Hacked For Love & The Dom's Songbird: A Billionaire Romance Collection by Michelle Love, Celeste Fall (7)

“Damn, baby!”

“They’re taking too long to get you taken care of and it’s pissing me off,” she says as she runs her hand over my head.

The doctor returns followed by a giant man and in no time I’m in excruciating pain as he moves me to the bed and presses me to lay out flat, which nearly kills me. Stars fill my head and I nearly black out. “Christ!”

“Be easy with him!” Peyton shouts.

“Miss, I’ll have to ask you to leave if you don’t let us do our job,” the doctor says with an air of authority.

“She stays, no matter what,” I say through gritted teeth.

Deep breaths I take as the pain only grows worse. The doctor moves my hand from my side and pulls up my shirt. His hand is freezing as it touches my skin and I scream as it feels as if he pressing into a horrible bruise.

“So that hurts then?” he asks.

“Fuck yeah!” I shout as my body throbs with the man’s touch.

“Help him!” Peyton shouts. “Just hurry. I can’t stand to see him in pain like this!”

The doctor turns to her. “I need to order an ultra-sound. I think he has appendicitis. But I need to confirm that. I’ll be right back, and Miss, I am doing all I can as fast as I can, so please help me to keep him calm.”

Peyton shudders and wraps her arms around herself. “Sorry, please just hurry.”

She takes her cell phone out and starts pressing the screen like a mad woman. “What are you doing?” I groan and hold my side.

“Googling appendicitis. Man, I hope it hasn’t burst. That’s going to complicate things if your appendix has burst,” she says with a frown. “I’d show you the pictures I’m looking at but that wouldn’t do a thing to make you feel better, I’m afraid.”

“What if it has?” I ask, not really wanting to know.

She shakes her head. “Let’s not speculate about that until we know for sure.”

She puts the phone in her pocket and comes to my side. Gently she runs her hand over my sweat soaked head. “Peyton, please call my mum and pop and tell them to come. I need them and you right now, more than I ever needed any people in my life.”

She takes my cell from her other pocket and makes the call. “Hey, we’re in the ER, it’s probably appendicitis. The doctor is about to run an ultra-sound and Kip wants you two to come. Can you do that?” She nods at me. “Okay, just call when you get here and I’ll come find you and take you to him.” She puts the phone back in her pocket.

“Thank you.”

“Shh. You be quiet and rest. I’ll be here and soon so will your parents. Everything is going to be fine.” Her hand rests on my chest and she smiles.

A young man pushes a cart in and asks her to step back. She moves to the other side of me and takes my hand. He pours some cold goop on me then presses something on top of it and I shriek. “Holy shit!”

“Sorry, sir,” the man says as he moves it around, causing me to nearly pass out with the pain. “A necessary evil, I’m afraid.”

After a torturous few moments, he stops his torture and throws a tissue over the goop on my searing flesh. He looks at Peyton. “It might be better if you help him clean this off. He may punch me.”

She nods. “So, is it appendicitis?”

“The doctor will be in to tell you that soon.” He pulls his cart out of the room, leaving me just as informed about my condition as I have been, which is not at all.

Peyton moves to the other side of me and gently wipes away the goo and even though it hurts like hell, it hurts less than when the other two men touched me. I pull her hand up and press it to my cheek.

“Peyton, I feel like something is bad wrong. If something happens to me…”

With her other hand she presses her fingers to my lips, stopping me. “Kip, don’t even let the thought go through your head. Nothing is going to happen to you. You may have to go into surgery, but they’ll fix you up and you’ll come back out of this. In no time we’ll be back home together.”

“Do me a favor and call Mum again and let me talk to her. I need to talk to her and Pop.” She makes the call and hands me the phone. “Thank you and can you find me some water, I’m dying of thirst.” She nods and leaves.

Mum answers the phone. “Is everything okay, Peyton?” she answers.

“Mum, it’s me.” I groan into the phone.

“Oh, baby boy! You sound terrible!”

“Mum, listen please. If I don’t make it through this, I want Peyton to have everything. In my will, everything I have currently goes to you and Pop. Make sure you give every last thing to her if I don’t make it. Promise me, Mum.”

“Of course, son. But please don’t think like that. You’re going to be fine. Please don’t talk like that,” she begs me and I can hear the tears in her voice.

“Mum, I just want to be sure, that’s all. I’ll do my best not to leave you all, but just in case I had to tell you that. I never want her to be without. I want her to have it all,” I groan out the last word as a sharp pain radiates throughout my body. “Mum, I need to go. It hurts to talk.”

“We’ll be there soon, baby. Rest and do what the doctor tells you too. We’re in the air already and two hours away. Bye, we love you.”

I hang the phone up as Peyton walks in with a bottle of water and the doctor walks in behind her. She holds the bottle out to me and the doc shakes his head. “He’s going into surgery. No water for him, I’m afraid.”

Peyton stops and spins back to look at him. “Surgery? So, what is it?”

The doctor looks grim. “His appendix has burst.”

Peyton gasps and puts her hand over her mouth. “No!”

He nods. “I’m afraid so. The surgical team is setting up now and the prep team is on the way down to get you, Mr. Dixon.”

My heart pounds harder than it has been and Peyton’s gorgeous face pales. Her hand runs over my face as tears fill her hazel eyes. “You come back to us, Kip Dixon. You stay with us, don’t you dare do anything but fight this. Do you understand me?”

I nod and pull her to me. She clings to me and I can feel her body quivering as she tries hard to hold her cries in. “I love you, Peyton. No matter what, you remember that. You take care of our baby. I sure wish I knew if it’s a boy or a girl, but whatever it is, you take good care of it for me if something does happen.”

Peyton puts her fingers to my lips. “Kip, don’t.”

I pull them back. “I called Mum and told her if anything happens to me they’re to make sure you get everything I own. All of it.”

“Nothing’s going to happen to you, Kip,” she says with a long sigh. “Stop talking like that.”

Three people come into the room, all wearing light blue scrubs. Two men and one woman. The woman has a bunch of papers on a clip board. “Evening, Mr. Dixon. This Thanksgiving wasn’t the best for you was it?”

I shake my head and she smiles at me. Peyton stands back and lets the prep team do their thing. The man with dark hair looks at Peyton. “We need to get him prepped, Miss. Can I get you to step just outside and we’ll let you see him before we sedate him completely.”

She nods and comes to my side once more. A kiss she places on my forehead. “I love you. See you in a bit.”

Her shoulders slump as she turns to walk away. “I love you, Peyton.”

The female nurse comes back to my side and starts reading the first paper to me. “This is a living will, Mr. Dixon. It states whether you wish to be resuscitated should you stop breathing or your heart stop.”

I nod and she checks something on the paper. My heart aches with the question and the thought I might leave this world never seeing my child’s face nearly makes me cry.

The nurse continues. “Mr. Dixon, if resuscitation is performed and homeostasis is returned, do you accept to be placed on life support, if necessary?”

I nod and try my best not to jerk my hand as one of the male nurses stab it with a huge needle. “Sorry, Mr. Dixon. In just a few minutes, this will be the thing you love the most. It’ll give you the medicine you need to get out of pain.”

“Good,” I say with a moan.

The female nurse touches my cheek to draw my attention back to her. “Mr. Dixon only a few more questions then we’ll get you up to the O.R. There are time limits on life support. You need to choose how long you wish to be kept on it.”

How long do I wish for machines to keep me alive?

How does one choose that? “Can I leave that up to someone else?”

“Sure. Who would that be?”

“Peyton Reed.”

The nurse jots her name down and smiles. “Okay then, let’s get your clothes off and the gown on and we’ll be on our way. The morphine will help you tolerate the movement we need you to make to get this all accomplished.”

“Morphine?” I ask as the dark haired male nurse pushes a syringe into my IV and instantly I feel no more pain. “Wow, that was fast,” I slur. “Maybe I can just stay on this and avoid surgery all together. Yeah, I can see spending some time like this. Oh, yeah.”

The three giggle and the next thing I know, I’m moved around and naked in front of them and then some awful green checkered gown is pulled around my shoulders. They lie me back down, cover me with a thin blanket and move my bed out of the room.

Peyton is leaning against the wall. She wipes her eyes quickly and comes to me. “Baby, you look drunk,” she says with a laugh.

“Do I?” I slur and grope her as she stands next to the bed. They stopped so I could say my goodbyes to her. Perhaps my final goodbye. Her large, milk filled breast I touch and surprisingly she holds my hand to it. “I’m gonna miss those.”

“Don’t worry, they’ll be here when you get out of surgery.” She kisses my lips and my other hand runs over her hair.

“So, soft and silky curls, you have. I like ‘em.”

She giggles and I do too. “See you soon, Pop Rock.”

Peyton pulls out of my hands and I watch her as they move me away. I look up at the female nurse who walks the closest to me. “I love her so much it hurts.”

A smile lights up her face. “It’s pretty obvious, Mr. Dixon.”

“It is?”

She nods and I smile and then I feel like drifting off. My eyes roam over to find the dark haired male nurse pumping another syringe into my IV. I murmur, “Thanks, dude.” Then I close my eyes and float away.

Peyton

My heart beats along with the large clock in the private waiting room they took me to. I called my parents, and they said they’d be on the first flight out. Kip’s parents are almost here and I don’t know if I’m more nervous to meet the famous people or about how Kip’s doing in surgery.

Sebastien and Chloe Dixon are beyond famous. Kip’s mother is a glamourous super model from the eighties and his father a rock legend. And here I am about to meet them for the first time.

Kip’s cell rings, making me jump. It’s Bobby. “Hi, Bobby,” I answer.

“I got your message. Is he okay?”

“He’s in surgery as we speak.”

“Damn it. I’m coming down. Be there soon.”

He ends the call and I hold the phone to my chest and try not to freak out about how I’m sure to be in a room full of celebrities before this is all over with.

The door opens and in walks a nurse followed by Kip’s parents. I stand and find my knees weak and have to hold onto the arm of the chair. “Hi,” I manage.

“Oh, hunny!” Kip’s mom says as she gathers me up in her slim arms. “How are you holding up?”

“As best I can,” I mumble against her chest, as she’s about four inches taller than I am.

A hand grasps my shoulder and I’m pulled away and wrapped in Kips’ father’s arms. “Sweetheart, you’re gorgeous. I’m sorry we’re meeting under these circumstances. It’s not how I thought this would happen.”

He lets me out of his hug and holds me back and looks at my baby bump. His hand touches it and he looks into my eyes. He’s handsome and has this air about him that makes me want to freak out like the girls I hate.

“Our grandbaby,” he turns to his wife. “You have to touch her tummy. It’s our grandbaby in here.”

Kip’s mother looks at me timidly. “Is that okay with you, Peyton?”

I nod as words seem to have left my brain as I’m as star struck as I’ve ever been. She touches my tummy and looks at her husband. “Finally, our very own grandchild.”

His father looks at me. “She’s been wantin’ one of these. You’ve made us very pleased, Peyton.”

I nod and smile like an idiot. The door opens again, and a doctor walks in with his facemask still on. We all turn to look at him, our collective breaths held.

He pulls the mask down and we all see the corners of his thin lips pulled down in a deep frown. “Okay, he’s out of surgery. His appendix had burst and I’m afraid there is already gangrene in some of his organs. We removed as much of the affected tissue we possible could.”

“Dear Lord,” his mother says and sits down, pulling me along with her as she takes my hand in hers.

Kip’s father sits on the other side of me, his arm runs around my shoulders. “Is that all, doc?”

The doctor shakes his head. “He’s going to need a kidney transplant as we had to completely remove one and the other is damaged so badly that it cannot do the job on its own. I’m aware he has no siblings, perhaps a cousin or someone like that might be an eligible donor?”

Kip’s mother nods. “He has three on his father’s side near his age. But they’re back in England. How long does he have to find one?”

The doctor inhales and his frown deepens. “Maybe a week. There’s more though.”

Kip’s father’s grip on my shoulders tightens. “God damn!”

The doctor nods. “I’m really sorry to have to tell you all this. I really am. I wish I could offer more hope, but I cannot lie. He quit breathing on us twice and once his heart stopped for ten minutes. The fact is that even given the transplant, he may not be able to live off of the life support we’ve been forced to put him on.”

My heart stops. “He’s on life support?”

He nods. “He’ll be kept in a drug induced coma until we’re able to find a compatible kidney. Machines will keep him breathing and his heart will be kept beating. As far as that goes. The risk of his liver becoming affected is quite high as it wasn’t in the best condition in the first place.”

Sniffles come from his mother and her hand covers her mouth. “I’ll get on the phone and get the relatives coming in.”

“You do that, Mrs. Dixon. I wish I had better news for you all. He’s being taken to the ICU and sometime tomorrow we’ll start allowing one visitor at a time to go in and see him for ten minute visits once an hour during the day.” As the doctor turns around a very pale Bobby fills the doorway.

“What’s happened? Why do you all look like that?” Bobby asks.

The doctor nods. “I have to get back to make sure Mr. Dixon is hooked up properly. They’ll fill you in, sir.” He leaves and we all stare after him.

I open my mouth to tell Bobby the news but all that comes out is a wailing noise and my eyes fill with tears. Someone pulls me into a hug, and I fall apart.

Kip

Beeps and other weird noises I hear in the distance. Everything is black and I can’t seem to move. A voice I hear from so far away its almost inaudible. “Kip, I’m here.”

It might be Mum or Peyton, not sure which. A soft hand touches mine and a shot runs through me. The beeping sound speeds up and I hear her speak again. I know its Peyton now, my body always has reacted to hers. “Kip, you stay with me.”

