Xander_Part 2_The Present Read online

  Finally.

  I want her so badly I can’t go slow.

  I remove her clothes in record time. She laughs in surprise when I grab the side of her panties in both hands and tear.

  “Wow,” she breathes.

  I waste no time. I kiss her neck, her breasts, her abdomen. When I gently suckle her nipple, she cries out.

  Hurry, hurry, hurry.

  When I slide my hand between her legs, slip my middle finger inside her, she’s hot and wet.

  “I’m sorry. I need you.”

  “Then take me,” she replies.

  I continue to finger her until she’s close to the edge before pulling back to take off my clothes.

  I lift her into my arms and place her on the bed. She welcomes me with open arms.

  I kiss her passionately, our tongues tangling, dueling. I need more.

  She grabs my cock and I groan. It feels too good.

  “I won’t last.”

  She positions the head of my dick at her opening, sliding it up and down, coating it with her arousal. With a slow, steady thrust, I sink inside my wife. In my bed. For the first time. God, so many firsts in this moment. I revel inside at the thought that these are firsts no one can take from us. Not even Carter Winters.

  “You feel so good, Xan,” she moans.

  “Jesus, you’re so beautiful,” I tell her and she lifts her hips to meet me half way. Her eyes glaze over with passion, her mouth parts, and she makes the sexiest sounds.

  I kiss her neck and she gets wetter. I flick her nipple with my tongue and she gets hotter. I angle my hips and hit her sweet spot, and she moans louder.

  “Yes, Xan. Right there. Oh my God.”

  “Mmm,” I groan when she clenches around me, so tight I nearly come.

  “More,” she demands.

  I give it to her. I fuck her faster, harder, deeper, and it isn’t long before we’re both teetering on the edge.

  “Go over,” I urge, rubbing my pelvis against her clit, burying myself so deep—so fucking deep.

  “Xan,” she gasps, her eyelashes flutter and her entire body begins to shudder. She gets the sexiest flush from the top of her head to the tips of her breasts when she comes, and this time is no exception.

  “Oh, God,” she cries out, her pleasure intense, and I feel her walls spasm around my cock.

  “Fuck,” I growl, knowing I’m done for. The pleasure begins and spreads like wildfire. When she comes again, I give in and come with her.

  It’s hot, it’s long, it steals my breath. My entire body stiffens as I come and come and come, each spurt of release harder than the last.

  We’re both panting, both limp, both spent.

  “I’m going to love having you here with me—and not just for the sex,” I tell her.

  “It better be for more than sex!” she scolds.

  I laugh when she elbows me in the side.

  “God, I love you,” I breathe against her lips.

  “I love you so much,” she replies.

  A perfect moment in time.

  22

  XANDER

  We take a quick shower, Tera pinning up her long locks so as to not get them wet. I tried to bang her again in the shower, but she wasn’t having any of it.

  Something’s different about her. It’s not just that she’s happier…

  I watch her, look at my wife, really look at her. She’s curvier. Sexier. Prettier.

  She’s trying to hook her bra and getting frustrated when it doesn’t latch right away.

  “Here, let me,” I offer. When it’s closed, I reach around and cup her breasts. She’s always had an incredible rack, but… wait.

  “I’m not feeling so well,” she tells me, her face pale, beads of sweat on her brow.

  “Do you want some ginger ale or something? Mrs. M swears by that,” I offer.

  She shakes her head, her eyes widen, and she books it to the bathroom. She barely makes it to the toilet before she starts throwing up. I’m not gonna lie. Before the K-Quads, I probably would’ve puked right along with her. But having four puking and shitting machines around, well, it toughens a person up.

  But seeing her retch like this, dry heaving.

  I wet a cloth and wipe her forehead.

  “Are you okay? Do you need to rest? Was it from flying, do you think?” I keep firing off questions. It can’t be food. She’s got nothing in her stomach. Maybe that’s the problem.

  She shakes her head and gasps for breath.

  “Maybe you need to eat something.”

  When she’s done, tears run down her cheeks, her face is now red, and she looks exhausted.

  “Come here, woman. Let’s rinse your mouth.”

