Chapter 26 Your Brand
Twenty-Six. Your brand
Patrick
I’ve been sitting on the couch for the last hour, dressed with places to go.
I should have known when she came rushing in through the door after work we’d be late for the party.
Tamara was frazzled and a little out of sorts, but I heard the shower come on soon after, then humming and swearing followed.
All of which are very normal noises given how chaotic she can be sometimes.
I revel in it. I soak up the feeling of knowing I get to be with her, that we get to do this parenting thing together.
Not to mention the way it felt when she called me Daddy.
I’ve never explored kinks, not for lack of interest, but the partners I’ve been with haven’t wanted anything more.
It’s always fascinated me though. I did some reading last night, so I’d know how to react if she called me that again.
Apparently there’s no right or wrong way to handle it.
You respond to it like any nickname or term of endearment.
The minute she said it outside the clinic yesterday, something clicked in my brain.
I know my kid’s going to call me Dad or Appa as they grow up, but to have Tamara call me Daddy might actually be one of the hottest things in the world. Something tells me it’s not about a kink for Tamara, even if I’m hard every time she says it.
Now that Dr. Gopalan has assured her sex won’t hurt the baby, maybe I won’t have to jerk off in the shower anymore. My hands are tired and I’d certainly prefer burying myself inside her. I remember what she feels like clenching tight around me and how her body moves when we’re fucking like animals.
Sex isn’t important for our relationship to work or mean something, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss it. I’d love to ignore the world and keep her trapped in bed, but part of winning her back is showing up every single day. And I intend to do that for as long as she’ll have me.
“I’m ready! My heels snapped and had to find another pair.”
I look up as she uses the kitchen counter for support to slip on her footwear.
Fucking hell. She looks good in office wear and my T-shirts, but there’s something to be said about Tamara in dresses.
This one leaves nothing to the imagination.
The black silk clings to her body, flaunting every dip and curve, and puts her tiny bump on display.
I adjust the front of my pants as I stand.
The neck is low and deep, showing off breasts I’ve been aching to get my hands and mouth on for weeks.
I get a glimpse of the tip of the honeysuckle tattooed between her breasts.
I remember licking it that night; remember it tasted like I thought it would—like her.
With the way the dress curves over her hips and ass, I can tell she’s either not wearing underwear or it’s a thong.
Both options are going to ruin me. I grit my teeth at the idea of sharing this vision with other people.
Her curly hair’s been washed and fluffed, spilling over one shoulder like a dark curtain.
She’s applied a light sheen of makeup and large earrings covered in pearls looped through both ears.
“Perfection,” I rasp and she looks up, then down the length of my body.
I’m wearing dark blue trousers and a light shirt, sleeves folded up to my elbows. She bites her lip and sidles over, hips swaying with every step and I inhale deeply, letting her scent settle in my bones.
“You look really nice, Trick.”
“Thanks, Lo. You look…” I whistle for lack of words to say and she grins.
“And don’t worry, I have a light jacket to wear over this.”
“Why?” I frown.
“So you don’t go kill all the other men for checking me out.”
I roll my eyes. “Let them look. Let them know you’re mine.”
Tapping each button on my shirt until she reaches the buckle of my belt, Tamara smiles. “How will they know you’re mine?”
Before I can come up with an answer, she pinches my chin and tips my head back. Her warm mouth presses to my throat and she steps away. My nerves are sparking at the proximity and contact. When I lower my head, I see a photograph of her lipstick mark on my neck.
“Mine,” she says and struts to the front door, while my cock twitches angrily in my pants.
The house we park outside of is gorgeous.
I take in the neat lines of the dark roof and the lighter window frames and shutters; it’s a home found in an architecture magazine.
As we walk to the front door, I imagine Tamara and I living in a place like this.
A house completely designed by her and filled with all of our best memories.
A visual of me chasing our kid through the backyard fills my head and my heart clenches.