I try really hard to nod, but I’m not sure if that’s working. Something must’ve happened to me on the operating table. I feel nothing, literally not a damn thing. Though my mind seems to be working, nothing else is.

Warm lips touch my cheek and inwardly I sigh. I wish I could open my eyes and see her. A dim figure moves into my mind. A tall, shadow with what looks like wide shoulders. It passes through my mind, but makes no sound.

It’s odd how I can see that in the complete darkness. It’s darker than the surrounding darkness. I shout out in my mind, “Hey, who are you?”

The shadow stops and it seems to turn back to me. It moves forward, getting closer and closer.

My hand is squeezed and lips touch my ear. “They found you a donor. You’re probably going to be pissed at your father, but a long lost son appeared out of a small town in Connecticut. He’s two years younger than you are, and damn if that guy doesn’t look almost just like you, Kip. Your mother was a little upset at first, then she decided it was supposed to happen as he might be able to save your life. I hope like hell he does.”

The figure in my mind stops as Peyton talks. It drifts back and eventually completely away. It was all that I could see and I’m already missing its company. “Come back! I’m lonely in here!” I shout with my mind. But it stays gone.

Warm lips kiss my forehead then she speaks again, “You’ve been like this for three days and hopefully tomorrow you’ll get the transplant if it all goes right. Maybe by the next day, I’ll be looking into those gorgeous deep blue eyes of yours. Then we’re going to get a sonogram done right in your hospital room so you can see what kind of kid we’re having. Most are betting on a boy, but I think it’s a girl.”

The dark figure reappears in my mind and it seems to be shaking its head. It moves a bit closer and I swear I can smell gingerbread. “I wish you’d tell me who you are,” I shout out in my head.

The figure drifts about and I get the feeling that it is here for me. Lips touch mine and a jolt runs through me. “I have to go, my ten minutes is up. I’ll be back in three hours. Your father will come in next, then your mother. I love them by the way. They’re wonderful. My family is here too and all my brothers forgive you for dumping me and said to tell you all the ass beatings you had coming are forgiven. Lucky you. So, come back to me soon, Pop Rock. I miss you. I love you.” Her lips touch mine again, sending another jolt through me and I can’t believe I can’t wake up as I feel more alive than ever.

I hear her footsteps as she leaves the room and the figure in my head moves away as well. A clear hand I see it raise as if it’s waving goodbye to me then it’s completely gone. The absence is a physical feeling in me.

Who was that?

Peyton

Putting on the brave act when I go in to see Kip is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I want to lie on his body and cry and beg him to get better and come back, but I can’t do that. I have to be strong.

I allow myself a period of one hour each day to cry and feel sorry for myself, then I pull it all in and stow it away. We’re all trying our best to keep it together for one another.

The news of Kip’s illness traveled the globe and one day after his surgery a man showed up at the hospital. A man who looked nearly exactly like Kip. He claimed to be his half-brother. He claimed to be Kip’s father, Sebastien’s son.

One DNA test later revealed that he is indeed Sebastien’s son. One more test revealed that he is a compatible kidney donor and now the man is in surgery. Kip is being prepped to take the kidney that a brother he’s never known is giving him willingly.

It’s all over the news and I had to attend my first press conference with his parents this morning. I have to admire how stoic Chloe is being with such a hard thing to swallow. Her husband cheated on her and she has to have it publicly announce just to give her son a chance.

I don’t know if I could be as understanding as she’s being. My parents and brothers are all here and Kip’s parents are too. We all wait in a large waiting area for news about both men.

A tall, slim blonde woman appears at the doorway and everyone looks up as she enters. “I’m not here to do anything but wish you all the best outcome for Kip.”

Sebastien takes Chloe’s hand he’s been holding and kisses it, then stands up, taking her with him. His arm goes around her shoulders as he approaches the other woman.

“This is my wife, Chloe,” he says. “Chloe, this is Sandra Mathews, Kip’s half-brother, Dalton’s, mother.”

My mother is sitting next to me and grabs my hand as we all wait to see how Chloe will take this. Chloe holds her arms open wide. “Thank you, Sandra. Thank you so much for coming out with this. I cannot thank you and your son enough.” She takes the other woman into a warm embrace and everyone lets out sighs at the sight.

Sebastien wipes tears off his cheeks and sniffles. “I’m so sorry to you both. You have no idea of how sorry I am.”

Chloe lets Sandra out of her embrace and takes a step back. She gestures to Sandra as she looks at her husband. “Sebastien, I’ve told you a thousand times since this all came out to stop apologizing. This was meant to be. Now give this woman a hug and let her know how thankful we are she came to us.”

My mother squeezes my hand and leans in to whisper, “It’s like watching a movie.”

I nod and can’t take my eyes away as Kip’s father pulls the woman who resembles Chloe so much, it’s scary, into his arms and hugs her. I can hear him murmuring to her, but can’t make out what he’s saying.

Chloe smiles and says, “Perhaps we should go to a private area and talk.”

Sebastien lets the woman out of his hug and takes his wife’s hand. “Let’s do that. I want to set things straight with you, Sandra. If I would’ve known, I would’ve provided for you and our son. I will make this up to you both.”

They leave the room and we all let out our breaths. Levi gets up and runs his hands through his hair. “What the hell? I can’t imagine! Dad, you don’t have any long lost kids do you?”

Dad shakes his head. “Your mother would kick my ass.”

“You bet I would.” Mom pops Dad in the arm. “That Chloe has more class than I do, that’s more than obvious.”

“She has the biggest heart,” I say. “Crazy big.”

I have a ton of hope that I’ll be talking to Kip by this time tomorrow. My fingers have stayed crossed and I’m keeping an open line straight to God as I make a little prayer about once an hour and sometimes more.

Please let this work, Lord!

Kip

Slow beeps I find as I wake up. My body hurts and that’s different. At least I feel something. It’s been forever since I’ve been able to feel my body.

My God, even my toes hurt. Something is tight around the bottom part of both of my legs. It’s uncomfortable. My head is fuzzy, and a dim light shines in front of my closed eyes.

“Detaching ventilator,” a woman’s voice says.

Then I’m gagging and might throw up with what’s coming out of my throat. My head spins and my stomach churns.

“Kip, can you hear me?” a man asks.

I try to nod and it seems like I am.

“Great!” the man says.

“Can I talk, doctor?” It’s Peyton’s voice and I try to open my eyes.

“Of course, dear,” he says.

“Wake up, sleepy head. You’ve been away too long,” she says.

Little blinks I make then open my eyes to see blurs surrounding me. “That’s my boy,” my father says and I turn my head in that direction.

“Pop?”

“That’s right, son. I’m here. Mum’s here too along with a room full of people who are ready to see you.”

I blink some more and it all comes into focus. I scan the faces and find my love’s and eerily it’s me who stands by her side in a grey hospital gown. An IV stand next to him. “Who’s that guy, love? He looks like me. Did ya replace me already?”

The whole room laughs and it makes me jump a little with the noise. “Allow me to introduce you to your only known sibling, Kip,” Peyton says as she runs her arm around the man and my ire rears up immediately. “This fine young man is Dalton Mathews, your half-brother, and he saved your life.”

One of his arms is draped over my beloved’s shoulders. “Nice to meet you, bro and thanks for saving my life and all, but what up with your arm on my girl?”

The room full of people laugh and Peyton takes his arm off her and places it on her brother, Blake’s, shoulder. “Hold him up, Blake, will you? I can’t have my man getting all jealous.” She makes her way to me and leans over and plants a kiss right on my lips. “It’s nice to see you back, babe. We all missed you like crazy.”

Her hand rests on mine and my world is coming back into place. After a moment of looking at her beautiful face, I look back at the man who has my face. “A handsome rascal ya are, Dalton, did she say your name is?”

He nods and smiles. “It is, and thanks, I can say the same for you. How’s my kidney feeling there, bro?”

“So ya gave me one of your kidneys, did ya? How nice of ya. Don’t worry I’ll give you something if ya ever need it. Not that I have a lot of great organs to give, but money buys a lot of things, so how about a new car, mate?”

He laughs and shakes his head. “Just seeing you up and able to make jokes is enough for me. I never knew I had a brother. I have myself three sisters and you don’t know how often I prayed to have a brother, and now I do. A damn rock star at that. And a rock legend father to boot. Life’s pretty great, I don’t need any more.”

My father moves and takes Blake’s place holding up my new brother. “Damn glad to see you, son. We should get this guy back to his bed. He’s had surgery as well. We can all get to know each other, we have all the time in the world, you know.”

Pop takes my look alike brother away, and a woman who looks a hell of a lot like my Mum follows along, pushing the IV stand attached to Dalton. My eyes go back to find my mother who looks at me.

“How are ya doin’ Mum?”

Her smile suggests she fine, but I can’t see how. “I’m fantastic. I’m talking to my baby boy.” She comes to the other side of me and kisses my forehead. “It’s good to see you.”

“You too,” I say and have to swallow hard as I know how much pain not only my illness has caused her, but the fact my father was unfaithful must be hurting her as well. “You look gorgeous as always, Mum.”

She runs her hands through her long blonde hair. “Thank you, Kip. Compliments are always appreciated.” She laughs and touches my cheek. “I’m really happy to see you, baby boy.”

A nurse comes in and breaks up the party. “I’m afraid I have to get you all to leave. We have to make sure he’s doing okay with everything.”

They all wish me luck as they file out, but Peyton lingers at my side. After they’ve all left, she leans down to kiss me and the nurse clears her throat. “It’s best not to kiss him on the mouth or anywhere near his nose or eyes.”

Peyton pulls back and bites her lip as she looks at me. She raises my hand and I see the purple place around where the IV is attached to it. A little kiss she leaves on it. “I’ll be back as soon as they let me if you want.”

“If I want? I want!”

She waves at me as she walks away and my heart swells with how I feel about her.

It’s good to be back!

Peyton

Only two days after Kip’s surgery, and he was let out of the ICU and placed in a private room. Dalton was released today and will be stopping by at dinner time to eat with Kip and I.

Another hospital bed was brought in so then I can stay the nights with Kip. We’re waiting for the ultra-sound guy to come in and tell us what kind of kid we’re having.

Wearing a hospital gown a sickly color of green, I lie in bed with Kip and cuddle against him. “It’s so damn good to be back in your arms, babe.”

“It’s good to have them around you. Before we find out for sure what our baby is, would you like to know what I think it is?” Kip asks.

“I would,” I say and run my hand over his cheek. Stubble meets my hand and I secretly love the way it feels.

“It’s my opinion that we will be having a son. Now I know you think it’s a girl, but I have my reasons to believe it’s a boy.”

“Really?”

His hand runs over my arm and little chill bumps rise in its path. “Really. I heard ya talkin’ to me once while I was sleeping. You said ya thought it was a girl and this shadow man in my head shook his head at me.”

She giggles. “Okay, a shadow man, huh?”

“Yeah, I think it was our baby. Even though it was the size of a man. It only showed up when you came to see me. He was there every single time, and he was never there when anyone else came in.” He looks into my eyes, seemingly searching them to see if I believe him. Then he adds. “Thanks for not pullin’ the plug on me by the way.”

“About that,” I gently punch him in the arm. “Why in the hell would you put me down as the only person to decide that? Are you crazy?”

“Some think so, yes.” He nibbles my ear and I lie back against him.

“I could never pull the plug on you, Kip.” I run my fingers over his muscular thigh which his hospital gown is revealing.

“Do you not think I know that, love? That’s why I choose you.”

A knock comes at the door and the same man from the ER the day we came in, wheels a machine in. “Who’s ready to find out what kind of bun Peyton has in her oven?”

“I am,” Kip and I say in unison.

A quick kiss I give his cheek then climb off the bed and climb on the other one. Kip gets out of bed, slowly and groans like an old man as he walks over to watch the screen and hold my hand.

I shriek with the cold as crap gel he squirts on my stomach. “Sorry,” the guy says. “I suppose I could’ve warmed it up.”

“You think?” I ask as I give him a nasty look.

He shrugs. “Maybe next time.”

His little wand roams over my belly and he makes little sounds like hmm and huh, then he looks at me. “So, were you wanting a girl, Peyton?”

I smile and nod then look at Kip. “Sorry, I told you so. Mothers just know sometimes. Perhaps I’m a little psychic.”

The man hums a bit. “Or maybe I heard you as I walked down the hallway. Because I was about to say that I’m sorry, maybe the next baby. This one is a boy.”

“Told ya!” Kip gloats. He fist bumps the air and smiles like he just won the lottery. Although that probably wouldn’t even phase the billionaire.

“Man! A boy! It’s not that I’m disappointed I’m having a son. It’s just that Kip was right and I hate when that happens.” I pout.

A little tickle he gives me under my chin. “Is mommy mad that daddy was right?”

I bat at his hand. “Yes.” Then I stick out my tongue for good measure. “So what are we going to name him? I like Samuel.”

He shakes his head. “No way. I want something cool and cutting edge. Maybe Zap or Zing.”

I laugh and shake my head. “There’s no way I’m naming a kid either of those hellacious names. How about Bruce or Gary?”

Kip fakes a yawn as the ultra-sound guy gives him a tissue and gestures for him to wipe the goo off my tummy. He does as he says, “Come on, Peyton. The kid doesn’t want to get beat up every day and robbed of his lunch money. How about Streak or Flash?”

“We aren’t having a super-hero, Kip!” I push at his chest and laugh.

“You don’t know that.”

The guy laughs and pushes the cart out of the room. “Good luck you two. Congrats on the baby and you may want to think about the name, Tyrese. It’s my name and I like it.”

As he leaves the room, we both shout out our thanks to him and get right back to arguing about the baby’s name.

