Epilogue

Brooke

Seven months later

The musical sound of the doorbell pulls me out of bed. Only Lisa would want to come up this early. We’ve had the elevator modified such that rather than ascending directly, it sounds as a doorbell, which is then activated from inside each apartment. Which is good considering how little clothing we tend to wear indoors.

I shuffle to the edge of the bed, then throw one leg over the other before pushing myself off. It’s a routine that takes almost a whole minute, but with the size of my belly, I find it’s the only way I can get out of bed. Unless my husband gets impatient and hauls me out.

Yes. We managed to get married two months after our engagement in a beautiful, private ceremony.

I think about how much has changed in my life: moving in with Xavier, visiting his family home in Seattle, where I met his parents and grandmother, the wedding, and him getting to see more of my mom and nan, who may even now be more in love with him than I am.

Stella and Bonnie have taken to each other like ducks to water. We still have days and nights out, but I have been missing in action in recent months as I got heavier with the baby. Those two are more than able to stir up trouble all by themselves, so they’re doing fantastic.

Steve is still in therapy and so far, has stayed out of trouble.

For Xavier, therapy was a game changer. I was honored when he asked me to go with him. He’s completed therapy now. I thought he would freak out with the long commute from our Upper West Side apartment to my school in East New York, but he handled it well, although he insisted I be chauffeur-driven. I didn’t like the idea one bit, but I had to make some concessions for him. And it wasn’t so bad in the end, as Marco, my chauffeur-slash-bodyguard, and I became fast friends.

I’m now on maternity leave and getting increasingly bigger. The baby is due any time now, and everyone is excited. Xavier’s parents have been at Zoey’s, “visiting” for the past week. Xavier isn’t fooled; he knows they’re not leaving until after the baby is born.

I’m so easily exhausted that I’m tempted to stay indoors but I make sure to swim every day and take walks on the terrace as many times as possible to get my daily dose of exercise and sun. Lisa makes it her duty to get Aunty Brooke to exercise. Which is no doubt why the bell is ringing this early.

I slip my feet into soft mules and head to the bathroom for a quick splash of water on my face. I hear the faint sound of Xavier singing in the shower as I approach. Shaking my head in amusement, I wonder for the thousandth time how a man who looks as good and plays the piano as well as Xavier, can sing this terribly.

I enter the bathroom as he emerges from the shower, naked and dripping, his hair slicked back, eyelashes spiked, his torso all corded, rolling muscles, and his thick cock… God… I love his cock… which is starting to harden under my hungry stare. I feel myself get embarrassingly wet. He’s magnificent. I want him again, which is crazy since he’d just screwed me into two orgasms before getting into the shower. I turn to the sink and splash water on my heated face.

“See something you want, wife?” He presses his wet front to my back and nibbles on my neck. His hand comes up to cup my heavy breasts and pulls gently on my overly sensitive nipples. His erection presses into my back. My head falls back on a moan, my pussy clenches hard and I feel a gush of warm fluid, the volume of which shocks me. Surely…?

My stomach tightens in a short, painful contraction, followed by another big gush of fluid. This time Xavier feels it. We look up at the same time, our eyes meeting in the mirror. The doorbell peals insistently.

“Brooke, is that—”

“—Lisa,” I nod as another wave of pain hits.

“—what I think it is? I meant your water!” Xavier says.

“Yes, it’s broken, I think.”

Xavier grabs a towel, swings me up in his arms, and gets me back into bed, putting the towel under me. He hurriedly throws on clothes and calls Zoey to let her know we’re going to the hospital. My hospital bag is already packed and has been sitting in the trunk for the past four weeks.

Xavier picks me up and we head straight down into the basement where Marco is waiting.

Four hours later, after a surprisingly easy delivery, we welcome red-faced and screaming Lily Rose Bennett, all seven pounds of perfection. Xavier sits next to me by the bed, a dazed look of pride and awe still lingers on his face. He stayed for the delivery, and even though his eyes got as wide as saucers and he went a bit green as Lily Rose’s head was crowning, I thought he recovered remarkably well.

My hospital room is filled with flowers and peach, gold, and pink vinyl balloons, and there’s now a small village oohing and aahing around the now-sleeping baby’s crib.

Zoey arrived first, followed by Bonnie, then Dan, who brought Xavier’s parents and his still agile ninety-year-old grandmother. Wyatt and Lee followed shortly after and started acting like they were seeing the eighth wonder of the world and not their friend’s baby.

Steve called to say he was on his way and bringing Mom and Nan.

Stella comes in last, followed closely by Ryan, and I notice she’s giving him a wide berth, occasionally shooting daggers across while Ryan smirks at her. It’s obvious Stella can’t stand him. I sigh. I need to talk to Xavier again about Ryan backing off and not winding her up.

I look at Xavier, who caught the awkward exchanges between Stella and Ryan. He knew what I was thinking without me saying anything. He nods, telling me he will. For the fourth time. Christ, the man is like a kitten with a ball of yarn around Stella .

Xavier takes my hand and kisses my fingertips. “You were amazing, baby.” My heart lurches in response.

What is it with my reaction to this man praising me? I might have a praise kink .

“I love you,” I say, looking into his vivid green eyes.

He leans over and kisses my forehead again, then my nose, before taking my lips.

“Forever and always,” he whispers when we come up for air.

“Forever and always,” I return.

THE END

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