Chapter 46
Quinn
UNEXPECTED SURPRISES
“You have me, baby girl. Every part of me. You own my heart and soul. I want to give you the life you’ve always dreamed of, and I want to be part of that, every day, through the good, the bad, and the ugly.
I’m not saying it’s going to be easy… or that I’m going to be easy.
But I’ll never stop loving you. I’ll never stop obsessing over you.
And I’ll never, ever stop choosing you.”
Tears roll down my cheeks. That’s been happening all morning. Even while we fucked, I cried as we stared into each other’s eyes. “Sorry.” I use the back of my hands to wipe my cheeks. “I’ve been such a crybaby lately.”
He smiles and strokes my face. “You can be my crybaby. I’ll hold you whenever you need it and kill anyone who causes it. I love you, sunshine. Today, tomorrow, and in the afterlife.”
That makes me smile, and I lean into him again, snuggling against his warm chest. He wants to marry me.
And I want nothing more than to marry him.
We only knew each other for a few weeks before he left for treatment, but I knew, even in that time, that there is no one else out there for me in this life.
Even if Xander died tomorrow, he’s it. I don’t want anyone else. Not now. Not ever. He makes me whole.
“You’re supposed to ask,” I whisper into his ear, grinding my hips against him.
A smirk plays at his lips, and he leans back, watching me as I start to ride him. “If I ask, it gives you the chance to say no, and I don’t plan on giving you up, baby girl. That’s my only limit when it comes to you.”
My chest tightens, and I lean forward to meet his kiss, his hands wrapping around my hips, gripping them almost painfully. I love every second of his possessive touch.
“Will you be my wife, sunshine? The mother of my kids? My whole world? Will you make me the happiest man in the universe?”
My orgasm rolls over me, and I bob my head, moaning, “Yes, Daddy,” into his ear as he falls apart with me.
“We can stay home. Stay in bed and shop for furniture for our new house.”
I smile up at the hottest man I’ve ever seen, and a lightness fills me.
He told me a lot about his treatment today.
He’s going to continue to see a therapist once a week.
Even though he hasn’t had any cravings for alcohol, he’s still going to virtually meet with someone from the treatment center on a regular basis to check in.
When he told me he was leaving to get help, I had no idea if the same man I fell in love with would return.
I knew it was possible he might resent me or have had a change of heart after going through therapy.
But what I didn’t expect was this man, who is still very much possessive and protective, but he’s softer and more talkative.
I swear there used to be an invisible rain cloud that followed him around, but it’s not there anymore.
I’m so proud of him for the obvious hard work he put in on himself and his recovery.
I hope like hell he’s proud of himself, too.
“No. I’m good. I got to spend all day with you. I don’t mind sharing you with your family for a few hours,” I tell him, grabbing my purse and checking my reflection in the mirror one more time.
Even multiple coats of concealer can’t hide how tired I am, but I already know I’ll sleep like a baby tonight with Xander next to me, so I’m sure I’ll bounce back to myself within a few days.
Especially since Xander informed me that I can work as many jobs as I want, but I’m not to work more than forty hours a week.
Somehow, I don’t think I’ll be able to fight that too much, considering he’s my boss.
But also, I don’t want to because it makes me all warm and gooey inside that he’s taking care of me in his own, over-the-top, bossy way.
“We need to decide on a date.” He holds the passenger door open for me in the parking garage. “I’m thinking tonight. We could get married Vegas style.”
I laugh and roll my eyes, though I don’t hate the idea. I couldn’t care less about the wedding. It’s our marriage that matters to me.
“Yeah? And what about rings? Clothes? Not that I need a fancy gown, but I don’t know about getting married in my leggings and sweater.”
Xander grins and brings the back of my hand to his mouth to press a kiss to it. He looks so damn light and free. It’s a beautiful sight.
“Baby girl, you just worry about saying ‘I do’ and let Daddy take care of everything else.”
Butterflies erupt in my stomach as excitement washes over me, but at the same time, I relax against the seat and let out a deep breath.
Beckett and Kian are already at Cash and Jordyn’s when we arrive. Caleb is here, too, though he’s quieter than the rest. I get the feeling he’s the silent-but-deadly type.
As soon as we walk into the kitchen, everyone is already crowded around numerous trays of appetizers. Jordyn notices us first, flashes me her beautiful smile, and then comes over to hug me before she steps over and wraps her arms around Xander.
“It’s good to have you back,” she says in a shaky voice that I’ve never heard from Jordyn before.
Xander returns her embrace. “Thank you. For everything.”
Cash lets out a weak growl as he pulls Jordyn away from Xander. She and I laugh while Xander rolls his eyes and tugs me into him.
Yeah, I’d say these men are a little possessive.
“Come on, let’s eat. Birdie made all this food for us,” Jordyn announces. “Then we’ll play poker.”
“How do you feel about going to a wedding tonight instead?” Xander asks.
Everyone in the room freezes and stares at us with various expressions of shock before it morphs into shouts of excitement.
“Hell, yeah!” Beckett throws his arms around me. “Can I be the ring bearer?” he asks with a smirk and a wink.
The guy is too freaking cute for his own good. I’m sure women fall at his feet all the time.
After everyone gives their congratulations, Xander nudges me toward the food. “We need to eat.”
I look at everything and really breathe in the aroma of the spinach artichoke dip that’s usually my favorite. My stomach turns, and I dart for one of the guest bathrooms. Xander is right behind me, asking what’s wrong, but I’m trying not to vomit all over their house.
