Chapter 45 Emma #2
I quietly close the door to the private room we had her changed to.
For some reason the hospital thought it was appropriate to put a dying child with another who almost seemed full of life.
I know it isn’t their fault and they most likely didn’t see any harm to it.
But that first day when I saw Maddie looking at the other little girl of around the same age who was laughing and smiling while Little Lotus could barely get out of bed, it nearly killed me. She looked completely shattered.
I walk over to the couch in the corner of the room where Bryan is sitting and watching his daughter’s fragile frame looking out the window. She hasn’t even stirred or looked up to see who came in like she normally would. She’s lost in her own thoughts right now.
I hug him tightly for a moment, no need to say any words, then turn to Maddie. I walk around the bed after putting my bag on the floor and crouch down before her. “Hi, my sweet Little Lotus,” I murmur. I don’t bother asking how she’s feeling. I know it’s not well.
“Hi,” she whispers.
I lean in to kiss her forehead, then turn to scoot a chair over. We usually sit in the bed together, but she doesn’t look up for moving, and I don’t want to put her in any more pain than necessary.
Just as I’m about to take a seat, she places her cold, pale hand over mine. “Can you lie down with me?” Her voice is barely audible.
“I don’t want to hurt you, sweetheart. We can sit like this for today.” I smile with affection as I push some dark brown strands away from her face. Her blue eyes seem dull and lack that spark they usually hold whenever she sees me.
“Please…” she begs, and my heart squeezes in my chest.
Fuck it. There’s no way I can say no. I climb onto the bed as gently as possible, not wanting to move her too much. I slide my arm beneath her as she lays her head on my shoulder, my arms wrapping around her tiny body delicately. “Is this okay?”
“Yes.”
I turn my head and kiss her crown. “Does it hurt to talk?” She has a nasal cannula on to help her breathe, and I know she gets exhausted quickly. I don’t want to make it worse by making her talk.
“Everything hurts…”
My eyes gloss over, and I look up to the ceiling, needing a moment to take a breath.
I catch Bryan dropping his head into his hands on the couch, having heard his daughter’s heartbreaking words.
We don’t talk for a moment, simply holding onto each other with the sound of machines beeping next to us.
“Do you think I will see my mommy when I die?” Oh God… “I don’t want to be alone...”
“You won’t be alone, baby. I promise.” I don’t know what life after death is, but there’s no way I’m telling her that. She’s scared right now and needs reassurance.
“I wish she was here now.”
Tears slip from my eyes, and I make quick work of wiping them away. Then I try to keep my trembling voice from showing. “I know, my love.”
“It’s okay to cry, Emma. Daddy said it was okay to be sad.” She sniffs, and I feel the skin on my shoulder becoming damp. “Will you take care of Daddy when I’m gone?” Her voice quivers as she speaks softly.
I want to scream. I want to punch someone in the face. I want some sort of miracle to happen. This sweet little innocent girl doesn’t deserve this. “I promise.” It’s all I can manage without breaking down.
“Okay,” Maddie whispers with a slight nod before speaking through the pain once more. “Can we play pretend?”
I let out a shaky breath, trying desperately to keep it together. “Anything you want, sweetie. What do you want to pretend play?” I nuzzle into her hair and close my eyes.
“Can we pretend that you’re my mommy for now? Until I have to go…” Her voice breaks at the end, quiet whimpers leaving her body as it shakes in my hold.
A sob breaks free from my lips, no longer able to contain this heartache. “Yes, baby. A thousand times yes. There’s nothing I’d love more.”
The next hour is filled with only the sound of our cries as we stay in each other’s arms until a nurse comes in to give her some pain medication.
She falls asleep shortly after, making me promise I won’t leave before she’s sleeping.
From then, I cry for another hour alone in my car before heading home to my friends and family.
~ Two Days Later ~
The Griffins had their first home game tonight, which they sadly lost. But they don’t seem too bothered by it.
It was close all night until the Dallas Ranchers scored a goal in overtime, making the score five-to-four.
So now it’s a two-to-one lead for the New York Griffins in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Usually, I’d be in bed by now, waiting on Greyson to get home.
But there’s a huge downpour outside, and I was enjoying the quietness of the house with the sound of rain splattering across the windows.
