Chapter 34
LEO
Her words strike deep, resonating with an intensity that leaves me overwhelmed. We lie in silence for several minutes as I stroke my fingers along her back, drawing lines and tracing circles over her skin.
She breaks the quiet, “Tell me something,” she murmurs into the stillness.
“What kind of something?” I ask, my voice reverberating through my chest where her head rests.
“What took you so long?” she asks, shifting her weight, pushing up on her elbow, and turning her body to look at me.
My breathing becomes shallow as I become fixated on her. She now lies on her stomach, leaning on her elbows, her tits pressed together. Her hair’s a beautiful mess that screams I just got fucked. Her bright-green eyes shine intensely as they stare into mine. Her lips are slightly swollen, making them even more desirable.
Damn. I can’t believe she agreed to move in with me, that she’s allowing me to love her.
She furrows her brows. “What are you thinking? Why are you staring at me like that?” A smile forms as she lets her head hang for a moment, laughing softly before looking back at me.
“I’m thinking I’m the luckiest fucking guy in the world,” I say, “and I can’t believe you love me. ”
“Of course I love you, Leo. I’ve loved you for so long,” she says, leaning in to kiss me gently on the lips.
“Because I’m a jackass,” I admit when she pulls back.
She gives me a confused look.
“That’s why it took me so long, Viv. Because I’m a jackass. But I became so afraid to not have you in my life that nothing else mattered. The moment I realized how much I loved you, I booked a flight immediately.”
She smiles, combing her fingers through the ends of her hair.
“Now, you tell me something,” I say.
“Hmmm,” she hums as she lowers onto her side. Her head rests on her pillow, and I turn so that we’re face to face.
“Remember my birthday party?” she asks.
“Of course.”
“Remember when we did it in the bathroom?”
“How could I forget?
She purses her lips. “But do you really remember? Because we were both pretty drunk…”
“Yeah, I have a pretty clear memory of what took place. You were looking sexy as fuck, and I took you up against the bathroom door,” I say with a smirk, recalling the heated moment.
One of her hands rests underneath the pillow while the other takes mine and moves it toward her stomach. She splays my hand flat on her belly and rests her hand on top of mine.
“Well, you dropped the condom, and we were going to get the morning after pill, but we forgot.” She looks down at our hands and then into my eyes. “I’m pregnant,” she whispers, a tiny smile forming on her lips.
Whoa.
I stare at her, my mind racing. A thousand thoughts collide, but one stands out—I’m going to be a father.
I take a deep breath, my eyes never leaving hers. “Pregnant,” I say, tasting the word, trying to wrap my head around it. “We’re having a baby?”
She nods, her smile widening, a mixture of hope and fear in her eyes.
A laugh bursts out of me. “Holy shit. Are you serious?” I ask, grinning, unable to contain this weird sense of happiness .
She nods again. “I don’t want you to stay with me just for the baby, Leo. And if this isn’t what you want, I completely understand. I know you’ve never wanted kids… this wasn’t in the plans…” she trails off.
“God, no.” I grab her face and kiss her. “Don’t ever think that. I’m with you, babe. It’s not that I’ve not wanted kids, I’ve never had anyone to have kids with. And I know this is a surprise, and holy hell, I’m in shock! But we’re in this together… I’ve got you. I’m scared to death, but I’m strangely fucking excited, I think.” My hand presses against my forehead as I roll onto my back. “I’m going to be a dad. This is crazy.” I laugh at the ceiling, feeling a mix of fear and exhilaration.
She grins, and I kiss her again, neither of us able to stop smiling.
“Are you serious? You’re sure? Don’t joke with me on this,” she exclaims.
“I would never. I’m sure. Let’s fucking do this, yeah?” I say, looking into her eyes, feeling more certain than ever.
Her eyes glisten as she squeezes my hand. “Yeah. We’re in this together… All the way.”
I pull her into my arms, holding her close, letting this new reality settle in.
At this moment, everything changes, it feels right. And I’m fucking ready.
“How far along are you?” I ask.
“About eight weeks.”
“And how are you feeling about it all—emotionally and physically?” I stroke her hair, my fingers tracing soothing patterns down her back, offering comfort as she speaks.
“Hmm, I’ve been a little nauseous, throwing up occasionally, which is never fun. I’m nervous… but I’m excited too. I’ve had a few weeks to process it all, and I’m really happy about it.” She takes a deep breath, exhaling slowly. “Knowing that you’re in this with me—that we can do this together—makes it feel a little less scary.”