As soon as I make it into the bathroom, I fall to my knees in front of the toilet and throw up. He hovers right behind me, pulling strands of hair away from my face while Jordyn follows him in.
“Can you get me a hair tie?” he asks her.
Her shoes click against the floor as she hurries off. Xander holds my hair and rubs my back, letting me know he’s right here, but he doesn’t say anything until I lift my head and flush the toilet, then rise to stand.
He immediately goes to the sink and wets a washcloth with cold water, then he hands it to me and watches me, looking concerned. “I’m worried about you, baby. Maybe I should take you to the emergency room.”
I shake my head and set the cloth next to the sink, then look through the drawers for something to use to brush my teeth. “I’m okay. Today has just been emotional and a lot. I’m fine, though.”
Jordyn comes back in and holds out a hair tie for me, then smiles nervously, which is strange because she’s normally so confident. “I, uh, I also brought this. Just in case.”
She places the box on the counter, then rushes out of the bathroom like her ass is on fire. When I look at the box, I go still, unable to draw in a breath.
A pregnancy test.
I look at Xander, who’s staring at the box like it might burn him. “Are you…?”
Shaking my head, I close my eyes and try to remember when my last period was. It was…
Fuck.
When was it?
“I… I don’t know.” I wrack my brain as thoughts begin to swirl in my mind. “I don’t…”
Xander reaches for me and takes my trembling hands in his steady ones. “Look at me, sunshine.”
I immediately obey, and when I look up at him, a calmness washes over me.
“No matter what happens, we’re going through it together,” he says firmly.
Nodding, I look at the box again and sigh. “I didn’t,” I start, unsure how to say it so he believes me. “Try to trap you, Xander.”
He laughs quietly and cups my chin. “I know. You aren’t her.
Not even close, thank God. I knew the risks when I fucked you bare, and I wanted to take that risk.
I knew you were going to be mine no matter what.
So if we start having babies now or five years from now, I’m happy.
The only thing I need is you. The rest will fit into place when it’s meant to.
And it’s okay if that time is now. No matter when it is, you’re going to be an amazing mom, and I can’t wait to spend our lives together. ”
I open the cardboard box and read the instructions, my entire body trembling. When I’m pretty sure I know what to do, I motion for him to leave. “Just give me a minute.”
Crossing his arms over his broad chest, Xander leans a hip against the vanity, an eyebrow raised. “I’m not going anywhere. You’re going to be my wife, sunshine, and I’m going to watch you birth my children. You better get used to using the fucking toilet in front of me.”
Heat spreads through me all the way to my core.
What the fuck is wrong with me? Why am I like this?
As if he can read my thoughts, Xander chuckles. “It’s okay to like something as long as it’s safe, sane, and consensual, baby. Just go with it.”
I look at him, deadpan. “I don’t know if you know what those words mean. You said earlier that you weren’t asking me to marry you because you were keeping me no matter what. I don’t think that falls under consensual. Or sane.”
The way his stone-blue eyes sparkle makes me weak in the knees, and I feel like the luckiest woman alive.
“I’m definitely not sane, sunshine. And I would definitely lock you up against your consent in our house until you changed your mind and decided you wanted to be with me. But you’re always safe with me.”
My throat closes up on me, and I nod silently, trying not to cry. He heard me. When I told him I needed to feel safe all the time, he listened, and he chose me.
As my eyes immediately start to water at that thought, I already know what this test is going to say.
He watches me as I pee on the little stick. When I meet his gaze after I’ve finished, he stares at me like he’s in awe of me. Like he’s proud of me.
“It says it can take up to fifteen minutes,” I tell him when I’m done washing my hands.
“I know something we can do for fifteen minutes.” He steps up behind me and presses his cock into my ass.
Grinning, I let my head fall forward, fully on board with this idea, but when I do, my eyes catch one word, and I suck in a breath.
Pregnant.
A soft knock on the bathroom door startles me, and I scramble to stand, but Xander tightens his hold on me. After we saw the test result, we hugged for a long time. Eventually, he sat on the closed toilet lid and pulled me down onto his lap, and we’ve been here snuggling ever since.
“Come in,” Xander calls out.
Jordyn peeks her head in like she’s unsure whether she should, even though he just said she could come in. It’s cute.
“Are you guys okay? I mean, you can be in here for as long as you want, but it’s been a couple of hours, and we’re getting a little worried.”
Oh, crap. I didn’t realize that much time had passed. “Sorry,” I tell her with a weak smile. “But also, I’m pregnant.”
She screams, and the next thing I know, Cash, Beckett, Kian, and Caleb come crashing into the bathroom, ready to go to war. I guess it’s a good thing this place is a mansion, and there isn’t a single room that would be considered small.
“What the hell is going on?” Cash demands.
“You three,” Xander says while continuing to stroke my back, “are going to be uncles.”
It takes a second for his words to register with his brothers, but as soon as it does, they start to congratulate us while Jordyn squeals like this is the most exciting news ever. Caleb leans against the doorframe, watching it all in his usual stoic silence.
When the excitement dies down, Xander pulls me into his side and presses a kiss to my temple. “Let’s go home, baby.”
Tilting my head back, I smile up at him. “Not yet. We have a wedding to go to first.”
He grins. “Are you sure? Do you feel up to it? I’ll give you the wedding of your dreams whenever you want, but I’d like you to have my last name when we go to bed tonight.”
“I’m sure. I want to marry you. Make me yours forever, Daddy.”
“Baby, you’re already mine forever. Now and in the afterlife.”