Unexpected Reality (40 page)

I can’t get her to the bedroom fast enough, having barely held it together all night. I wanted to share this with our family and friends, but what I really wanted—what I
needed
—was to make love to my wife.

My wife.

She’s mine. Forever, she’s mine.

I carry her to the bedroom and set her on her feet next to the bed. Although we planned this wedding in less than a month, Kendall was able to find a dress that’s kept my cock hard since the moment I first saw her in it. It’s form-fitting like a glove around her curves and short, showing off those long legs of hers. And although she’s a vision in it, I want it gone. I want to slowly peel it from her body and sink into her. The image of her today, when she appeared before me, will be one I will take with me to the grave. The moment she became my wife.

“You take my fucking breath away, Mrs. Beckett,” I say, running my lips over her bare shoulders.

“You don’t look too bad yourself, Mr. Beckett.”

“Turn for me, baby.” She does as I ask, and I stop her once her back is to me. She left her long hair down, so I sweep it to the side over her shoulder and kiss the nape of her neck. I trail my lips down her back until I reach the zipper.
Time to go.

I slide it down. “Arms up, sweet girl,” I say next to her ear. She complies and the dress falls to the floor. My mouth drops open when I see nothing but a white lace thong. “Mrs. Beckett, if I had known that was all you had on under that sinful dress, I would’ve kicked our guests out as soon as we said ‘I do.’”

She chuckles. “Surprise.” She turns to face me and I take in the beauty that is my wife, sweeping my eyes over every inch of her. When I reach the thong, my chest tightens as I see ‘Mrs. Beckett’ stitched into them in lavender—her favorite color, our wedding color, marking her as mine. I had intended to rip them from her body, but not now. I need these, not only as a memento of this day, this moment, but I like to see her labeled as mine. I make a mental note to find out where she got them and get her more.

Mrs. Beckett.

“You’re wearing too many clothes,” she says as she begins to unbutton my shirt. I grip the sides and tear it open; I need her, and this is taking way too long. She laughs as buttons flutter across the hardwood floor. She pushes the shirt off my shoulders as I unbutton my khaki pants and let them slide to the floor. Pulling my arms out of my sleeves and tossing the shirt behind me, she kneels before me and slides my boxer briefs down. When I kick them off, she looks up at me, blue eyes blazing with love as she takes the tip of my cock into her mouth. Reaching out, I have to grab ahold of the dresser to keep from falling on my ass. This woman.

“Not like this,” I say as I feel myself getting closer, chasing the release that her warm mouth is pulling from me. “Not tonight. I need to be inside you.” She slowly releases me with a pop and wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. I almost lose my shit at the sight of her.

My wife.

“On the bed,” I tell her. She doesn’t hesitate as she turns and climbs onto the big four-poster bed, her ass swinging, tempting the hell out of me. I follow after her and nip her right cheek.

“Gah!” She laughs.

Will it always be this way? Will we always be able to laugh in the bedroom? Will she always feel like what’s keeping me centered? I sure as hell hope so. I will fight like hell every day to make sure of it.

She falls to her back, reaching out to run her fingers through my hair. She loves it, and I keep it a little longer for that purpose—whatever my girl wants.

I bend down and kiss her. “I love you, Mrs. Beckett,” I say, slowly pushing into her.

“Love you too,” she breathes as she takes all of me.

I lock my eyes on hers and slowly make love to my wife. I didn’t think that this, being inside her, could ever feel better than all the times before, but it does. This time, it’s different; I can’t explain it, but I feel it. The way our bodies are joined as one, the way her back arches off the bed, her feet digging into my ass, her nails digging into my back. Her eyes, those baby blues that hold my stare as I continue to thrust in and out of her. It’s all different, better, and I’m rocked to my core.

My sweet girl.

My wife.

“Ridge,” she moans, and I thrust harder as we chase our release together as husband and wife for the first time. I feel her squeezing me, and I let go inside her.

Rolling over, I crush her to my chest, just holding her.

“That was . . . intense,” she says when I finally release my death grip on her.

“Yeah,” I agree. No other words are needed. Our connection that was already solid as steel somehow seemed to mold into something you could only ever experience with your true soul mate. She’s mine.

We lie there for I don’t know how long, her head on my chest, my hands running through her hair. It’s not until I look over and see the envelope that I realize I forgot to give her, my wedding present.

I had to enlist my new father-in-law’s help, and he was all too willing. “Hey, you ready for your wedding present?” I ask.

She lifts her head and smiles. “I thought we said no gifts?”

“We did, but mine isn’t something I bought.”

“Ridge. You promised.”

“I know, but this is more of something we can all use.”

She gives me the stink eye, but then her lips tip with a smile. “Fine, gimme,” she sits up in bed, holding the sheet to her bare breasts.

I jump out of bed, grab the envelope, and hand it to her. Her face scrunches up in confusion. Climbing in the bed beside her, I pull her to me. “Open it.”

