Defying Gravity (Healing Hearts Book 2) by Laura Farr (21)

The next few weeks were taken up with school and wedding arrangements. Libby, Mom, and I spent a day dress shopping in Austin. I made appointments at two bridal stores and the race was on to find Lib a dress and me a bridesmaid dress, preferably ones we could buy that day and would only need minor adjustments. With the wedding in only a few short weeks, we needed to find something off the rack.

After hours trying on what felt like hundreds of dresses, we both found what we were looking for. Libby had said I could choose my own dress, which came as no surprise to me, considering she seemed to have no idea what she wanted. Libby’s dress was beautiful. It was an ivory lace fishtail dress with off-the-shoulder straps, and the lace adorned the whole dress and followed through down the huge train. She looked stunning in it, and as soon as she tried it on, I could tell by the beaming smile on her face that she had found her dress. The smile slipped, though, when she asked the sales assistant the price.

“So how much is this one?” Libby asked, turning to the side to try to see the back of the dress. The assistant moved closer to her, picking up the tag that was attached to the dress.

“$900. It’s actually a cancellation dress so it’s been discounted to sell, and you wouldn’t need many alterations. It fits great, it just needs to be shortened slightly.” The sales assistant stepped back so Libby could see herself again. I watched as her face dropped.

“The dress is beautiful, but it’s out of my price range,” she said quietly, stepping away from the mirror.

“That dress is more than beautiful, it’s incredible, and you looked amazing,” I told her, setting down my glass of orange juice and standing up off the plush leather sofa I’d been sitting on. “That’s your dress Lib,” I whispered as I guided her back to the mirror, my eyes meeting hers in the reflection.

“I can’t afford it Sav,” she said sadly as she gazed into the mirror.

“You can,” I told her with a wink.

“What? How?” she asked, confusion visible on her face.

“If you had the money, would you buy this dress?” I asked her. She nodded and I smiled, turning to find the assistant. “We’ll take it,” I said when she walked over to us.

“No! I’m not letting you or your parents pay for my dress,” Libby exclaimed, looking over to where my mom was chuckling to herself.

“How about if your parents were paying?” I asked.

“My parents?”

“Yep. They transferred money to cover the cost of the dress, and there’s enough for this dress, the alterations, and some shoes.” Her hand flew up to cover her mouth, and I saw a tear roll down her cheek.

“Really?” she said in disbelief. I nodded and she flung her arms around me, squealing in delight.

I found my dress in the same store, opting for a blush pink organza dress with lace overlay at the top and capped sleeves. I loved it and the corset back was perfect because it would expand with me if the baby decided to have a growth spurt in the next few weeks.

Flowers had been ordered and catering arranged. My parents were paying someone to decorate the barn, and my mom’s friend was making a wedding cake. Considering we only had a few weeks to organize the wedding, things seemed to be coming together nicely.

Josh’s parents were still away, and he was spending every night at the cottage. He made the odd trip back to his house, but only to pick up more of his stuff. When I looked around the cottage, I saw it full of Josh and his things, and I loved it. We’d only been together a few weeks, but I almost couldn’t remember my life before him. It felt so right to be with him, and I could only hope he felt the same.

It was the day before Thanksgiving, and Libby’s parents were flying in that afternoon. She was so excited to see them. Mason was driving her to the airport to pick them up and they were going to stay at the ranch house because there wasn’t room at their cabin. My mom was doing a huge Thanksgiving meal and I couldn’t wait. I’d always loved Thanksgiving, even more than Christmas, and this year would be even more special as it would be the first year Josh and I would spend it together, as a couple.

Josh was working and I finished school early. Heading to the cottage, I made my way upstairs and ran the bath, pouring in a dash of bubble bath. The journey to Austin each day was getting to be too much, and I decided that after Christmas I wouldn’t be returning to school. Josh wasn’t happy that I was driving alone an hour each way to get there anyway, and I had to admit that my back ached more and more with each trip I made. I knew Josh was worried about me, so I let him think he’d convinced me to stop school, but in reality, I’d been thinking about it anyway. Aside from my back aching, the need to pee every 15 minutes was a pain in the ass on the drive.

I plugged my iPod into my docking station and began dancing around the room as I waited for the bath to fill up. Grabbing my phone, I sent a message to Josh.

A couple of weeks ago he’d asked me to let him know when I arrived at school and when I got home so he knew I was safe. I loved how concerned he was about me, and I had to admit that it felt good that someone cared enough to want to check that I was okay. I took my phone into the bathroom as I awaited his reply. The bath was filling up, and bubbles were beginning to ooze over the sides. Climbing in, I sighed as I sat in the hot water, the bubbles completely covering my body. I dropped my head back on the bath and closed my eyes.