I tilt her jaw up with my thumb and kiss her deeply, a surge of gratitude coursing through me.
She’s the best fucking thing that ever happened to me.
* * * * * * * * * *
I step into the shower’s steam, the hot water pelting my skin. God it feels good after a day of travel—though I’d be fine never washing Vivian’s scent off me. The shower is massive, easily fifteen feet long, with seven shower heads and benches lining two of the walls. I stand under the large waterfall shower head, closing my eyes as the water runs over my face. The door opens, and I turn to see Vivian turning on a shower head at the other end.
I swipe water from my eyes and start toward her, but she shakes her head, lips curving into a smirk.
“No, no,” she says. “You stay put. This is my shower area. You’re in a watch-only zone.”
Intrigued, I do as she says. She bites her bottom lip, her hand drifting to her stomach. Slowly, she glides it up, inching toward her breasts. She squeezes one, her moan echoing off the tiles as she tips her head back under the water. Her other hand pushes her hair back, water cascading down her face. When she tilts her head back down, her eyes lock on mine. She drags a hand to the back of her neck, gripping it as she pulls her hair forward and slides her hand across her tits, pinching a nipple.
I’m entranced. I feel like I’m fourteen again, watching a porno for the first time. Where’s the damn popcorn? My cock stands at attention, throbbing and aching.
Seeing her like this does things to me. Her slick, wet skin, the sounds she’s making, the way she touches herself… good God, the touching. Her hand slides lower, finding her wet, delicious pussy. It’s my undoing as I watch her fingers glide over her slit and circle her clit. She lets out a throaty moan, and I can’t take it anymore. I grab my cock, stroking hard, but I don’t want to jerk off. I want her—want her to touch me and, fuck, I want to touch her.
Before she can protest, I move, pressing her up against the wall, crushing my lips to hers .
“You fucking tease,” I rasp in her ear.
She laughs, low and wicked, “You’re supposed to be watching.”
“No more watching,” I say, slipping a finger inside her, curling deep. She cries out.
“Shit,” she breathes.
She takes my tongue into her mouth, her hand gripping the base of my cock, stroking it hard. My fingers work her while she strokes me, and we’re a rough tangle of tongues, moans and groping. She rakes her nails down my back, sending a shiver straight to my dick. I spank her ass, and she tugs my cock, making me groan deeply.
She trails kisses down my pecs, her mouth moving lower until she takes me in. I hiss through my teeth. The sight of her kneeling, water pouring over her, my cock in her mouth—it’s enough to push me over the edge.
“Fuck, babe, I’m gonna come if you keep doing that.”
She takes me deeper, and I steady myself against the wall with one hand. But I don’t want to come yet. I pull back, yank her up, and spin her around. Wrapping an arm around her waist, I kiss her neck, scraping my teeth against her skin while my fingers find her clit again, circling it. She arches into me, gasping, backing her ass up against me, positioning me at her entrance. I oblige. She bends over, bracing herself on the bench as I drive into her hard. Her moans ricocheting off the shower walls, combined with the hot spray against my skin, and the tight grip of her pussy around me—it’s all a sensory overload. Feels so fucking good. She braces one hand against the wall while the other moves to her clit, rubbing herself fast and desperate.
She cries out, “Fuck. Oh God,” as she clenches around me, and I come with her. My legs quiver, about to pull out, but then I remember—she’s pregnant, and I can come inside her. It feels way too good to leave her pussy.
When we finish, I pull out, my legs weak, and she collapses to the bench, spent.
“Holy fuck,” I exhale, trying to catch my breath .
We make eye contact, both breathless and grinning, and Vivian starts laughing, which makes me laugh too. She stands, wraps her arms around my neck, and kisses me softly. “I love you,” she whispers.
I let out a deep breath, “I love you, too.”
We stand there like naked fools in love, holding each other close and kissing for what feels like forever, the water pouring down around us. I fucking love this day. And I love her even more.
* * * * * * * * * *
We’re able to pull ourselves from each other long enough to get dressed and meet in the kitchen for dinner.
Vivian whips up some chicken tacos. I’m famished from my long morning of travel and all the calories burned from our afternoon of sex. I mash some avocados for fresh guac while Viv chops the fixings.
“I have an appointment in ten days, if you want to come to that,” she says, scraping tomatoes from the cutting board into a bowl. “I don’t know how long you’re planning to stay.”