Kip

Though in a hospital bed, it’s still nice to hold my love in my arms as we sleep. So much has happened in the last couple of weeks, it’s bordering on mind blowing.

Apparently I died a few times and gained a brother. He turned out to be a cool guy and we are so damn alike it’s uncanny. Peyton freaks me out with how close the two got while I was comatose. But it’s getting to be okay with me.

I suppose having all brothers has her used to hanging out with guys and that’s cool and all, but it’s odd seeing her cutting up with a guy who looks like me, but isn’t me.

Her body is formed to mine and though still unable to do to her what I want to, I crave her. Small kisses I place on her neck and she moans and wiggles. Her ass presses against my dick and I have to pull away as it will be too hard to control myself and if the nurse catches me making love, she’ll have my hide.

Peyton twists in my arms and opens her eyes. “Hi,” she says as she runs her arms around my neck. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you each time I wake up to find you all over me. I thought it might never happen again and I say a silent thank you to God every single time.”

“Do ya?” I kiss the tip of her nose. “So if I’d passed on to the other side, are you sayin’ you’d never love again? Are you tellin’ me, you’d never get over me?”

Her eyes go dark and she moves in close, our bodies only covered in thin hospital gowns as she donned one since I have to wear one. “I will never get over you, Kip. Not ever.”

Her lips touch mine and I harden in an instant. My tongue thrusts through her lips and I wrap her tight in my arms as my dick pulses against her stomach. I pull my mouth away and groan. “Fuck, Peyton! What have you done to me?”

“What have you done to me, is more the question,” she says with a cute little smile.

I shake my head and her lips are too juicy and ripe and press mine to hers again. Fuck what the doctor said. The stitches are secure and I feel almost normal again. My dick certainly does.

The IV is the only thing hampering me, so I pull Peyton on top of me as I kiss her. She moans and grinds against me. “Do you think we can do this?” she asks.

“I’m sure as hell goin’ to try, love. You may have to do most of the work though.”

Her breath is hot on my face. “I can do that.” Her mouth falls on mine as she pushes the hospital gown I’m wearing out of the way and slides her hot cunt over my aching cock without hesitation.

We both groan. She holds me behind my neck and slowly moves her body up and down, stroking me gently. She pulls her mouth from mine and sits up. The hospital gown she wears is covering up her body and I pull at it, taking it off her and revealing her bouncing breasts.

My hands cup them both and I squeeze them as she rides me. “You’re fucking beautiful, baby,” I tell her as I gaze at her body.

Our child plumps her belly and makes her glow. Peyton looks at me with more love than I’ve ever known. “You’re fucking beautiful.”

She moves a little faster, careful not to touch my stitches, either set. The heat inside her makes me crazy for her and I pull her to me so I can place one of those delectable breasts in my mouth.

Just like I remembered. Perfectly juicy. I moan and run my tongue over her nipple. A little bite I give it and she moans as she strokes my hard as nails dick. Her whisper heats my ear. “Do it harder.”

I comply with her request and bite it harder as I run my hands to grab her ass and squeeze both cheeks. She growls and then her strokes get harder and faster. “Fuck me, baby,” I hiss as I start to feel the first sensations of an impending orgasm.

Little whimpers she makes as she bounces up and down on me. My cock starts to twitch and then her body erupts and tightens around me. She moans loudly and I pull her down to me, kissing her hard to stifle the sound she’s making.

My orgasm moves into full mode and I groan as it feels fantastic, but also it hurts. Her weight is suddenly too much and I push her to sit up and take it off me.

My breath comes in short bursts and she looks at me and her eyes widen. “Fuck! Kip, your stitches!”

She jumps off me and runs to the bathroom. She comes back with a small towel and wipes the cum off me, then herself, and throws another small towel over the two small spots on the sides of my stomach. “Shit! Shit! Kip! Damn it, I’m so sorry, baby.”

“Get the nurse, mate. It hurts like hell.”

“God, I’m sorry!” she wails.

My fingers find the button to call the nurse in. The oldest woman I’ve ever seen comes into the dark hospital room. The light comes on and the blood has seeped through the towel.

Her dark eyes move back and forth between Peyton and I. “What did you do?”

Peyton breaks into tears and whimpers, “I just had to feel him.” She runs to the bathroom and locks herself in.

“I had to feel her too,” I confess.

The old nurse comes and pulls back the towel and sees the broken stitches. “I hope it was worth it.”

I laugh then flinch with the pain. “Is it ever not?”

“Jokes huh?” she smirks. “I hope the doc doesn’t even give you a pain killer as he re-stitches you. Kids now days can’t seem to realize this life is nothing but time.”

I find her comment a bit on the sadistic side. “I know it’s been a million years since you were young and in love and maybe even fucked righteously, but believe me when I tell you that it was completely worth it.”

Her yellow eyes stare me down. “I heard you’re having a son in a matter of a few months. You’ll need to leave his mother alone for at least six weeks and maybe more. Tell me, lover boy, will it end like this, with torn stitches?”

I gulp and I think I may be trembling. “Well, of course it won’t end this way.”

“Come out you coward,” she shouts and pounds on the bathroom door.

“Come on, leave her alone and see to me!”

Peyton opens the door. “I’m so sorry.” Water drips down her legs. “My water broke.”

Part Eleven: Fading Star

Peyton

Pink flushes my cheeks as the doctor wags her long, thin finger at Kip and I as we lie in our hospital beds in the room that is now both of ours. I have officially been admitted into the hospital on complete bedrest as my water is leaking slowly.

I thought it was sex that messed up my pregnancy but it wasn’t. The leak was caused by an infection I must’ve contracted from the sheets of the motel I stayed at when I first got to L.A. In a way, it still was having sex that did it. That is where Kip and I made up and got back together. If I had just went to his place the way he wanted me to then I would never have gotten the infection.

Either way, you look at it, I am to blame. The doctor is reading us the riot act on how we must follow all the rules that our doctors lay down. Our beds are close enough that if we both reach out we can hold hands.

Kip reaches out for me, I take his hand and the doctor gives us a frown. “Why can’t you two keep your hands off each other?” She shakes her head and looks at me. “I will have you moved to another room if I have to Peyton.”

My mouth drops open. “For holding hands? Damn, Doctor Love. You certainly don’t stand up to your last name.”

Kip snickers and she turns her narrowed eyes on him. “This is not funny. Your child is in a dire situation. If he’s born right now, his lungs will not be fully developed. Peyton needs to keep that baby inside her for at least another week. Even then the baby could still have major health problems for the rest of his life. Thanks in no small part to you two having to ‘feel’ each other as you so eloquently phrased it.”

Kip lets my hand go and looks down. It pisses me off how she’s trying to make him feel guilty about this. It brings up my ire and I snap, “He’s not the one to blame, it’s my fault. All of this is my fault. I seduced him and that’s why his stitches broke. I have this damn infection because I refused to leave the dirty motel and go home with Kip. Everything is my fault, so leave him alone.”

Dr. Love levels her eyes on me. “Don’t put all the blame on your shoulders, Peyton. Allow Kip to carry half the burden here.”

I shake my head. “No! This is my fault and my burden to bear, not his.”

Kip looks at me and frowns. “Peyton, stop that. I am to blame as well. I should’ve had more sense than to go against the doctor’s orders. And the thing about the baby is just a complication and no one’s fault. The damn, dirty motel is what needs blamed for the current condition of our baby. I’m going to have that place shut down.”

Kip’s mother sweeps into the small hospital room, carrying a teddy bear in her arms. “Good morning, Dr. Love. It’s beautiful out this morning.” She places the bear on the top of the dresser that’s in front of the beds.

Dr. Love smiles at Chloe. “I’ve been inside the hospital since before dawn. I have no idea if the morning is a nice one or not.”

Chloe taps the bear on top of the head. “I brought in a spy to help us keep an eye on these love birds. A nanny cam is inside the bear and the nurses’ station has the monitor.”

Dr. Love claps her hands and turns to us with a broad smile. “Fantastic! That should keep you two in check.”

Kip shakes his head. “That is not necessary. How could you do that, Mum?”

Chloe moves fluidly to Kip’s side and runs her long and elegant hand over his cheek. “I could do that to be sure my babies are all taken care of and doing what they’re supposed to be doing. Your only agenda is to be still and get better. Nothing else.”

It’s official, I truly hate that so many people are up in our sex life!

Kip’s agitated voice draws my attention. “I think I may just move this little party back to my place. I could have a private nurse there to see to us and then everyone can leave us the hell alone!”

Dr. Love changes her tactic quickly. “Now, Kip,” she says with a soothing tone to her voice. “You and Peyton and your baby are much safer here in the hospital. I’ll make sure you’re left alone as much as possible and will let the other doctors know you’re tired of being lectured. But for the baby, if no one else, please stay here.”

Kip reaches back out for my hand and I take it. “Okay then, as long as everyone stops acting as if we are incapable of acting like the responsible adults we both are, we’ll stay. But it stops now! The talking down to us like a couple of stupid teenagers is done!”

Inwardly, I’m smiling, but I don’t let it show on my face. Dr. Love looks properly chastised and offers an apologetic wave as she leaves, turning back to say just before she leaves, “If you have anything you need don’t hesitate to ask.”

Chloe watches the doctor go then turns back to Kip. “Little harsh, son. Don’t you think?”

Kip shakes his head. “No! It was necessary, Mum. You have no idea what we’ve endured. It started with Nurse Ratchet, she gave us what for and I was rather pissed about that as she felt she needed to bitch at us as Peyton stood with water trickling out of her and should’ve been taken care of.”

I take up his rant. “Then the doctor from the emergency room came in to stitch Kip back up and the nurse told on us to him and he told us a bunch of horrifying medical facts about the condition of Kip’s insides. He made us feel like crap. Then Kip’s doctor made a visit, and we got another long lecture and he had visual aids to show us.”

Kip squeezes my hand and adds, “Then that obstetrician, Dr. Love, was assigned to Peyton and she let us have it again. I’m very tired of hearing about it. And you can take that bear and toss it in the rubbish bin. I’m about to go crawl in bed with Peyton and take a nap. Not ravage her, just hold her and sleep.”

“Aw.” I squeeze his hand. “You still want to cuddle with me even though I have on an adult diaper and we both are constricted by our IVs?”

His deep blue eyes go soft as he looks at me. “Yes.”

Chloe drops one side of his bed and helps him to stand up. She lets him hold onto her as he takes the two steps it takes to get to my bed. I pull the blanket back and he slips into my bed.

His mother moves his IV stand and mine so they’re on the same side. I turn on my side and he does too as he spoons me from behind. His presence has me feeling calmer immediately.

I’ve been upset and nervous since the doctor told me I could lose the baby or that he might be born with problems that could last the rest of his life. Now that Kip has me in his arms, I feel like nothing bad can happen.

“I’ll leave you two alone so you can rest. I’ll stop by your place and let Peyton’s family know you’d like to be left alone until, maybe this evening?” she asks.

“This evening will be fine, Mum. Thank you.” Kip’s hand strokes my stomach.

Chloe turns the light off and closes the door behind her. Kip’s lips touch my neck as he whispers, “Sleep, love. When we wake up things will look a little bit brighter.”

How I wish that was true!

Kip

The delightful aroma of fresh coffee wakes me up and I’m happy to find Peyton still nestled in my arms. My pain killer has worn off as it seems we’ve slept all day. Darkness is all I see through the small slats of the mini-blind that covers the window.

“Evening, son,” my father’s voice says softly. “You about ready to wake up?”

I yawn and lift my arm to stretch but am constricted by the lead on my IV. How sick and tired I am of having this damn thing on. How sick and tired I am of being in this damn little hospital room. I turn over and rub my eyes.

Mum and Pop stand just inside the doorway with smiles on their faces. Peyton stirs and groans a little. “I hate this bed.”

I help her turn over. “We slept all day, love. If you can believe that.”

“Barely, this bed is making me crazy,” she says.

“Pop, help me get out of her bed so she can stretch out.”

My father comes, but instead of helping me out, he unlocks the wheels on the bed and rolls us as Mum takes our IV stands and rolls them along with us.

“Wanna tell me where you could possibly be taking us?” I ask as we go out the door and down the hallway.

It’s dimly lit as many of the other guests of this fine facility are still sleeping. The nurses’ station we pass and one young nurse is standing with a coffee pot in her hand. “Good evening, Kip and Peyton. I’ll be in with a coffee for you, Kip and a tea for you, Peyton.” She smiles sweetly at us as we cruise down the hallway.

“What is happening?” Peyton asks.

Mum answers, “It’s a surprise.”

A golden glow is flowing out of one of the doors ahead and remarkably Pop turns us into the room. It’s bathed in the gold light as a bunch of candles are lit in the room. A large bed with a deep blue comforter stands in the middle of the room.

Flowers are everywhere and elements of home are all over. As we’re rolled to the bed I can see in the bathroom and fluffy blue towels hang on the towel rack.

My very first acoustic guitar sits on a stand near the bed and on the other side a laptop computer sits on a nightstand. Mum maneuvers our IV stands around the bed and says, “I heard you loud and clear this morning, son. We had this queen size hospital bed brought in for you two and some things from home.”

Two nurses come in and help me out of the little hospital bed first. “How about a shower?” One asks me with a smile.

“Oh, hell no!” Peyton nearly shouts.

They laugh. “He can take one by himself, don’t worry, Peyton,” the nurse adds.

She removes the lead from my IV, freeing me up and I am more than thankful. “There you go,” the nurse tells me. “You are free to go take a shower. There’s a bottle of a reddish orange solution in the shower and you need to clean your stitches with that. It seems you have a small infection in the incision they made to take out your appendix. We’ll have to keep those extra clean and an antibiotic will be added to your IV when we get you back out here.”

