Chapter Seven
Kaden considered himself foolish to assume one round with Brianna would be enough to satisfy the hunger taking over his body. But now that he had had her, again, he wanted her even more.
They spent a peaceful day together, playing with Shiloh and watching movies together. Half way through Rudolph, Shiloh fell asleep, and his mind started to roam again.
Now Brianna was taking a bath and he was feeding Shiloh her nightly bottle, the baby drifting off to sleep as he rocked her. He couldn’t help seeing his wife in his child though she looked like him. Shiloh had Brianna’s temperament, and personality. Sweet and innocent, loving and caring—she couldn’t possibly have an enemy in this world.
He set the bottle next to the rocker, and stood to place Shiloh in her crib. He rubbed her back and watched her sleep until his legs grew tired. Brianna came up behind him and folded her arms around his waist from behind. He wrapped his arm around her, kissing the top of her head as they stared at the life form they created together.
“I named her Shiloh because the name meant ‘his gift.’ She’s your gift to me.” Brianna smiled against his bare chest, laying her head on his chest.
“Was the labor hard?”
“Oh, yeah. I had minor bleeding from a partially detached placenta, and she hadn’t gotten into position yet. She came out feet first, which only made my job harder. Halfway through the birth, I was ready for them to cut me open and pull her out.” She grinned. “But you know, I never believed the books that said you forget about the pain, because the pleasure of having a child is greater, but in a way it’s true. I haven’t forgotten the pain by any means, but I was so happy when they finally handed her to me. She was so tiny and I was afraid I’d hurt her if I did something wrong. My mother said I was incredibly anal the first six months of her life.”
Kaden tried to picture Brianna being anal, and he shook his head. It was something he couldn’t imagine. “Did you want me there?”
“Yes. Even if you weren’t her father, I missed you. You were my best friend, Kaden. We shared everything together.” She turned to face him. “But you weren’t there, and I survived without you. I can’t say it was fun, but Shiloh and I have had our good times.”
Kaden framed her face with his hands and kissed her so lightly, he barely felt her lips against his. “Let’s go to bed.”
Kaden flipped off all the lights and met Brianna in the master bedroom. She’d turned down the blankets and slid in on one side, yawning as she smoothed the sheets around her. Her silky pink nightie barely showed for the fluffy duvet as she looked up, waiting for him.
“You’re beautiful, Bree. I didn’t tell you enough today, though I thought it more times than I can count.” He crawled on the bed, sliding across the mattress with fluid grace. “Why don’t you believe me?”
“I’m hardly a big-boobed blonde babe who knows how to drive a man to his knees.” She played with the lace on the edge of the comforter trying to avoid his gaze.
“No. You’re a big-boobed brunette babe who has me begging on my knees.” When he reached her, he kissed her cheek. “But that’s not what makes you beautiful sweetheart.”
“Really?” Her tone held a hint of incredulity.
“Yeah.” He leaned back on his heels, pulling the covers from her body. He pulled her legs toward him until she lay flat on her back, and he hovered over her. “You’re beautiful when your eyes sparkle with mischief. They turn from a bluish gray to a deep indigo that is so pretty I could get lost in your eyes for hours and never be bored. You’re beautiful when you come around me, squeezing me so deep inside you while your pleasure washes over you.”
He bent forward kissing her neck and started working downward as he spoke. “You’re especially beautiful when you hold my baby in your arms, talking to her as if she understands every word you say. You were putting away groceries the other day and had some kind of conversation about the bagger boy.”
His mouth reached her cleavage and he grinned up at her. “You’re not the only one that eavesdrops.”
Her fingers ran through his hair, pulling him back to cover her mouth. “Make love to me, Kaden.”
“I’m getting there.” He sat back tugging at the hem of her nightie until she came off the mattress for him to pull it over her head. Naturally, she wore nothing underneath it.
“Don’t, Brianna. Stop it right now.” He threw the wadded clothing somewhere off in the darkness, then pulled her hands aside to reveal her breasts to him. She looked away, ashamed, he figured. “Bree, why are you embarrassed?”