After a few minutes, I felt what was now a familiar fluttering in my stomach. I smiled and

placed my hand on my bare bump. I’d first started experiencing flutters about two weeks before. I wasn’t sure at first that it was the baby, but as the days went by and the fluttering became stronger, I began to let myself believe it could be, and now I was sure. I had a definite bump now, and there was no denying that I was pregnant. The flutters were becoming stronger with each day, and as my hand rested on my stomach, I swore I could feel a small kick against my hand. Barely breathing, I kept my hand where it was, waiting to see if it happened again. A few minutes passed and there was no more movement; I was just about to move my hand when I felt it again, and there was no doubt this time that I could feel the movement in my hand. I squealed and splashed my legs in the water. I couldn’t wait for Josh to feel it. At bedtime, he would wrap his arm around me, my back to his chest, and rest his hand on my stomach, desperate to feel the baby kick. I decided I’d wait for him to feel it himself and keep it as a surprise. My phone vibrated on the vanity and I sat up, drying my hand before I reached for it. Looking down, I saw Josh had replied.

I read and reread his message. ‘Prove it’—what did he want, a picture? I glanced around the bathroom at the pile of clothes I’d removed before getting into the bath and smirked to myself. Reaching over the side of the bath, I quickly snapped a picture of my clothes and sent it to him.

I laughed out loud at his reply before taking another picture, this time of my bare legs surrounded by bubbles. Quickly sending him the picture, I lay back down and awaited a reply. I grinned as I felt my phone vibrate in my hand.

I laughed again and relaxed back amongst the bubbles, the hot water soothing my aching back. I closed my eyes and I must have nodded off. Waking up, I screamed as I saw a figure in the doorway of the bathroom.

“Hey, it’s me Sav,” Josh said, coming to the edge of the bath and kneeling down.

“God Josh, you scared the crap out of me!” I exclaimed, bending over the side of the bath to kiss him.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you, I was just enjoying the view.” He smirked, his eyes tracking over my naked body as I relaxed back into the water, the bubbles now almost gone.

“You’re home early, is everything okay?” I asked as I flicked some water at him.

Grinning, he nodded as he wiped the splashes off his face. “I just couldn’t concentrate knowing you were here, wet and naked in the bath.”

“Well I was just about to get out…” I trailed off, standing up and gesturing for the towel on the vanity.

He glanced behind him, reaching for my towel before his eyes met mine again. “Even better then,” he mumbled as he watched me climb out of the bath. As I stood on the mat, he wrapped the towel around me and began to dry every inch of my body. When he got to my breasts, he dried them by stroking me through the towel. I felt my nipples pebble at his touch and I dropped my head back and sighed. He carefully dried my baby bump, and as my eyes found his, he dropped to his knees in front of me, brushing a soft kiss on my stomach. He brought the towel to the floor, lifting each leg as he dried my feet, his hands working their way up my thighs before gently drying between my legs.

By then I was on fire for him and I let out a moan as his fingers brushed my clit. He dropped the towel as he stood up and reached for me, pulling my naked form against his fully clothed body. I could tell from his hard erection against me that drying me had turned him on. He kept one arm around my waist while the other hand snaked into my wet hair as he tilted my head and dropped his lips to mine. He kissed me softly at first, brushing kisses around my mouth before deepening the connection. I felt him bite down on my bottom lip and I opened my mouth to him, his tongue sliding against mine. He picked me up and I wrapped my legs around him as he carried me from the bathroom into the bedroom, his lips never leaving mine. He broke the kiss and laid me on the bed. Standing above me, he gently pulled my legs until my bum was on the edge of the bed and my feet were touching the floor. He spread my legs and I felt my face flush at being so exposed to him.

“You are so beautiful,” he murmured as he kneeled on the floor between my legs and began brushing soft kisses on the insides of my thighs, slowly getting closer to where I needed him. I was almost panting by the time I felt his warm breath between my legs, and I cried out as his tongue began circling my clit. He reached his hand up and over my stomach, his fingers finding and pinching my nipple. I arched my back and pushed my breast farther into his hand.

“Josh,” I moaned as his hand left my nipple and I felt him push two fingers inside me, pumping them in and out, his other hand gripping my thigh in an attempt to hold me down as I lifted my hips off the bed. His tongue continued its delicious assault on my clit, the speed of his fingers increasing as my breathing became labored. My fingers threaded through his hair, and I pulled him closer to me as my orgasm built. My legs began to tremble and Josh, sensing that I was close, sucked on my clit then I exploded on his mouth. His fingers continued pumping in and out of me as I rode wave after wave of pleasure. When I couldn’t take it anymore, I gently pushed his head away and he sat back on his heels, his breathing erratic.

When my legs had finally stopped shaking, I stood up, reaching for him. I grabbed the hem of his t-shirt and gently pulled it over his head. Standing on my tiptoes, I kissed his mouth, tasting myself on his lips. Undoing the belt on his jeans and popping the button, I pushed them down his legs, watching as his long, hard erection sprang free. I again felt a stirring between my legs at the sight of him, and taking his erection in my hand, I stroked him from base to tip, swirling my thumb around the head of his cock as a bead of pre-cum appeared. Licking my lips, I kneeled on the floor, my hand still gripping him.

