SEX Unlimited The Complete Volumes (24 page)

I’m laying here full of yummy pizza and feeling gluttonous. When Brisban walks in the room holding the fluffiest, most delectable looking cupcakes I almost die on the spot.

I rub my hand back and forth over my stomach. “You’re going to make me way fatter than I’m already going to be. You know that? Cupcakes need to stay far away from me…especially after all that pizza.”

“It’s
one
cupcake. Not only that, it is the BEST damn cupcake you will ever eat in your life. These cupcakes are my weakness. You and these cupcakes are almost one because you make me weak in the knees too.”

“Are you comparing me to a cupcake?” I laugh.

“Just wait until you taste it and I assure you’ll be honored.” He sits on the edge of the bed and I kick playfully at him.

“These better be damn good cupcakes then. I don’t know how I feel being compared to a baked good.”

He swipes the top of one cupcake with his finger. “Here first you have to taste this icing. Open up.”

I open my mouth and lean forward, wrapping my lips around his finger when he brings it closer. The sugary, creamy, white icing hits my taste buds and I swirl my tongue around his finger slowly. He’s right. If the cupcake is anything like the silky goodness I taste right now I might be in trouble. He watches me as I suck on his finger and clearly starts getting turned on. His cock is coming back to attention. I love the affect I can so easily have on him.

“Mmm,” I say leaning back and licking my lips. “You’re right. That’s pure sinfulness.”

He looks down to his almost fully aroused cock and then back to me. “I agree.”

“Now, who’s being dirty?” I ask playfully.

“Hey, you’re the one with the magical mouth and tongue. You did that,” he nods towards his dick, “I have no control over it when you do things like suck on my finger the same way you suck on it. Not that I’m complaining, in any way at all.”

We laugh together and he leans forward holding the cupcake to my mouth. “Here, back to the important stuff; the best cupcake in the world. Open up.”

As soon as I bite into the soft bundle of velvet, a mixture of flavors explode in my mouth. My brows go up and then I close my eyes savoring the taste.

“I told you. You can’t even deny it. It’s so good, it’s evil.”

Opening my eyes I lick my lips nodding. “Oh God, that is dangerous right there. What is it?”

“It’s double chocolate, red velvet from a little bakery on the south side of town. They know me by name there.”

“Don’t give me the address because this could be very bad for my figure if I ever find out exactly where these are.”

He laughs and reaches out, swiping a crumb from the corner of my mouth with his finger. “You can have all the cupcakes you want. Nothing can change how beautiful you are. No matter how much weight you gain, you’re going to be perfectly gorgeous to me.”

He leans in and gives me a chaste kiss. “I don’t know how I ever got so lucky to find you,” I tell him.

“You aren’t lucky.
We
are lucky.”

I wrap my arms around him. He leans to the side, setting the cupcakes on the bedside table. “I love you,” I whisper. “I think I loved you before I even knew you. There’s no way this wasn’t destined to happen for us. It’s too good to have not been fate.”

He hugs me back. “I don’t know if it was fate or luck or chance. All I know for sure is…it’s real. I’ve never felt such a strong depth of happiness in love as I do right now, in this moment, with you. You feel like home to me. I haven’t had a home in so long. You’re my forever home, Candace.”

His voice cracks and he goes silent. His body jerks ever so subtly and I think he’s crying. I pull back. “Brisban?”

He shakes his head and I see the tears. “Why are you crying? God, you can’t cry. I am already an emotional and hormonal mess. You’re going to make me lose it.”

His beautiful caramel eyes blink slowly and big tears fall down his stern face. His stubble is dark and longer than usual. He’s tragically handsome.

“I’m sorry. I miss her. I miss Willow. I’m so fucked up inside about her, yet so happy about us. I want our baby. I want you…but I want her back.” He drops his head and pinches the bridge of his nose. “I have to let her go. If I don’t, I’ll never be able to be a good father to this baby. Our baby deserves all of me.”

My heart cracks. “Brisban, please look at me.” I reach out and cradle his beautiful, tear streaked face in my hands and look him straight in the eyes. “You never have to let Willow go.” I place a hand on his heart. “She’s here. She’ll always be here.” His eyes soften and I try so hard to hold back my own tears. I grasp each of his hands and rest them on my stomach. “Our baby will love you with all of his or her heart and you will be an incredible dad.”

No matter how hard I try I can’t hold back. Tears break free from my eyes and we cry together.

Sad tears.

Happy tears.

Hopeful tears.

Several months later…

TIME HAS FLOWN BY AND so much has changed and happened. James finally accepted that we weren’t ever getting back together. I heard from Janette that he moved away; it’s for the best. I will always have a place for him in my heart, no matter how things ended. I feel conflicted over that at times but I think it’s only human to have that feeling for someone I loved for so long.