Knowing they’re growing and moving around in Tamara’s belly makes this so much more real.
At the front door, I ring the bell. Tamara pushes the door open and walks inside.
“Why ring the bell if you’re letting yourself in?”
She snorts. “It’s to alert them that someone is here.”
“Please let your friends know they cannot stroll into our house randomly.”
“Our house?” she teases as we walk through the brightly painted rooms.
The space isn’t cluttered and the walls are covered in gorgeous art.
From the quick look I get, everything on display was chosen purposefully.
As we reach the backyard, my eyes widen and Tamara gasps.
It’s a large grassy area with a raised platform at one end.
I hear the waves crashing not too far away and the cool ocean breeze is a nice change from the heat of the city.
Lights are strung across the entire space and a long table sits in the middle.
Everything has a rustic vibe and it looks really nice.
“They got married,” Tamara whispers and I frown. I thought they were already married.
Before I can ask, Millie and Jonathan come to greet us.
I hug them and when I see the wedding bands on their fingers, congratulate them as well.
Jonathan’s wearing a light grey suit while Millie’s in a shimmery sleeveless dress, and they look so happy.
Now I wish we’d brought more than a bottle of wine and flowers, these two deserve the best wedding gift.
“I’m stealing my girl. You can go hang out with the boys,” Millie says and I chuckle.
“My girl, but you can have her. For tonight.” I kiss the side of Tamara’s head and she leans into me briefly before being dragged off by the bride.
Jonathan points at my throat and grins. “Next thing you know she’ll be marking you with a ring. Makes us the luckiest sons of bitches.”
The realisation I could marry Tamara startles me. It didn’t even register it was something we could do. The cake tasting was pretend, but it could be real. Holy shit. I follow Jon to where the guys are gathered. It’s so typical at a party with a group of about forty, the men and women are split up.
“The red looks good on you, big brother,” Elias says, referring to my lipstick stain, and I roll my eyes as we hug.
I’m introduced to all the guys, feeling smug as they ask about Paris and winning the medal.
Despite being total strangers, they welcome me into the conversation instantly.
Some of their partners are here, either at the bar or mingling with the women around the backyard.
As they pick up where they left off before I arrived, I look around at the venue.
The house is even better from the back with large windows that probably have a great view of the ocean.
The string lights add a little something to the mood and the soft music pumping through speakers provides a much needed balance.
“So, what’s next for you?” one of the guys asks, drawing me back into the conversation.
“Got some time off, so I’m getting into coaching.”
“No shit, with who?”
“The Tamil Nadu LHT team,” I tell them and when they look confused, I add, “League of Hockey Tournament. Like the ICL. This is their first year and someone thinks I can get them a win.”
“Dude, that’s so fucking cool. And congratulations on the job.”
Elias grabs my shoulder and adds, “My brother’s being modest. He also runs a foundation to provide education and sports training for kids.”
I look at my feet and blush. We’re the kind of siblings that boast about each other all the time and make sure the whole fucking world knows how talented we are. I should have known he’d try to talk me up, but if these guys have money they’re willing to spare, I’m not going to stop him.
“Don’t be shy, Pat. What you’re doing is amazing.”
I nod and smile. “We signed on with a school here and if we can get this off the ground in the next few months, it’ll be really cool.”
“That’s incredible, man. If there’s anything we can do to help, let us know.”
“I mean, I’ll take your money.”
Everyone laughs and Elias winks at me, but I’m grateful he brought it up.
Millie steals Jonathan and I use the time to get myself a glass of soda with a lime wedge.
Since I found out Tamara was pregnant, I haven’t touched a drop of alcohol.
I didn’t realise I was doing it until I opened the fridge one day for a drink and found it empty.
I’ve been alcohol free for two and a half months and I don’t miss it.
Elias has always been the most sociable of the Joseph siblings—Nina can party with the best of them, but her resting bitch face scares people off too—so I’m not surprised he’s laughing and talking with those guys.