The other nurse goes to the end of the bed, near Peyton’s feet. “We’ll clean her up while you shower. There’s also a set of pajamas in there for you to put on, Kip. I bet you’re ready to get out of the hospital gowns you’ve been stuck in.”

“I am sick to death of them,” I say and hug my mother. “Thank you, Mum.” I kiss her cheek.

“You’re welcome. We’ll be going now. See you two in the morning,” she says then takes my father’s arm and they slip out the door.

Before I go into the bathroom, I drop a kiss on Peyton’s forehead. “Be easy with my girl,” I tell the nurses.

“We will,” the shorter one assures me. “You go take a nice long shower.”

Peyton gives me a smile. “I’ll be here.” She waves at me as I close the door.

Finally, some sense of normalcy.

Peyton

The new room and the larger bed has made Kip and I so much more comfortable. Two days have passed since we moved and I’ve managed to keep the baby where he belongs.

Kip and I have been mulling over names for him and I’m afraid that this poor kid is going to have some weird name as Kip is determined for the name to be something the kid has to grow into.

“I like Napoleon,” Kip says and I roll my eyes. “We can call him Nappy. That’s cute, don’t you think?”

I run my hand over my face and open the laptop his parents got me. “You know what, Kip. I’m naming this one. You can maybe name the next one.”

He shakes his head and picks up his guitar and strums it a bit. “No way! How about I get to pick the first name and you can pick the middle name?”

“Hell, no!” I google baby names. “Look, here are the most popular names.”

“I don’t want to name him a popular name, Peyton.” He strums out a little chord and sings, “Nappy, oh Nappy. Nah, I don’t like that one either. We’ll have to keep thinking on it.”

“Thank God!” I search unpopular names and remarkably something comes up. “Never in a million years did I think I would be searching unpopular baby boy names for my kid. The things you have me doing, Kip!”

He looks over my shoulder and points. “Oh, look at that one, Paxton. I like it.” He strums his guitar and hums a little. “Yeah, I like Pax, Peyton. What do you say? Paxton Reed-Dixon. I like it, don’t you?”

“I do kind of. Are you sure about the hyphenated last name?” I ask as he doesn’t seem the type to like that sort of thing.

“Of course our children will have the hyphenated last name. You’re going to be a best-selling author someday. I’m sure your parents will love to see their surname on the cover of a best-selling novel. The kids will love having their mother’s name as well. Plus, it’s like really cool, you know?”

“So, his middle name is all that’s left to figure out.” I continue to look down the list.

Kip wraps his arm around me. “Let’s use your father’s name as this one’s middle name and the next can have my father’s name as the middle name.”

“The next one?” I ask with sarcasm. “You having that one, Kip?”

“Of course not, don’t be silly. And what do you mean? Are you saying you don’t want any more kids? Because we are definitely having more kids so you’ll just have to get over that.” His arm tightens around my shoulders and he kisses my cheek.

“There’s the bossy man I fell in love with.” I laugh and the door opens and in walks Kips entire band and his manager, Silas.

“Well, hello there, blokes,” Kip says with a smile. “Finally decided to visit, huh?”

Bobby nods. “I was here the first day then went to San Francisco to visit my parents. But we’re all back in town and decided to come see you. That’s a pretty cozy set-up you have there.” He gestures to the large bed. “Can’t say I’ve seen a hospital bed that big before.”

“Mum found it.” Kip lets me go and sets his guitar back on the stand.

Silas steps forward. “So, Kip, when are you going to be able to get back to work? Not that I’m rushing you, but I would like an idea.”

Kip looks down and takes in a deep breath then looks up. “Silas, I’m not renewing my contract. I’m done. I may do a solo thing, but then I may not. I’m going to focus on my family for now.”

Silas looks shocked and Bobby looks pissed. His face goes red as he shouts, “What the fuck, Kip?”

Silas takes Bobby by the arm. “No reason to get loud, Bobby. Now, Kip, you can do both, be in the band and take care of your family as well.”

“I don’t want to though. It was fun, but I want to go in a different direction with my life. The fast pace I want to slow down. I want to make the kind of music I like for a change.” He shifts his weight and I can feel the tension in his body.

“And what about us, mate?” Troy asks. “The band can’t go on without you.”

“Well, just find another singer, or better yet, let Bobby sing. He’s great,” Kip offers.

“And what are we to call ourselves, Kip?” James asks.

“Come up with something,” Kip says and runs his arm back around my shoulders. I lean into him and feel his heart pounding in his chest. He obviously has been dreading telling them his decision.

Bobby points right at me. “Yoko, are you behind this?”

“Don’t,” Kip says as he levels his eyes on Bobby’s. “I hadn’t even told her I was quitting. She had nothing to do with my decision.”

Bobby frowns. “Sure she didn’t. You know ever since you met this chic you’ve been off. I mean look at you. Shit, you have to be next to her all the damn time. You’re too dependent on her.”

“Bobby, you just don’t get it, I love her. She and I are having a baby. Of course I’m dependent on her and she is on me as well. It’s what happens when two people fall in love.” Kip kisses my cheek and I blush.

“Kip, you don’t have to quit the band,” I say and look him in the eye. “If you’re doing it for me or the baby, please don’t.”

“I’m doing it because that’s what I want to do. It is true that the main reasons are you and the baby, but it’s also because I want to make the music I want to. I’m tired of singing someone else’s songs.” He looks at Silas. “So, I’m out.”

Silas throws his arms up. “Well then I have to move on too.” He looks at the rest of the band. “I won’t be renewing any of your contracts then. I can’t waste my time trying to get gigs for a band that’s missing the lead man.”

Bobby goes a deeper red. “Look what you’re doing, Kip! You’re cutting our throats! All over, Yoko.”

“Stop!” Kip shouts. “Don’t say another word, Bobby. It’s not my purpose in life to keep you three employed. You can go start your own thing. It’s not like you don’t have the same connections I do.”

“We’re out a manager now, thanks to you,” Bobby shouts. “We’ll have to start completely over. Do you know how hard it is for a band to start over without the lead man? Your name is what draws the crowds.”

“Sorry,” Kips says, quietly. “I’ll do what I can to help you guys, but I have to do this.”

Bobby takes three quick steps and is in my face before I know it. His finger in my face, he says, “This is all your fault.”

I know it is. No matter what Kip says. If it wasn’t for me, he would not be quitting the band. “I’m sorry,” I whisper.

A pain starts in my back and radiates around my sides and then my entire stomach feels tight. Kip pushes Bobby’s shoulder. “Leave now!”

Bobby turns and walks towards the door, the others follow him. Every one of them mad and not one tells Kip anything.

I am just like Yoko Ono, I’ve broken them up. They will never forgive Kip for doing this to them. This is all my fault. I should have left Kip alone to be the rock star he was. He could still be if I left him. Lots of people raise their kid with no father, I could do that. I should do that, so Kip can have his life back.

I hold my stomach as another pain hits me hard. “Kip, hit the button to call the nurse. Something’s wrong.”

His eyes go wide and he pushes the button. “What is it, Peyton?”

“My back is where it starts and moves around to my stomach. It feels like I’m being squeezed,” I tell him.

The nurse comes in, her smile fades as she looks at me. “Peyton, you’re very pale.” She comes to the side of the bed and puts the blood pressure cuff on me. “Are you in pain?”

I nod and feel like I might be sick. I’m ruining Kip’s life. He had a magnificent life, and he added me and I ruined it. I bend over at my waist as another pain hits me.

“I’m calling your doctor, Peyton.” The nurse says as she rushes out of the room.

Kip holds me in his strong arms. “Calm down, baby. I can see you beating yourself up over what just happened. Stop that. It’s not your fault and I can see you blaming yourself. Calm down and think about something else. I know, let’s talk about your next book. I think a sequel to your first one. Everyone lives happily ever after in the next one. No ups and downs, only ups.”

The adult diaper I have on gets soaked in a second and I know what’s left of my water just came out. I grab Kips’ hand. “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry.” The tears swamp over and I’m crying.

He pulls me against his chest. “Shh. It’s going to be okay. You don’t need to cry, baby.”

The door opens, and the nurse comes back in followed by my doctor. “What do we have here?” Dr. Love asks.

“My water finished breaking,” I say through sobs.

“I need you to calm down, Peyton,” she says in a soft voice, but I can’t seem to. She turns to the nurse. “Go ahead and give her some morphine.”

Kip sits up. “No! I don’t want the baby all drugged up. I’ll calm her down. You do what you need to.” Kip’s hand touches my chin, and he takes a tissue and wipes my tears. “You have to stop this.”

His eyes look deep into mine and he strokes my shoulders. Lightly, he massages them as he continues to look into my eyes. I blink and take in a deep breath. “Kip, I can’t.”

One finger touches my lips. “You can. Look at me, baby.”

As I look into his eyes, I can see something in them that connects me to him. Eerily, I calm down. I sniffle and he holds a tissue up to my nose. I blow it and he smiles. “Thank you, Kip.”

“That’s what I’m here for, love.”

My side of the bed is laid back and the doctor checks me out and her frown tells me what I pretty much already knew. “You’re in labor, Peyton.”

I nod. “It hasn’t been a whole week. What are his chances?”

She pats my legs and smiles weakly. “Let’s not get into that. The pediatrician will have to tell us that once the baby’s born. Did you two ever agree on a name?”

Kip jumps in. “Paxton David Reed-Dixon.”

“Cute name,” she says and jots something down on my chart. “Okay, well, we have to move you up to labor and delivery. Kip, you’ll be brought some scrubs to put on. We’ll all have to be sterile since the baby is premature and we can’t take any risks.”

A male orderly comes in with a wheelchair. I suppose since the process has begun and can’t be held back anymore that I’m a little more free to move around. “Here we go,” the man says with a smile.

I climb out of bed. A thing I haven’t been allowed to do for nearly a week. My legs are a little wobbly as I get up and the doctor and orderly quickly help me so I don’t fall.

“When can I go?” Kip asks as he watches me.

The doctor turns back. “An orderly will come and bring your scrubs and once you change, he’ll wheel you up to labor and delivery. See you up there, Kip.”

I look over my shoulder at him and smile. “See you soon, Daddy.”

He smiles and waves, but I can see the worry in his eyes. “I’ll be right there as soon as I can, love. Remember to be calm.”

I nod and they take me out of the room. My hands are in my lap and I notice they’re shaking. They better hurry up and bring Kip up to me. It seems I need him like I never have before.

Kip

Out of the elevator we go. The orderly pushes me down the long hallway. We come to the door of the labor and delivery room Peyton is in at the same time that a slurry of scrub clad people flood into it before we have a chance to.

The orderly pushing me waits a second and the last person to go into the room turns to us. “I’m going to have to ask you to wait here.”

“But I’m the father. I want to be there,” I say and am left speechless as the door is shut and I’m left not knowing what’s happening. I look up at the orderly. “Can you please find out what’s happened?”

He shakes his head. “I’m afraid I’m in the same boat you are. If they say wait here, then I have to wait too. I’m not sterile. Most likely the baby has been born already. That’s usually the case if they don’t want anyone else coming in the room who isn’t essential.”

I listen hard to hear the cries of the baby and none come. My heart is barely beating as I wait. “He’s alive thought, right?” I ask.

“I would suppose so,” the orderly tells me. “It wouldn’t make a lot of sense to send in a team for a baby who wasn’t.”

With a nod, I swallow hard as I find a knot has formed in my throat. “I really wish I could go in there. Peyton must be a mess.”

The orderly smiles, “I have to tell you that the two of you are the talk of the hospital. It’s like you were made for one another. I have a good feeling about this. I think things will all work out.”

“I wish I had that feeling. I just have a ton of fear.” My hands I fold over the other in an attempt to steady the shaking.

The door opens and I jerk my head up to find Peyton’s doctor. “Kip! Good, you’re here. There about to take the baby to the neonatal intensive care unit. He’s a nice three pounds which is more than we thought he would weigh. He is needing help to breathe, but he can breathe on his own some.”

“His chances of survival?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “I’m no pediatrician, Kip. I can’t tell you that. I can tell you that Peyton is doing well. She’s stopped crying and had no need for stitches as there was no reason to perform an episiotomy.”

“She’s stopped crying?” I ask. “So, she was crying?”

“Well, yeah. She kind of freaked that you weren’t going to be there to see the baby be born. He was crowned when we got up here and the little thing slipped right on out once we had her laid back out. You can go in and see her as soon as they move the baby.” She takes a step back as the door opens.

In a closed, clear little incubator, my son is wheeled out of the delivery room. They stop just for a second to let me see him. I stand up and press my hand to the side. I wish I could touch him, but I assume that will be some time away.

“Hi, buddy,” I whisper. “You stay with us and get strong you hear me?”

“We’ll be getting you to the NICU in a few hours, sir. We like our parents to spend as much time as possible with the newborns,” the pediatrician tells me.

I give him a nod and they hurry off with him. Dr. Love takes my arm and looks at the orderly. “Let’s get him in there, shall we?”

I sit back down in the wheelchair as I feel weak as a kitten after seeing my baby like that. He resembles his mother and myself with all the lines running into his body.

Peyton turns her head to look at me as they take me in. “Did you see him?”

“I did. A little cutie don’t you think?” I say with a grin.

“He’s kind of wrinkly, and on the red side, but yeah, he’s a cutie. What do you think about him?” she asks as she moves the top of her bed up a little.

“I think he’ll be just fine. I have faith.” I take her hand in mine as they put me right up next to her.

