by Karen Deen
“As much as it is hard to admit because I never thought I would say this, for once I want this for me. I want to be the little girl who gets to find her prince, live in the castle and live happily-ever-after. Feel loved every day and have someone who will make love to me like you just did. I know you are my prince, Zach, please be my happily-ever-after.” I couldn’t hold back anymore. The tears were coming thick and fast down my face. Zach released me, so he could wipe away my tears.
“Please, angel, don’t cry. Your tears kill me.”
“Oh, Zach, the best part is that these are happy tears. For so long, I have wanted to let my wall fall and tell you how I feel and just let go and feel it. Tonight, I have done that, and it feels like I am in heaven.”
“Angel, tonight you have made me the happiest man on the planet. Like you, I have fought this for so long. I fought hard to keep you at a distance. But tonight, I can’t stand for you to be away from me and need to be touching you,” He placed his palm on my face and my face melted into it. Zach’s other arm wrapped around me again and pulled me, so our foreheads were resting on each other.
“The day you opened your door to me, Em, I have never been the same man since. You took my heart that day and just pulled it clean through the wall that I thought I had built so well. It never stood a chance with you. I knew in my heart you were mine, but like you, I didn’t think I deserved you. I felt I had nothing to give you. My faults were so painful to overcome, I never thought I should burden you with them. That day I told you was like a heavy weight had been lifted, but it was also like I was being stabbed in the heart. I was falling so hard for you, but didn’t think I could do anything about it. I was wrong.” He sighed and looked down away from me.
“Zach, don’t hide. Not from me, please.”
He looked up slowly and took a deep breath. “I was looking at it from what I couldn’t give to you in a relationship instead of everything I had to give. The day the kids ran away, I knew. I knew in my heart I had to really think about this. Maybe you meant it when you said you would take me, faults and all. Finally, I spoke to my Dad who made me see that I should take the leap and leave no regrets. I knew you were the one, angel, I always knew. But I knew I had to make sure you knew how I felt.”
Zach’s whole face smiled like I hadn’t seen before. He had gained his confidence and looked like he was right where he wanted to be.
“Angel, I want to be your Prince Charming because you have always been my Princess. My castle will always be a home for you and the kids. I want to spend the rest of my life giving you your happily-ever-after.” My tears were rolling, and Zach also had tears in his eyes. Zach took my hand and placed it on his heart.
“Emily, you own my heart. I love you and I think I always have.” My world just stopped. I couldn’t believe what Zach had just said. I was struggling to get my lungs to even work.
Zach whispered to me, “Just breath, Em. This is the beginning of your happily-ever-after” He brought his lips to mine and kissed me with so much passion. The kiss was one that was to seal his love and make sure I knew he meant everything he said.
“Zach, you are my world. My heart is yours to keep safe. I love you more than I ever thought possible to love another human. This is what I want. This love, this happiness, if this what happily-ever-after feels like, then I will die a happy woman.”
Our lips met again, and the softness was overtaken by the passion that was building with our declarations of love. Zach’s hands were now roaming my body and my temperature was rising very quickly. I grabbed Zach’s firm butt and pulled his groin forward to me. Zach wanted me, and I could feel from his body that he was on fire as much as I was.
“Zach, make love to me. I need to feel you. I need to show how much I want you.” I begged him.
“Angel, you will never have to beg me to love you. The only begging you will be doing will be for me stop.” Zach started to chuckle as he took me and slid me under his body. “It is time now to stop talking, for the rest of the night you are mine to pleasure. The only thing I want to here is my name being screamed from your lips.” With that, his lips took mine and I found my happily-ever-after.
Epilogue
Emily
THE LAST THREE months had been just like the fairy tale Zach promised us.
We took it slowly for the first few weeks with the kids, but it soon became apparent, even to them we couldn’t hide our love anymore. We couldn’t keep our hands off each other and it was getting harder for Zach to sneak out of my bed every morning before the kids woke up. After another close call, Zach said it was time. He called the kids to the kitchen and told them how much he loved us all and wanted us to move into his castle. He told them I was his princess and asked if it was okay with them if he was my prince. The kids ran around the house screaming and cheering that they were moving into the big castle. I couldn’t wipe the smile off Zach’s face when we moved the last of our belongings across the yard.
That first night of walking up the staircase arm-in-arm to our bedroom together will be imprinted on my brain forever. Zach shut the door and locked it as he led me over to the bed and slowly undressed me until I stood naked in front of him. “This is the bed we will share for the rest of our lives, angel. You will never be alone again. I will always be here for you.” He was slowly stripping off his clothes, so I could reach out and touch his toned and muscular body. I wrapped my hand around his hard cock that was standing up showing me how much he was turned on. “Forever angel, I will love you forever.”
There wasn’t much sleep that first night, but it was the most beautiful night in my new home. I woke up the next morning realizing I was in bed on my own and could hear giggling and noise coming from the kitchen. I got up to go the bathroom to find a dress hanging with a note pinned to it. “Angel, put this on and join us for breakfast.” I was confused, and my heart was jumping, but I got dressed quickly and headed down stairs to see what my family was up to. I froze as I walked into the kitchen.
