My Expectation (My Escort Series Book 3) (12 page)

A
lot of thoughts raced through my mind in this very moment while sitting in the white limo in front of the butterfly sanctuary. I was wearing the dress that caught my eye and matched my figure. The bump, which was once unnoticeable, began to round and I was starting to have sensations which didn’t seem to be nausea. Although Damon wanted so badly to feel them, I still think it was too soon for him to be able to.

              Megan sat beside me looking between the entrance and me. I just needed a few minutes. I was so happy that this was finally happening but my heart still raced and I needed to calm myself. Dustings of glitter were on my shoulders and arms from the light cream that Cassidy had applied. She had done my hair and make-up giddily as she caught me up with all her adventures and what she was going back to. She really had changed and was even more beautiful now. She had the confidence of a woman who no longer wanted to be looked at by men unworthy of her.

              She had met someone on her journey. She told me all about him. At first they were both strangers. For the first few days they didn’t exchange names, say what they did for work or where they were from. They simply enjoyed one another’s company. To my surprise although Cassidy wasn’t as fluttery as she used to be when speaking about men, she was very infatuated by this one. I had hoped that he was someone kind and would treat her sweetly. It was ironic that after so many years of searching for love that the moment she had given up and rebuilt herself was when she should find it.

              My mother gave me one of her old necklaces to wear. It matched the dress perfectly and it felt more personal. It was a beautiful array of pearls which dangled down the back and emphasized the backless dress which I loved so much. I held onto white roses and pink lilies as I took another controlled breath. I had pearls around my left wrist and a lace white garter which was tight on my inner thigh.

              I took another easy breath. Megan looked at me worriedly but said nothing. The limo driver was watching us in his rear view mirror. I felt like I was suffocating. Everything I had once stood for, my independence, my work life, my singular life. . . that was all I once had. My world had expanded and made room for Damon and now for my two children whom I would love so much. So much was changing and in this pivotal moment I felt it on my shoulders.

              I was happy and this was what I wanted. I loved Damon so much. I eased my breathing and focused only on him and imagined him waiting there for me in his suit. He would’ve been just as nervous as me. We knew more than anything that we wanted to be married, we wanted to sign a piece of paper which stated we would be together for life. We wanted this day with family to rejoice. We wanted to be together for life unconditionally. I took another breath and pressed my hand to my stomach. My heart rate had slowly started beating normal.

              “Okay, I’m ready,” I said to Megan. I thought only of Damon and walking my way through those doors so I could greet him, the love of my life. The limo driver stepped out and opened the door for me. He aided me out. Megan grabbed the trail of my dress. It was a sunny day with a few white clouds in the sky. Despite thunderstorm warnings the weather was holding out for us.

              Up the pebbled path and towards the large wooden doors stood Mr. Brogardt, Ethan, and Christian in tiny suits. Mr. Brogradt looked very suave, but the boys took my breath away. Both of their hairs were slicked back and they looked uncomfortable as they fiddled with their black tailcoats. Megan toyed with a smile. They straightened their backs as soon as they saw me. Christian’s jaw had dropped open, Ethan looked at him quickly and lifted it.

              I laughed, clutching my stomach. I bent down slightly and opened my arms wide. “Can your Auntie have a hug for good luck?” I asked. They walked into my arms with a smile and it eased my racing heart slightly. I held onto them tightly admiring the pearls against my bronze skin. I looked at both of them with a joyful smile; they looked so cute. Ethan tucked away the small curl I had beside my face.

              “You look so pretty Auntie Clover,” he mumbled shy.

              “I think so too,” Christian said instantly. I smiled at them both and kissed the tops of their heads.

              “Are you ready my dear child?” Mr. Brogardt asked. I was happy to have honored Damon’s father to walk me down the aisle. It made me sad to know that my father couldn’t be here and walk me down, but I knew that he wouldn’t have missed this day for the world and was watching me from somewhere. I knew Damon would’ve loved for his mother to be here too. “You look stunning Clover.” He said with an earnest smile.

              The gentleman in a tailcoat suit opened the wooden doors. From inside I heard a pianist and violinist play. I couldn’t even coherently understand the music because my heart began to race again. Mr. Brogardt entwined his arm with mine as if grounding me. I could feel the veins in my neck stress as I inhaled a deep breath.

