Dawn

Before I knew it, it was a week before Christmas. The house was decorated with lights, and we had a big fake tree in front of the windows in the living room. A few presents, mostly from Elijah, were already under it. I had yet to figure out what to get him since he’d never once said what he wanted. I had ordered Lizzy a few things that were already wrapped and under the tree. She was now four months old and was just starting to really play with toys. Between Joslyn and Emily, she had nearly everything she already could ever want.

There was at least a foot of snow on the ground, and I’d been able to take a walk in it while Joslyn watched Lizzy a couple of times. I wasn’t too fond of the snow but enjoyed how the sun would sparkle off it. I wasn’t much into the cold, either—not since I’d been kept in it for years.

Joslyn had brought over a couple boxes of fleece material, thinking maybe I could come up with a craft idea for when Lizzy took her naps. Most of the time so far, I just wrote in my journal. It had helped me immensely. I wrote down everything I could remember, from living with both loving parents, to my time in the prison. Even now, I wondered if Joan had ever loved me.

Elijah and I had been able to go out and do a little shopping here and there, but we never stayed out too long. He was worried about Morgan trying to get to us. It was only a matter of time before he would pop up, and Kaleb was sure that it would be when we least expected it.

Weeks ago, I was happy to hear that my blood tests came back clean. My iron levels were leveling out, and I wasn’t as tired as I used to be. The diet, which consisted of eating just about anything I could possibly want, had helped greatly.

We had yet been able to enjoy the pool and hot tub, even when Kaleb and Kelly were here, since we didn’t want to leave two babies wondering around. Lilly was now starting to crawl. We would have to plan time soon for Joslyn or Emily to watch Lizzy while we spent a little time in the pool without having to worry about her.

Elijah was currently giving Lizzy a bath, while I was enjoying some quiet time in front of the fireplace, watching the snow fall. Everything had been quiet recently in the news about Galvin and his henchmen being brought down.

Elijah had been keeping a close eye on it, wanting to know what people thought about the whole thing. My name was not released to keep my identity hidden. Elijah’s was never mentioned or posted online. I was surprised it was so quiet after all that went down.

Nothing we already didn’t know ever came out, and most of what did was just speculation. The media thought Galvin was the one to turn himself in, and he’d brought all his followers down with him.

“Hey,” Elijah said, coming to stand beside me, holding a freshly clean baby who was all smiles. We’d just started giving her oatmeal twice a day, and it ended up in her dark hair more often than not.

“Hi,” I said, looking at him with a smile.

“How about we watch some good old Christmas movies? I don’t plan to go anywhere in this weather. We’re under a blizzard watch.” I looked out the window and noticed the sun was covered with dark clouds, creating a dark, dreary day.

After putting Lizzy in the swing, the only way she would sleep during the day, Elijah put on Home Alone. With a blanket covering us, he pulled me between his legs with my back against his front.

I leaned against him as he began to kiss the side of my neck, unable to help but lean to one side, allowing him more access.

“You smell wonderful,” Elijah said, placing kisses along my throat and up my jawline. His hands slowly moved to my waist and up to the underside of my breasts. I arched into him, wanting more. I didn’t have a bra on, so he had easy access.

“More?” I asked, panting. The fire below burned, needing a release.

He didn’t hesitate to move his hand up higher, over the hardened peak of my nipples. I could feel his calloused hands rubbing with just the right pressure—not too soft, but not hard, either.

“We may have fifteen minutes,” Elijah said huskily. “Lizzy won’t stay asleep much longer.”

“Please, Sir,” I said, knowing that would be more than enough time to at least get a little pleasure. I’ll let him have an early Christmas gift tonight, then, I thought as I blushed.

“Are you sure?” Elijah asked, kissing the side of my neck again and sucking. I was sure he’d leave a mark, and I didn’t mind one bit.

“Yes,” I moaned, drawing the word out.

“You’ll have to stay quiet,” he warned, moving one hand down slowly to the waist of my yoga pants.

“I can be quiet, Sir,” I said, almost pleading for him to touch me again where I needed him the most at that moment.

“We’ll see about that,” he laughed lightly before gently nibbling my earlobe. I took a deep breath at the sensation, not knowing if I wanted more of it or less.

One hand stayed at my breasts, playing and rolling my nipples, making me moan quietly, while the other hand made its way past my underwear. His fingers were warm and began to touch and play with my lower lips lightly, making me crave more—so much more.

“You shaved,” he breathed out.

“Yeah. Emily said guys . . . liked it better,” I said, trying to not push against his hand to make it go where I wanted.

“I do like it, more than you could ever know,” he whispered with a lust filled voice, rubbing my clit and inserting a finger into me.

“Ooh,” I moaned, closing my eyes and feeling how strong he was. It had been at least two months since I’d had any kind of release, and so much had happened between then and now. I could feel his heat soak into me.

“You’re so wet,” he moaned, adding another finger. I could feel him hard behind me and would have gladly taken him in my hand if I could have reached comfortably. “Are you wet for me?”

“Always,” I breathed out as he hit the spot that brought me so much pleasure.

He knew exactly what I needed. He rubbed his palm against my clit as he began a faster rhythm, pumping his fingers in and out of my body. He pinched my nipple harder, and I came instantly. He continued, slowly pumping in and out until my climax subsided.

With a smile, Elijah removed his fingers from me. “Better?”

“Much. Thank you,” I said, keeping my eyes closed and basking in the after effects. I never wanted to move.

A few minutes later, Lizzy had other ideas, crying out loudly for attention. With me groaning and Elijah laughing, I moved to pick up my daughter with a smile while Elijah went to wash his hands and make a bottle. I changed her diaper and enjoyed the time I had with her.

I wished the path I had to take to get here hadn't happened the way it did; I would have loved to skip most of the things that had happened to me, but I couldn’t change it. If I hadn’t been sold by my mother, I wouldn’t have found this baby, and maybe not Elijah. Just because we grew up together, doesn’t mean we would have stayed close.

I was beginning to have the craving for my own children with Elijah—at least one, maybe two, but I wasn’t sure if I was up to going through the checkups to see if I could still have children. I knew from what Emily had said just the week before that the depo shot stayed in a woman’s system for quite some time after the last dose, and I didn’t know what kind of damage had been done when Erick had forced me to lose the baby I had carried.

I had yet to get my period, but I wasn’t concerned. Vence had said it may take some time, taking in my weight loss and stress. If I didn’t have it by the time I fully decided to have children of my own, I would bring it up to someone.

For the time being, I was more than happy with how life was turning out. I was happy, content, and falling more in love with Elijah and our daughter.