by Ash, Nikki
“Umm, ok. Well after I found out I was pregnant, Kayla started coming with me to all my appointments. From the minute she found out, she never missed one. We would make sure they were on a day neither of us had school. I think the nurses and doctors thought we were lesbians. I had morning sickness for the first trimester, which totally sucked, but then it went away and the rest of my pregnancy was smooth sailing, thank God. At twenty weeks, I could have found out the sex but Kayla wanted to know so badly I decided to wait. It was so much fun driving her crazy. She couldn’t even shop like she wanted to because everything had to be in neutral colors.”
She laughs through all of this and I am glad she had Kayla and has good memories but I hate those memories don’t include me. I cuddle her harder needing her closer to me. “I wish I could have been there. I would have held your hair back when you were sick, and we definitely would have found out the sex of the baby. I would have gone crazy not knowing how to prepare. I know Kayla was there but I hate that it wasn’t me.”
“I know baby, but you can’t think like that or you will go crazy from guilt about something you can’t change. Ok, let’s see… At forty-two weeks pregnant, they induced me because Bella didn’t want to come out, and after forty-seven hours in labor they had to do an emergency caesarean because her heart rate dropped. When they took her out, at first, I couldn’t hear her crying. I kept asking Kayla if she was ok and I could tell by Kayla’s answers something was wrong but they had a sheet put up so I couldn’t see.
“When Bella came out she wasn’t breathing so they had to pump oxygen into her lungs. Finally, she took her first breath and started to cry, and it felt like my world was complete. They brought her over to me and announced she was a girl. After a few days, we both went home and then the fun began.”
I know she’s trying to make light of the situation by joking but I can’t even imagine how hard it was for her and Kayla to raise a baby on their own at eighteen. I don’t say anything though, because I like listening to her talk. Instead I give her a kiss and she continues.
“The first year was exhausting. Bella had Colic, which is like acid reflux, kind of. So, she had to get put on a special formula, and I wanted to breastfeed but I couldn’t pump, and I had to go back to school. I had her in the middle of the semester so I only took off the days I was in the hospital. I couldn’t afford daycare and I didn’t want her to be with strangers so Kayla and I made sure our schedules were opposite, so one of us was always home with Bella.
“My mom came to visit for a few weeks after Bella came home; she slept in my room and I slept in the third bedroom with Bella.” She smiles absently like she is reliving those memories. What I would give to be in her head and heart, and see all of her memories firsthand.
She pulls out her phone and opens a photo app. “I lost all our photos and such in the fire but luckily, I have all Bella’s pictures saved digitally.”
She begins flipping through them showing me Bella as a newborn, Bella at one, two, three years old, Halloweens, Christmases, and Birthdays. Most are of just Bella but once in a while I see a pic of Kayla and Liz as well; it’s like watching them all grow up together. When she gets to the last one, she has silent tears falling down her face.
I swipe them away and turn her to face me. “Why the tears, baby girl?”
“I love looking at pictures of Bella but looking at them with you feels bitter sweet. I have such mixed emotions because I feel like I should feel bad I messed up with the birth control but at the same time I don’t want to feel bad because my screw up got me Bella and I would never wish to not have her. Then I feel bad that you didn’t get to experience any of those memories but at the same time I wouldn’t trade those memories for the world because I created them with Bella. Does that make sense?”
“Yes, it makes perfect sense, and I am thankful for your screw up. I can’t imagine not having Bella in our lives.” I kiss her forehead and we sit together for a few minutes just enjoying each other’s company. I don’t know what comes over me but suddenly I blurt out, “I want to have a baby.”
She looks at me like I am crazy so I continue. “I missed so much with Bella and she is already almost five years old. I want to experience all of that with you. I know we aren’t married but we are living together and we will be together for the rest of our lives. I am an only child and would have loved a sibling. I bet Bella would love having a little brother or sister plus we have plenty of rooms here. I can move the gym to the garage or we can move. We can buy a bigger house with a bigger yard…”
“Whoa, whoa. Slow down, there. Are you sure, Cooper? I mean… you went from not wanting a family to having an insta-family. Are you sure you want to add another baby to the mix?”
