19. Seth
We work in tandem as we get Rebekah into the bath. I run the water, checking the temperature frequently, as Bristol quickly undresses Rebekah and places her in the tub. I watch the two of them together as Bristol tickles her belly lightly before placing a few toys and a washcloth in the tub to keep her attention.
She gently leans Rebekah back in the water, splashing a little water onto her head to get her hair wet before sitting her back up. I kneel beside them, wanting to be as close to them as possible.
Bristol gives me a shy smile as she points beside me. “Can you hand me the shampoo?”
I turn and notice a yellow bottle of liquid beside me, grabbing it quickly and handing it to her.
“Thank you,” she mumbles before opening the bottle and pouring a little into her hand. I watch as Bristol lathers the liquid for a few moments, letting it bubble, then rubs her soap-covered hand over our princess’s head.
Wanting to be of more help, I grab the pink cloth hanging from a hook beside the tub and dunk it into the water. I glimpse a purple bottle of lavender body wash where I got the shampoo and pull the cloth out of the water, dropping a dollop of soap into it and rubbing the sides together. After a few moments, I reach under Bristol’s arms and lather up Rebekah’s belly, stopping to give her a tickle before running the cloth along both arms and then down her back.
“Where did you learn how to give a baby a bath?” Bristol’s eyes widen in shock.
I chuckle as I run the washcloth down Rebekah’s back, dunking it into the water to rinse it before going back and wiping the soap from her skin. “There were younger kids in some of the foster homes I was in. I never gave any of the girls baths, but I figure the general mechanics are the same.”
“Yeah.” She gives me a bright smile as I finish washing our daughter, then leans her back once again and rinses the shampoo from her hair. “I’d better give her some time to play, or she’ll have a fit.”
Rebekah squeals in delight as she smacks the largest cup into the water repeatedly, splashing me.
“I didn’t plan on having a shower while giving you a bath, Princess. Can we cool it on the splashing a little?” I say, grabbing one of the other cups in the bath and filling it with water before dumping the contents into the cup Rebekah is holding.
She watches in wonder as the water fills the cup, spilling over into her little hands, and I refill my cup and dump the water into her cup again. After a few moments, she squeals in delight.
“I think you have a new fan,” Bristol says softly as she reaches over my head for a hooded towel thing and grabs Rebekah with the other arm.
She whines in protest, but Bristol wraps her in the towel quickly, pulling the hood over her head.
“Mama has spoken, Princess. I’m sure there’ll be more time to play in the water next time.” I smile brightly at them as I push up to my feet and follow Bristol out of the bathroom and down the hall.
There is a room to my left that seems to be an office with large bookcases covering one wall. An oversized chair is tucked to the left of the window with a fluffy-looking blanket draped over the arm.
“Your favorite spot,” I say to no one as I remember Bristol talking about her favorite spot, curled up in her favorite chair with a good book.
Not wanting to be left behind, I continue down the hall, peeking into a room directly across from the first, which is decorated in soft pinks and purples. Rebekah’s name hangs above a beautiful white crib that’s pushed up against the wall.
“Is this her room?” I question, wondering why we aren’t continuing down the hallway.
“Yes. The girls helped me decorate it,” Bristol says as she lays our daughter down softly on a changing table. “It took me forever to decide what I wanted, but as soon as I decided, Leia, Seli, and Audrey were here the next day with paint, and we got it knocked out.”
“Those girls are a force to be reckoned with, that’s for certain.” Bristol raises her eyebrow at me. “That night, after I cooled off, I called Selina and Audrey. Between the two of them and Connor, I was able to get everything I needed to make sure my place was ready for you and Rebekah.”
“Your place? How did Brady take you wanting to baby-proof your apartment?” She smirks at me as she quickly puts a diaper and pajamas on Rebekah before picking her back up.
“My house. I bought Audrey’s old place.”
I run my hand across the back of my neck. This isn’t the way I wanted Bristol to find out about my preparations for her and Rebekah in my life, but she needs to understand I’m here for the long haul.
“I still need some furniture, but they made sure I had everything Rebekah needed. I set up a room for her and painted it a pale yellow color with sunflowers and elephants around the room.”
“Sunflowers…” Her voice trails off as she lifts Rebekah into her arms and snuggles her nose into her neck.
“Your favorite flower. And elephants… well, I chose those mostly because I thought they were cute.” I take a deep breath and step closer, wrapping them in my arms.
A confused look covers her face before she sighs heavily. “That’s what you’ve been doing the last week?”
I nod my head. “I wasn’t ignoring you. Preparing is a better way to explain things. I just wanted to show you I was in this for the long haul. That I’m not going anywhere. You and Rebekah are my home.”
Bristol steps out of my embrace and stares at me, searching for something, but doesn’t say a word. Unable to take the silence any longer, I speak again.