The table was full of wild flowers that filled your senses with the perfume of walking through the farm on a beautiful afternoon. There were plates full of all sorts of breakfast foods that would be enough to feed a large family.
I turned to see Zach standing with Sophia and Samuel. I have never cried so many happy tears since meeting Zach. Standing before me were a beautiful little princess in her princess dress and a diamond tiara. She was being flanked by two identical Prince Charming’s, all dressed in the full prince outfits. I didn’t know what to say or do. Zach put his hands on the kid’s shoulders and bent down to whisper in their ear. Then walked forward, took my hands and pulled me towards Zach. As I approached him, Zach dropped to one knee. The kids then joined him. My heart was pounding so hard on the walls of my chest.
“Emily, you are the sunshine on a rainy day, you are the fire in my heart. I know I can’t go another day without you in my life. I want to be your Prince Charming. Will you be my Princess and my happily-ever-after? Will you, Sophia and Samuel, marry me and be my family? Will you let me love and protect you forever?” Zach was beaming as he pulled out the ring from his pocket and reached for my hand.
Before I could even speak, Samuel and Sophia were jumping up and down saying, “Yes, Zach, yes. Say yes, Mommy!”
I couldn’t help but laugh as I gave Zach my reply, “Zach, with all my heart, yes. Yes, I will always be yours and would be so happy to be your wife for the rest of my life.” He stood and slid the most gorgeous heart shaped diamond ring onto my finger and I jumped into his arms. Crying and laughing, all at the same time.
Zach was twirling me around, screaming out, “She said yes! Did you hear her, kids she said yes!” Just then, the back door burst open and Me-me, Gruffy and all the family came pushing in. They obviously had been waiting outside for my answer. Hence all the food. I was swept out of Zach’s arms and into Me-me’s as she cried and kept repeating ‘Thank you’ in my ear. I loved this woman like a mother. Little did I know that day how much sh
e would become such an important person in our lives. Every family needed a person who always kept everyone together, no matter how hard it was. Me-me would always be that person.
A few months passed, and we had settled into a calm family life. Zach had wanted to get married straight away, but I talked him into giving me a few months to plan a wedding. I never thought I would get to walk down the aisle in a white dress to a man who loved me and the kids unconditionally. He was marrying the whole package deal. Besides, his sisters and mother nearly killed him and forbid him to set the date until we had time to plan the wedding together. We just wanted something small, but once Lilly got involved, it got a little hard to contain her.
I was sitting on the lounge waiting for Zach after I had put the kids to bed early. They were exhausted from a full afternoon playing with Luke when he called in to take them for a horse ride. He was loving his new role of Uncle and I could tell one day he would make a fantastic father. My phone rang, and I jumped from the couch.
“Zach!” was all I could get out.
“I will be home in about thirty minutes, angel, in time to say good night to the kids and tuck them in. I can tell you as soon as they are asleep, you are all mine. I have missed you today and can’t wait to show you how much.” I paced the kitchen, trying not to sound nervous.
“The kids are already asleep. Luke came this afternoon and took them riding. They were exhausted, so I bathed them straight after dinner and they are snoring in their beds.”
“My night just got so much better. I will give them a kiss when I get there, but then I want you naked in our bed, so I can take my fiancé to the moon and back. I have been thinking about your hot little pussy all day and can’t wait to spread your legs and taste how wet you are for me.”
Through all my nervousness, he still had me pressing my legs together at the thought of Zach using his tongue and fingers to get me screaming. “Angel, are you ok? You have gone silent on me.”
“Sorry, Zach, I was just catching my breath. Who would have thought my mild gentlemen had such a dirty, wicked side he was hiding? I will see you soon. I will be waiting.” I whispered and hung up.
Even though I was stressed, Zach still had me hot under the collar. Once he knew I was his, he had showed me every single day just how much he loved me and made sure I would never forget it.
I was laying under the covers in bed naked, waiting, as I heard Zach close the door on the kids’ bedroom down the hall. We had given them the furthest bedroom away for those nights when things got a little noisier than usual. Those nights were more frequent than not.
Zach closed the door and stopped, taking in my face. His eyes were dark and full of desire. He started to walk towards the bed, stripping his clothes as he got closer. I couldn’t hold it in anymore. Just as he reached me, I blurted it out.
“I’m pregnant, Zach.” He stopped dead and his mouth dropped.
“What did you say?” Zach whispered.
“Zach, please come here, I need you to hold me.” He slowly lowered himself into the bed and took me in his arms.
“Did you really say you were pregnant? How did that even happen? You said you were on the pill. Oh God, I don’t know if I can go through this again, Emily. I love you, but I don’t know if I can take the pain of losing a child again. Seeing the hurt you will never get over.” Tears streamed down his face.
“Zach, stop, stop thinking that. I have had blood tests and a special test on the baby for any abnormalities. They all came back negative. I am carrying a perfectly normal healthy baby. Zach, you are going to be a father again. I am already over three months pregnant. I think you and your super sperm made our baby on the first night we made love. What a beautiful gift we have made from the union of our love.” I looked into his eyes to see if he had understood everything I said.