“We’ll have you back in your room soon,” Dr. Love tells us. “After tomorrow you both will be released and you can finally go home. As long as things continue to improve.”

My heart lurches as I think about how long I’ve wanted to go back home. But it was supposed to be a good thing. Leaving my son in here is not a thing I planned on or ever wanted.

“I’m sorry, Kip,” Peyton says and I can see the glimmer of tears starting up again.

“No! You are not to act like this is anything you had any control over. We have to be strong for him now. All that weakness you’ve been feeling while you try to blame yourself has to be stopped. No more of it. Do you understand me?” I ask with the sternest face I can muster.

Peyton swallows and takes in a deep breath. “Okay, Kip. Thanks for reminding me what I need to keep my mind on.”

Keeping us both strong is all I can think about right now as my own mind seems to be on the edge.

What will we do if he doesn’t make it?

Peyton

Two weeks have past and Christmas is near. My family had to go back to Texas since they had stayed as long as they could away from their jobs. Today Max and Lexi and their children are coming.

I haven’t formally met them yet. Kip has told me stories about them though and I feel like I know them already. Their twins were born early and Kip thinks they might be able to help us feel better about Paxton.

Since he’s been born, he’s gained a pound and doesn’t have to have a breathing tube anymore. He still has one IV in and sleeps most of the time. He’s eating on his own though and soon they’ll let me feed him straight from the old breast.

I can’t believe how excited I am to get to do that. It’s not something I ever thought about doing before. Kip and I have been reading everything we can get our hands on to take the best care of our little preemie we possibly can.

Our little boy has blue eyes like his daddy’s. They tell us they could change later, but I hope he keeps them. His little head is the size of a small apple and every once in a while, he makes a little cooing sound.

Kip has gone to the airport to pick up his friends. I waited here as there are five of them, three in car seats.

My phone rings and I see it’s the young woman from the airport, Rachelle. I talked to her once after we met, but it’s been a while. “Hi there,” I answer.

“Hi, Peyton. How are you doing?” she asks.

“I’m good and you?”

“Good too. I’m going to the hospital tomorrow to visit a friend and thought maybe I’d go at the same time you’d be there seeing your little boy. I can’t wait to meet him,” she says.

“That would be great. I’m going up there about nine in the morning. I’d love to see you again.”

“Good. So everything is going good with the baby, no complications?” she asks.

“He is making steady progress so far. Once he reaches five pounds, we can bring him home. I have to admit though, I am terrified of taking care of him on my own. Some friends of Kips are coming to stay the week with us and they have a baby I’m going to practice on,” I say with a laugh. “You know what, you should come on Christmas Eve. We’re having a party and I’d love you to be here.”

“Then I certainly will be,” she says. “So, I’ll meet up with you tomorrow morning. I’m super glad you and Kip made it all work out.”

“Yeah, me too. He’s pretty awesome. He brings me something every single day. Flowers, jewelry, books, he’s a sweetheart. I think he’s going to be an awesome dad too.”

“That’s great. I’m happy for you guys. I’ll see you tomorrow then, bye.”

As I end the call I can hear noise coming from the garage and go out to find Kip has pulled in and people are spilling out of his truck.

“Here she is,” Kip says as he holds out his arm, gesturing to me. “My baby momma.”

I roll my eyes at his little joke and bat at his shoulder as I approach him. “Stop that. How was the trip?” I ask the pretty blonde lady, who must be Lexi, as she unstraps a wiggly little boy from his car seat.

“Almost bearable,” she says as she places the three year old who must be Zane on the floor. “I have never been happier to have a private jet. The baby cried for the first forty-five minutes and Zoey threw up. She’d found a bag of candy from Halloween and had hidden it in her little backpack. The stinker was secretly eating it and then her tummy started to hurt and Kablooey! She puked all over the seat.”

I extend my hand. “Peyton, nice to meet you, Lexi.”

She looks at my hand and pushes it aside and gives me a hug. “Come on now, girl. We’re from Texas, we hug.”

I laugh and hug her back. “Wasn’t sure if you were as Texan as I am.”

“One hundred percent,” she says with a laugh.

On the other side of the truck her husband, Max, lets the little boy’s twin sister, Lexi, down and she runs straight to Kip. “Hunky Kip, pick me up.” Her little arms are open wide and her smile matches.

Kip picks her up, and she runs her arms around his neck and buries her face in it. “Did you eat a bunch of candy, you naughty girl?” he asks her.

“Uh huh and I got sick and barfed it all up too. I won’t do that again,” she says.

Lexi gestures to the tall, well built, and very handsome dark haired man who stands up, holding the five-month-old, Zakk. I smile and say, “There’s my baby.”

Lexi laughs. “That’s my hubby, Max, holding your training baby.”

I walk up to him and hold my arms out. “May I?”

Max smiles at me. “Ready to get right to it, huh?”

I nod and the little boy comes right to me and pulls on a piece of my hair, putting it right into his mouth. I pull it away from his little fist, gently and turn to go back into the house. “Who’s a cute baby?” I ask him as if he’s going to tell me.

I hear Lexi from behind me. “She is great, Kip.”

Kip chuckles. “I know.”

I think we will all get along just fine!

Kip

A silver glow surrounds Peyton as she pounds away at her laptop. We’re in bed and she’s working on her next novel. This one is about Lexi and Max’s love story. She found all their trials and tribulations fascinating and immediately asked for their permission to make a fictitious tale out of it.

They’ve been here three days and tomorrow is our big Christmas Eve party. I have the twins’ ponies hidden in a barn at the very back of the property and I’m going to have Santa deliver the adorable things to the twins tomorrow night. There are sure to be squeals of delight.

Peyton stops for a second and looks at me. “Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. They let me feed Pax on my very own today.”

“I wanted to be there for that,” I say a bit disappointed. “Why didn’t you call me? I would’ve dropped everything and came.”

She gives me a frown. “He was hungry right that very minute. He isn’t like a grown up that you can tell to wait. He was wailing like a banshee. Anyway, it was nice.”

I run my hand over her very large breast. “So, it’s official. I have to give them up and let him have them.”

“Yep. Sorry.” She leans over and puts her lips to mine. My body heats in an instant and I have to push her gently back.

“You are off limits for another three weeks, three days, and four hours.”

Her smile makes me smile even though I am a bit frustrated. “You have it down to the hour, how sweet.”

“I do and you might want to mark the calendar. That’s a Tuesday, January the fourteenth and I’ll be bothering you at approximately three in the morning.” I run my fingers over her delicate collar bone and conjure up the picture I have of her in my mind.

Draped in white lace, she’ll be lying on our bed, waiting for me to make her mine all over again. Only at that time, she’ll be my wife. I have a secret plan to marry her on that day at midnight.

Everyone will be here. We got our marriage license last week and I’ve been putting her off on picking a day or a venue. She thinks I’m having cold feet and not pushing me about it.

Our wedding rings are ready at the jewelry store and I’ll pick them up that day, but in secret. Our parents will be here to take care of the baby for the night, so we’ll have all the time we need to get to know one another intimately again.

I foresee an all-nighter, and perhaps into the morning, since we can’t begin until three in the morning after all.

She snaps the computer shut and snuggles down in the bed. “If Max and Lexi can make it through all the things they did, and the twins made it through being born early, then Pax will make it too. I just know it. I just know the bad times are behind us, Kip.”

As much as I love optimism, I don’t like tempting fate. “Sure, it’ll be good.” I lie back and turn over, away from her. I have a hard time cuddling her without wanting to take her.

She sighs and turns away too. I suppose she has the same problem I do. I can’t wait to be able to touch her again. It seems like forever and this living almost like siblings is awful.

Peyton

Since we’ve been home, and the baby is no longer inside me, it seems Kip wants little to do with me. I mean he’s nice and helpful, but he never wants to kiss. He hugs me every now and then, but it feels like a platonic hug and always he’s quick to let me go.

I have to wonder if he’s blaming me for the baby being born early and his band mates hating his guts. Bobby went on one of those celebrity shows and spilled the beans about the band breaking up and raked Kip over the coals. Oh, and me too. He never said my real name, only calling me Yoko. He was a real ass and I wish like hell he would stop being like that.

He and Kip were friends since they were in seventh grade. He’s just being selfish and acting as if it’s all my fault. The hard part is I agree with him. That makes me even madder. I hate it when pig-headed men are right.

Kip would be thinking of nothing but strutting his stuff all over the stage if it wasn’t for me. He acts like that isn’t the case but it is. I catch him messing with his guitar and writing little songs all the time, so I know the bug is still in his brain to make music.

Rachelle and I had lunch after I introduced her to my little man, Paxxie. Kip hates that I call him that. He says it sounds like a girl’s name. But I can’t help it. It just comes out of me. I call Lexi and Max’s baby, Zakk, Zakkie, all the time. It must be one of those idiosyncrasies that I have.

We ate in one of the little cafes in the hospital and she left. I’m on my way back up to make one more check on my little man before I go back home. As I step off the elevator, I nearly run into Bobby.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I ask as I have no idea why the man would be on the pediatric floor.

“Nothing,” he says as he brushes past me and onto the elevator.

I spin around and step back inside it just before the doors close. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you,” I say.

“Shit!” he says as he looks away. “I bet you want to jump my ass about the talk shows. They invited Kip to come on them too. He had every opportunity to defend himself. He decided not to. I assume so he could stay up your ass.”

I gesture around me. “If he’s so up my ass, where is he now, Bobby?”

He looks a little confused. “Where is he?”

“He’s at home with our guests, his friends from Houston. And can I ask why you’re here?” I level my eyes on his.

Moving his weight to the other foot and crossing his arms he says, “I check in on the baby at least once a day, if you must know.”

My eyebrows raise. “Wow! No one has told us about that.”

He grins. “I have a certain young nurse I exchange pleasures with and she allows me to see Pax. I care about the kid.”

“Have you held him?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “I would never go that far. I’ve looked at him and talked to him and been updated on his progress.” His eyes light up. “I heard you got to feed him, like for real feed him. That’s great.”

I stop the elevator and push the button to go back up to the pediatric ward. “How about you come with me up to see him and you can hold him. I’m sure he’d like that.”

“Really?” he asks as he shifts his weight back and forth. “You have to hate me.”

“I hate no one. Well, that’s not true. I hate the person who invented Dr. Pepper. That shit is addictive and they should put a warning label on it. But other than that, I hate no one.” The doors open and I take him by the hand.

“Yoko, are you sure?” he asks.

“I am.” I tug him along with me and the young hot nurse he apparently is trading pleasure with sees us and her eyes fly open and she looks like she’s about to pass out as she goes pale.

I open the door and smile at her. “Hi, Effie. Bobby told me everything and don’t worry, I’m not mad. I’m glad you let him in on Pax’s condition. And I’d like you to pull Pax out of his bubble and let Bobby hold the little monster who will be tormenting his Uncle Bobby in just a few years.”

She blinks and looks back and forth between us. She finally shakes her head and takes Bobby’s hand and leads him to the rocking chair next to Pax’s incubator.

I stand back and let Bobby have his moment with his best friend’s baby. He looks at tiny, sleeping Pax as Effie places him into his arms. “Hi there, buddy,” he whispers.

Tears well up and I immediately wipe them away and stop. I want to see this. Bobby coos and Pax takes his finger and wraps his tiny hand around it. Bobby looks up at me. “I think he likes me.”

“What’s not to like. You’re great. Pig-headed and can’t see what the future could hold for you, but great.” I move closer and put my hand on his shoulder and look down at my little guy. “You know, I think Silas is the problem. Kip wants to make his own songs, and he’s working on that a lot. Are you only a rock kind of guy or are you up for other types of music?”

He looks up to me and smirks. “Girl, I can play anything. I know Kip’s not a fan of what we have to play, but it pays well.”

“There is more than one way to make money from music. Tours don’t have to happen and people can make money off what they like. If they have the talent to get it out there.” I stroke Pax’s little head, and he lifts one shoulder as I do. “Come to our Christmas party tomorrow night. It starts at eight.”

I cut my eyes to Effie who seems to be hovering near us. “Wear red, all the women are.”

She smiles. “Really?” Her eyes go to Bobby. “Oh, sorry. You might not want to take me.”

I pat Bobby on the shoulder. “Nonsense, he’d love to take you to our party. Wouldn’t you, stud?”

A smile he gives me and then he looks at Effie. “It would be an honor to take you, Ef.”

She giggles and claps her hands. “OMG! Yes, I’d love to go!”

I look at Bobby. “This will be our little surprise to your best mate, okay?”

He nods and looks back down at Pax. “You know what, Yoko? You aren’t half bad. I can kind of see why my mate has a crush on you.”

“And I can kind of see why he has a crush on you too.”

Kip

The day of the big party has arrived and I watch my girl come down the stairs in a flowing, red, lacey gown. Her blonde hair has been highlighted and curled. Her make-up has been done by an expert and she looks like a movie star.

I give a wolf-whistle as she comes to me. “Where did my country mouse slip off to and who are you?” Her hand goes right into mine and I fold my arms around her as I take her into my arms. A kiss on the tip of her nose I leave. “You are gorgeous, baby.”

“Thanks, you are too,” she says just before she puts her lips on mine.

Our guests await and I couldn’t take her back upstairs to our bedroom if I wanted to. I sigh and pull my mouth from hers. “We better see to our guests.”

She nods and smiles. Her arm loops through mine as we make our way to the room she calls the Christmas tree room as its huge and the Christmas tree is at its center. “This is so grand and auspicious,” she says as we enter the room.

I chuckle and kiss her cheek. “It is, isn’t it?”