“I just am.”
“Brianna, look at me.” He still held her arms, both touching the mattress on each side of her body. Finally, ever so slowly, she faced him, her indigo eyes wide. “Tell me what you don’t like about your body.”
“Everything.”
“Tell.” His voice demanded her attention and she rolled her eyes.
“I have ten pounds of baby weight I can’t get rid of. My nipples are too big, and I have stretch marks.” She met his eyes. “Are you satisfied?”
He grinned. “Ten pounds of baby weight is nothing, sweetheart. I like you soft and curvy. Do you know what that little black dress does to my libido? I wanted to pull you into a closet and fuck your brains out. And the nipples . . .” He blew across one, making it bead to a harder point than it already was. Then he lapped at it one slow lick after another making her squirm underneath him.
“I think your nipples are perfect just the way they are.” Gently, he sucked the tip of her breast into his mouth.
When Brianna arched her back, he knew he had her. She felt so good underneath him and tasted better than an ice cream cone on a hot summer day. He slid his hand to her stomach, feeling the soft skin of her body. She pressed him against her, a small moan of pleasure escaping her lips.
“You know what?” he let her go with a soft pop, reclaiming her mouth again. “I like your body just the way it is.”
“You’re such a charmer.” She slid her fingers down his back.
“No. I’m telling the truth.” He kissed his way down her body, slowly, until he reached her navel.
Teasing her, he dipped his tongue inside the small crater while his hands busied themselves parting her thighs. She sighed, lying back against the mattress, finally giving up her modesty and going with the flow. He’d take care of her, and she knew it. She just had to let him.
He inched his way downward, kiss by kiss until his breath fanned her sensitive flesh. Her arousal was an aphrodisiac driving him insane His mind was lost, all rational thoughts gone out the door. All was left was he and Brianna, and dammit if he didn’t care.
He lapped her once, her body jerking as he held her down. She tasted so damn good he feared he’d never get enough of her, that he’d never be able to walk away and feel the same ever again. He wasn’t kidding when he told her he wanted her to have his children. Never in a million years would he ever think those words would come out of his mouth, but they did, and he didn’t regret them.
He proceeded to drive her to the brink of pleasure, keeping her perched on the side, but never pushing her over. No. He wanted her coming around him, greedy as it may be.
“Kaden, please.” She gripped the sheets as he slid his finger deep inside her. “Oh, God. Kaden!”
So creamy and juicy. He reluctantly pulled away and shucked his boxers with lightning speed, grabbing a condom in the process. She stared at him watching as he rolled the rubber on his straining shaft and then positioned himself between her legs again.
Without preamble, he slid deep with one thrust, and she came undone around him, squeezing him so tight he had to bite his lip to keep from coming himself. She bowed off the mattress, fisting the sheets and pulling at them as she cried out in pleasure.
He pulled back and then thrust home again causing another set of rippling waves to surround him. This time she clutched his shoulders, her nails biting deep into his skin. His mouth found hers, and he started moving, matching the rhythmic thrusts of tongues.
She pulled away and kissed his neck, slipping her tongue out to taste his skin. How he lasted this long, he’d never know. Her first orgasm almost did him in, with only single penetration.
“Kaden,” she moaned, dropping her head to the side, her body growing taut as his thrusts grew harder and deeper.
He lifted her hips, changing the angle of penetration and thrust one time, and exploded. With a harsh cry, he fell on her letting her body milk his orgasm as she came a few seconds later.
She wrapped her arms around him, and tried to lock her legs at his back, but he pulled away to take care of the condom. She looked confused, and he held up one finger indicating he’d be right back. Luckily for him, his legs could still carry him.
When he came back, she smiled up at him. She looked sated and so damn small. Her arms came around him as he sank onto the mattress, and he rolled her on top of him. Yeah, even after that, he’d never get enough of this woman.
“I think I’m going to go on birth control.” Brianna traced around his nipple with her finger. “But it is interesting to see where your condom hiding places are.”