My heart sinks. “You don’t want to have another baby with me?”
“Of course, I do! I just want you to be sure. With Bella, you didn’t have a choice. You have accepted her from day one and you two have an amazing relationship already. I know you will be an amazing father to any other babies we have. I just want you to be sure. I actually have to go get my shot this week because I forgot after the whole fire situation. If this is what you really want I can skip the shot, or I can get it and we can think more about it.”
“No, don’t get the shot. Let’s let nature take its course.”
She smiles and turns to straddle my lap wrapping her arms around my neck. “Ok, baby. We will let nature take its course.”
I lift her up by her ass and begin walking her to our bedroom. “I say we go practice baby-making right now.”
“I agree!” She says through her giggles as I slam the door behind us.
Nineteen
Liz
It’s Monday morning and everybody leaves tomorrow night to go to Boulder. Well, everybody besides me that is. I will be here running the gym even though it pretty much runs itself. I walk into my office and see a huge bouquet of pink roses. The note on the front reads:
Pack an overnight bag and be ready to go at 6pm.
-Coop
Hmm… Well, ok then. The rest of the day I attempt to crunch numbers, pay bills, print receipts, but I can’t focus because I am too intrigued about tonight. At 1:30, just as I am about to give up and head out to get Bella, Kayla comes walking in shaking her head.
“Where do you think you are going? Home I hope, to get ready for your romantic night with Cooper.”
“How did you know about that? I am going to get Bella and then going home.”
“Nope! Not happening. I already have her stuff Cooper packed and snuck out this morning. She is coming to my place for a sleepover. I am getting her from school and you are going home to get ready. I will see you tomorrow.” And with an over-exaggerated wink that reminds me of Marilyn Monroe, she exits as quickly as she came in.
Cooper gets home around five o’clock and runs up to jump in the shower while I finish getting ready. When he’s done, we walk outside and waiting for us is a cab.
When I go to ask him a question, he raises two fingers to my mouth to shush me. We get in and he gives the driver an address to go to. When we pull up to a BMW dealership I am confused. “I know you weren’t big on relationships but surely you know that a car dealership isn’t considered romantic.”
He laughs at me and shakes his head while grabbing my hand, kissing it, and then pulling me along.
The gentleman manning the door asks how he can help us and Cooper tells him he is picking up a purchase. He gives him his name and the gentleman directs us to the pick-up area. Cooper signs a few papers and then is handed the keys and pointed in the direction we are to go.
When we get to the vehicle, it is a beautiful midnight blue SUV. I am not sure why he’s getting another SUV but it’s his money so who am I to judge. I go to get in the passenger seat but he cuts me off before I can get in.
“Would you mind driving?”
Ok, I never drive. I can drive but Cooper is one of those guys that insist the man drives everywhere.
“Sur
e,” I say and take the keys. We get in and I inhale the new car scent.
“Do you like it?” He asks, sounding almost nervous like whether I like it is important to him. I look around taking the vehicle in. It has pretty grey leather seats and touch screen everything. It has a built-in DVD player and TV in the back seat. It’s a dream car. What’s not to like?
“Yeah, it’s a beautiful car. Are you getting rid of the Rover?”
He bites his bottom lip then pulls it out from between his teeth slowly. I am kind of worried he is going to draw blood.
“No… this car is for you.”
“WHAAATT? For me? Cooper. No, you didn’t.” I should have seen this coming!
Damn, this thoughtful man.
“Yes, I did but hear me out. I have to go away and I get you are ok with your car but I’m not. I let it go because I have been around and if I’m not, one of the other guys usually are. So, if your piece-of-shit car breaks down we can handle it. However, we are all leaving and I need to know my girls are safe. It even has roadside assistance so you can get a tow truck or with one press of a button call someone to come fix your flat tire for you. You can even call to get gas delivered in case you run out.”