Little Tulip has been in bed for the past four hours, and Greyson should be home any minute, so it’s been just me and my thoughts.
The girls wanted to come over and watch the game together, but I wasn’t much in the mood for company. We plan on joining the boys for their games once they win their third game, even if it’s in Dallas. There’s no way we’re missing their big win if they come home with the cup.
Maddie had a little more spirit today. Her father had texted me earlier saying she was in a better mood and sitting up in bed.
So I made a quick stop at the store and got the Candy Land board game, Disney princess edition.
Bryan even joined in to play. He was Cinderella, Little Lotus took Rapunzel, and I was appointed Ariel.
Because, and I quote, we have the same hair. Makes sense if you ask me.
Greyson walks through the door, closing it quietly behind him and shrugging out of his wet sweater. He makes his way farther into the house but stops short when he sees me sitting on the couch. “What are you doing up, baby?”
“I was just thinking and enjoying the sound of the rain. We haven’t had a big fall like this in a while.” I give him a soft smile.
He trots over and sits down sideways on the couch beside me. Grabbing my shoulders, he pulls me in, bringing my back to his chest until I’m leaning into him. His skin is cool from the heavy rain outside, and I can even smell it on him.
“I used to listen to the rain when I was a kid. There was a reading nook in my room by the window. I would sit there for hours, listening to the rain and thunderstorm. It was so peaceful. I miss it sometimes.” I smile to myself as he starts stroking my hair and kisses my shoulder.
“On days when my parents weren’t home, my nanny, Gretchen, would let me run out into the rain.
I’d twirl and run around until my toes and fingers were frozen and my clothes were soaked through.
Then she’d make me a hot chocolate and run me a warm bath. ”
I sigh with warmth in my heart as I recall those wonderful memories from my childhood with my nanny. There might not have been many, but I think that’s what makes them even more memorable.
Greyson hums to himself, then pushes against my back, forcing me to sit straight. He gets up from the couch and offers me his hand. Without a moment of hesitation, I take it. I’d take it even if he were dragging me down to hell. Because I’d be with him, and that’s all that matters.
He picks up the baby monitor and walks us to the front door. Pulling it open, we step out, and he places the monitor on the floor to the side and leaves the door wide open.
Daisy’s sleeping on her doggy bed in the living room, so she doesn’t notice the open entrance.
And even if she did, I wouldn’t be worried.
She’s not a fan of the rain. Making her do her business outside when there’s barely a tiny sprinkle proves to be quite difficult.
Greyson has joked a few times about getting her litter trained…
I’m starting to think I might take him up on that.
“Grey, what are we doing?” I question as he drags me out onto the front lawn. I shriek when the raindrops start falling down above us, my hair dripping and sticking to my face within seconds from how intensely it’s pouring.
“We’re dancing in the rain. What does it look like?”
Keeping my hand in his, he places his other against the small of my back, my free hand coming up to his nape as I laugh.
He twirls me a few times, our clothes completely drenched.
He’s dressed in sweatpants and a T-shirt, while all I’m wearing are panties and one of his white shirts that ends mid-thigh.
I’m sure we can see completely through it by now, but with how dark it is outside, only Grey can peek.
His eyes darken with lust at the last spin he gives me, probably noticing my hardened nipples through the thin fabric.
He pulls me back to him, chest against chest, as his head dips and he begins to sing our song into my ear.
The same one he sang to me on my birthday and has continued singing to me since.
A rush of goosebumps scatters my flesh, and it isn’t from the cold rain running down it, but rather from him, his voice, the words. The way simply feeling him and smelling him brings my body and heart to life.
He stops singing halfway through and kisses right below my ear, then my jaw as I tilt my head to the side.
His hand lets go of mine and comes up to fist my hair, pulling my head back and exposing my neck perfectly to him.
He kisses and licks down it until he reaches the valley of my breasts.
Rain splatters against my face, but I don’t care.
My eyes are closed as I moan and succumb to the sensation of his mouth against my body.
“Wolf,” I cry out when his other hand leaves my back and grabs one of my breasts through the shirt. His mouth clamps down on it as I feel his tongue twirling around its peak before sucking and biting.