He chuckled, kissing her head. “I’m always prepared.”
“Yeah? You were never a Boy Scout.” She lifted her head and rested her chin on his chest.
“No, but my friends were. Even the girls joined the scouts.” He slid his hands to her ample behind. “If I recall, my parents used to buy cookies from a certain brownie nearly every year.”
“I hated Girl Scouts. My mom made me join just because Lyssa was one.” She rolled her eyes. “I had to do everything she did.”
“Yeah, she walked around like diva of the block while you played football with us boys in the front yard.” He grinned.
“I never did pay you back for choosing Kyle over me just because he said I threw like a girl. I was so mad at you I could have knocked your teeth out.”
She sat up, distracting him with the sight of her naked body on top of his as she rolled to the side. “Kyle was worse than me. At least I didn’t squeal when I caught the ball.”
He rolled to his side, facing her. “I stand corrected then. You are the best damn quarterback in the history of front yard football.”
She glared at him. “You don’t have to be a smartass.”
He laughed, leaning forward to kiss her. “What do you want me to say? I was twelve years old.”
“A simple apology would be nice, for starters.”
He chuckled. “Fine. I’m so sorry I picked Kyle over you. I promise, if we ever play front yard football again, you will be the first person I pick. How’s that?”
He slid a finger over her stomach and played with her navel as he waited for her answer. “I suppose that’ll do. You’re too cute to stay mad at for too long.”
“Cute? Puppies are cute.”
“Are you fishing?”
“Maybe.”
She grinned. “Okay. Cute is too mild. How about pretty?” He glared at her and she laughed. “All right. Handsome. Attractive. Hot. Are those adjectives any better?”
“Now who’s the smart-ass?” he rolled over her laughing body, grabbing another condom from the nightstand.
“You mean to tell me I didn’t wear you out the last time?”
He kissed her shoulder. “Honey, I don’t think you could ever wear me out.”
He opened the packed and handed it to her. She grinned, which he didn’t know if it was a good thing or a bad thing. She mounted his thighs, rolling the condom on with deft and tempting precision.
“Maybe I should pay you back now,” she said, sliding her finger along the length of his shaft.
“You wouldn’t be that cruel.” Although he knew very well if she wanted to, she would. Look how long it took to get her in bed the first time, and they honestly didn’t even make it to the bed.
Nodding her head, she lifted her pelvis and slid him deep inside her again. “Can I tell you something?”
Kaden gripped her hips and stared up into her eyes. “You know you can tell me anything.”
Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes then opened them again, leaning forward to kiss him. “I love you.”
With that she proceeded to drive him out of his mind.
* * * *
Shiloh awoke in the middle of the night screaming her head off. Brianna rolled to the side of the bed, muscles she hadn’t used in a while protesting. Sex was great, but she probably wouldn’t need any more for the next five years.
She yawned as she grabbed a robe and headed for her baby’s room. “It’s okay, sweetheart. Mommy’s here.”
She picked up the small child, rubbing Shiloh’s back as she laid her cheek against Brianna’s shoulder, still crying. She felt hot to the touch, her clothes sticking to her sweaty body. Was she sick?
She carried the whimpering child back to her bedroom where Kaden sat on the edge of the bed half-awake. “I think she’s sick.”
“Sick? What do you mean?”
“She’s hot and she’s all sweaty. I’m going to call the doctor.”
Shiloh whimpered in Brianna’s arms as she reached for the phone. Kaden held his arms out to her. “Come here, sweetie.”
Brianna looked at her child as she waited for someone to answer the phone service for emergencies. Shiloh didn’t budge. Normally she couldn’t keep her out of Kaden’s arms. Now she just stared, not even attempting to move to her father.
“She won’t come to me.” Kaden patted her back, trying to coax her away from Brianna, but she fought him, clinging to her mother’s robe.
Brianna finally got the answering service, left a message for the doctor on call to call her back, and hung up. She sat next to Kaden on the bed and tried to get Shiloh to look at her, but she wouldn’t let go. She started crying even though Brianna still held her.