“But how, Em? Why isn’t the baby sick?” The tears were still flowing, but now his hand was rubbing my stomach and it was the most sensual feeling ever.
“I don’t know, Zach, but the doctors have all checked the tests thoroughly and the baby is fine. Growing healthier and bigger every day.”
Finally, I think his brain let him take it in and he leaned over and kissed me with so much emotion and tears all mixed together. Zach stripped back the sheets to look at my stomach and leant down to kiss it. “Oh angel, you are so beautiful and have given me the most amazing gift you could ever imagine. I promise I will love you, little one, just like I love your Mom and big brother and sister. But most of all, I promise to protect you no matter what. You will never be alone and will always know love.” Zach laid his head on my stomach. We stayed there for a long time before Zach gradually crawled up and took me in his arms again. That was the way we both fell asleep that night, just holding each other. It was so much more intimate. We needed to be joined in our love for each other and our family.
Zach
“Emily, where are we going? I don’t want you walking too far. You need to take it easy, you shouldn’t overdo it.”
“Zach, I am pregnant, not sick. You wouldn’t believe how much easier it is to carry one baby instead of two. This time it is a piece of cake.”
“I don’t care,” Zach growled. “I need to know you are looking after yourself and the baby.”
“I am, now stop fussing, we are here”. Emily and the twins were now standing in the paddock looking towards the mountains. You could see the house behind us and if you stood on the back porch, you would be able to see where we were standing. Emily was beside a tree that was in a pot, while Sammy picked up a shovel that had been laying on the ground.
“Emily, what is going on?” I asked, feeling confused.
Slowly, she walked over and put her arms around my waist, looking into my eyes.
“Zach, you never got to meet your daughter or give her a name.” My heart stopped, and my breathing became hard. “I think it would be nice if we plant a tree here on the farm to remember her by and you can say a few little words to name your precious little soul. She deserves to know she was loved.” Tears rolled down my cheeks. “We can get a little plaque made up and as we stand on the back porch, we will see this tree grow, just like this little baby inside me. I am sure your little girl will be watching over her brother or sister to make sure they come into this world full of soul and living a beautiful life for them both.”
I wrapped my arms tight around my angel. “Oh, Emily. Just when I didn’t think I could love you any more than I do, you do this. How can I, ever thank you. This is the most thoughtful thing I could have asked for.” I buried my face in her neck until I could get myself together. Slowly, Sophia walked to my side and tugged on my hand, looking up into my wet eyes.
“It is okay to cry, Daddy. We will make it better, just like you do when we are upset.” My heart just exploded. I fell to my knees and hugged her with everything I was feeling. That was the first time she called me Daddy and I loved the sound of it so much.
“Time to plant the tree for our sister now, Daddy” Samuel added softly next to us. I looked into Emily’s eyes and realized that yes, it was time I told people. My little girl deserved to be remembered and loved by all her family. Emily always knew when to push me and how far.
“Thanks, Samuel, can you help me dig the hole?” I stumbled over my words.
We planted the tree together. I stood holding my family in my arms as I finally said goodbye to my little Faith Stevenson. “One day, I will meet you my precious Faith, and I will get to show you my love. Until then, just know in your heart I will always love you and you are forever part of this family. Sleep peacefully in the clouds, my little one, and bring us sunshine every day to let us know you are with us always.”
As we walked back to the house with the kids skipping in front of us, I looked down at my angel. I knew now that Faith had sent Emily to me. Even though we never got to meet, she knew her Daddy needed love and she sent me an angel to break down my wall. Thank you, little one, I will cherish the angel you sent me for the rest of my
life.
THE END
Read on for Love’s Dance (Book 2)
Now Available
1
Grant
PACING MY OFFICE, I try to think of a solution to fix yet another problem with the Branch Street project. Why do I have to think for everyone all the time? If the bloody demolition company had just listened and read the briefs we sent them, they wouldn’t have cut off the electricity for half the block.
Instead, I have the surrounding Branch Street buildings calling my cell phone, blowing up at me because they’ve been left in the dark. Meanwhile, I am trying to get the electrical company to the site who seem in no rush, and the site supervisor is down there blasting the demo guys. This is yet another fuck-up and we haven’t even started to build.
All in all, today has been a shit day.
“Louisa, get Luke to my office now,” I yell through the door to my assistant. Someone else can sort this shit out while I attend my scheduled meetings. Zach is busy and is already stressed past the point of normal. Emily, his wife, is due to have their baby in the next few weeks and he has been a nightmare to work with. He is always so stressed and anxious. Zach sat us down as a family after meeting Emily and told us about his daughter Faith. He told us many years ago his ex-girlfriend had been pregnant and not told him. The baby, a little girl he named Faith, was born early with birth defects. She died soon after. Zach never got to see her, and her body was donated to science by the mother. Zach was devastated. It was sad and a shock to us all. We had no idea. We have given him as much understanding and support as possible. I wanted to find that bitch ex-girlfriend of his and rip her apart for how she treated Zach and Faith. Protecting the family is my job.