“I’ll be there. I’ll be at every appointment,” I say, shaking some salt and garlic into the mashed avocados. The chicken sizzles in the background on the stove, its savory aroma mixing with the fresh scent of cilantro and lime. “But how long are you planning to stay here? Wouldn’t it be best to establish a doctor in Chicago?” I ask, genuinely curious.
“Yeah… you’re probably right. I hadn’t really thought about that because I’ve just been here. I didn’t know you’d come out, and obviously, now things have changed.” She scowls at the cutting board. “I might not be able to get in at ten weeks if I change things now. I’ll get some referrals and research doctors in Chicago this weekend, and call first thing Monday morning.”
“Have you told your mum?”
“No, I haven’t told anyone but you and Sarah. It’s still early on; I’d want to wait a few more weeks.” She stops chopping and turns to me, hesitant. “I’m supposed to have family dinner tomorrow night at my parents’… will you come? My mom’s practically in love with you herself; she’ll be dying to meet you.”
I laugh. “Your mum’s in love with me?”
“Oh my God, yes,” she says, dramatically rolling her eyes. “Not how I love you, obviously, but it’s annoying. She’s had this feeling that you were going to come around someday. You should have seen her at Christmas, asking if I’d called or texted you. She’s been obsessed with the idea of us since I met you.”
“I like her already,” I say, giving her a playful nudge. “What about your dad?”
“Oh, my dad’s another story,” she says, cocking an eyebrow. “You’ll have to convince him to like you for sure.”
“Challenge accepted,” I say, chuckling.
I move to heat the tortillas, crisping them just a bit in some butter on the stove. When everything is ready, I take a look in the fridge and grab the two items I’m looking for. I start squeezing them into one of the small bowls Vivian has out for the toppings.
“What are you doing?” Vivian asks, her brows furrowed.
“I’m making my special taco sauce. You’re going to love it.”
“That’s not taco sauce; that’s fry sauce. And fry sauce doesn’t belong on a taco.”
“I don’t know what the hell fry sauce is, babe, but this is taco sauce, and it will elevate the experience of the taco.”
She laughs. “I’m not putting fry sauce on my taco. That’s a Utah thing—ketchup and mayonnaise. It’s been used and served as fry sauce forever here.”
“No,” I rebut, “this is the Weston taco sauce. It’s been made for generations for tacos. I’m serious, it’s so good. Once you go Weston taco sauce, you’ll never go back.”
Needing to prove it to her, I fix up a taco, holding it to her mouth. “Take a bite, babe.”
She backs away. “No, I’m not eating fry sauce on a taco. It’s an abomination! ”
I keep my taco steady in front of her mouth as she maneuvers away, laughing. She gets backed up against a wall, and I playfully shove a corner of the taco into her mouth. She takes a bite, chews thoughtfully, and curses under her breath, trying to hold back a smile.
“Ha! I knew you’d like it! How’s that humble pie taste? You want some more?”
She just laughs, takes a drink of her water and proceeds to make her taco, using the sauce. “I feel like I’m cheating on fry sauce,” she says, glancing in my direction. “Remind me, by the way, never to marry you. After that spectacle, you’ll be the guy who smashes the cake in the bride’s face.”
We’re quiet for a moment while we meticulously put together our tacos.
“No.” I stop what I’m doing. “I would never do that.”
She looks at me confused.
“I would never smash the cake in your face, babe.” Turning back to my taco, I add, “I just thought you should know that.”
She pauses, her expression softening. “Good to know,” she says, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. “But I’m still keeping an eye on you.”
I grin, “Fair enough.”
As we finish making our tacos, I can’t help but think that moments like this are what make life so damn great.
* * * * * * * * * *
The next day
“I’m just warning you, my dad can be a lot,” she says nervously as we walk up the porch steps to her parents’ home.
It’s a beautiful house, backed up against a mountainside with a gorgeous view of trees and mountain peaks.
“His job can be really stressful. When he’s home, he becomes completely unhinged. ”
I laugh. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t know. I can’t explain it. He just gets weird. He’ll belt out songs and make inappropriate jokes or comments. It drives my mom nuts, but I think she loves it at the same time.” She pauses to laugh. “You’ll see what I mean.”
She reaches for the door handle, opening the oversized oak door. Stepping inside, we’re immediately greeted by Vivian’s mom as she sweeps Vivian into a hug, then turns to me with her arm extended.
“Hi Leo, I’m Jackie. I’ve heard so much about you,” she says, giving a side glance to Vivian. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“Likewise, it’s great to be here. Thank you for having me.”