When I moan his name again, my fingers tugging at his scalp, he comes back up to my mouth, our kiss quickly turning frantic. Lip biting, tongues pushing against each other, teeth clashing together. It’s like we’re in a rush and can’t get enough.
“I need you, Bunny,” he pleads against my lips.
“I need you more, Wolf. Please,” I beg in return.
His hands drop from my hair and body to grab my hand with one. We sprint for the house, grabbing the baby monitor on our way in and shutting the door quickly. We skid on the floor from our wet state, Greyson almost falling a few times before we make it to the staircase.
We run up the stairs giggling like teenagers and only resume our kissing session once we’ve hit the landing, bumping into walls as we make our way blindly to our room. I’m surprised we haven’t woken Gracie with all the noise we’re making.
Halfway down the hall, Grey lifts me into his arms, my legs wrapping around his waist and hands coming to his hair as I devour his mouth like it contains my next breath.
He fumbles for the doorknob behind me and finally pushes it open.
We don’t even make it to the bed. Instead, he kicks the door shut behind him and spins us around, smashing my back into it.
I make quick work of pulling his shirt off his body, then work my own over my head while he holds my weight by my thighs and pulls me away from the door slightly.
Once our tops have both hit the ground, he presses me back against the wood and with one hand grabs onto my tiny excuse for panties.
Wrapping the strap around his fist, he shreds them with one quick tug as I hiss at the sting along my hips.
That’s definitely going to leave a mark.
I hold onto him as he pushes down his sweats and boxers, then steps out of them. His hand comes to my dripping center from around my thigh, and he pushes two fingers inside my pussy.
“Yes…” I moan, my head falling back against the door.
“No more condoms, Em. I don’t want anything between us. I just want to feel you. Only you,” he says, kissing my neck as his fingers pump into me.
“I thought we said we weren’t ready?” We’ve discussed it multiple times. I do want his babies. I just don’t want them right now. Maybe in a year or two when Gracie will be a little older.
His lips leave my neck, and he waits until my gaze comes down to his before speaking, his fingers continuing their slow, torturous pace. “I’m not asking you to get off birth control. I know you aren’t ready for that yet. Just no more condoms. Is that okay?”
“Okay, yes.” I kiss his lips once more as his hand disappears from my core. It’s not like we’ve been super careful lately. The number of times we ‘forget’ to use one seems to increase rapidly. So why continue the pretenses? Like he said, I’m still on birth control, and I never ever forget that.
A second later, I feel his tip nudging at my entrance. He doesn’t tease me with it, doesn’t slide in an inch only to pull away. No, he thrusts with everything he has and slams into me. I scream into his mouth as he swallows every sound.
I’ll never get used to him. Every time, it’s like he’s stretching me out for the first time. Every time, he feels like paradise. My entire body burns in the most beautiful way. A feeling I never want to live without again.
“Oh God, Greyson. Don’t stop!” I cry out as he rams into me over and over again. My nails dig into his shoulders while his hands grip my thighs painfully. I know I’ll have his handprints on them tomorrow.
“I don’t ever plan on stopping. I could fuck you forever, Bunny,” he pants, sweat beading along his forehead as he watches our bodies come together.
“Good, because I’m never letting you go, Wolf.”
His eyes snap up to mine, our gaze locked on each other as apprehension passes through his. I may not have said the words he’s been wanting to hear, but these ones mean just the same.
My hand comes to his cheek, thumb caressing over the rough hairs of his beard. “We’re forever, Greyson,” I whisper as his movements slow.
His mouth attacks mine in an instant, and he resumes fucking me brutally. Within minutes, we both come undone, my body exploding in his arms as he shoots his cum deep inside my pussy that grips him like a lifeline.
We’re both gasping for air, slick with sweat and leftover rain, still in the same position. I have no idea how Greyson is still supporting us, but he doesn’t seem ready to let go, either. Not until the baby monitor comes to life with a wail.
“Fuck,” Grey grunts against my shoulder.
I smile, my fingers stroking his hair. “I’ll put her back to sleep. Why don’t you go clean up and lock up downstairs?”
“Okay.” He kisses my lips, then sets me down on the floor gently. I slip into my robe by the door and turn to leave, but Greyson stops me. “Em?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m glad you’re my one,” he whispers.
My heart blooms. “I’m glad you’re my one, too.”