Andrew

Sophie’s footsteps echoed through the dining room as she made her way down the hall. Nina heard her before she saw her. She sat up straighter in her highchair and wiggled with excitement. The second Sophie stepped inside, Nina squealed and tried to jump into her arms.

“Hi, baby!” Sophie cooed, scooping Nina into her arms and placing soft kisses all over her face. “Mommy missed you so much.”

“She missed you, too,” I said, standing up to wrap Sophie in a quick hug.

Sophie hugged me back, sinking into me and sighing deeply. I frowned when she pulled away. I’d hoped Kaddy would help her relax, but Sophie seemed just as stressed as before.

“I have some good news,” I said as we sat down for dinner.

“Oh?” Sophie asked. She held Nina in her lap, snuggling her close.

“The venue is booked,” I said simply. “It’s all taken care of.”

“It is?” Sophie’s eyes flew wide. “How? I mean, what did you do?”

“I paid in full,” I said.

“Andrew,” Sophie said, shaking her head from side to side. “No. Tell me you’re kidding.”

“Not at all,” I said. “You wanted the gardens, so I made it happen. Don’t worry about it. It’s all set.”

“But that’s ridiculous!” Sophie said frantically. “Full payment more than six months in advance? They’re just trying to rip us off, Andrew.”

“I know that,” I said. “But it’s fine. I made sure the payment was fully refundable. So, if for some reason we change our minds about the venue, we can back out at any time.”

“That’s not the point,” Sophie said.

“Sophie, it’s okay,” I said. I reached across the table to take her hand. “Please, don’t worry about it.”

Sophie nodded and looked down at her food. She was still worried. In fact, she looked even more worried than before.

“I’m sorry,” Sophie said.

“For what?” I asked.

“I never meant to let the wedding get to me so much,” she said. “I know I should just relax and enjoy it.”

“Did Kaddy help at all?” I asked. “Did you guys have fun today?”

“We did,” Sophie said. “We went to the nail salon and talked. I asked her to be my maid of honor.”

“Wasn’t that kind of a given?” I asked.

“Of course,” Sophie said. “But she was worried that maybe Amy had taken her place.”

“Amy?” I laughed. “She doesn’t even work here anymore.”

“No, but we’re still close,” Sophie said. “She’s doing so well over at the new stables.”

“That’s great,” I said. “Although, I do miss having her around. She was amazing with the horses, and now Donna Lee is sick.”

“Gretchen can handle it,” Sophie said with confidence. “She knows what she’s doing.”

“I’m sure,” I said. “But she’s still new.”

“She’s also twice our age.” Sophie laughed. “She’s been taking care of horses longer than we’ve been alive.”

“Good point.” I said, laughing along with her.

As we talked, I realized how much calmer Sophie seemed. The second we stopped talking about the wedding, her entire body changed. I vowed to keep the conversation light and easy for the rest of the night. If talking about the wedding was too much for Sophie, then we wouldn’t discuss it until the morning.

“I’m glad you had some time with Kaddy,” I said. “You needed a break.”

“I really did,” Sophie said.

“Maybe we should keep it going,” I said.

“What do you mean?” Sophie asked.

“A massage?” I asked with a sly grin. “After Nina goes down for the night.”

Sophie smiled, but shook her head.

“She’ll wake up if we make any noise..”

“Not if we put her in the nursery,” I said.

Sophie blinked. I’d surprised her, but I pressed on.

“Just for tonight,” I said. “We can move the crib in there and then move it back first thing in the morning.”

“Sure,” Sophie said. “Why not?”

I grinned and stood up to kiss her. I was shocked by how easily Sophie agreed. I expected her to argue at least a little bit.

“What’s that face about?” Sophie asked.

“I’m just surprised,” I said. “I thought you would fight me on it.”

“No,” Sophie said. “She’s big enough now. It’s time we move her out of our room.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

We finished eating dinner and then said goodnight to Liam. The three of us made our way upstairs. My hands never left Sophie as we walked. I couldn’t tear myself away from her.

When we reached the bedroom, Sophie slipped into the bathroom to get Nina bathed and changed. They reappeared quickly, and Sophie handed Nina to me so I could say goodnight.

I hugged Nina close to my chest and inhaled her sweet baby scent. I would miss having her close by, but I was beyond excited to be alone with Sophie again. I wanted her more than I ever had.

“Goodnight,” I whispered to Nina. “Sweet dreams, my girl.”

Sophie took Nina back from me and settled on our bed. She held Nina close and rocked her slowly while she lifted her shirt and unhooked her bra. My eyes immediately flew to Sophie’s chest. I groaned when her breast fell free.

“Down boy,” she said with a mischievous grin.

“It’s not my fault,” I said. “You’re sexy as hell.”

“When I’m nursing our daughter?” Sophie laughed.

“When you’re breathing.”

Sophie smiled, and I stared at her for a second longer. She really was the most beautiful woman I’d ever known. The idea of marrying her almost felt too good to be true. I couldn’t believe I’d gotten so lucky, that Sophie would become my wife in just six short months.

