30. Theodore
Chapter Thirty
THEODORE
River hums a soft song as she gets dressed like yesterday wasn’t one of the scariest days of our lives. I know she was affected by it, but hearing that our son is perfectly fine has calmed her down some. She had a nightmare last night, but no one would be able to tell that I held her while she cried until she fell asleep.
After a long day of rest, she’s slipping into a long evening gown, being careful not to ruin her pinned-up hairstyle. What’s more amazing is that this is all for me. I didn’t know she was planning a birthday party. I wasn’t looking for one. She and the baby are already everything I wanted.
She gives me a soft smile when our eyes meet in the mirror.
“We don’t have to do anything tonight,” I tell her, not for the first time. Her wellbeing is more important than any party.
River turns to me and cups my face with both hands. “Teddy, I just want to put yesterday behind me. It’s been my goal to celebrate your birthday and that’s what I want to do. You’re worth celebrating.”
Fuck, this is why she’s pregnant. It makes my dick hard when she says shit like that. There’s a sweet selflessness about her that makes me want to give her everything she desires. I know she worries about being addicted to me, but I’m the one who’s so far gone that I cannot return. I’m obsessed. There is no way my ex would have considered a party celebrating me if she was in River’s position. Hell, if she’d gotten lost too long, Helena would have sworn she was too distraught to do anything.
I’m not interested in comparing them. It's more of an eye opener to truly let me know how blind I was and how I was so focused on giving love that I didn’t notice that I wasn’t receiving it. There isn’t anything to compare because it’s all so different with River.
“This is why I fucking love you, River. You’re so sweet.”
“Thank you.” She beams when I admit for the second time that I’m in love with her. It’s true, and it’s something I’ve never felt before. I kiss the smile off her face, but she giggles and tightens her grip on my cheeks.
“I’m just saying that we can celebrate me any time. I don’t want you stressing yourself out.”
She shakes her head, signaling that she’s firm in her decision. “No. Today is your birthday, so today and any day I deem is all about you. As long as you stay by my side, I’ll be fine.”
When I kiss her again, it’s a serious kiss meant to communicate all the love and desire I feel for her. Her eyes are glossy when I pull away.
“Nothing will keep me away, baby.”
“I love how you make me forget,” she admits as she rubs her hands up my torso.
River knows what she’s doing, and I’m willing to be that kind of distraction. It’s just not a requirement for me right now. We don’t have to have sex if she’s not in that place. If she wants it, she’s going to have to take it.
“You’re losing focus, River. We have a party you insisted we attend,” I tease her with another peck to the lips.
She balls her fist to get a firm grip on the lapels of my jacket to keep me in place.
“They can wait for the guest of honor. It’s one of the perks. Help me relax. Distract me some more, please.”
Never has such a simple sentence sounded so sexy. She takes the kiss with such authority that my dick hardens almost instantly. I grip her sides as I deliver what she requests. She’s panting by the time we part.
“Turn the fuck around and bend over, River.”
My order makes her shiver with excitement. If she wants something to focus on to distract her from being kidnapped, I’ll do whatever she wants. River turns and drops her hands on her vanity and looks back at me. Her eyes encourage me to make the next move.
I push her dress up until it’s bunching at her waist. “Hold this.”
River does as I say and traps the hem of it between her hand and the vanity. Her ass looks amazing. I grab each cheek like I haven’t seen them in a long time. I can’t get enough of her. Kneading them, I realize that she’s not wearing underwear. I growl low in my throat as I tell her to spread her legs.
It’s fucking irresistible how fast she does what she’s told. I drop to my knees, pulling a moan out of her when my mouth connects with her pussy. I kiss it like I’m greeting her, then run my tongue along her slit, completely intent on making her forget her name.
My tongue goes as deep as physics allow, but it’s good enough for my woman. She bucks her hips back with a soft gasp. Encouraged, I spread her lips and go deeper, tasting everything I can and devouring her like she’s my birthday dinner. I’d be content eating her pussy the rest of the night, but we have somewhere to be soon. My fingers and tongue work together to help her coat my beard.
The sounds she makes when she comes help me forget for a moment that we live in a fucked-up world.
“Fuck me, Teddy,” she cries out. “I need you.”
I’m on my feet before she can finish the sentence. If I'm willing to give her everything she wants, she will definitely get anything she needs. We both groan hard when my dick glides into her wet pussy. I feel like I’m home again. I’m wrapped in her warmth in more ways than one. My hand wraps around her throat as I pull her back to me as we fuck.
River tilts her head back to connect our lips in a fiery kiss that pushes our distraction up to frenzied fucking. I don’t give a damn what we break, I’d buy it all back. Her cry is hoarse as she has an orgasm so intense it pulls mine out of nowhere.
“River.” Her name comes out almost like a plea, because she couldn’t get rid of me if she tried. “I feel thoroughly celebrated.”
She giggles at my joke, showing me some of the lightness I always want to see in her. I know it’ll take a while for her to completely relax, but I’ll be here every step of the way. She will feel like herself again, even if I have to blow up half of the world to make it happen.