              Megan and the boys had already walked in. With one more admiring glance Mr. Brogardt asked me if I was ready. After another two deep breaths and my stomach fluttering crazily I nodded.

              Inside swept with greenery and flowers just like the images, but more beautiful. Butterflies fluttered everywhere of all different colors and sizes. I focused on the red carpet which lay before me. I could hear running water in the background but focused only on the red in front of me, nervous that I would fall. My trail elegantly followed behind me.

              I took one deep death and reminded myself of the proud and confident woman that I was. I was marrying Damon, there couldn’t possibly be any mistake made on this day, especially something as small as tripping over. I lifted my head and saw him at the end of the altar. He looked dashing in his white suit and his hair combed back. He was freshly shaven and fidgeting nervously.

              He was stunned and his eyes were glued to me. I smiled shyly and grateful that he liked the dress. There was one line of white covered seats with gold ribbon. There sat Michelle, Phillip with Rosalie in her arms, my mother, Ethan, and Christian who had just thrown white rose petals down the aisle, and Cassidy.

              Hayden stood beside Damon proudly. He looked breathtaking himself in his gray silk suit. Megan stood, waiting for me to take my place beside her. She looked stunning and had a glow of admiration on her face.

              I could hear faintly the click of cameras from the photographer. We hired out the very same one which took Damon’s and my first photo together, on the fateful night which I hired him as an escort. Today the photographer was well dressed and suited without toothpick in mouth.

              I smiled at the others who looked at me in awe, I was both embarrassed but felt like I utterly radiated with beauty. A white butterfly fluttered on my shoulder. When we reached the end of the red carpet Mr. Brogardt kissed my cheek. “Welcome to the family Clover,” he said and took his seat by my mother.

              Damon reached out to grab my hand and helped me towards the end of the red carpet. The celebrant watched on with admiration.

              “You look beautiful,” Damon said as his eyes swept up my dress.

              “You look handsome,” I said doing the same to him. We continued to hold hands and couldn’t remove our gaze from one another. Behind us and where the celebrant stood was a small running stream. Around it were a few rocks where butterflies perched and fluttered about.

              The entire roofing was glass and so the sun continued to beam down on us. Behind me was the enclosed section where the food and meals would be served with a large white clothed table. The pianist who was sitting across from me at a large white piano and suit watched on with anticipation as did the violinist. She wore a stunning purple dress and stood respectfully.

              My breath seemed to hinge on every word the celebrant said and yet as soon as he said it my memory fogged and I could no longer think. Suddenly it was time for Damon to say his vows. My heart raced as he nervously went to reach into his pocket for the hand written notes. He hesitated and then left them in there.

              “I had taken hours to decide how to best describe how much you mean to me and I love you in so few words,” he said with a shortened breath. “Clover I quite simply can’t imagine a day without you. You are my entire world, you showed me a part of myself which I had closed off for a very long time and you changed me for the better.” His grip tightened on my hand. “You have given me the greatest gift of joy to become a father and to simply be my wife. You are beautiful, intelligent, driven and such a kind-hearted woman. I often think I am not worthy to have you by my side, but after having you there for only months, I knew how much I have loved you already. There couldn’t be a day without you, you who have changed my everything. My everything is now only revolved around you, no matter what the future brings us.” He took an insecure breath and smiled clumsily. “Please grow gray with me?” A lump in my throat caught and I breathed in trying not to let a stream of tears glide down my face. The celebrant looked at me expectantly.

              “I love you,” I gushed. We both laughed and I heard the others laugh behind us. “I do and always will. I admire you so much for everything that you do and manage. I love that you are the only man I’ve ever found who I can depend on and can look after me. You took my walls down and were able to find the real me, which was also hidden. I couldn’t imagine myself aiming for anything else than being by your side every day. Nothing would make me happier and so I accept. I want to be gray with you, but first I want us to fulfill a life that is only meant for us. And a life that we were always meant to live together.” My heart raced and the words of the celebrant seemed incoherent. Damon and I stared so intensely at each other that I thought I would faint.