“How did I find you?” I whispered softly.

“Indentured servitude, remember?” Sophie asked playfully.

I rolled my eyes. “You’re hilarious.”

“Go on,” Sophie said, jerking her head toward Nina’s crib. “Move that into the nursery so we can lay her down when she’s done.”

I sighed and nodded. With one last glance at my girls, I pulled Nina’s crib into the nursery while Sophie nursed her on our bed. We hadn’t yet moved Nina into her own bedroom because neither of us thought to do it. After seven months, though, I knew it was time, but neither Sophie nor I were ready until now. After everything we talked about at dinner, it seemed like the perfect night.

“Do you think she’ll be okay in there?” Sophie asked when I came back through the door.

“We’re right here,” I said. “We don’t even have to close the door if you’re nervous about it.”

“No,” Sophie said with a long sigh. “We should. She’s big enough now. We don’t have to be in the same room with her anymore.”

Sophie’s looked at the door that connected our room to the nursery. I remembered when we set it up. Sophie picked out the decorations meticulously, making sure everything was perfect and comfortable for our little girl. And yet, we barely ever used the room. Sophie often rocked Nina to sleep in the nursery, but with her crib in our bedroom, she never spent more than an hour or two in Nina’s room.

I watched Sophie for a few minutes. Nina was nursing sweetly, her little eyelids already fluttering closed. It wouldn’t be long before she drifted off to sleep for the night, and when she did, Sophie and I could be alone again.

I sat on the edge of the bed to wait. Sophie’s eyes stayed glued on the door that separated our room from Nina’s. Her forehead was creased, and her green eyes were narrowed. She was worried about moving Nina into her own room, but there was more behind her concern.

“Do you want to talk to me?” I asked softly. “Tell me what’s going on in that head of yours?”

“I told you at dinner,” Sophie said. “I never meant to let the wedding get to me so much. I just feel guilty for being so stressed.”

“Don’t,” I said. “Sweetheart, you do so much for me and for Nina. I can’t imagine how tired you must be. Honestly, I would be worried if you weren’t stressed.”

Sophie nodded and let her eyes fall closed. While she finished nursing Nina, I took her feet in my hands and began to rub them slowly. Sophie’s eyes opened just enough to look at me. I smiled at her, feeling a familiar tug in the pit of my stomach.

“She’s almost done,” Sophie said. “We’ll be alone soon enough.”

“It’s never soon enough,” I said.

Sophie smiled sleepily and pulled Nina away from her body. Nina was fast asleep, her tiny fists hanging by her sides and her eyes tightly closed.

I watched as Sophie tiptoed into the nursery and laid Nina in her crib. My eyes trailed down Sophie’s body, resting on her perky butt. I groaned and leaned back on the bed, desperate to finally have Sophie all to myself.

She tiptoed back into the bedroom and closed the door softly.

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” I asked, gesturing toward the nursery.

“She’ll be fine,” Sophie said. “Besides, I’m looking forward to that massage you promised me.”

“Well, come here.” I patted the bed beside me.

Sophie sauntered over to me, walking slowly and making sure to swing her hips from side to side. The grin on her face told me she was teasing me. I shook my head and sighed as she laid down on her stomach, and I once again found myself staring at her ass.

I sat up slowly and ran my hands up Sophie’s back. I barely pressed down at first, and still, Sophie exhaled with pleasure. There were so many knots throughout her back that it was a miracle she ever got out of bed.

“You’re so tense, baby,” I said.

“Tell me about it.” Sophie’s voice was muffled as I pressed harder on her back, working my fingers through her tight muscles one at a time.

Sophie moaned, and I felt my pants grow tight. All it took was touching her for me to become excited, but those moans were almost more than I could take.

I slid my hands under her shirt, feeling the smooth skin of her back. She moaned louder than before and wiggled beneath my fingers. I dug them into her back, making her groan and arch her back with pleasure.

Her shoulders were already more relaxed, and the longer I rubbed, the more she wiggled. After a few more minutes, I knew I wasn’t the only one who was excited.

Sophie rolled over onto her back, lifting her shirt over her head as she did so. She stared up at me, blinking innocently in nothing but a bra and her pants.

“What else?” I asked, gazing down at her body.

“My legs,” Sophie said softly.

I undid her pants and pulled them gently off her legs. She groaned the second my fingers touched her skin. I ran my hands down her thighs, then her calves. Her eyes rolled back in her head, and her chest lifted as I massaged the muscles on her thighs.

My eyes roamed freely over her body while I massaged her. My pants were tighter than ever, and from the look on Sophie’s face, she felt the sexual tension just as strongly as I did. Her body writhed as I dug my fingers into her skin.

When my hands grazed her panties, she moaned, and her eyes flew open. The second she looked at me, I knew it was over. There was no way I could control myself for another second.

I leaned forward, pressing my body carefully on top of hers, and kissed her slowly. Sophie’s hands flew to the back of my head as our tongues danced. She moaned and I growled as our bodies began to rock together in unison.

In seconds, I was rock-hard and desperate for more.