I want to be upset but when he looks at me with those cute puppy dog eyes begging me to understand, I don’t have the heart to hurt him. I know his heart is in the right place and he genuinely cares about our safety.
I take his hand in mine, bringing it up to my lips and kiss his knuckles. “Thank you, Coop. This was very sweet of you. I love the car and I love you.”
I think I just put him in shock. He was obviously gearing up for a fight because he doesn’t even know how to respond.
“Well, good. I am glad you like it. I love you, too.”
He gives me directions to where we are going and we end up at the Venetian hotel on the strip. We pull up and valet park. Is it weird that I totally don’t want to hand over my new baby to this stranger? Cooper sees my reluctance and whispers, “It’s insured.” Whatever.
We enjoy a great Mexican dinner at the restaurant and then we stroll over to one of the bakeries and share my favorite desserts, Crème brûlée. When we are both stuffed, we make our way to the counter where Cooper checks us into a room.
“You didn’t have to do this. We could have gone home. Bella is at Kayla’s you know.”
“Please don’t argue about this, baby girl. I am leaving for four days and I want to give my woman a romantic night away from the house.” How can I argue with that?
Once we are in the room the door barely shuts before he is on me. He pushes me against the wall and begins to kiss me. God, I will never get tired of how remarkable this man can kiss. His hand lifts my chin up and then his mouth is on me. My eyes close and I let all my emotions come through from his lips to mine. He sucks lightly on my bottom lip and then on my top asking for access. I open up for him and his tongue swirls in my mouth, his kisses feeling like the most potent drug. I honestly think it is possible to get high off of Cooper’s touch.
He moves his body closer, if that’s even possible and within seconds I am shamelessly writhing against him, begging for him. He grinds his erection into me and I moan loudly into his mouth. The need gets stronger, and suddenly we are all mouths and teeth and hands, and it’s just too much.
I pull his shirt up and he yanks it off the rest of the way. He pulls down my dress and I kick it off. His hands grip my panties and I feel him rip them off me. I grab his belt to unbuckle it and his jeans fall to his feet exposing his incredible erection.
The growing need for each other exceeds our ability to make it to the bed. I wrap my leg around his waist and he lifts me up, wrapping my legs around either side of him. Once he has me steady, he thrusts his hard cock up into me. There is no foreplay. There’s no need. I am wet, he is hard, and I need this man more than air.
My back hits the wall hard as he continues to pump into me. I lower my head to kiss and suck on the side of his neck and he tastes delectable, better than any dessert.
He hits deep inside me over and over again, the pleasure inside of me increasing with every thrust. “Fucking hell, Coop. Right there. Don’t stop,” I scream. I can feel my pussy clenching tight and I know I am getting close.
A few more thrusts and I am flying high, my orgasm exploding around his cock. Cooper picks up the pace and with a grunt he is coming inside me. As he comes to a stop, both of us breathing heavy, he looks at me beaming and I melt inside. This man is my entire world.
We shower together and then get into bed with him spooning me from behind. He plays with my hair for a few minutes, combing it with his fingers and then stops. I think he’s asleep until he lets out a heavy sigh. “I hate leaving you guys tomorrow.”
“Cooper, it’s going to be fine.”
“I hope so, baby girl. I hope so.” A few minutes later, I hear the soft snores, but I can’t sleep. I just don’t understand why he is so worried about leaving us. I have a feeling this all stems back to his parents, with his dad being away often and his mom cheating. At some point, he is going to have to have believe in us, that we are not his parents and we aren’t going to go down the road they did. I guess all I can do until he does, is believe in us enough for the both of us.
* * *
Cooper
I wake up in the middle of the night to feel Liz’s body rubbing up against mine as she moves a bit in her sleep. I don’t know why it is but I have this incessant need to show her she’s mine and ruin her for any other man. No, that’s a lie; I know why it is. I have it in my head that if I ruin her for other man she will never leave me. My goal is to leave her with her feeling me between her legs for the next four days so she won’t forget about me and seek comfort elsewhere.