Everyone is here. Both our families and Max’s family. His house manager, Hilda, even flew up. She taught the cook that we hired how to make some of her famous Mexican food and I fear obesity may be in our future as her food is so good it’s hard to stop eating it.

Stepping from behind the tall and full Christmas tree as we walk in is Bobby and I nearly slip as I stop so quickly. “Hi,” I say and look at him as he’s dressed in a nice black suit and I barely recognize him as he’s had a haircut and shave.

“Hi,” he says. “Hey, sorry, okay?”

I smile and nod. “Okay.”

Peyton pulls away from me a bit. She gives me a slight shove. “Hug the man, babe.”

I open my arms and so does Bobby and we hug. I clap my hand on his back and he does mine the same way. “I missed you bro,” he mutters.

“Missed you too,” I say. “Glad to have you back.”

I notice a timid young, dark haired woman with very pretty skin standing back. She wears a lovely red dress and I narrow my eyes then recognize her as one of our son’s nurses. “Effie?”

She waves her small hand at me. “Hi, Kip.”

I look at Bobby and lean in close so she can’t hear me. “How’d ya find her, mate?”

A sheepish grin he wears as he answers, “Visiting your son, mate. She’s cute, huh?”

“Visiting my son?” I ask, completely confused.

Peyton takes my arm. “I’ll explain everything later. We have other guests. And Santa is on his way from what I’ve heard.”

Peyton

Stars fill the night sky as Zane and Zoey ride their ponies in the front of the mansion. The night is chilly so Lexi and Max tug the kids off their new favorite things in the whole world and we all retreat inside to get some hot chocolate and wind the Christmas Eve party down.

Bobby and Effie have vanished it seems. I hope that rock star isn’t in our bedroom, the horn dog. He and Kip made up and agreed to work on music together, leaving Silas and touring behind them. They plan on inviting the rest of the band to join them and they’ll keep the Kip Dixon as the band name.

We go back to the Christmas tree room as I have named it. In a circle we sit around the huge tree, decorated with red and green ornaments. My entire family, Kip’s family, even his half-brother, Dalton, and his sisters, and mother came. Our friends Rachelle and the Lane’s. Everyone, except Effie and Bobby hold hands as we sing Silent Night.

Kip looks into my eyes as we sing the Christmas carol and his sweet smile makes me smile. I look away at our huge family and my heart fills with emotion.

Never did I know I could be filled with this much love and happiness. Of course the only thing that is missing is our baby, but next Christmas he’ll be here and we’ll make that one special for the little man.

I turn and look back at Kip and see the rest of my life in him. If it wasn’t for his tenaciousness I would be back in Texas, alone with my parents, most likely in bed by this time.

Kip has brought colors to my life I never knew existed. He’s the brightest star in my sky and I pray we have a long and happy life together, building our family.

The song ends and everyone claps. The sound of heels clicking over the marble floor comes from behind us and Kip and I both turn to see Bobby and Effie, a white bundle in her arms.

My heart stops and Kip jumps up, pulling me with him. “Who do we have here?” he asks as we go towards them.

“Is that?” I ask and have to stop as tears flood my eyes and my words are stopped by a huge knot in my throat.

Effie nods. “Surprise and Merry Christmas. Paxton David Reed-Dixon has officially been released, and he’s home now.”

I’m shaking and Kip pulls me into his strong arms. “You okay, Momma?”

Everyone laughs and I shake my head. “No, I’m beyond happy and my body doesn’t know how to react to that.” I laugh and wipe my tears away.

Effie smiles as Bobby has his arm wrapped around her narrow shoulders. “You want to take him?”

I press my hand to Kip’s chest. “You hold him, I’m too emotional right now.”

Kip kisses the top of my head. “I got this, love.”

He lets me go and takes our tiny son in a bundle of white and takes my hand in his and leads me to sit with him on a red sofa. I gaze at my little sleeping man as lights flash.

I look up to see everyone with their cell phones taking pictures of us and sniffle and wipe my eyes again. “You guys are terrible. I’m a mess.”

Kip touches my chin, his thumb brushes away an errant tear I missed. “You are not a mess. You look beautiful, let them take all the pictures they want. I want to be able to look back and remember this very moment. The moment you and I got to have our first born at home.”

His blue eyes hold mine and he slowly leans in. His lips touch mine and warmth spreads through me. I feel complete, like never before. Our son is home and we can start life as a real family on this early Christmas morning and I have never been happier.

Kip

A tiny cry I hear and wake up to find Peyton holding little Pax and trying to get him to breast feed. “Is he giving you trouble, love?”

“He seems to have an aversion to my breast.” She continues to try to get the infant to latch onto her large breast.

“Are you sure that he’s my son?” I ask as I sit up next to her in our bed and run one arm around her and one under our baby. “Here, let me show him what he’s missing.”

Peyton giggles. “Okay, Kip. Show him how it’s done.”

I take her breast and rub her supple nipple over his lips and sure enough he turns to it and latches on immediately. “There, see. I think you were doing it too hard or something. Just tease him with it, make him want it. You know, like any other male in the world.”

She presses her sweet lips to my scruffy cheek. “Thank you, Kip. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

Running my hand through her tangled hair I say, “You never have to do without me. We’re a team, you and I. We’ll do it all together.”

She sighs and leans back against my chest. I look over her shoulder and watch our baby eat. So much love moves through me. I had no idea I could ever feel this much. They never tell you that. No one ever tells you that you will grow what feels like a whole new part of your heart.

I can’t see how couples break up after having a child together. I can’t see ever walking away from her or letting her walk away from me. Not in a million years would I allow that to happen.

Peyton switches the baby to her other breast, and he squirms and goes all red faced as he’s about to cry in protest, then she rubs her nipple over his little lips and he latches back on. All the redness that had crept into his face immediately vanishes and he suckles contently.

“There you go, buddy. She wasn’t cutting you off.”

Peyton giggles and looks at me. “I think that’s exactly what he thought. You must have a mental connection with him already. You’ll be a great father, Kip.”

“And you’ll be a great mother, Peyton.”

I take her lips with mine only for a moment as the touch of them like that makes me ache for her. We have a little over two weeks before that can happen. The plan to surprise her is still in the works.

Everything has finally fallen into place. All that’s left to do is marry my son’s mother, the love of my life.

Part Twelve: Star Bright

Peyton

Lightning flashes across the night sky as I stare out the window. Pax fell asleep a little while ago and Kip is nowhere to be found even though it’s nearly midnight. He’s been so secretive this last week and I have to admit I’m beginning to get freaked out.

He’s left our bed for several hours each night. I suppose he thinks I’ve slept right through his absence each time, but I haven’t. A silent return he makes and I wake in the early morning to find him back in our bed.

A cold tension has begun to build between us. He’s never given me any reason not to trust him, but this sneaking thing is beginning to make me lose trust none the less.

The bedroom window looks out the back of the mansion. I watch a storm roll in as anxiety fills me. Tonight, I’ll wait up until he comes back. I’m not big on confrontation, but I have to do this.

If he’s cheating on me, I’ll try hard not to kill him, but it’ll be hard!

It’s been so long since I was able to give him what a man needs, but damn it, it’s because of his kid!

I don’t see how I can marry him, even though we got our marriage license about a month ago, if he can’t wait the amount of time it takes to recover from having a baby. It’s been hard on me too, but I guess he doesn’t care about that.

Anger takes over and leaves the anxiety behind as I start to pace the room. I walk past the bed and look at it. It’s a giant bed, and he stays well away from me on it as we sleep.

No sweet embrace do I wake up in. No soft touches in the night. No, all I get is space. All the space I want and more. But the problem is I don’t want space.

I love waking up and finding him wrapped around me. It’s been forever since I felt that and it’s killing me.

There’s been no reason to discuss it, since I couldn’t give him what he wanted anyway. But the fact is I’m open for business, so to speak. Today is the last day of my recovery period and the doc okayed me for physical activity, sex included.

Where is my partner? Who the hell knows!

All I know is when he comes through that door I’m going to have to fight myself not to choke him. Footsteps I hear coming down the hall. I cross my arms over my chest and move to right in front of the door.

Kip’s going to know the jig is up as soon as he opens the door, the rat-bastard!

Kip

I have our parents downstairs. The justice of the peace has just arrived and now I’m on my way to surprise my love.

I fish around in my pocket and pull the wedding rings I picked up earlier today out. The platinum bands she and I picked out are perfect and I can’t wait to see it on her lovely, little finger.

Pausing in front of our bedroom door, I take in a deep breath. I’ll wake her with a kiss and ask her to marry me.

The room is dark as I open the door. “Whoa!” She’s standing right in front of me. “What are you doing awake, love?”

“Waiting for your ass to come back home!” She’s glaring so hard at me it’s almost as if I can feel the daggers stabbing me. “Where the hell have you been going every night for the last week, Kip?”

“Did you think?” I laugh and stop as she looks like she may find something and hit me with it. “Sorry, baby. I was setting things up. Getting things ready.”

I drop down to one knee in front of her and reach up for her hand. “What are you doing?” she shrieks. “You already asked me to marry you and I said yes. Or have you forgot that?”

With a smile, I pull at her left hand. “I know that, love. I have another question similar to that one. I thought it appropriate to get on one knee for this one as well.”

Her eyes finally settle into merely pissed off instead of death mode. “What are you talking about?”

“Peyton Gail Reed, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife this morning?” I ask and wait as the words sink into her brain.

“Tonight?” she asks, instead of just saying yes with her eyes filled with tears the way I envisioned she would. “How?”

“Is that a yes, love?” I chuckle.

“Answer me first, Kip.” She taps her foot and I find her adorable.

“I have a man waiting downstairs to marry us. Our parents are here to see to the baby. I want you to be my wife before I make love to you like I’ve longed to do since we came back from the hospital.”

There the tears are and she falls to her knees in front of me. Her arms go around my neck and she cries. “I’m so sorry! I thought you were cheating on me! I thought you were sneaking out to have sex with someone else.”

Running my hands over the silk of her nightgown, I whisper, “Is that a yes?”

She pulls back and wipes her tears with the back of her hand. A long sniffle she makes. “Yes! A thousand times, yes! I’ll marry you, Kip Dixon!”

Cupping the back of her neck, I pull her to me. Our lips touch and fire rips through me. In just a little while I’ll be able to feel her skin on mine and everything will be right in the world again.

I stand up and pick her up into my arms. Placing her on the bed, I say, “Wait right here. I bought you a dress, and it’s in the closet.”

Going to the closet I pull a box out from the top and take it to her. I watch her open it and her eyes light up. She pulls the white, flowing, Vera Wang wedding dress out that I had made special for her.

“You’ve got to be kidding me, Kip! It’s gorgeous. How did you manage to get this without me knowing?” The way her eyes sparkle fills my heart.

“That’s what I was doing in the middle of the night this whole last week. Getting things, making plans, making reservations. I wanted it to be perfect and you not to have to lift a finger.” My fingers run through her hair. “Your stylist is waiting for you across the hall in the other room to get you all dolled up and ready to meet me downstairs.”

“Kip,” her voice shakes. “I’m sorry for all the bad stuff I was thinking about you. I’m an idiot.”

“I forgive you, love.” I run my hand over her sweet, little head. “Now, go get ready and your father will come up and get you and bring you down to me once you're through. I can’t wait to make you my wife and whisk you away for the next two days to a private island in the Bahamas.”

“What?” she asks as her eyebrows go up. “The baby! I don’t think it’s a good idea to leave….”

I press my finger to her lips. “Peyton, he’ll be fine for two days. Our parents are all going to be here to take care of him. Sure, he’ll be spoiled rotten when we get back, but that’s okay.”

“But, I’m breast feeding…” she moans as she looks at the dress again.

“I talked to the pediatrician and he’ll be just fine on his formula alone for a couple of days. Just relax and go get ready.” I pull her up and walk her across the hallway.

I leave a kiss on the top of her head before I turn back to get ready myself. “By the way, Peyton, I love you.”

“I love you, you sneaky man,” she says just before she disappears into the room.

Finally, she’s going to be my wife!

Peyton

At nearly two in the morning on Tuesday, January fourteenth, I’m walking with my father down the staircase to marry my one, true love. My heart is pounding and I’m shaking as we go towards my future.

“It’s funny how you two started out going to get married almost a year ago and we all thought it was way too sudden,” Dad says as we walk to the wedding march.

“Then one kid and months later, we finally are,” I say.

“You look happier than I can ever remember you being.” Dad gives me a pat on the back of the hand he’s holding. “I think you two will make a pretty great family, Peyton.”

The water works begin and Dad hands me a handkerchief he pulled from his pocket. “Thanks, Dad.”

“You're welcome, honey.”

We take the last stair and I look up to find a man holding a Bible. Kip stands in front of him and looks at me. Mom and Chloe stand together on one side and Sebastien holds our baby, Paxton, near Kip.

I smile as I realize Kip and Paxton have on matching black suits. Kip really put in the work for this wedding. His smile is made more brilliant by all the candles lighting up the room.

Pax coos at me as I walk by him. I reach out and run a hand over his little, blonde curls. My father places my hand in Kip’s and more tears flow over my cheeks.

He’s all I can see. Kip smiles making my knees weak. He pulls me around to look at the man who’s about to say the words which will make us one.

My heart’s pounding so hard I can barely hear the words the man’s saying. A little something about how life will be different now I think I catch, but mostly I just look at Kip and my mind is moving with thoughts only of him.

Kip leans in and gives me a nudge. “Answer the man, baby.”

I look at the dark haired man. “Is the answer, I do?”