  I hand her a cup of water, a toothbrush, toothpaste, and mouthwash.

  “There’s some medication in the cabinet from when I had food poisoning. Do you want some of that? There’s some of that pink chalky shit in there too,” I offer.

  “No, no. This is good. I just need to get this taste out of my mouth.”

  I nod.

  “Then I want to talk to you about something.”

  “If it’s about the family, it’ll be okay. They’re upset now, yeah, but once we explain everything it’ll be okay. And we don’t have to go into too much detail if you’re not comfortable with that. I mean, they’re strangers to you at this point—”

  “Not really,” she says, cutting me off. “You’ve told me so much over the years, I feel as if I know them already. But, I am a stranger to them. I’ll be okay with details. Will they, do you think?” she asks.

  I shrug. “I don’t see why not. I guess we’ll just warn them, you know?”

  She nods. “Especially Lucy seeing as she’s gone through something like that too.”

  “Yeah, she has. She’s kept a lot of that between her and Jesse. I only know parts. I respected that because I know from everything you’ve been through that talking about it to other people can’t be easy.”

  “It’s not. It’s really not.” She rinses her mouth.

  We finish getting dressed, and we sit on the sofa in the sitting room.

  “What did you want to talk about?” I ask.

  She blows out a breath, smiles, winces, then smiles and winces again.

  “I’m not sure how to say this.”

  And right now I’m not sure if I should be worried or what. She looks like whatever she’s about to say might not be something I want to hear.

  “Just blurt it out, baby,” I encourage, taking her hand in mine.

  She nods, then takes a deep breath before looking into my eyes.

  “Xander,” she begins.

  “Yes.”

  “I, um, wow, this is harder than I thought. I mean, I’m worried about how you’ll react.”

  “Now you’re getting me worried. Just say it. We’ll figure it out,” I vow.

  “Okay. Okay.”

  Another deep breath. Oh boy.

  “It’s like this, Xan. I kinda messed up.”

  My heart sinks into my stomach, and I swear it'd fall out my ass if I weren't sitting down.

  “How? What’s going on?”

  She looks up, then looks back at me. “I’m pregnant.”

  It doesn't register. I'm expecting Tera to say she banged someone else or something. I mean, we had that agreement years back and after she said ‘yes' that agreement changed. It's just been her and me. No one else. So… wait. What?

  “Did you just say you’re pregnant?” I ask, my voice actually squeaking.

  She nods, biting her lower lip.

  “Are you sure? I mean, did you see a doctor? Is this one okay? I know you had tests and they said things looked okay, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be okay. Holy shit. Really?”

  She nods.

  "A baby? Our baby. Holy shit!" I slide to the floor and hug her waist, resting my head on her abdomen. "I knew something was up. Your boobs are bigger, and you're curvier. Holy shit, Tera!"

  She’s laughing and crying at the s
ame time.

  "That's why you were sick. Have you been sick a lot? Do you know how far along you are?" I'm full of questions, and I can't stop kissing her stomach.

  “I’ve been sick every day and usually around mid-afternoon like now and nighttime. It’s brutal, X. Brutal.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me sooner? How far along did you say you were?”

  She laughs. “I didn’t say, but I’m just staring the second trimester, so four months. I wanted to wait to see if I made it through the first trimester. Miscarriages happen most often in the first trimester. I didn’t want to tell you because I didn’t want you to worry. I knew I was coming out here, but I had so many things to get organized before I did.”

  “Wow,” I whisper. My heart beating so hard. It feels so full. “Our baby is in there.”

  She nods. “Are you happy?”

  I look up at her. “What? Baby, I’m fucking ecstatic! I’m just in the ‘holy shit we’re having a baby’ and ‘I’m so fucking excited I can’t speak’ stage.”

  “Oh, thank God. I was worried—”

  “Baby. Never. I love you. I am so fucking happy right now I don’t even have words, and you know that shit doesn’t happen to me often.”

  “No, it certainly doesn’t.”

  “I have an appointment with Dad after the new year.”