“Savannah,” Josh said breathlessly. “You don’t have to.”

“I know, I want to,” I told him before my tongue circled around the head of his cock, my hand holding him at the base of his erection, squeezing him tightly. He moaned as I licked the length of him before taking him all the way into my mouth, feeling him hit the back of my throat.

“Fuck…Savannah,” I heard him growl. I looked up to see his head thrown back and his mouth open slightly. As I began to suck him, my head bobbed back and forth, and I felt his hands on my head as he gently pulled my hair. I moaned around his cock as an ache began to form between my legs. My spare hand reached up, gripping his hip as my fingers dug into his skin. As I sucked harder, Josh groaned again and I felt him pull me to my feet. “Stop baby,” he murmured, his eyes closed and his breathing labored. “You have to stop or I’m going to come, and I want to feel you wrapped around me.”

“Okay,” I said as he picked me up again, my legs instinctively wrapped around him. I could feel him, hot and hard, pressing against me. Turning me away from the bed, he walked us to the other side of the room, pushing me gently against the wall. His cock was pressed between my legs, and as he thrust his hips against mine, his erection hit my clit and I cried out, my nails digging into his arms. As he kissed down my neck, I dropped my head back, moaning as he gently nipped at my skin before soothing it with his tongue.

“I’m going to move us to the bed,” he murmured against my neck, and I nodded, too far gone to answer him. He crossed the room and placed me on the bed, moving over me. My legs dropped open and he settled between them. His mouth found my nipple and he sucked on it, my hands tugging on his hair. After a few minutes, his fingers reached between my legs and circled my swollen clit. My breaths were coming out in pants and I needed to feel him inside me.

“More Josh,” I moaned, and he released my nipple from his mouth with a pop.

“What do you need?” he asked, his fingers still stroking me.

“You, inside me,” I groaned as his fingers pushed into me. I bucked my hips against his hand and he pumped his fingers, his thumb stroking my clit. Removing his fingers, he quickly replaced them with his erection and I cried out as he slammed into me. Moving my head so I could watch him, I saw his jaw tick. I knew he was close and was trying to hold off until I came. As I rotated my hips against his, he groaned as his eyes closed and his head dropped back.

“You feel so good, I’m so close,” he breathed, his eyes still closed. My fingers found my nipple and I gently flicked it, a moan escaping my lips. Josh’s eyes flew open and widened in shock. “God that’s hot. Does that feel good?” I nodded and bit down on my lip. “My turn.” He removed my hand and lowered his head to my chest. His tongue flicked over my nipple and I closed my eyes, my orgasm right there. His thrusts increased, and I moved in rhythm with him, my arms holding on to him.

“I’m going to come Josh,” I warned him, and he sucked my nipple into his mouth as I exploded around him, my legs shaking as pleasure raced through me. I felt Josh swell inside me, my orgasm triggering his, and he cried out as he came. His head dropped to my neck as his body jerked in my arms. I could feel his heart pounding in his chest, our bodies slick with sweat. “I think I like it when you come home early,” I breathed in his ear, kissing him on his cheek.

“I think I like it too sweetheart.” He chuckled and I shivered as his breath tickled my neck. After a few minutes, he pulled out of me and flopped down next to me on the bed. He pulled me backward into his chest as his arm snaked around my waist, his hand coming to rest on my stomach. Exhausted, I closed my eyes as he held me, loving the feeling of being wrapped in his arms.

My eyes flew open as I felt the baby move, and I held my breath waiting for the kicks to get stronger so Josh would feel them. There were a few more movements before he suddenly sat up. “Savannah, did the baby just move?” he asked excitedly.

I turned onto my back and looked at him with a smile. “Yes, did you feel it?” I watched as he nodded, his face lighting up.

“Let me try again,” he said, placing his hand on my stomach. We waited for a few minutes and just when I thought it wasn’t going to happen, the baby moved, and Josh’s face lit up again. “I definitely felt it that time!” he exclaimed, grinning at me. “That’s amazing. I can’t wait to meet him or her. You’ve made me so happy Savannah. I never imagined it would be this good.” A lump formed in my throat and my eyes filled with tears. I swallowed and blinked in an attempt to try to stop the tears from falling. I wasn’t successful and a single tear slipped down my cheek. “Happy tears again?” he asked gently, reaching across and wiping my tear away with his thumb.

I nodded. “Definitely happy,” I told him with a smile as he pulled me into his arms and kissed me on the head.

“Let’s take a nap, and then we can eat.” I nodded and relaxed into his embrace. It was the happiest I’d ever been. It was like a dream, and I just hoped I never woke up.