“Sweetie, what’s wrong?” She rocked her slightly trying to calm her. “She’s never been sick before, Kaden. I don’t know what to do.”
“Calm down. The doctor will call in a second, and he’ll figure out what’s wrong.” He pulled on the boxers lying on the floor. “I’m going to get the thermometer that way we can tell the doctor what her temp is when he calls.”
Brianna nodded, feeling helpless. “Shiloh, it’s okay. Calm down, sweetie.”
Rubbing her baby’s clammy back, Brianna kissed her head. She didn’t feel as hot any more, but whatever caused the fever still hurt her. As soon as Kaden came back, the phone rang, and he picked it up.
“Yes. Well, she’d been fine all day yesterday, but she awoke about thirty minutes ago with a fever and a dull cry.” He looked toward the baby, listening to the doctor. “She’s nine months old.”
Shiloh’s screams grew louder and caused Kaden to step out of the room. She didn’t even open her eyes she was crying so hard. Brianna cradled Shiloh to her, kissing her cheek as she whispered words of affection to her. It didn’t work. Finally Kaden came back, going straight for the closet.
“The doctor said to meet him at Raleigh General.” He pulled on clothing and pulled stuff out for Brianna to put on.
With Shiloh still screaming, he picked her up, propped her against his shoulder, and carried her to the other room while Brianna dressed. With as much adrenaline pumping through her body, she felt almost sick as she worried about her baby. Having her out of sight was even worse.
She pulled on her clothes and tied her hair back in a ponytail, not caring what she looked like. Once semidecent, she grabbed her purse and went to find her husband and child.
Kaden strapped Shiloh into the carseat and had the car running and ready to go by the time she got to the garage. Brianna hopped into the back and he took off like a bat out of hell.
Shiloh cried nearly the whole trip and through the doctor’s examination.
“She has a double ear infection. I’m going to give you a liquid form of an antibiotic, and it’s to be given twice a day with meals to prevent an upset stomach.” He handed all the papers to Kaden, who talked with him a bit while Brianna gathered up their belongings.
“Okay, thanks, doc.” Kaden shook his hand, and they parted ways. “I’m going to stop at a twenty-four-hour pharmacy and get this filled so she’ll be feeling better soon.”
He stood to the side while Brianna buckled in Shiloh. The poor thing hadn’t stopped crying and wanted Brianna to hold her. Brianna’s heart broke seeing Shiloh’s little hands reaching up for her mother. She pulled back reluctantly, slamming the door.
“You okay?” Kaden’s hand slipped down her arm. “You haven’t said much.”
“I’m scared to death.” She walked around him to the other side and climbed in the backseat again with Shiloh. She wrapped her arms around the baby, praying this would be sufficient since she couldn’t technically hold her while they drove.
“Shiloh, please stop crying.” She kissed her forehead, smoothing her hair as she continued to reach with gasping cries for Brianna.
After they got the medicine, Brianna gave her the first dose immediately, hoping she’d stop crying before she made herself sick. Her face was red and blotchy tears running in rivulets, soaking her shirt. Brianna brushed them away, kissing her since she couldn’t hold her.
Finally, Shiloh quieted and dozed off in her carseat. The silence was almost as painful as the loud noise. Brianna let out a pent-up breath and closed her eyes.
When she awoke, Kaden was carrying her to their bedroom. “Where’s Shiloh?”
“Asleep.”
He sat her on her side, pulled off her shoes, and tucked her underneath the covers. He kissed her forehead, s she’d seen him do so many times to Shiloh, and cupped her cheek in his hand.
“Get some sleep, baby.”
“But,” she tried protesting but he silenced her by placing one finger against her lips.
“I’ll watch over Shiloh. Don’t worry about it.” He kissed her briefly, then left the room, turning the light off as he went.
Brianna could do nothing but close her eyes and drift into bliss.
* * * *
When Brianna awoke, it was close to ten and Kaden and Shiloh sat in the middle of the living room floor playing with a ball. She giggled and laughed as he rolled it to her. Shiloh loved this game. She did her best to throw it back to him but rolled it instead.
