Gabe ran through an obstacle course of wooden sections before we got to the swings where Kalen pushed him high in the sky.
While we played, I imagined life with another child for Kalen to chase after and smiled to myself.
It was hours later when Kalen took my hand and said, “Come on.”
I glanced around for Gabe and noticed Ainsley was with him.
“I asked her to come. You and I need some alone time. I’m taking you to dinner.”
I looked down at myself. “Not like this.”
“I think you look great.”
“No way.”
He laughed. “Come,” he said again.
We walked back to his place hand in hand. And just that little contact brightened my spirits.
All I could think about was how we were alone in the house.
“Not yet,” he teased, noticing my hungry gaze. “We have a reservation.”
Then he pulled out a dress bag. “Wear this,” he added.
He disappeared from the room, leaving me to unzip the bag revealing a lacy white dress that would cling to every curve including my belly bump, which wasn’t exactly large.
From all that I read, every pregnant woman was different on how fast her belly grew. At this point, in certain clothes, no one would be able to tell I was pregnant yet.
Once curiosity got ahold of me, I couldn’t deny it. I stepped into the dress and pulled it up.
After running a hand through my hair and applying a little makeup, I stood there in the mirror taking it all in.
“You’re beautiful,” Kalen said, coming up behind me. His hand snaked around and landed protectively on my belly.
I spun in his arms and said, “Kiss me.”
I wanted so much more than that. His touch was the cure to everything that ailed me. But I settled for his lips on mine.
When his hand slipped between my legs, I gasped.
“Is that what you need?” he asked.
I nodded. What I really wanted was for him to hoist me up against the wall and fuck me like he had the first time we’d met.
Instead, he bent down on his knees and slowly pushed up my dress to expose me as I hadn’t put on underwear yet.
He spread my legs before using his tongue to taste me like I was the most decadent chocolate.
“Please,” I begged, wanting more than his mouth.
When he slid a finger inside me, he said, “This.”
I was left only to moan when he stroked that inner button that threw everything in high gear, especially when he sucked my clit. I flew apart at the seams as my orgasm hit me hard and fast, and I nearly collapsed.
“There you go,” he said, catching me in his arms. “You needed that.”
I nodded, still unable to catch my breath.
“There’s more of that later. But we have a reservation to get to.”
I might have protested if I could, but Kalen had other plans. He swept me off my feet and carried me to his private elevator that led to his garage of vehicles.
When we reached the blue machine as I’d called the Mercedes Vision, I smiled.
“Can I drive?” I asked, finding my voice.
“Next time.”
I laughed because somehow I was sure tomorrow would never come.
“Sure,” I joked.
Though we rode in silence, he held my hand the entire time. I was surprised when we pulled up to the Eventi Hotel. The place where we first met.
We were given the red carpet treatment like we were celebrities as soon as we pulled up. Then again, Kalen was sort of a big thing in New York.
No moment was wasted when we entered the restaurant. We were ushered to the best table in the house according to the hostess.
“Why are we here?” I asked after Kalen ordered for us.
I didn’t balk since he hadn’t steered me wrong yet when it came to food, or anything for that matter.
“I think you know why.”
Let’s just say dinner went by fast. Then we were taking an elevator up to the banquet hall level. The room looked so empty, no longer filled with guests.
What was familiar was his hand at the small of my back, guiding me to a door into the men’s bathroom.
Already anticipating what was to come, me that was, I clenched my thighs before we breached the door.
Dim lighting flickered on as we entered. He pulled me inside the first stall, one I’d never forget.
Then I found myself pressed to the wall.
“This might have been where things started,” he said. “But ever since that night, you’ve owned me. I need you to understand that.”
He pulled the box with the ring I’d yet to wear from his pocket.
“In some cultures and times since past, all you needed was this and an agreement between two people.”
“I already said yes. I need you to stop treating me like glass. It’s been a month. I can take it.”
He stepped forward, closing any space that had been between us. “I need you to be my wife.”