He gives me a nod and my family laughs at me. The pounding in my chest grows and I decide that I should concentrate on what the guy is saying. He may ask something completely inappropriate and I don’t want to say yes to anything I don’t believe in after all.

He asks Kip if he promises to love and cherish me forever and Kip agrees to. The idea that Kip will be around forever now is kind of freaking me out.

This summer I thought the thing we had was fleeting. Gone before it began. Then the baby happened and Kip found me and found out what I was keeping from him and instead of being furious or running for the hills, he did just the opposite.

Another nudge from Kip and I say, “I do.”

It’s a given no matter what Kip asks of me I will eventually do. He’s pretty trustworthy and so adorable it’s hard to tell him no about anything.

The next thing I know Kip is putting a ring on my finger and I’m handed a ring to put on his and now I know what’s next and I can hardly wait. He better plant a great one on me.

It’s been forever!

Kip

Stars fill the night sky as we fly on our private jet to the Bahamas. Peyton is drying her eyes again. She’s cried about a dizzying number of things since the festivities began.

“What’s this flood about, my darling wife?” I take her hand and pull it to my heart.

The plane is beginning to level out and we’ll soon be able to move about it. First stop is the bedroom!

“I already miss Paxxie Poo!” she whimpers as she wipes the tears away.

“He’ll be back in your arms before you know it,” I say then kiss the top of her head. “You look stunning by the way.”

She fluffs a curl. “Do I really? Even with all the crying I’ve been doing?”

“Yes you do. By the way, why so much crying? I admit I thought you’d cry some, but, love, you’re crying about everything. When you cried about how pretty the jet was I really had to question if you’re happy about this marriage at all.”

“No! God, Kip!” She looks at me with the most earnest expression I think I’ve ever seen on her face. “Everything is making me so happy. I’m like a lunatic, I’m so glad you and I are married now. I swear it.”

The captain comes over the speakers, “Feel free to move about the plane guys. Champagne is next to the bed, newlyweds!”

Unbuckling our seatbelts quickly, it seems both of us can’t wait to get to that bedroom. “Race ya!” I say with a laugh.

Peyton’s giggles fill the cabin and I pick her up and carry her to the bedroom. As I open the door, we see that rose petals have been strewn over the bed.

“How sweet, Kip,” she says then her hand cups the back of my neck and she pulls me in for a kiss.

The sweetest kiss ever. I slip my tongue past her luscious, red stained lips to stroke it over her tongue. I kept our kiss somewhat chaste at the end of the wedding ceremony as my want for her is nearly overwhelming.

A fear ran through me that I’d not be able to stop once I felt her tongue mingling with mine. They way my pants are becoming increasingly uncomfortable is a clear indication I was more than right.

I sit down on the bed, Peyton cradled on my lap, as our mouths refuse to leave the other’s. Her dress zips in the back and I lower the zipper as I swirl my tongue around hers, finding the taste of Champagne still there.

Her bare skin feels like silk beneath my hands as I run them over her back. My hair is caught up in her hands. She leans in close, pressing her breasts against my chest and I have to feel her.

I pull my mouth away from hers and she protests. “Baby, let’s get rid of these clothes.”

She nods and stands up, pushing the dress off her shoulders. It falls in a white, silky pile on the floor. Her white lace bra and panty set make my mouth water and I struggle with the zipper off my pants as I hurry to undress.

With a sly smile, Peyton steps forward, taking my hands from the obstinate zipper. Her fingers make quick work of the device which was plaguing me. “Your hands are shaking,” she says with a little giggle. “Seems you’re nervous, hubby.”

“Nervous! Ha!” I pull my jacket off then my shirt as she pushes my pants down. I step out of my shoes as she pushes me back to lie on the bed.

One sock she slowly takes off then the other. My heart is about to beat out of my chest. She leans over me and slowly pulls down the black, boxer briefs I have on and I’m completely naked and she still has on her damn underwear.

She stands up and pulls one bra strap down in an achingly slow manner. My eyes are glued to the large breasts our son has given her and have remained off limits to me for six, long weeks. They tumble out of the bra and I have to place my fist in my mouth and bite it to stop myself from jumping up and grabbing her.

With a little shimmy and a big smile, she ditches the panties and there she is. Glowing in the dim light of the tiny bedroom. “I’ve been exercising to get back into shape. Do you think it is working?” she asks as she runs her hands over her small waist and flat stomach.

“Uh, huh,” I mumble, stupidly.

I wiggle my finger for her to come to me and she takes a step forward, then climbs on the bed. Spreading my legs open as she makes her way up, she kisses the inside of one leg all the way up, until her lips touch the base of my dick and I nearly fly off the bed.

Her tongue strokes up and her hot mouth goes over the tip. My hands wrap around locks of her blonde curls. Slow strokes she makes and my stomach tightens as I try hard to hold back an already impending orgasm.

I can only allow her to make a few more strokes or it’ll all be over before we even start. “Baby, you’re killing me,” I say in a harsh whisper.

She pulls her head up and kisses my stomach as she makes her way up my body. Lying on me, she looks into my eyes and strokes my cheek with her fingertips. “I love you, Kip. I always will.”

Her mouth touches mine and I can’t stop myself any longer. I have to be inside her. Her doctor put her on some kind of mini-birth control pill so she’s ready to go.

I roll over with her, pinning her body beneath mine. My breath is already coming in ragged waves and hers is too. My mouth leaves hers to take one of her scrumptious breasts in my mouth. I’ve been waiting forever for this.

The other breast I massage with my hand and she moans as her hands roam all over my back. “The muscles,” she whimpers. “I’ve missed them.”

Though I could feast on her plump breast forever, I kiss it then trail kisses up her neck. “Get ready, Mrs. Dixon.”

I press myself against her and the heat from inside her radiates out. She arches up to me and it slides in. She’s tight, but wet as sin and it slips inside more.

A loud groan she makes as I fill her slowly. “Jesus, that feels right,” she murmurs.

“Are you okay?” I ask. “I’m not hurting you am I?”

“Not one bit. Make me yours again,” she says then her lips touch my neck and her hands tangle up in my hair and I’m gone, the animal in me takes over and I pull back and ram into her.

Peyton

As we land on the small private island where only a few staff members are waiting to take care of all our needs for the next couple of days, we watch the sun as it rises out the small window. Kip leans over me, his arms wrapped completely around me.

He’s not let me go since we went to the bedroom. He even made me let him dress me, little kisses he gave me all the while. To call him a doting husband is an understatement.

And I’m loving every second of it!

“It’s gorgeous,” I say as I look out the window at the little island as it glows with the sun’s morning rays.

“And while we’re here, I want to see you in nothing more than the tiny bikini I packed for you. But preferably, nothing at all.” His mouth falls hot on my neck and his teeth nip me.

“Same for you, hot stuff.” I run my hand back and ruffle the back of his hair.

The plane stops and we get off and follow a young man to our beach house getaway. “Nice to see you again, Mr. Reed,” the tall, lanky, young man says.

“How’s it been going, Ashton?” Kip asks as we follow along.

“Great,” he answers. “Your parents were here not that long ago. Are they doing fine?”

“They are. We left them at home, watching our new son. This is my wife, Peyton, by the way.” Kip looks at me. “Ashton is the manager who takes care of everything on our island.”

“Our island?” I ask. “You didn’t say you owned it.”

“Pop bought it years ago. I can’t wait for Pax to get old enough to enjoy it.” His arm tightens around my waist. “And the rest of the kids that we’re going to have.”

“Here we are,” Ashton says as he gestures to the most beautifully exotic beach house that I’ve ever laid eyes on.

A large set of wooden stairs shine brightly as they’re highly polished. As we go inside, everything shines as it’s mostly the same dark wood as the stairs, polished to a glossy shine. Walls the color of sand combine to make a large living area.

The kitchen can be seen from the room as it’s all open and breezy and I can’t believe its January. “Are we on another planet?” I ask as I look around the gorgeous structure.

Kip runs his arm up my side and around my shoulders. “Nearly.” He leaves a kiss on the top of my head. “Thank you, Ashton. I do believe we can handle it from here.”

“Okay, as usual, the phone in the kitchen you can pick up at any time and let us know if you want anything other than what we have stocked in here for you. Also, if you want the chef to come in and take care of your meals, she’s more than happy to. Just give us a ring. She left breakfast for you on the outside breakfast porch.”

Kip leads me towards a glass door and looks over his shoulder at the young man. “Thanks, Ash. I’ll let you know.”

Out the door we go and the smell of fresh fruit hits me and suddenly I’m starving. “Oh my gosh, Kip! Look how beautifully everything is laid out. This is better than a five start hotel!”

“Glad you approve, darling.” He pulls my chair out then he sits next to me.

I pick up a strawberry and hold it to his lips. He smiles and opens his mouth. I pop it in and he grabs my hand and picks up a blueberry, placing it against my lips. I take it in and before I know it his mouth is on mine.

The combination of the fruit tastes like heaven. Add in the heat of the kiss and I’m practically flying. He pulls away and takes the top off a silver platter, revealing bacon and ham and little crepes stuffed with different jams and creams.

I pick up a crepe filled with some delicious looking cream and he picks up one filled with apple preserves. I feed him mine and he feeds me his. Then we kiss again.

What a way to enjoy the most important meal of the day!

The best breakfast of my life is over and Kip is carrying me to the bedroom. Soft breezes roll into the large, open bedroom. Light blue curtains blow inward. The bed is huge and covered with sky blue sheets and a coral colored thin blanket.

“This is beautiful,” I say in awe.

“Almost,” he says. “Once I have you naked in that bed, it will be.”

He places my feet on the floor and pulls my dress over my head, then takes off my bra and pushes my panties off. I wait for him as he takes his clothes off and lies me back on the fluffy bed.

His blue eyes stare into mine intensely. His finger trails over my collarbone and up my neck, leaving little shock waves in its path. My body is tense with anticipation of what he intends to do to pleasure me.

Light kisses he runs over my jaw until his lips touch mine, but only for a moment. Kip gently pushes me over on my stomach and straddles my back, pressing his palms into my shoulders and massaging my back.

I moan and close my eyes as he kneads the muscles and makes slow strokes over it with his sure hands. Once he has me completely loose, he moves off me and turns his attention to my bottom. Rubbing and massaging it as well.

My body is lucid as it’s ever been. He rolls me back over, my eyes still closed as I’m as relaxed as I’ve ever been without being asleep. The touch of his wet lips on my clit make a moan come out.

His hands run up and down my thighs as he kisses me intimately. Pushing my legs apart, he maneuvers his body between them. My knees I bend to allow him better access to my most pleasurable area.

His massage has me so relaxed that I simply relish in the way his mouth feels on me. The little licks he makes up and down my folds. His tongue taps my little bud as he makes it to the top every time, then he trails his tongue back down.

Gliding his hands up over my stomach, it sends shivers through me. My breasts fill his hands and he gently squeezes them. The relaxation is starting to leave my body as it begins to grow hot under his mouth and hands.

I’m beginning to want more. His mouth grows hot on my skin and the way he’s kissing me grows a bit rougher. Deft fingers pull at my nipples and I arch up to him.

The way his tongue runs up and down, lapping at my body, ignites a fire deep within me. My breath begins to come in short pants as his speed increases and my stomach begins to tense.

Kip pinches my nipples hard and places his mouth on my clit and sucks it until I burst, arching up to him and grabbing handfuls of his silky hair. “Yes! God, yes!”

His tongue darts into me as he tastes the juices that he has set free. My body pulses around him. In a flash he moves up my body and presses his hard, thick cock into me as I pulse around him.

The deep blue of his eyes I catch then he closes them and groans with the sensation of my orgasm. Slow strokes he makes until the contractions stop. His eyes open and he looks into mine.

My world I find in them and take his handsome face between my palms. “Forever, Kip.”

“Forever, Peyton.” I pull him to me and press my lips to his. I part my lips and he runs his tongue into my mouth. I can taste myself on his tongue and it excites the hell out of me.

The way he moves in and out of me is sensuous and slow. Like he wants this to last forever. Just us alone together on this island. The rest of the world so far away. Only us.

Corded muscles I feel as I glide my hands over his back. Memorizing each one as it moves with his slow, deep strokes. Our bodies move as one as if we’re riding the ocean’s waves we can hear from our room.

A seagull’s call comes from somewhere outside and I feel as if I’m floating. Kips’ body is taking mine on a ride of pleasure, slow and steady he moves.

His mouth leaves mine and moves to my neck, nibbling and sucking. Heat fills me and I want the tenderness to change. I rake my nails over his back and arch up to him. “Harder.”

He growls and moves as I’ve asked him to. Deep, hard thrusts he gives me. His hands move to either side of me as he pulls himself back and positions himself to ram me like I want him to.

My hands run over his muscled chest, his pecs flexing with every hard thrust. His tight abs moving every time his body meets mine. I move my legs over the back of his and feel the power in them as he goes faster and harder.

Every thrust takes me that much closer to the edge and I feel it starting. I clutch his shoulders as I ride the wave of the orgasm. He watches me with such intensity as I fall apart under him. “God, you’re beautiful!”

I don’t know how he’s holding on. He pulls out and flips me over, pulling me back to him. The wind rushes from my lungs as he pulls me back on his huge cock.

A loud moan I make as he fills me and goes even deeper. My orgasm continues to rock my body. I moan and whimper as it goes on and on. One hand he runs around me and presses a finger against my clit, making sure I keep the orgasm going.

I press my face into the mattress to stifle my moans and little shrieks. He pulls my hair, making me come back up. “I want to hear you.”

The never ending orgasm has me making sounds I didn’t know I could make. His body tenses behind me and heat fills me as his dick pulses, sending my body into the most intense orgasm I’ve ever had.