“She seems to be doing much better.” Brianna yawned and walked into the kitchen for a nice big mug of coffee.
“Yeah, she tried standing in her crib this morning, waiting for me to get her, and she fell over. The medicine has helped with the pain though. She’s giggled more than she’s cried this morning.”
He rolled the ball to her, and she pushed back to him, giggling. Brianna joined them, smiling at her daughter as she took a seat to watch them.
“Come on, Mommy. Don’t you want to play?” Kaden tossed the ball to Brianna, making Shiloh’s eyes grow wide.
“Hah.” She scooted behind Shiloh, opening her legs around her. She handed her the ball and helped her throw it toward Kaden. She pecked her head when it flew by him and nearly landed in the tree. “Oops.”
“Oops, my ass,” Kaden muttered, leaning back to get it. “Shiloh and I had a good game going. Don’t ruin it with stunts like that.”
He rolled the ball to the baby who giggled when she pushed it back with her foot. Brianna sat back, watching them with a huge smile on her face. Shiloh loved playing with her daddy. Just about as much as Kaden loved playing with his baby.
“Well, we need to start getting ready to go to Aunt Teresa’s if we’re going to be there by one.” Brianna stood, grabbing her coffee cup from the coffee table.”
“You’re not planning on taking her sick, are you? I mean we just got back from ER like five hours ago.” Kaden rolled the ball to Shiloh then looked up at Bree.
“Kaden, please don’t. She needs to see her family, and they all want to see her.” It seemed like every time they had something to do with her family, he didn’t want Shiloh around them, but when his family called, he was ready to go.
“Brianna, she’s sick. She has double ear infections and a low-grade temp. I don’t want you carting her around out in the cold.”
“You’re not going to tell me what I can and can’t do with my own child. I pushed her out of my uterus, so I think I damn well have the right to take her to see my family for Christmas.”
Brianna picked up Shiloh, ignoring Kaden’s annoyed look, and carried her to the nursery to get her ready. If she had to sit through four hours of his family gathering together for Christmas, Kaden deserved the same with her family. Fair was only fair.
Shiloh started crying because she missed playing with Kaden, and Brianna did her best to ignore it. They’d go, get back and she’d be perfectly fine in the comforts of her home. She dressed her in a red velvet dress and put a little bow in her hair. She’d be fine.
She carried her back to the living room where she put her in the playpen and started down the hall to get herself ready. Kaden was in the shower, door wide open so she could see everything. He made her so mad most of the time, and so hot the rest.
She stared a bit longer than necessary, until he caught her looking. He scowled, slid the shower door open, and grabbed a towel to wrap around his waist.
“Where’s Shiloh?”
“Playpen.” She took her stuff into the bathroom, closing the door in his face when he turned around to say something else.
The last thing she needed to deal with was Kaden’s bad behavior. After she showered and got ready, she opened the door to see Shiloh playing on their bed while Kaden got dressed.
“Bree, why can’t she just stay home? I gave her, her medicine, but it’s going to take a day or two until she’s back to normal again.” Kaden buttoned his royal blue shirt, leaving half of them undone to show his chest.
“Because Kaden. All you want is for her to be around your family and not mine. Well, I’m sorry my family isn’t as rich and snotty as yours, but they love her and have done nothing but be there for her ever since she was conceived. We’re going to my family’s Christmas gathering. End of discussion.”
Brianna grabbed clothes off the rack, oblivious to Kaden playing with Shiloh on the bed. She dressed, choosing a red sweater to go along with her faded jeans. She combed her hair and put a minimal amount of makeup.
“All right. Are you guys ready?”
Kaden grunted, holding Shiloh in his arms. She laid her head against his chest sucking on her hand. Brianna could tell he was pissed at her right now. That he wouldn’t look at her said it all. Normally she couldn’t get his eyes off of her, and now he was giving her the cold shoulder.