“Wow, you really are as handsome as Vivian has made you out to be,” Jackie says, looking back and forth between the two of us.
“You hear that, Viv? Apparently, I’m handsome,” I tease, nudging her.
She rolls her eyes. “God, Mom, don’t stroke his ego. It’ll go to his head.”
“Keep it in your pants, Jackie!” Vivian’s dad yells from the couch.
Jackie sighs. “Excuse him,” she says, rolling her eyes.
“See what I mean?” Vivian whispers to me, laughing softly and shaking her head at her dad.
She leads us into the kitchen. Vivian’s dad is on the couch, intently watching golf. The final match of The Open is on today. I catch a glimpse of Justin Rose on the leaderboard, a fellow Englishman, and I can’t help but look longingly at the game.
Vivian notices. “You can watch, babe,” she offers with a smile. “I’m out. I only watch if Rory’s playing.”
“Oh, I know how you’ve got a thing for Rory, babe,” I tease, nudging her playfully.
She laughs. “Well, I wouldn’t not put him on my list.”
“Paul!” Jackie calls from across the kitchen. “Get your butt off the couch, and come meet Leo. ”
Paul gets up, casting a longing glance at the TV before making his way toward us. He enters the kitchen, his expression shifting from reluctant to welcoming as he greets us.
He comes to me first, and I extend my hand. “Mr. Stone, I’m Leo. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
He shakes my hand firmly, nodding. “Please, call me Paul.” He then turns to Vivian, opening his arms. “Viv, my little star,” he says warmly. She folds into her dad’s arms, and he kisses the top of her head. It’s sweet and touching to see her dad embrace her with such affection.
“Mom, do you need any help?” Vivian asks.
“No, honey, you and Leo go enjoy yourselves. Dinner will be ready in about twenty minutes.”
“You sure?” she insists.
Her mom gives her a pointed look, and Vivian shrugs. “Okay, thanks, Mom.”
“Do you want to watch golf?” she asks me, gesturing to where her dad is settled back on the couch, the low hum of the game filling the room.
“Yeah, in a bit,” I say, glancing around. “Give me a tour. Is this the house you grew up in?”
Vivian nods, her eyes bright with a mix of nostalgia and pride. “Yep.” She takes my hand and guides me through the house. The home, while older, has modern updates—sleek lines and minimalist décor. Family photos and expensive-looking artwork hang on the walls, and the smell of a delicious meal fills the air. I notice the photos of Vivian growing up, each one capturing her beauty, even as a teenager.
We take the stairs to the second floor, where the railing opens up to the airy living room below. We navigate down another hall, arriving at a room at the end.
Vivian pauses, “This is my room,” she says, opening the door as we step inside. The room features hardwood floors like the rest of the house, a large gray and white rug, and a queen-sized bed. An oversized modern light fixture hangs in the center of the room, and framed artwork decorates the wall above the headboard. In one corner, a plant stands tall, and two nightstands, each with a lamp, sit beside the bed .
I smile. “I take it you’ve had a hand in decorating this room?”
Her arms are crossed as she smiles smugly, nodding with pride.
“Please tell me it hasn’t always been this pretty and that you had a normal kid’s room,” I tease.
She laughs. “I did. We redid the room entirely about twelve years ago, and then I redecorated it a few years back.”
“When can we christen it?” I joke.
She wraps her arms around my neck. “How about now?” she says seductively, pressing her lips to mine and pulling away with a soft tug on my bottom lip.
“Babe, we can’t. Your parents are downstairs.”
“Yes, they are,” she says, kissing me again, more fervently this time.
I laugh, unable to tell if she’s serious. “Babe, you better back away, or I’m going to take you right here, right now.”
She presses her body against me, toying with the hair at the nape of my neck, and kisses me seductively, egging me on.
I match her intensity, and we make out heatedly in her bedroom for several minutes.
Remembering that we are in her parent’s home, and this is my first time meeting them, I pull back.
“Damn, you drive me crazy, you know that?” I say, smirking. “We should get back to your parents before they come looking for us.”
“You might want to give it a few minutes,” she says with a mischievous grin, eyeing my boner. “Better think of a turn off real quick,” she says, laughing. “How about Gary and Brenda naked… or my parents having sex?” she offers up freely.
“Jesus, now I won’t be able to look them in the eye at dinner,” I say chuckling.
“Come on, let’s go.” She gestures to the door, and we join her parents at the dinner table, where Vivian and her mom talk about all the latest Park City gossip, and her dad and I chat about The Open, keeping one eye on the TV throughout the meal.