Gently moving the sheets off her body, I move my hand to her sex, sliding a finger in and then another one. She’s still half asleep but she’s starting to move. I spread open her pussy lips just enough to wrap my lips around her clit and pull it, her body beginning to writhe against my fingers and mouth wanting more.
“Fuck, baby you taste so good,” I whisper as I go back for more. With my fingers still pumping slowly deep inside her warmth, I start to suck hard on her clit then soothe it with my tongue. Her legs tense, telling me it’s going to be a quick but strong orgasm. She begins to shake and her legs convulse around me as she softly moans my name.
“Well, that’s one way to wake up,” she says, and even though, it’s dark and I can’t see her, I can hear the laughter in her words. I give the top of her pussy one last kiss then I drag my body up hers until I am face-to-face with her. Then I give her a kiss that begins soft, but quickly turns rough, all my emotions trying to convey but my words can’t say, begging her to love me enough, to want me enough, for me to be enough, so she will never leave me.
When I end the kiss, she licks her lips, tasting herself from my lips. “Does that taste good?”
She nods her head shyly and I laugh. Even with her own pussy juices on her mouth, she is still adorably shy.
We wake up around nine and order room service. I feel like the clock is counting down and it’s making me sick. I want to beg her to come with me but I know it would be for the wrong reasons. Of course, I am going to miss her and Bella but the real issue is, I am scared shitless she is going to stray away from me. I know it’s crazy because she loves me, and I know she wouldn’t cheat, but if you saw what I saw growing up you would understand. Fuck, maybe I need to see a therapist.
After breakfast, we pack up and head home to meet Kayla and Bella. As soon as she is through the door she is in my arms. “Daddy, I missed you so much. I had so much fun with Auntie Kay and Uncle Bentley.”
She started to call Bentley, Uncle Bentley, a few days ago and I swear the man almost handed over his life savings to her when he heard her say it for the first time.
“I am happy to hear that, Princess. Why don’t you go get dressed and we will go out for the day before I leave tonight?”
Bella
smiles wide at going out but as soon as she hears me leaving tonight her sadness mutes her smile. She says ok and runs upstairs to get ready.
The three of us spend the day at the park. Bella insists I push her on the swings even though she can do it herself, we make castles in the sand area, and we watch her play tag with other kids, and I find myself mentally soaking it all in before I leave.
Eight o’clock comes around and we are all gathered in my house ready to go. Liz and Bella wanted to say goodbye at the airport but with so many people going we decided to take one vehicle to the airport. Plus, there’s no reason for her to drive all the way there and have to drive back late at night with Bella.
“I love you so much. I will call and text you. Please send me pictures of Bella on Halloween.”
I give Liz a chaste kiss because anything more and I just might not leave her.
“I love you, too, and I promise I will. Have a safe flight.” She gives places several kisses on my face and neck before she hugs me goodbye.
We are taking a chartered jet over to Boulder because it’s easier than dealing with a public flight. Bentley, Kaden, Caleb, and I are sitting in the chairs bullshitting while Hayley and Kayla are sleeping in the one bedroom the plane has.
I know my phone doesn’t have service up here but it doesn’t stop me from checking it every five minutes.
“Bro, you are seriously pussy whipped. Chill out.” Bentley laughs nodding at my phone burning a hole in my hand.
“Yeah, whatever. I will gladly accept that name if it means I can be inside my woman’s pussy for the rest of our lives.”
Kaden jumps in. “Oh, shit, Cooper. Those are some big words. Are we talking marriage here?”
“Well for starters, I told her I want another baby and she said ok. So, I would say marriage is definitely coming soon.”
All the guys look at me like I’ve grown a third head and I chuckle, changing the subject. “So, Bent, what’s going on with you and Kayla? Bella said she had a great time with both of you last night. I am pretty sure we only asked Kayla to watch our daughter.”