As I do a scan of the backyard, I find Tamara with her purse tucked under her arm as she talks to a little girl in a fluffy dress.
One hand holds a drink and the other rests on her stomach.
The kid touches her belly and giggles, making Tamara smile.
And the love I have for her threatens to explode out of me.
I rub the centre of my chest as I watch them, seriously hoping we have a little girl.
“Apparently you’re one of two big athletes here tonight,” a sultry voice says and I turn to a pretty dark-skinned woman. “What do you play?”
“Hockey. My brother’s the cricketer.”
Her eyes dip to my neck and the flirty smile dims, but her hand still lands on my arm. “Oh my god, you won a medal in Paris! Congratulations, that must have been really amazing.”
“Pretty good feeling, I have to admit.”
“I’m Vinitha, nice to meet you.”
I shake her hand and smile. “Patrick. Good to meet you too.”
“Hey Vinnie. I see you met my baby daddy.” A hand wraps around my bicep and I smile into my glass as Tamara stakes her claim.
“I guess more congratulations are in order.” Vinitha’s face has lost its joy and her smile is so fake, I wonder if it hurts her.
“Thank you! We’re really excited.”
She nods uncomfortably and scurries away. I press my glass to Tamara’s bare arm and she squeaks.
“You’re a vicious one, aren’t you?”
“She was flirting with you.”
“Yeah, but I didn’t care.” She huffs and attempts to move away, but I grab her around the waist and pull her back against my chest. “I’m wearing your brand proudly, Lotus. I haven’t looked at another woman since you came back into my life.”
She leans against me and I feel her relax a little. “You can look, Trick.”
“I don’t need or want to. And it’s impossible when you’re around. When you’re not, I’ve got the visual of you spread out for me playing on a loop.”
“The first or second time?” she whispers and my cock jumps.
I’ve relived every single minute of the night I knocked her up. Her legs shaking as we fucked on the kitchen floor and when she had them on my shoulders once we finally made it to my bed.
“Both,” I reply and her ass shifts against me. My dick’s ready to punch through all the layers and bury himself inside her. We remember and we want it again.
“Hi everyone! Thank you so much for coming out tonight. We know it’s hot as fuck, but we appreciate you being here.”
Tamara leans away as Millie speaks, but I keep my arm around her, because I need a little protection for the fucking tent in my pants.
“In case it wasn’t clear yet, Jon and I got married over the weekend. Between our two families, we got so tired of waiting for them to decide details. So we eloped!”
Everyone claps as the couple turn to each other.
There’s nothing but love in their eyes, love that cannot be faked or replaced.
I wonder if I look at Tamara like that. The way I feel about her is intense and it scares me often.
I’ve never openly admitted, even to myself, how much I’ve always loved her.
I feel it every single time we’re around each other.
Even doing the simplest thing like making our morning beverages.
“Refill those drinks and find your seat. We’ve got a delicious spread prepared.
But most importantly, we’re so happy to celebrate this big day with all of you.
And to the three women who helped me through every heartbreak and fight, I’m sorry I couldn’t steal you away for the weekend.
But you were there in spirit,” Millie adds and Tamara sniffles. “Enjoy!”
The guests move towards the table and start finding their name cards. I realise quickly that it’s randomly placed, so Tamara and I are definitely not going to be sitting together. She notices this too and huffs.
“If you’re next to Vinitha, I cannot be held responsible for what might happen.”
I laugh and squeeze her side. “All you need to do is remember that while I’m sitting next to someone else, I’m thinking about whether or not you’re wearing panties.”
“I guess you’ll have to wait to find out.
” With a smirk she walks off, checking name cards until she finds her spot.
I chuckle and hand my glass to a passing waiter before I go to find my seat.
Like she predicted, Vinitha’s on one side and Jonathan’s brother on the other.
Even without looking, I can feel daggers shooting our way, but I make it a point to focus on the other side instead.