We both groan and he stops his hard strokes, allowing our bodies to ride out the strong climax until neither of us pulses anymore. He lets me go and I fall to the bed in utter contentment.

Kip

Peyton jumps over the small waves, her large breasts bouncing in the tiny, red bikini I bought her. I lounge in a chair as I watch her, the sun glints off her golden hair as she comes back to me after a brief splash in the calm surf.

I really don’t know where she found the energy to do that after all we’ve done yesterday, last night, and most of this morning and afternoon. But we leave tomorrow morning and she said she had to get in the water at least once before we leave here.

Her wet body sends little sprays of water all over me as she climbs onto the lounge chair with me, wrapping her cool, wet arms around me as she does. Wet lips touch my cheek as I close my eyes, content she’s back to me and now I can rest.

Running my arm around her narrow shoulders, I breathe in the scent of the water on her hair. “Mmmm.”

“You like?” she asks. Her finger trails over my bare chest. I managed to pull on a pair of trunks but nothing more than that.

“Yep.” The weight of her as she places her head on my chest is a comfort I never expected. “We should spend the summer here this year. What do you think? You could write a wonderful novel here while I play with Pax in the warm water. He’ll be sitting up by then.”

She yawns, her lips brush my skin as she says, “That sounds Heavenly. Let’s do that. While I was out in the water I noticed another home is being built down the beach a little ways.”

“My parents are having a small one built for them. Nothing fancy my mother told me. So you can damn well bet it will be.” I laugh as I think of my mother and her over the top spending habits.

Peyton giggles. “I can’t believe my parents are hanging out with yours. It’s not a thing I ever saw coming in this life. It’s remarkable how well they all get along. Don’t you think?”

“Nah, this was meant to be, love.” I squeeze her as I think about the first time I saw her. “From the moment I laid eyes on ya, it was love. I just hadn’t realized it at that time. And I suppose if I’d said I loved you right off the bat you really wouldn’t have given me the time of day.”

“I’d have thought you were crazier than I already did, Pop Rock.” Her cool lips kiss my chest and she runs her hand over my stomach, making my insides squirm.

“Did you ever imagine this is where we’d be in mere months after that day, love?” My lips brush the top of her head.

“No way. I didn’t think I’d ever see you again, except up on that stage that is. Then you’d be gone on to the next gig, the next girl. The truth is I thought you forgot about me the moment I walked away.” Her hand flows over my abs and she traces the lines between them.

“That’s crazy,” I say and run my hand over her back. “How you didn’t see how smitten I was with you right from the beginning I’ll never understand. I was a different man the second I saw you. I could see my future in your hazel eyes.”

“Right, Kip,” she says with sarcasm. “You always knew I was the girl for you. That’s why you got freaked out about how much you needed me and took off like a little chicken.”

“I’m sorry about that. That was a damn stupid and immature thing to do and I do believe you still owe me that punch I said you could take at me.”

“Nah, no need for violence. You did come around, so I forgive your idiotic choices. That did sting though. Then I found out I was pregnant and nearly lost my mind. Writing my novel helped keep me from going too crazy. Living the dream-life I made for us kept me sane. If you can believe that?”

“Did you ever see the story you came up with becoming a best-seller like it has?” I ask.

She laughs. “Nope! Didn’t see that coming. You must be good luck or something.”

“I must be,” I say as I pull her up and brush wet strands of her hair back so I can look at her. “My wife.”

“Hard to believe?” she asks with a grin.

I shake my head. “I always knew. Somehow, I always knew.”

Just like always happens when we’re this close, our lips draw and before we know it, we’re all up in each other. Peyton’s leg goes over me as she straddles me and deepens the kiss. I grow as she grinds her body against mine.

I’m erect and wanting her before I know it. Her hand moves down my stomach and pushes my trunks down, letting the beast free. She pulls her small bathing suit bottoms to the side and slides down my cock.

Though none of the staff would dare to come out here once they notice us. I’m finding myself quite surprised by Peyton and her lack of concern for making love outside in the broad daylight while there are other people on the island besides us.

Seems my little woman is growing up!

Peyton

My bare feet pad across the cool wood floor as I sprint inside. Kip and I got caught as Ashton came to tell him he had an urgent phone call. My body is as red as my bikini as the man must’ve had no idea what we were really doing.

He’d cleared his throat, followed by awkward silence as I had to get off Kip and pull his shorts up to cover his monster hard on, I’d been riding.

I’ll never be able to face that guy again!

I climb into the large, whirlpool bathtub and wait for Kip to get back from taking the phone call at the main office. The staff live in a small house near the center of the island and that’s where the only phone line is. Cell phones don’t work out here.

The days have been so relaxing, but I feel tension start to run through me as the embarrassment wears off and the fact Kip has an emergency call sinks in.

What if something’s wrong with Pax?

I turn the jets on to try to calm myself. No use getting upset until I have the facts. But what if he’s sick or something terrible has happened like the mansion burned down?

The door to the bathroom opens and Kip smiles at me. “So, that was awkward.”

I close my eyes and try not to blush. “Hell yeah it was. I finally let myself go and what happens? Busted!”

“That kid couldn’t look me in the eyes the whole time I was in the main house. Anyway, the phone call wasn’t that damn important. Just good old Bobby fuckin’ around with us. He said to give you a kiss from him, Yoko.” He leans over the edge of the tub and kisses me.

I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him until he falls in the deep tub with me. Once I release his mouth, I say, “That ass. You have no idea the things that were running through my mind with what the emergency might be. I can’t wait for him to get a wife and kid. I’m going to make his life a living hell.”

Kip’s eyes widen. “Some deep resentments you have there, sweetheart.”

“You have no idea,” I say then push away from him, taking his trunks with me. “Now, where were we?”

The tub’s jets make the water all bubbly and it’s nearly impossible to see if he’s hard and ready to get back at it. He comes towards me and pushes me back until the edge of the tub stops me. As he glides his taut body over mine, I feel the familiar bulge flow over my leg then it’s against me.

“Don’t know how much fun this will be,” he says as he presses into me. “There’s little to no chance we’ll get caught this time.”

I roll my eyes. “I’ll just have to pretend then.”

The water makes little waves as he moves back and forth. He moves his legs under me and pulls mine so I’m sitting on his lap, facing him. Holding my waist, he pulls me back and forth.

The combination of the warm water flowing over my body and his thick dick filling me makes me a little light headed. Taking his shoulders in my hands, I pull my body to his. Lying my head on his shoulder as he moves me back and forth.

“We need one of these at home,” I murmur near his ear.

“You must not have gone out to the pool house. There’s one twice this size in it,” he says with a chuckle.

I lean back and look at him as he continues to move my body through the water, stroking him as he does. “When we get back you need to take me on a tour. You really have never done that. I should know every part of that place.”

“You should,” he says then pushes at my shoulders, making me lie back in the water.

He pulls me to him as I float in the water. Completely relaxed I float along as he moves in and out of me. One hand he moves to squeeze a breast while the other holds my waist, moving me back and forth.

The hand on my breast moves slowly downward until it touches my clit. Slow strokes he makes with his finger, making it start to ache for more. He leans over me and pushes me out far enough his dick pulls completely out of me and his tongue flows over my clit. He pulls me back and his dick goes inside me, filling me.

Over and over, he pushes me out, lets his tongue flow over my clit then he fills me again. My stomach tenses with the stimulation. Little jolts of electricity start running through me and I moan as I fall over the edge.

He pulls me to him and keeps me there. He holds me to him as my body convulses around his dick then he pulls me up, wrapping his arms around me tightly. Warmth fills me as he groans next to my ear. “Fuck me!”

Little kisses I peck along his neck. “Good, huh?”

“That’s only the beginning,” he says. “Let’s get out of here and get on that bed. I’m going to spend the last few hours I have you all to myself in every position I can think of.”

Oh my!

Kip

Honeymoon over and wife sleeping on my shoulder as the driver takes us home from the airport, I think I succeeded in letting Peyton know I cherish her and her body.

The lights of the mansion loom ahead and my heart sings with the joy of knowing we’re a family now. In all ways, name included. The driver stops at the front door and I nibble at Peyton’s neck to wake her up.

“Again,” she mumbles and starts to unbutton her shirt. “Just give me a second to get this off.”

I chuckle and pull her hand away. “No, silly. We’re home.”

Her eyes open slowly. The green in them sparkles as she looks at me, sleepily. “Oh, we’ve just done that so many times in the last couple of days, I assumed that’s what you were after.”

“Not right now. Maybe later on after we stare at our son for a little while. I missed the little monster.”

The driver opens my door and I get out, reaching back in for Peyton and picking her up. She giggles. “I can walk, Pop Rock.”

With a shake of my head, I say, “No way! It’s customary to carry one’s new wife over the threshold of our home.”

My mother opens the front door and Pop walks up behind her, holding our little Pax. Pop calls out, “Didn’t you two get enough of that on the island?” He laughs.

“I don’t think we’ll ever get enough of that, Pop.”

Peyton blushes and presses her face against my chest. “Kip!”

Over the threshold we go and she starts to wiggle. “Okay, now put me down. I need to hold my baby.”

One last kiss I give her then I place her feet back on the floor and she hurries to my father. Her arms open wide. “My baby!”

I kiss my mother’s cheek as Peyton takes the baby and starts making cooing noises at him. Mum says, “He was an angel. You two have to let us keep him longer next time. None of us are ready to let him go yet.”

Peyton carries Pax off as she runs her hand over his little head then brings his tiny fingers to her pink lips. “Did Momma’s big boy miss her? Momma missed her big boy. Yes, she did.”

Her parents come into the foyer to say hello and Peyton gives them a nod. Donna asks, “Did you have a good time?”

“It was fantastic. Now I’m taking my baby up to our bedroom so I can cuddle with him. I missed him so much. You have no idea.” Peyton looks back at me. “Coming?”

“Guess so,” I say as I jog up next to her. “Thanks for finally realizing I’m alive.”

She nudges me with her little shoulder. “You goof. Haven’t I acknowledged your existence many, many times in the last few days?”

Donna giggles. “Oh my goodness. Okay, we’ll be here when you decide to visit us, dear.”

“Um, hm,” Peyton murmurs as she gazes at our baby. So much love in her face.

I wrap my arm around her and make sure she gets up the stairs without tripping as she can’t seem to take her eyes off him. “He looks bigger. Different in a way. Oh, we missed him growing, Kip!”

“He looks the same, love. We didn’t miss a thing,” I say as we top the stairs. “It was only a few days.”

“I never want to leave him again, Kip. Not ever.” I open the door and she walks inside.

“Never, huh?” I ask as we sit down on the edge of the bed. I run my hand over his head and he looks up at me, making his little forehead wrinkle.

Tiny, blonde curls cover his head and he looks at me with eyes just like mine. “He’s a cutie, isn’t he?” I ask.

Peyton finally turns her eyes to mine. “He’s the cutest thing in the entire world. And you’re the most handsome man in the world. I’m the luckiest woman on the planet with you two in my life.”

Running my arm around her shoulders, I give her a squeeze. “I’m the luckiest man alive to have you two as my family. Now, can I hold our son for a minute? I missed him too.”

Her lips touch his forehead and she inhales deeply. “God, I missed that little baby smell. Okay, Daddy, here you go.” She hands him over and looks at us with so much more love than I ever could’ve imagined. “We’re really a family now, Kip. I can’t believe it.”

“Believe it, baby.”

Peyton

Stars fill the night sky as Kip and I dance under them on the beach at our beach house in the Bahamas. Our one-year anniversary today and we’re spending the next three days here, alone.

“Can you believe it’s been a year?” I ask him.

He twirls me around and dips me. His lips touch mine, but only for a moment. “It’s gone by so fast, hasn’t it?”

He pulls me back up and presses my chest to his as he spins me around in the sand. “Seems like yesterday to me.”

The music ends, but he still holds me tight. His lips move near my ear. “You know what I want to do, Mrs. Dixon?”

“I can imagine, but there’s something I want to tell you first. We should go inside. I got you a present.” I pull back and take his hand and lead him inside.

“We can open presents afterwards,” he says as he runs his arm under my legs, lifting me off the ground and into his arms.

I laugh and run my arms around his neck. “But you might want to see what I got you. Aren’t you at all curious?”

His hot mouth closes on my neck, making me squirm as my body fills with heat. He knows that makes me insanely horny. “I’m more curious about what you’ll look like in the middle of that big bed with nothing on but a smile.”

“The same as I do in the middle of our bed at home, silly.”

He carries me all the way to the bed and drops me down on it, I bounce up once and he pulls his T-shirt over his head. “It’s been two days since I’ve tasted your sweet love, baby. I’m tired of waiting.” He drops his shorts and grabs the hem of my dress and pulls it off, my panties along with it. My bra he snaps off quickly, and he’s on top of me before I know it.

“Kip, really, I have…” His lips roam over my neck and down to my breast as he holds me to him. “That feels nice. But Kip, I really...” His hand slides between us and he presses on the little bud and I take in a sharp breath. “Oh!”

“Lie back and relax, love. Presents later.” He pushes me back and moves down the bed, taking my ankles in his hands.

“But Kip, wait, really. I just want to tell you. I’ve been keeping this in for weeks now. I have to tell someone.”

His eyes go even darker than they were before. “What have you been keeping from me?”

I sit up and run my hand over my stomach which is still flat. He looks at the gesture then back up at me. “Are you saying that…”

“Yes I am. We’re pregnant again, Daddy.”

The look on his face is worth more than all the money in the world. Our little family is growing again, and it seems we both couldn’t be happier.

The End