Chapter 30 #2
I looked at her and said, “This was supposed to be your surprise after we got back from our honeymoon.”
She looked at the Victorian house that was painted white with white columns and two levels with French doors and big bay windows—the house of her dreams—and gasped.
“You didn’t,” she said in wonder.
“Don’t you know by now? I’ll give you anything you want,” I told her.
Then, just like my woman when she had an idea, she rolled with it.
Before I could even blink, she was bent at the waist over the center console, telling me to lean my seat back.
I did it without a thought.
She unsnapped my jeans, lowered my zipper, slid her hand into the waistband of my boxers, and then lowered her mouth to my cock.
“Fuck me,” I growled.
She swirled her tongue around the head of my cock and then sucked it into her mouth.
I groaned.
***
“You’re going to stand right there?” she asked as she lowered her panties and lifted her dress.
I nodded, “Another big moment. I’m not missing this.”
She sighed as she shook her head.
She knew me.
She was used to me.
I winked as I handed her a plastic cup.
She growled as she took it, and then she did her business.
I took the cup from her and set it on the counter.
Then I read the instructions as she finished doing what she needed to and stepped to my side.
Then I grabbed fifteen tests and stuck them into the cup.
I waited five seconds and pulled them out. Then one by one, I laid them on the counter.
And then I stared at them.
And then... a plus sign... pregnant... a plus sign... pregnant... plus sign.
I didn’t realize that I had tears in my eyes until she brushed them away, and then I looked at her, at my universe.
I dropped to my knees and pressed my lips to her belly.
“You’ll never be scared. You’ll never know fear. You’ll never doubt my love. Promise you I’ll be the best fucking dad this world has ever seen.”
She ran her fingers through my hair and then pressed a kiss on the top of my head. “Love you.”
I looked up at her and whispered, “I fucking love you too.”
***
We fought over furniture.
We fought over paint colors.
We fought over appliances.
And then... well, we christened every room in the house.
All ten rooms.
The living room. The dining room. The kitchen. The laundry room. The sunroom. Our bedroom. The nursery. The next bedroom. The other bedroom. And the library.
Eight Months Later
I snarled at the doctor who told me to calm down.
Creedence laid her hand on mine and smiled, “It’s okay. Promise.”
I instantly calmed from her touch.
Then I bent my head and pressed a kiss on her sweaty temple.
And then... she growled as another contraction hit.
I kept my shit.
I kept keeping my shit until she said she needed to push, and the nurse wasn’t in the room.
I bolted out of the room, grabbed the first person I saw in pink scrubs, and dragged them into the room.
Creedence smiled, “I need to push.”
The nurse winked at her, “Got it.”
Then she looked at me and said, “Go to your wife. We have her.”
The doctor and nurses came into the room, and I held my wife’s hand as she growled, groaned, moaned, and screamed while she gave birth.
***
I sat there in that rocker with my baby girl.
She looked like her mother.
And I knew right then—I needed more guns.
“What are you thinking about?” I heard sleepily asked.
I looked at her and winked, “I need more guns.”
She burst out laughing.
Then she looked at me, “Now we need a boy who looks just like you, and my world will be complete.”
I winked at her, “Ready when you are.”
Creedence
My parents came into the room, followed by both clubs.
Connor looked at Alexander and said, “I’ll stalk her with a smile on my face to make sure she stays safe.”
I growled.
Alexander chuckled, “Appreciate it.”
Clip moved forward and looked at our girl, then he looked at me and asked, “Seriously?”
I frowned, “What?”
“You had to recreate yourself?”
Everyone chuckled.
Then my dad stepped forward and looked at Alexander, “May I?”
Alexander grumbled and then growled, “Five minutes.”
I giggled.
I looked at our family and said, “Please welcome Annabelle Rose Lawrence. Belle for short.”
Mom gasped when she heard her middle name.
“You didn’t give me life, but you showed me how to live. You taught me how to be a good person.”
My dad wrapped my mom in his arms as she burst into tears.
Then, once five minutes were up—yes, Alexander watched the clock—he stepped forward and took Annabelle from my dad.
He grumbled.
I burst into laughter.
Three days later, with the Tahoe loaded down with everything from flowers to chocolate, to gift bags, to bears, and ammo—yes, you read that correctly—ammo, we headed home.
And my man drove fifteen miles under the speed limit and flipped off anyone who dared get close to us.
***
Ten months later... whoops.
We had a literal play-by-play.
All the way up to when Alexander grabbed Christian Stephen Lawrence out of my dad’s hands when his five minutes were up.
Uncle Knox didn’t burst into tears when I informed him we named Christian after him.
No, he stomped forward, pressed a kiss on my forehead, then he grabbed Christian from Alexander’s hands.
And when five minutes were up, Alexander went to grab Christian, Uncle Knox growled.
Dad glared, “Seriously?”
Alexander looked at him and lifted a brow, “What?”
Dad pressed a kiss on Annabelle’s forehead, who he was currently holding, then he said, “You about jerked Belle out of my arms. But not Knox?”
Alexander shrugged, “You didn’t hold my world when I almost died. He did.”
“But I created your world,” Dad growled.
Alexander nodded, “You did. But I haven’t forgiven you for daring to say you were ashamed of her. Don’t push it.”
Cotton snorted, “You have no fear, do you?”
Alexander smirked, then his face sobered, “One.”
Storm was the one to ask, “What?”
Alexander looked at me, and so much love was clearly written in those eyes of his, “Going back to a life where I never met her.”
I burst into tears.
He chuckled as he gathered me in his arms and buried my face in his neck.