Slowly, she opens the envelope and pulls the papers out. I can’t see her face, and it’s killing me not knowing what she’s thinking.

“Kendall?”

“Adoption papers,” she breathes.

“I had your dad draw them up. I know you’re not ready, that you’re still struggling with everything, but I wanted you to have them. I want you to know that in my eyes, you are his mother. Melissa gave him life, but you’re raising him and I want nothing more than you to legally become his mom. Your dad hasn’t filed anything yet. Instead, he gave me these. It’s drawn up and all you have to do is sign it to start the process. You take as long as you need. Just know that I love you, and even if you never sign them, in my eyes you are his mom.”

Her shoulders shake with silent sobs, and I kick myself in the ass for ruining our wedding night. “I’m sorry, baby. I don’t want to upset you or ruin this night, but I need you to know.”

“Ridge, this is the greatest gift. You are giving me the rights to your son. That precious little man.” She covers her mouth. “I love him. I couldn’t love him more if he were mine.”

“I know that.”

“I just—”

“Shhh.” I hug her tight. “Take all the time you need to process it. When you’re ready, sign them and give them to your dad. He’ll take care of the rest.”

She nods.

I slide the papers back into the envelope and place them on the nightstand. Kendall surprises me by climbing on my lap and straddling my hips. Her hands cradle my cheeks. “You are the most amazing man. I don’t know if it was Melissa or just luck, but whatever brought you to me, I will be eternally grateful. I love you.” She kisses me and it soon grows heated. The next thing I know, she’s sliding home and I make love to my wife for the second time.

After our wedding night, I decided to see a counselor. I wanted to be Knox’s mom—in my heart, I felt like I was—but I just couldn’t get past the guilt. Survivor’s guilt is what my therapist’s calls it. For the last several months, I’ve gotten better. I’ve come to realize that what happened to my sister was tragic, but I needed to keep living. That little boy who lights up my world every single day needs a mother, and I’m the lucky one. I have the adoption papers in my top dresser drawer. Ridge and my dad neither one has mentioned them. My husband is truly the most amazing man on the planet.

I’ve been thinking more about signing them and making our little family official. It wasn’t until last week that I finally did. When Knox called me Mom, my heart soared and I knew in that moment that he needs what I had. I had two people who wanted a child and made me their own. They never treated me like I wasn’t a part of them, and that’s how I treat Knox.

So I signed the papers. I dropped them off to my dad at his office and he simply smiled and nodded. Here I am a week later, stopping by to pick up the copy of the official adoption petition to give to Ridge. It’s little man’s first birthday, so it’s kind of a gift for both of them. Well, that and my other news. I’ve been feeling off the last couple of weeks, so I made a doctor’s appointment this morning, and low and behold, I’m pregnant. I don’t think I’ve stopped smiling since the second the doctor told me.

Luckily for me, Dad chalked it up to being happy about the papers, so he didn’t question me. He wouldn’t have been wrong, but to know I’m carrying a part of Ridge is surreal. And Knox . . . well, my little man is going to be a big brother. I need to tell Ridge first.

I think back to the way he proposed and I hop online to place my order. Overnight shipping is outrageous, but I’ll be lucky to wait until tomorrow to tell him.

He’s not going to be home until late tonight; he and the guys have started back up with card night. Reagan and Dawn are coming over and helping me decorate for Knox’s birthday party tomorrow.

“What has you smiling like you won the lottery?” Dawn asks.

Shit. I can’t tell them I’m pregnant, but I can give them a little something. “Did you know that Ridge gave me adoption papers for Knox as a wedding gift.”

They both nod yes. “I signed them.” I grin.

They both tackle me with hugs, and when I hear a squeal and little hands wrap around my legs, I know this is right. The girls back away and Knox seals the deal when he says, “Mom,” and holds his little arms up to me.

“Oh, my God!” Reagan cries.

I pick him up and he gives me a sloppy kiss on my cheek. I look over my two best friends, and they both have silent tears running down their face and blinding smiles. “Don’t tell Ridge. It’s a surprise.

They both agree, and for the rest of the night, they fire off ideas of how to tell him. I bite my tongue and smile as I listen to their ideas. They are pretty inventive, but I like mine better. I just have to cross my fingers that overnight Saturday delivery comes through for me.

It better, for what it cost.

Knox started walking a few weeks ago, and his little legs carry him all over the place. Kendall and I thought he got into everything when he was crawling, but those little legs are fast.

This past year has brought so many changes in my life, my son and my wife being the biggest. I can still remember the fear I felt when Melissa died. The fear of raising him on my own. Then fate stepped in—or Melissa, rather, because I know in my heart that she sent Kendall to us—and I found this beautiful, sweet woman to raise him with me. To share my life with.

Life is good.

Today is Knox’s birthday party, and my wife seems to be on edge. I’ve chalked it up to her wanting everything to be perfect for his big day.