“Don’t be too mad at the girls. I swore them to secrecy. I wanted it to be a surprise,” I say, wanting to make her understand.
“I hate surprises,” she grumbles.
“Good to know.”
“Do you want to hold her?”
“Yes,” I say quickly, a little louder than expected. “I mean, that would be great, but I need you to show me how. My experience is limited to baths and putting some pasta things in the microwave to warm.”
“Have a seat in that chair. It’ll be easier to keep her from squirming. Since she’s not a newborn anymore, you don’t really have to worry about anything. Just make sure she doesn’t crack her head open.”
I nod and stride toward the chair in the corner. It’s covered in light pink fabric with large white polka dots all over the entire thing. A small white end table is sitting beside it, with a unicorn lamp on top. I lower myself into the chair, and she places Rebekah in my arms.
“Hey, Princess,” I murmur as my daughter spins around and gives me a huge smile. “She’s beautiful.” I lower her down into my lap and brush my hand across her soft curls.
“We did good, didn’t we?” Bristol says.
I just nod my head, unable to believe that we created such a perfect little girl.
“I just need to run to the kitchen and warm up some milk. I won’t be more than five minutes.”
“Sure thing. We’ll be here when you get back.” I hold up Rebekah’s small hand and wave at Bristol as she heads out of the room, leaving the two of us alone for the first time.
“Hey there, Princess. I’m not sure if you know this or not, but I’m your daddy.” I grind my teeth together, overcome with the love I feel for this little girl. “I thought your mama was gonna be the only woman I loved for the rest of my life, but then you came along. I promise, you two are the most important people in the world to me.”
Rebekah lays her tiny hand on my cheek as her eyes droop shut before flying open. I chuckle as she struggles to stay awake, afraid she will miss something in the few hours she is asleep. “Relax, little one. I’ll be here when you wake up, and every day after that.”
“You mean it?” I hear Bristol’s voice and turn in her direction as she comes into the room, a small bottle in her hand.
“Of course, I do, Bri. I have spent my life waiting for both of you. I don’t plan to waste another minute without you in my life. However you want me.”
I reach out and grab the bottle from her, then slide it between Rebekah’s lips. She wraps both of her small hands around it, sucking greedily as her eyes droop shut one more time.
“Give her a few minutes, and she’ll be out like a light.” Bristol runs her pointer finger down our princess’s cheek before taking a seat on the arm of the chair I’m sitting in.
“I meant every word, Bristol,” I say once again, turning in her direction as her eyes fill with tears. “I need you to know that I’ve loved you since the night we finally gave in to our feelings, connecting our hearts forever. I told you that day that I was falling for you, but today I can say with certainty that I am completely and utterly in love with you. Both of you.”
Tears stream down her cheeks now. “I was so afraid when you didn’t answer any of my calls or texts over the last week that we had lost you forever.”
“Never,” I respond with conviction as I look down at our little girl.
Bristol giggles softly, sliding her arms beneath Rebekah and gently lifting her out of my arms. “I think this one is down for the count. I’m sure dinner is cold by now but thank God for microwaves.”
“Dinner can wait.” I have a much more pressing matter to attend to now… or as soon as I can get out of my daughter’s room. I plan to show Bristol exactly how much she means to me.
“My room is across the hall.” She motions toward the door as she lays Rebekah down in her crib. I turn and walk across the hall, taking in her room. It’s decorated simply with a portable crib tucked into the corner near the window.
“I just started putting her in her room at night. She’s been mostly sleeping through the night for over a month, but I wasn’t ready to be apart from her yet,” she whispers, her eyes drifting from my lips to my eyes every few seconds. “Thank you for giving us a second chance.”
I sigh as I tuck a piece of hair behind her ear. “Bri, when are you going to learn how irrevocably and unconditionally I love you?” I whisper before kissing her gently.
My heart races—no, gallops—in my chest as emotions swirl through my mind. Yearning to feel the softness of her skin against my calloused fingers as I make her mine, ruining her for any other man who dares to lay his hands on her.
“Are you ready to stop running from me?” I groan as she pushes gently on my chest, and I fall back onto the bed.
She swings her legs over mine before lowering herself and straddling my lap. I swipe my thumb across her cheek, her skin feeling like silk beneath my calloused fingers. I stare into her eyes, committing this moment to memory.
“I love you, Seth. With every part of my being,” she murmurs, as she grips the base of my neck, pulling me closer to her. Our lips brush gently against each other, and I groan.
I rest my head against hers, closing my eyes tightly as I fight for control. My mind and body are at war with each other as the magnitude of her words sinks in. A possessiveness unlike any other rages through my mind as the desire to claim her, mark her as my own, becomes almost overwhelming.
“Fuck,” I growl, nuzzling my face into her neck and nipping at the sensitive flesh below her ear. “Say it again.”
