Chapter 21 Beau
BEAU
When I opened my eyes the next morning, I had to pinch myself.
There was a part of me that was unsure if this was really happening. That I was feeling so content after all that had happened in the last day and a half. Was it possible I was still stuck in some dream?
I woke up with a smile on my face and warmth flooding my body. Also, there was the warmth that was cuddled up beside me.
Married.
I was married.
And it was only because of the woman sleeping beside me—my wife—that I’d been able and eager to do it at all.
There was a time when I would’ve balked at the idea of all that was happening. I would’ve vehemently denied ever wanting to experience any of this.
But now, after the initial shock of learning about Jules being pregnant wore off, it was like I’d been granted one great day after another. The last one being the best yet.
On my side, I propped my head in my hand and looked down at her, at the ring sitting at the base of her finger. The last-minute purchase hadn’t felt like quite enough, and yet, Jules was adamant about not replacing it.
I never thought something so simple as a delicate wedding band could ever hold such meaning. But seeing it resting there on her finger, knowing it matched the one on my own as symbols of the dedication we had to one another, that meaning couldn’t be ignored.
This woman was spectacular. She was everything I never knew I wanted to have in my life, and now, she was mine forever.
It seemed impossible that life could get any better than this.
But it would.
Even after all the celebrating we’d done last night—I’d taken the time to order in, so we could eat, but that was only a minor deterrence—there was still more to come.
Today, we’d have more to celebrate. Today, we’d get the first look at our baby.
And for a guy who never wanted any of this, I could confidently say I was beyond ready for whatever additional joy this day would bring. I was thrilled and ready for every part of it.
Gently, I picked up her hand and kissed her fingers, her knuckles.
I’d spent a lot of time from the moment we returned here yesterday trying to make up for the lost time, but it didn’t feel like I’d had enough.
The desire to have her over and over again hadn’t faded.
Not even a little. Last night had been just enough to take the edge off that constant, ever-mounting need.
But that need was outweighed by something else.
No matter how much I wanted to bury myself between her legs and get lost completely in her, I was more concerned about her physical well-being.
As exhausted as she’d been over the last couple of weeks, I suspected that yesterday had taken a lot out of her.
My lips moved from the back of her hand and down toward the inner part of her wrist.
“Is this how my husband intends to wake me up every morning?”
That sleepy voice held a deep rasp that had my body clenching. My eyes drifted to her sparkling ones. The sight and sound of her first thing in the morning stole my breath. It was my new favorite thing.
“Would you like that?” I asked. “Does my wife want to be woken every morning with kisses and affection?”
She hummed, her eyes drifting shut with either delight or exhaustion. “It’s awfully tempting. But I might not be able to keep up with you.”
Exhaustion, then.
“There’s nothing you’ll need to do, angel. I’ll do all the work.”
Her eyes shot open. “Angel?”
“That’s what caught your attention?”
“Where did that come from?”
I chuckled. “It just sort of slipped out. Do you not like it?”
Jules linked her fingers with mine as a slow smile spread across her face. “I like it. For moments like this, it’s sweet, and I like it. Why angel?”
“I don’t know. It just feels like it fits. Because in many ways, you’re like my very own angel. But also, because for a woman who has this rebellious side, I don’t want to forget the softer, sweeter side.”
She tucked her chin down and smiled at me. Definitely sweet like an angel.
Flipping her hand so she could see the ring she placed on mine, Jules allowed her gaze to linger there. I wondered if she was having the same thoughts about seeing the ring on my finger that I’d had about seeing the one on hers.
Truth be told, I was surprised that one was even there. It wasn’t that I believed Jules would have intentionally avoided getting one. But between her needing to work yesterday and how tired she’d been lately, I was stunned that she’d even managed to find the time to pick one up for me.
But I was quickly learning not to underestimate her. I suspected Jules would keep me on my toes for years to come. The thought of years with her made me smile.
“You look awfully happy.” Her sweet voice broke into my thoughts.
“What reason do I have to be upset?” I countered. “We had a wonderful day yesterday, and today is shaping up to be just as good. Don’t you agree?”
“I do. How do you feel?”
I unlinked my fingers from hers and draped my arm over her waist. “About what, specifically?”
“About being married,” she clarified.