Brisban
did
propose. I was reluctant to marry him when I looked like a blimp but he insisted. I know he tried not to rush things but, with us, rules haven’t ever really applied. We had a small ceremony and Dawn actually sent us a wedding gift. It was a beautiful, leather bound baby book for the baby. I was stunned. Brisban didn’t seem surprised—he says she has a good heart. She’s dating and when Willow was finally laid to rest, she handled it all very well with Brisban, even though he chose not to attend. I disagreed with him not going but I supported his choice. I can’t even begin to imagine having to face something like that. He sold his condo and moved in with me. Yesterday when I went into labor—I’ve never seen a man so fraught with worry and excitement in my life. Janette has been here with him at the hospital the entire time. Our families are coming in tomorrow. I’m glad we have today just us.

Janette smiles down at the bundle of perfection in my arms. “He’s beautiful, Candace.”

“I just keep looking at him, Janette. I look at him and can’t believe it’s real. He’s really here and really healthy.”

She pats me on the shoulder. “Yes, he is and you deserve every ounce of the happiness you have. I’ve never known anyone who deserves a happily ever after more than you and Brisban.”

Looking down at William Bryce Calloway, my son, I notice every feature he was gifted with from his dad. He’s the most perfect little human on the earth. “He looks like him, doesn’t he?”

“Yep, you better get ready to lock him away when he gets older. Bitches are going to be knocking your door down for this boy.”

“Janette!” I scold her.

“What? You know it’s true,” she laughs.

“I can’t believe you are cussing in front of a new born baby.”

“Oh God, Candace get a grip. He’s asleep and I’m his godmother. He’s going to hear it soon enough when I babysit.”

I roll my eyes and shake my head.

“What is the head shaking all about?” Brisban asks as he comes in the room, holding two cups of coffee; one for him and one for Janette. Neither of them has slept at all since I went into labor.

“Janette is already teaching William bad words.”

He hands Janette her coffee. “No, not Janette.”

“Wise ass.” Janette, gives him a smirk.

“I give up,” I say.

We all laugh and William stirs in my arms. “Oh, he’s waking up.”

Brisban sets his coffee down and sits on the edge of the bed. “Let me hold him for a while, babe. You haven’t gotten any rest at all. You need to sleep some.”

“You haven’t slept either.”

He arches a brow. “I didn’t just give birth to a human being either. Don’t worry about me. I’m fine.” He leans down and kisses me on the forehead. “Please, just take a short nap.”

I sigh, “Okay.”

Wrapping the blanket around William snuggly, I kiss him on the little pink cheek and hand him over to his dad.

“We are going to watch our first game together while you rest.” He sits over in the rocker and props his feet up while grabbing the remote for the room TV.

I just smile. Looking at him holding our son fills me with so much happiness that I could burst. I reach over and turn the bedside lamp out. Janette leans down and hugs me. “I’m going to head home and shower. I’ll be back later on today. Love you.”

“Love you, too. Thank you for being here.”

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

“Someone sent more flowers. This room looks like a botanical garden,” Brisban says, bringing in a huge vase of mixed flowers. He places them on the table near the window and pulls the card out of the little envelope.

“Who sent them?”

His expression is stoic and he’s reading intently when he looks up and walks over, handing it to me.

Candace,

Congratulations on the birth of your son. As hard as it may be for you to believe this, I am happy for you and your new husband. When I heard you remarried it was painful, yet it was the reality check I needed. I’m sure you heard I quit the force and moved back home to be near family. I’m taking some time for myself to try and get my life back on track.

I wish you and your new family well. I know how much you’ve always wanted a child and, even though it wasn’t with me, I’m happy you found your happy ending.

—James

I look up at Brisban and back to the card. “I don’t know what to say. I never expected this from him.”

“Everyone has their bad side, Candace, and everyone has their good side. He had to get through his bad stuff on his own and now he’s moving on. He loves you in his own way, just like I love Dawn in my own way. And it’s okay that you still love him, too.”

He comes over and sits down on the bed beside me while reaching down and holding my hand. “Lots of people have more than one love in their lives. You had James and I had Dawn, but
you
Candace…you’re my only home. You’re my best friend, my confidant, my partner, and my forever love. The way I love you has no end. When I breathe my last breaths on this earth you and our family will be the only love I take with me.”

WE’VE NEVER VISITED HERE BECAUSE Brisban wasn’t ready. The breeze is blowing and it’s a beautiful summer day. I squeeze his hand as we walk across the green grass. As we near the gravesite my heart rate picks up. Now that I’m a mother this has such a heavier feeling for me than it already did.

When we reach the headstone, my nerves are all over the place. I look up at Brisban; he’s holding William on his hip. He’s a year old now and getting so big.

“You want me to take him?” I ask, concerned that he needs to gather himself some.

“No, it’s okay.” He lets go of my hand and kneels down in front of the stone still holding William.

“Hey, baby girl. It’s Daddy.”