“I love you, Seth. Now, make me yours.” Unable to resist her allure any longer, I lean forward and capture her lips, pulling her body flush against me. Her body presses against mine, her nipples brushing against the fabric of my shirt as her hips rock back and forth against me.
My fingertips dig into her skin, holding her flush against me in fear that she’ll push me away. Not that I’d ever let her, not after everything we’ve been through. We’ve fought hard for this chance to be together.
Electricity pulses in my veins, turning into a burning need as one of her hands slips beneath my shirt. Her fingernails scratch across my skin, sending shivers of pleasure down my spine before she places her hand above my heart. The heat of her palm against my skin brings a moan from my mouth.
“Seth, I need you.” The wantonness in her voice caresses my skin, making goose bumps pebble on my flesh. “Love me in a way only you can,” she mutters against my lips before pressing them against mine more forcefully.
I quickly flip us over, laying her down on the pillowy surface before standing back to my full height. I quickly shed my clothes before joining her again on the bed. I snake my hands up her body, gripping her breast hard through her shirt.
She mews in pleasure as she sits up, grinding herself against my knee, her juices seeping into my pants. As soon as her shirt and bra are off, I attack her breast, sucking hard on her nipple. A sweet taste enters my mouth, and I pull back slightly.
“Breast milk,” she mumbles as she tries to cover herself up.
I grasp both of her wrists and pin them at her sides. “The most delicious thing I have ever tasted.”
Bristol pants softly as I take her nipples into my mouth once again, nibbling gently on the pebbled nubs. Now I understand why she had the large wet spot on her shirt the night she stayed at my place.
“Drool, huh?” I chuckle as she gasps in pleasure, unable to say anything else, and I use my free hand to reach into the yoga pants she is wearing.
“Off,” I command as I slide off the bed once again and watch as she shimmies out of her pants and tosses them to the side. “You’re so fucking beautiful.”
“Please,” she begs, the tips of my fingers brushing against the fine hairs covering her clit. She rocks into my palm as she reaches down to grab my cock.
“Patience,” I hiss, pinching her clit between my fingers. Bristol’s back arches off the bed as I slide one finger inside her, gently pulling it out before slowly sliding it back in. My eyes remain focused on hers as she teeters on the edge of an orgasm. I can feel our hearts pounding in unison as if they have finally found each other again after all these years.
“Tell me what you want,” I demand.
“You. Just you.” She whimpers as I pull my fingers from inside her and slide between her legs. I nip at her flesh, slide my hand into her hair, and capture her lips once again, nibbling before sweeping my tongue into her mouth. Gripping her leg tightly, I lift it up near my waist and slide my cock between her folds. Her juices help my shaft glide back and forth, bumping her clit with the head with each pass.
My chest rises and falls quickly as I thrust forward, my cock sliding deeper with each pass. Bristol’s mouth latches onto my shoulder, biting down hard as she moans. Her arms wrap around my neck, her nails digging into my back, anchoring herself to me as she pulls her body flush against mine. Her clit grinds against me, causing my legs to tremble. My hips rock back and forth in time with my movements, both of us desperate to come.
“That’s it. Take what’s yours,” I whisper into her ear before pulling the lobe into my mouth and biting down on it.
“You’re so fucking perfect,” I grind out, my thrusts becoming more erratic, losing the smooth glide I once had. “I need you to get there, baby. Come all over my cock,” I growl as my balls tighten, ready to release.
“I’m close,” she whines.
I slide my hand between us and rub her clit, and her pussy tightens around me like a vise grip. My mind can no longer process words, only actions. The arousal racing through my body is climbing towards an impossible end. Higher and higher, clenching so hard around the intrusion that’s controlling every aspect of my life in this moment.
“Fuck!” I roar, slamming into her only twice more before spilling my seed deep inside her. My muscles twitch from the strain as I slow my pace, pumping in and out of her as I draw out her orgasm. Her body quivers slightly as I roll to the slide and slide out of her with a groan.
Bristol lays her head gently on my chest as I pull the covers up and over us. My lungs can’t pull in enough air. I can barely hear anything over the sound of my heart pounding in my ears, but I am acutely aware of her. “I’ve been waiting my entire life for you,” I whisper into the darkness, pulling her tightly against me just as my stomach rumbles.
“I guess we should go have some dinner.” Bristol giggles as she tries to wiggle out of my arms.
“Thank God for microwaves,” I say, before pressing a kiss to her shoulder and releasing her. I throw my legs over the side of the bed and grab my boxers. “I plan on having you for dessert. No need for too many clothes.”
I toss Bristol my T-shirt, and she shakes her head at me but pulls it over her head and saunters out of the room.
I’m not sure what the future holds for us, but I know one thing for sure: it’s going to be an adventure. I have spent my entire life trying to find a family and a place to belong, and I’ve finally found both with her.