              “You may now kiss the bride,” the celebrant said. Damon cupped my face and stared at me for a moment longer before pressing his lips to mine, his tongue gently led mine as I cupped his hand. His lips were soft and sweet, tender with love. He twisted me slightly and my leg rose as he swept me underneath him. I laughed through the kiss, wrapping my hands around his neck. Everyone around us was clapping. This was my perfect day. My perfect Damon and blessing of our future together. I knew full heartedly we were for better or for worse.

              I felt the swirls in my stomach as he continued to kiss me, reminding me of the blessings that were still with us on this very day. As if knowing, Damon straightened me again and pressed kisses to my stomach. I laughed at him and looked at our family fondly. All of them who we loved so much could witness this special day. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. This was my everything… Family and Damon were now my everything.

“
A
ustralia?!” I asked as Damon gave me my tickets. We had spent the entire day with family who congratulated us and celebrated with us our very special day. I don’t think I had ever taken so many photos at once in my entire life but was excited to see the end results. We were escorted to the company’s private jet and still I had no idea of where we were going. Damon had been dropping subtle hints over the past eight hours, half of which I had slept exhausted from the day. I was impressed by his thorough research. He had contacted three different doctors to ask if it was okay for me to fly while pregnant with twins as well. Apparently at this stage of my pregnancy it was.

              “You’ve never been, have you?” Damon asked with a willful smile. “Sydney to be precise.”              “Are you serious?!” I beamed in my leather white chair. I jumped across the table and hugged him. He was cautious and made sure I was steady, he treated me like some precious parcel. “You have organized for us to go to Australia for two weeks?”

“I have.” He beamed brushing back my hair. “You are so beautiful Clover. You always have been but you seem to utterly glow now. I will have to beat off these Australian sexy cowboys by the sound of it,” he growled as he playfully nipped at my neck. I giggled at him excited for our destination with only a few hours before arrival.

“Get some rest,” he kissed me gently. “We only have a few hours left.” He extended out on his couch so it could comfortably fit the both of us. I laid my head against his chest and rested cozily. He grabbed the light blanket and threw it over me as I listened to the patter of his heart. We intertwined our fingers and admired our new rings. “Mrs. Brogradt,” he added with a smile as he kissed the top of my head.

“Certainly, Mr. Brogradt,” I added. Mrs. Brogardt, it was definitely something I was going to have to get used to. Clover Brogradt.

*

“Welcome,” the hotel receptionist said adequately, the limo driver who brought us here had been the same. My face had been glued to the window as we drove here. I looked at all the high-rise buildings, water, bridges even the development and buildings which were still being constructed. It was now night and the bright lights and traffic, which was comparatively less congested than Manhattan, shone brightly. It was odd, here in Australia the traffic and steering wheels were all on the wrong side of the road.

              I was expecting to see kangaroos and koala bears everywhere, but hadn’t yet seen any. I had even heard of the infamous drop bear but after having coffee once with an Australian tourist in Manhattan, found out that the scary man eating bears were not real. The impression that kangaroos were violent and had children in their pouches and skipped them to school was also a lie. I hadn’t believed the last one, but with poisonous spiders and snakes everywhere I wasn’t entirely sure of what to expect.

             
The hotel which we were staying at was of finer class, for our honeymoon I imagined Damon didn’t consider anything less. A young gentleman came and collected our bags to take up to the room. I was tired but also hungry and I couldn’t wait any longer to start our adventure.

              “Can we go to the room later and have a look now?” I asked. The marble white of the lobby with chandeliers and a restaurant and bar around the corner seemed very enticing, but I wanted to go for a walk and apparently we weren’t far from the harbor. I wanted to see as much as I could already. The receptionist smiled at us both.

              “We can do whatever you like wifey,” Damon said dotingly. I smacked him on the chest and grabbed my clutch. He grabbed my hand and we walked out to the colder unsuspecting weather. It was much colder here in season but I didn’t hesitate to explore some more. It was already past nine, but I wanted to walk for at least an hour. It seemed far more peaceful and less busy here in comparison to Manhattan.

              Sydney, which was known most for its opera house and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, was one of the most well-known cities of Australia. Damon shook off his black casual jacket and placed it over my shoulders. I slipped it on happily. It was freezing out here. I wrapped myself in it warmly and stopped to look over the water. Damon wrapped himself around me and rested his chin on my shoulder.

