Bellamy

 

I woke with a smile on my lips. I was married. To Liam. If someone told me a year ago, while I was holed up in my crappy apartment alone and jumping at every noise, that this is where I would end up, I would have accused them of being cruel.

Back then, thinking I would have anything even remotely as amazing as this was painful to even dream of.

I didn’t think life had anything good in store for me.

I was wrong.

I scooted back, expecting to come up against my new husband, but all I felt was empty space. Looking over my shoulder, I frowned to see he wasn’t there.

“Liam?” I called out, sitting up and pulling the sheet with me.

He appeared seconds later, strolling in the doorway in nothing but his tight, black boxer briefs. God, he was an amazing sight. The past couple of months of intense training honed his body even more, defining every muscle that rippled whenever he walked.

“You like what you see?” he drawled, cocky, as my eyes lingered on his form.

“I’m pretty sure any woman with a heartbeat would like this sight. Hell, probably even a few without.”

He grinned.

“Where were you?” I pouted, reaching out to caress his abs.

“Getting this.” He held up a large manila envelope with a red bow on it. I looked at it, surprised, and Liam chuckled.

“You didn’t even notice it, did you?”

“You expect me to see anything but you when you walk around almost naked?”

“Fair enough.” He allowed. Swiftly, he reached out and tugged down the sheet covering my bare chest.

“Hey!” I said as cool air brushed over my breasts.

“It’s only fair.”

“Not really. I don’t make as pleasing of a sight as you.”

He smacked the envelope on the bed to plant his hands on his hips. It only served to draw attention to the sharply defined V that trailed beneath the waistband of his boxers.

“There is no sight on this planet more beautiful than you sitting in my bed with rumpled hair, naked breasts, and my baby on full display.”

I felt my cheeks heat as his eyes appraised me. The urge to cover myself was pretty strong, but I liked the intensity in his stare. I liked the way his expression totally proved his words.

“What is that?” I asked, pointing at the envelope.

“Your wedding present.”

“You got me a house.”

“I got you some land to put a house on.” He corrected.

“Same thing,” I retorted and stuck out my tongue.

He swooped forward and sucked it into his mouth, making me melt toward the mattress. A strong arm wound around my back and supported me, holding me in place so he could suck and tease the tongue I’d threatened him with.

When he was done, he pulled back and smirked, completely proud.

“I really wish you hadn’t,” I said, indicating the packet.

“I don’t think you will say that once you see what it is.”

I was curious, sure. But I felt incredibly guilty and a little undeserving. “I didn’t get you anything.”

Liam reached out and caressed my stomach. “Yes, you did.”

“You might say different when you’re changing a diaper at three a.m.”

He spread his hands in invitation. “Bring it on.”

“It doesn’t feel right. You giving me all these things.”

He picked up the envelope and slid it in front of me. “I didn’t buy this. I just made a call.”

Curiosity won out. Did you really expect it not to? I pulled open the flap and glanced inside. There appeared to be several documents inside.

Wrinkling my brow, I looked up.

He nodded for me to keep going.

I slipped everything out and put it in my lap. Liam grasped the envelope, pulled it open, and held it upside down until a small card fluttered out and landed face down on the top.

I picked it up, turning it over, and gasped.

I glanced between him and the card, surprised. “How…?”

“You deserved this.”

“But the FBI said it wasn’t possible!” Tucking the card close in my lap, I lifted the papers and read the one on top.

The FBI said they couldn’t give you your name back. The one you were born with. That’s not what that is.” He pointed to the line with my new legal name.

“It’s better,” I whispered, eyes becoming blurry.

Bellamy Michelle Mattison, the official documents proclaimed. I picked up the new social security card with the same name printed on it.

No more Bella Lane. No more being someone I wasn’t. No more hiding and pretending.

“You were gonna have to change it anyway, with the wedding. So I called them. They agreed to put it through with your real first and middle name, adding my name at the end.”

I flung myself at him, the papers trapped between our bodies.

“This means so much to me,” I cried, hugging him tight. “I can finally just be me.”

“You were always you, sweetheart. Now it’s just legal.”

I pulled back, tears falling. “I have your name.”

He made a sound. “‘Bout time.”

“How did you get them to do all this without me.”

“Frost owes me. He owes us both.” He reached down between us and pulled out one of the papers beneath the top. “It’s technically not official… You have to sign this first.”

“I need a pen!” I exclaimed, pushing at his shoulder so I could get up and find one.

He reached behind him and pulled one out.

“Was that in your underwear?” I asked, widening my eyes.

“Lucky pen,” he quipped.

I snatched it with a giggle and scrawled my signature across the document.

“It’s official,” I proclaimed, smiling wide.

Liam tucked some hair behind my ear and smiled. “Mrs. Mattison,” he murmured before leaning down to kiss me.

I tried to pull him closer, but he wouldn’t let me. “Hold that thought,” he said, reaching for another document. “I need you to sign this, too.”

I took the paper and glanced over it and smiled. “You already signed it,” I observed, running my finger over his signature.

“I’m not playing around,” he said. “You’re mine.”

“Right here?” I asked, pointing.

He nodded, and I signed the bottom of our marriage certificate, making that official, too.

He gathered them up, carefully placing them back in the envelope as though they were sacred and he was afraid they might get misplaced. “We have to get these filed today.”

“We do?”

“I want it done as soon as possible.”

My heart rose into my throat, and speaking was impossible.

“Hey, you okay?” he asked, bending to look into my eyes while swiping away a tear.

I swallowed my heart, forcing it back into my chest, and nodded. “Perfect.”

Liam kissed my forehead.

“Want me to get dressed so we can go?”

His eyes swept over me. He pushed the length of my hair behind my shoulder. “Not yet,” he murmured, leaning down to kiss my bare shoulder. “We’ve got some time.”

It was time spent deliciously.