Grinning, I said, “It certainly has its perks.”
She squinted at me and pursed her lips. “Such as?”
I lowered my head toward her and brushed my mouth lightly against hers. After giving her a sweet, tentative kiss, I pulled back and declared, “I get to kiss you every morning. And I get to hold you close all night. I certainly enjoyed doing some things to your body last night, too.”
“That’s it?”
Laughter spilled out of me. “Of course not. I’ll get to make you food and watch you fall asleep on the couch before I’ll carry you to our bed now. And I get husband privileges.”
Jules tried to stifle the laughter. “What husband privileges?”
I cleared my throat, attempting to keep a straight face.
“Well, I know that you’ve been doing this baking thing for years now, but as your husband, I only want to see the best for you.
I want to be fully supportive of your career, and in an effort to make sure you see even more success, as your husband, it’ll be part of my duty to be the official taste tester for all new baked goods you come up with. ”
“You’re insatiable.”
Squeezing her side, I asked, “Can you blame me? You make the most delicious desserts. They come in second to only one other thing I’ve eaten.”
Jules appeared to be offended. “You like the taste of something more than my desserts?”
“I do.”
“What is it?”
The corners of my mouth tipped up in a mischievous grin. “You.”
Her cheeks pinkened as she tucked her chin toward her chest again. I’d never seen her so bashful.
“That’s not going to work.”
“What isn’t?”
My hand drifted up to the edge of the blanket that was covering our bodies. As I began to pull it down, away from her breasts, I explained, “You can’t be shy when I intended to look at every single naked part of you this morning before I get a taste of you.”
Her body shivered. “A taste?”
“It is my favorite thing,” I reminded her. The blanket had been tossed back, exposing everything down to the middle of her thighs. “My wife shouldn’t want to deprive me of my favorite thing.”
“Never,” she murmured, slowly parting her legs. “But we don’t have much time before we have to get ready to leave for our appointment. I don’t want to be late.”
I’d been moving to position myself between her thighs, and once I got myself settled with them thrown over my shoulders, I looked up at her and promised, “Your husband knows what he’s doing, angel. Just lay back and enjoy yourself. I’ll have you where you need to be on time.”
Jules moaned and dropped her head back.
Then I got a taste of my very favorite thing.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
I thought it was seeing the positive pregnancy test a couple of weeks ago that did it for me.
Then I thought it was watching the way Jules wrestled with her emotions ever since then.
Eventually, I believed it was the exhaustion that took over her every night after she put in a long day at work.
Yesterday, I felt it was getting married and spending my first night at home with my wife that did it.
And finally, I was confident it was arriving at this doctor’s office today.
But it hadn’t been any of that.
It was the sound that was currently filling the air around us.
The rapid beat of my baby’s heart is what did it. That precious sound solidified this new reality for me.
I was going to be a dad.
Something took hold of me as that quick, steady beat thrummed through the room like a song.
Seated beside the table where she was on her back, I held Jules’ hand in mine. Tears had spilled from her eyes and down into her hair. I squeezed her hand, and when she rolled her head along the pillow, tearing her eyes away from the monitor to look at me, she rasped, “That’s our baby.”
I nodded, feeling a thickness in my throat. “That’s our baby.”
It was easily the most surreal moment of my life, and I was suddenly seeing Jules in this new light. She was growing life inside her. She was growing and protecting and nurturing our baby. The warmth and affection that spread through my body for her were immense.
The sound stopped, and a few beats later, the sonographer said, “Okay, so I think I’ve gotten all of your measurements here. Just sit tight for a few minutes, and your doctor will be in to go over everything with you.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
She left the room and closed the door behind her, leaving Jules and me alone with one another. “Are you alright?”
“I am. I’m just… This is the most amazing thing I’ve ever done. Are you okay?”
I kissed the back of her hand. “I’m better than I ever thought possible. I thought yesterday was the best day of my life. And to that point, it was. It’s still there. But this is… This is beyond anything I could have ever imagined. I didn’t know it would feel like this.”
Jules let go of my hand and touched the side of my face. “I’m so glad you’re here and that we’re doing this together.”
I leaned into her touch, couldn’t pull myself away if I tried. “I wouldn’t have wanted to miss this for anything.”