is standing straight up, even though I got him off with my mouth an hour ago.

  “Come here, Princess,” he says sweetly, holding his arms open to me. As much as I want to take charge and yell at him for telling me to do something I crawl up the beg and into his arms. I can’t resist him. I can’t hold back from him.

  “You feel so good in my arms. I never wanna let you go.” He always knows all the right things to say. He makes me feel loved and cherished.

  “I love you, Diesel.” I straddle his lap, and slowly sink down onto his dick. I gasp, and rock my hips once he is seated deep within me. Without words, I work my pussy up and down his hard cock. I love every delicious feeling that spreads through my body. Being with him is all about love and pleasure. I know I’ll never be able to get enough.

  When his mouth meets my hard nipples, I’m done. My orgasm rushes through me, and I collapse against his chest. He continues moving inside me until I feel him empty himself deep inside me.

  We fall asleep like this, and sleep straight through until Diesel’s iPhone alarm wakes us up at the ass crack of dawn the next morning. A quick shower and we are on the way to our new home.

  Ten hours later it’s getting dark when we pull into St. Louis, Mississippi. I expected a welcoming committee full of his family, but the house is dark when we get there. He pulls a set of keys out of his pocket and picks me up. I laugh and slap his hands trying to get him to put me down, but it’s useless. He wins.

  The door pops open and the house is quiet and empty.

  “I had to carry you over the threshold,” he jokes. But he doesn’t stop in the spacious living room in the front of the house. Nor does he put me down. He continues walking to the end of the hallway and comes to a stop outside of a door I can only assume is our bedroom.

  “Threshold? Isn’t that what you are supposed to do when you get married? Not move into a new house.” I laugh at him, and the fact that he just got that one wrong.

  He pushes the door open, and the room is covered from top to bottom in lit candles. Dozens upon dozens of roses are in vases all over the room and red and white rose petals cover the floor. I’m in shock, and I gasp when he gently places me down and I look around the room.

  “How?” is all I can ask.

  “I have sisters,” he winks at me and drops to one knee in front of me. The only thing I can think is that this all is way too soon. But, the more I think about what is happening, the baby and our life together, there is nothing more perfect than taking the next step. Hell, we don’t have to even do it right away.

  “Paisley Bloom, I’ve loved you since the day I laid eyes on you. You have been the one person to right every wrong in my life. You brought me to life, and made me whole again when I never thought it would be possible. You are my soulmate. The mother of my baby boy. I want my days to begin and end with you for the rest of my life. I want you to be my old lady, ride on the back of my bike and have another half dozen of my children. Please, make me the happiest man on Earth and be my wife?”

  “Yes, Diesel. I will.”

  Six Months Later

  “I’m never making that drive with a baby again. Ever.” Half way to Tennessee, Cash decided he no longer enjoyed being the baby that did nothing but slept in the car. For another three hours he screamed. Have you ever tried to nurse a baby while they are strapped into their carseat? Yeah, it’s like an acrobatic lesson in a moving vehicle. Nothing will end well.

  “It isn't that bad, Paisley. Just tune him out. Want me to turn the radio on?” Diesel can tune the crying out so easily. I wish I could.

  “We can’t stop Paisley. Star is already in labor. We’re going to miss the baby being born unless she decides to take two days to have the baby.” I can’t believe we are going to miss it. We thought we had at least another week before she was gonna pop. I’m kind of pissed it took us this long to get back on the road; but packing everything for Cash, finding someone to watch the damn dog, and packing enough for Diesel and me both to stay until after Christmas took a lot of time.

  “Next time we are flying. We can rent a damn car for a month.” And he laughs at me. My husband laughs at me. Unbelievable.

  “See, he’s already settling down, pop the bink in his mouth and I give him ten minutes till he is out like a light.” I hate that he is right too. That baby is a saint for him and a hellion for me. I think he forgets I carried him in my belly for nine months, then pushed his bowling ball sized head out of my vagina, in my bath tub none the less! That child was nine damn pounds. He’s built like a brick house, just like his dad. The only thing he got from me are his bright blue eyes. Everything else is pure Diesel.

  The dark hair, dark features, everything. He’s a Diesel carbon copy. We would have never needed a paternity test to figure out Diesel was his dad. That’s how much he looks like him. It’s seriously kind of scary.

  “Holy Moly! Is she sitting up already?” I walk into Star’s living room and little Marley is sitting in the middle of the room with all kinds of toys surrounding her. Poor girl has no idea what to play with first. She’s gorgeous. Her golden brown hair is thick and she has the biggest flower known to man on her headband. I find it hard to believe Seven picked that one out. She laughs as Seven sits down on the floor with her, rubbing her expanding belly. Levi didn’t waste any time putting another bun in that oven.

  Star should be home from the hospital at some point today, and we are all sitting around waiting for her to bring Rainbow home. Yes, you heard me right. Rainbow Dash Seven Grant, Star decided to torture her, just like the rest of us have been for years. She couldn’t go with something simple, more acceptable. She had to name the poor kid Rainbow Dash after a fucking My Little Pony. Figures right?

  I pick up Marley and rest her on my hip. Diesel brings Cash over, and we introduce them as future husband and wife. Everyone gets a good laugh about that one. But, if any of us have our way, it will be the truth.

  The front door opens, and I can hear a woman laughing. The voice in unfamiliar to me and Seven immediately gets up and makes her way to the door. That’s when I see River and this woman. She has radiant red hair, like mine and is smiling from ear-to-ear. Just like he is. For the first time in almost a year, it’s clear as day how happy River is. I don’t know who she is or how it happened, but I’m thankful that for at least this point in time, he’s finally found someone who is going to make him happy.

  There’s a lot I have learned in the past year. The origin of true happiness is one of them. I never thought I could grow into the person I am now, especially after the things I’ve had to overcome. I didn’t believe I deserved happiness or a happily ever after, yet here I am with both. I love my life and I love my family more than I could have ever imagined.

  I have an amazing husband, a beautiful son, and my dream business which I get to ru
n while spending time with my favorite people in the world. Life is good. And clearly, God has forgiven me for all that I have done wrong to hand all these blessings to me.

  Where will the crew end up?

  Who knows.

  All I know is that this is the end of my journey.

  AND NOW... A PREVIEW OF

  “I can’t do it anymore, Seven. You said you were done, you said you were going to quit. For me, for us. For the baby. But as soon as your blood pressure went back to normal, and the swelling went down, BOOM! You are back in the office.” Levi paced back and forth in front of my desk holding a stack of paperwork. His fingers run through his hair over, and over again and I just shrug him off like I always do.

  I can’t even tell you how many times we had the same argument. It might as well have been on replay. Lather, rinse, repeat. He was overprotective and of course, I think I am fucking invincible. But, if there is one thing this pregnancy had taught me already was the fact that I was very much human, and being hospitalized once already made that clear.

  “I’m fine, Levi. See…” I point to my feet propped up on a chair next to me. “Feet elevated. No heels. Healthy snack, and TA DA! NO COFFEE!” I shouldn’t hit him with the sarcasm. It seems like every day that passes by, he is getting more and more uptight about the baby. Maybe we need one of those fancy baby moons or something. A vacation would probably do us some good, or send him into a tailspin. “Close the door, lock it and come over here, love.” I lick my lips and think about distracting him the best way I know how. Sex. When it comes to his moods like this, the only way to talk him down is with a good blow job, or something. I’ve learned to use that to my advantage when his mood turns so fucking sour.