              It was beautiful and the city lights reflected it stunningly. Entertainment boats were flashing with lights and further up I could see shops and restaurants. I admired it all beautifully inhaling a deep breath.

              A man and a woman who stood not too far from us were talking. I smiled listening to their accent. It sounded so... cool. I rested into Damon further watching the boats slowly drift past. In the distance I saw lights on a bridge, which I imagined and hoped was the Sydney Harbour bridge but wasn’t quite sure.

              “You’re shaking,” Damon said rubbing my arms up and down. It was true I was cold but didn’t want to go back inside. “Clover, you can’t get sick. How about we go back to the hotel and we will have a look tomorrow,” he said gently. I wanted to argue, my inner travel bug was going crazy at all the things I wanted to see. But I knew he was right, this hubby of mine.

              “Only for now, but tomorrow is a full day of events and walking,” I said happily. The jetlag had started to set in as well. I was rather cold and tired.

              “And who is to say I haven’t already started organizing things,” he said with a smile. He grabbed my hand and led me back towards the hotel. It was much cooler inside and suddenly my appetite had dropped away, I was so tired. We waited patiently in the elevator until we reached the top floor. Before the doors opened Damon asked me if I could hold the room key, when I did he swept me off my feet and held me in a bridal position.

              “Are you serious?” I asked with laughter. The elevator doors opened and an elderly couple hesitated to walk in until we had walked out.

              “This beautiful woman became my wife,” Damon said charismatically. I hid my face in my hands from embarrassment.

              “How lovely,” the woman said in her sweet Australian accent.

              “Make the most of your youthful days when you can,” the elderly man said. “It flashes before your very eyes.”

              “Thank you for the advice,” Damon said with a smile as he walked me out and towards our room. He stood in front of our door number expectantly and waited for me to scan our card to enter. When I did I was gob smacked by the plush white carpet and wooden furniture. The curtains to the window were open and it overlooked the water. Right in front of us was definitely the Sydney Harbour Bridge. There was a kitchen on the left and a walk in wardrobe where I could see our suitcases. In front of us was the wooden dining table with two lime seats.

              On the right was the king sized wooden bed which had a beautiful white cover set on it. On our right was the marble floored jet spa, sauna, basin, shower, and toilet.

              Damon walked me across the room and gently placed me on the bed. My body was suddenly very alert as I felt my nipples peak painfully hard.

              “I haven’t officially made you mine since we gave one another our vows,” he growled. He pushed my legs apart and kissed up my inner thigh. My body tingled with heat and anticipation.

              “You have a lifetime to reassure our vows in this way,” I said with a smile as I closed my eyes enjoying the smell of him as he lifted my shirt and began to sweep kisses up my stomach.

              “But I want you right now and a lifetime of claiming you as mine over and over again. I will never let you tire of me,” he said. I felt a jolt in my stomach and Damon jolted upright. He looked at me in shock. “Did I just?” He looked between me and my stomach and pressed his hand to the same spot. He waited generously for moments before the sensation happened again. “Is, can I, are they kicking?” he asked. His smile widened as he rested his head back on my stomach. “Clover I can feel them,” he said with enthusiasm.

              “Welcome to my world,” I said sarcastically. “These are the little brats making me sick almost every day.” He continued to feel around happily now realizing the moment had passed.

              He perched himself on his elbow beside me and looked at me with fondness.

              “I really do love you,” he said pressing a kiss to my lips. My body still tingled with the same want and desire that it had moments ago. I grabbed the edge of his shirt and tugged him closer to me pressing a hard and passionate kiss to him.

              “And I love you too. But right now my very dashing husband, I would like you to prove it,” I said with a mischievous smile. My heat pounded with my heart as he looked at me the way that only Damon could. My body melted under his intensity as he cupped my face and kissed me hard. Our bodies rubbed together all too familiar and excited for one another’s touch.

              It had been a long journey for us and many lessons we had to learn. Our worlds opened to accommodate for not only each other but for overcoming our own insecurities and uncertainness. We had passion, love, loyalty, and partnership. In this world, Damon and I were perfect for each other and from then on since the day we had first met we proved that to one another, not only through words but actions. We now united in the bond of marriage and awaited the lessons to be learnt together as we built our family.

              Love is never ending. It can be painful, difficult and enduring but it is always worth it. Damon Brogardt will always be worth it.