They walked to the car silently, Brianna with Shiloh’s bag and her purse and Kaden with the baby wrapped in his arms. He strapped her safely in the carseat and slid behind the wheel. Brianna climbed in beside him, unable to take the cold shoulder any longer.
“Kaden, stop it.”
“Stop what?”
“Being this way. If we were expected to be at your family and she was sick you’d still be going. Why is mine different?”
“One—I wouldn’t cart my child out sick and in the cold for anything but to see the doctor. Two—Why are you picking fights with me? You’re constantly bringing up the past or you’re reminding me how much you hate my family. I get the picture, Bree. You don’t have to keep shoving it in my face when you don’t get your way. And last, I never once thought of your family lesser than mine. Not in any way, so you can stop throwing that in my face while you’re at it.”
Merging with traffic, he pulled onto the interstate. Shiloh slept soundly in the backseat making it clear she was feeling all that well. Yeah, she may have been playing ball with Kaden in the living room, but that didn’t mean she was well.
“Fine, you win.” Brianna crossed her arms staring out at the passing cars.
“Win what?”
“Our fight. The one I obviously am trying to pick with you.”
He reached over and slid his hand along her thigh. “Let’s just make it through Christmas.”
They arrived at Teresa’s thirty minutes before they were supposed to eat. All were happy to see her and Shiloh, but excluded Kaden as if he were a leper. Shiloh stuck to him like bubble gum, never going too far and, when she wanted to go somewhere, making sure Kaden was right there with her.
“Well, what do you know?” Teresa mumbled nudging her head toward the living room as Kaden sat with Shiloh in his lap, rocking her. “He’s not so fearful now, is he?”
“Teresa, quit it. Kaden is a great father, and Shiloh loves him to death.” Brianna grabbed a piece of turkey and stuffed it in her mouth. “She’s actually turning out to be a daddy’s girl.”
“Yeah, and he’s going to break that little girl’s heart when he decides your arranged marriage isn’t something he wants to be apart of any more.”
“You know, you could at least be nice to him. He’s still the same Kaden you all used to love. He’s grown up a lot.” Brianna pushed her sleeves up and began mashing the potatoes. “We had to go to ER last night.”
“What? Why?” Regina and Teresa dropped their spatulas and waited for her response.
“Shiloh had a temperature, and we didn’t know why. She cried two hours straight with pain, and the doctor said she had double ear infections. That’s why she’s not her usual self today. Kaden tried to get me to keep her home, but I didn’t want her to miss Christmas.”
“Oh, Brianna, that poor baby.” Teresa went to the doorway, wiping her hands on her apron. “Kaden, you can lay her in Jessie’s crib if you want. Brianna said she wasn’t feeling well.”
“Uh, okay. Where’s it at?” He stood holding his little girl close to him.
“Right down the hall. Last room at the end.”
Brianna wiped her hands on a dishtowel. “I’ll show you.”
They walked in silence, Brianna leading the way. “Your family hates me.”
“They do not. They did, but I told them about how you took care of Shiloh last night, and they all think your Superman now.”
She watched as he laid Shiloh in the crib, patting her back so she’d stay asleep. Finally, when he was satisfied she’d be okay, he turned, and Brianna wrapped her arms around him. She held him for a second before speaking.
“I’m sorry, Kaden. I was just scared last night because she’d never done that before. Thank you for being there for me, for her. I’m sorry I’m bitchy and keep picking fights with you.”
His arms came around her, pulling her to him, tight. “Brianna, there’s no place else I’d rather be than with you and that little girl. The good, bad, and ugly, I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.”
She nodded, smiling up at him. “I promise we’ll leave after lunch. Shiloh would rest better in her own bed, or in ours.”
He kissed her nose. “Let’s go.”
True to her word, right after lunch Brianna bid her goodbyes while Kaden got Shiloh ready. Max, her cousin, helped load their presents in the car. Amazingly, the kid probably wouldn’t need toys for a few years. It’d take her at least that long to play with all the ones she received just this Christmas.
After everyone hugged them goodbye, they drove off.