Her dad is hilarious and has me laughing on multiple occasions .
After dinner and clean-up, we play a game of Cards Against Humanity , which has me rolling on the floor with laughter. These people are so cool, and when Vivian’s mom wins by playing a card that reads My mother’s double-sided dildo , we die laughing.
We stay until late in the evening, chatting around the dining room table. When we say our farewells, Vivian’s mom pulls me into a hug as if I’m her own son. It triggers a pang of sadness in me, knowing my own mother never hugged me like this.
As we leave, I can’t help but feel a sense of belonging that I’ve rarely experienced. I squeeze Vivian’s hand a little tighter, grateful for her and for the life we’re about to build together.
* * * * * * * * * *
“My parents loved you,” Vivian remarks, as I navigate us home in the rental car.
“They’re really great,” I reply, my eyes flicking to her briefly before returning to the road. “Glad I managed to win them over.”
“Well, it’s not difficult to like you.”
I reach over and take her hand, letting it rest in mine on the middle console. Her skin feels smooth and soft against mine. “Your dad is seriously hilarious. I can see where you get your humor,” I say, stealing another glance at her.
She laughs. “Isn’t he the best?”
“Yeah, he really is, and your mum’s incredibly kind and fun too. You’re really lucky. You’ve hit the bloody jackpot with your parents.”
I feel her gaze on me, a steady warmth that I catch in my peripheral vision.
“You’re going to be a really great dad,” she says, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. “I have no doubt about it.”
A great dad. The thought hits me with a mix of excitement and sheer bloody terror. What if I fail? What if I fuck it all up ?
But then I look at Viv, her eyes brimming with trust and certainty. She believes in me. With her by my side, maybe I can become the dad I want to be.
“Thanks, babe,” I murmur, squeezing her hand. “I have no doubt you’ll be an incredible mum.”
“Ahh, can we move to London, so our kids will call me ‘ Mum ’ and have an adorable British accent?” she teases, grinning at me.
Chuckling, I pull into the driveway and shift the car into park. Bringing her hand to my lips, I kiss it softly, feeling the warmth of her skin, then look at her adoringly. “Babe, you’re so close to your parents. Are you thinking about raising the baby here, near them? You know, for their support and everything?” The faint smell of Vivian’s perfume mixed with something uniquely her hangs in the air, and the distant chirping of crickets sounds in the background.
“I don’t know,” she says, leaning back in her seat and resting her head. She turns to look at me. “I think about it a lot, but I haven’t really focused on being here because you were always in the picture. Your life is in Chicago, and part of mine is there too. I’d never want to uproot your life just for me.”
I squeeze her hand gently. “I know you wouldn’t, but I’d move for you… for our family,” I reply, my voice steady and sincere.
“I know, and that’s why I love you, but I can’t ask that. You have your work, your clients, Meredith, and all your other friends—they’re your family.”
“But I’m not starting a family with them, babe. They’re not my future. You are, and this baby is.” I pause, feeling the weight of my words as I say things I never thought I’d say, and consider the possibility of living here. “Do you think your father-in-law would sell this house?”
Her eyes widen with surprise. “You’d want to buy it?”
I nod. “I’d do anything for you. I know how much you love this house. As you should—it’s incredible, and you designed it. You did an amazing job.”
She hesitates, “I don’t know. It’s possible he would sell it to me, but it would be very pricey. ”
“I’m not worried about the price. It’s worth looking into. Even if it means splitting time between here and Chicago.”
Her eyes search mine. “You really mean that, don’t you?”
“Of course I do. This house or my place in Chicago… they’re just details. What matters is us and our future family.”
A smile slowly spreads across her face. “I love you. I wouldn’t want to do this with anyone else.”
“I love you too, babe,” I say, pulling her into a kiss. Her lips part, and my tongue strokes gently against hers.
We pull apart but our faces stay close, her eyes searching mine. The weight of our future presses gently against us, and for the first time, it feels less daunting and more like a promise.
“We’ve got this,” I whisper, my heart swelling with hope. She nods, her eyes shining with a mix of determination and love that makes my own resolve stronger. I’m not just stepping into this unknown with her; I’m stepping into it with a clear sense of purpose and a deep, unshakeable connection.
We step out of the car, hand in hand, walking towards the house that might just be our future home. The night air feels crisp and promising, and every step feels like a step towards something real and lasting. Together, we are ready to build something truly beautiful, and this is just the beginning of our next adventure.