  I close my eyes as my heart swells even more. “I love that you’re going to Dad. I—” I can’t talk anymore. The tears fall. “I didn’t know if we’d ever have a baby, and that would’ve been okay. If something happens that this doesn’t work out, then that’s what happens. I want you to know, Tera, you and me? We’re more than enough—just so you know. In case. But, Jesus. We’re having a baby!” I laugh.

  “We are.”

  “You said you messed up. What did you mean?”

  “I forgot to take my pills the days you came to visit. It wasn’t on purpose. I’m so sorry, Xander.”

  “What? Stop. I know it wasn’t on purpose. I kept you in bed that whole week. So, baby, it’s not just on you. I remember that week. It was a damn fine week.” Thinking about it is getting me horny. We fucked like rabbits, made love like it was the first time, and everything in between.

  “Stop thinking about it,” Tera teases. “We don’t have time.”

  “Tera, there’s always time for some Xander lovin’.”

  She laughs. “I’m sure the family is wondering if we’re ever going to explain things to them.”

  “I’m sure they are, but holy fucking hell, Tera. Knowing you’re pregnant with my baby and thinking of the week when I got you that way,” I growl, my dick hard as stone. “I am so hard right now.”

  “I would help you with that, but I think if I tried, I’d be sick again. My nausea isn’t so great right now,” she offers.

  "Don't even give it a thought. It can wait until later. And then again. I'm going to love you so good," I tell Tera, kissing her belly and up to her breasts. I cup them again. "I knew they were bigger. You're so fucking sexy."

  I feel like a beast. There’s some primal force, some man gene kicking in to where I feel powerful, more virile. Almost caveman-like.

  "Holy shit! This is what Jesse felt when he went all growly on Lucy. I get it now. Man, I get it now. I feel like—I don't even know how to tell you. I really like knowing I knocked you up," I confess.

  Tera rolls her eyes. “You would. Men, I swear. And while you like my boobs bigger, they’re tender, so be gentle.”

  I nod. "I will. I promise. Man, this is… hell fucking yeah, Tera!" I shout, and she laughs. "Wait until we tell Dad. Wait until we tell Mr. and Mrs. M. They're going to go crazy."

  “Well, Dad knows, since I asked him if it was okay to have him be my baby doctor,” she admits.

  “Damn. How come he always knows before me?” I whine.

  “Aww, poor baby,” she croons, teasing me.

  “I want to know something first. Just once.”

  “Okay. How about this?”

  I look up at her, feeling hopeful.

  “If things work out how I hope they will, I’m moving out here to be with you. I want us to be a family,” she tells me, looking nervous.

  My heart stops, and I smile at her.

  “There’s nothing I want more.”

  23

  XANDER

  "How mad did they look?" I ask Tera.

  "I'm sure they're past the mad now and moved on to the disappointment and feelings of betrayal," she tells me.

  "Gee, thanks a lot for putting that out there," I tease.

  She shrugs. "I'm not going to sugar coat it for you. If I were Lucy or the other women who hadn't been let in on the fact that you were married, and you were my best friend, I'd be so hurt. They're your family, and Lucy's your best friend, right?"

  I nod. "Yeah. I'm closest to Lucy and Jesse."

  "Then, let's go fix this before it gets worse."

  Worse. As with all things, it will get worse before it gets better—but I’m keeping that to myself. I’m sure she knows it anyway judging by her stiff posture.

  I grab her hand again. "Let's go tackle this situation so I can tackle you—again." I wiggle my eyebrows and she snickers.

  I stop where I keep my snacks and drinks, the kitchenette, and give my wife a bottle of ginger ale. “Glass? Ice?”

  “Both, please. Light on the ice, though.”

  Let's hope the drama can be handled quickly and smoothly. I hate that I hurt their feelings. I hate that I hurt Lucy, of all people. It's time to explain what I can, for now. It's time to get my life back with Tera.

  As we head down the stairs, we notice everyone's sitting in the holiday-decorated room where we all gather on special occasions, the only room that’s big enough to hold all of us. And when I say everyone, I mean everyone. I squeeze Tera's hand gently to reassure her. I can feel her shaking with nerves. Looking down at the crowd, I can see how it could be intimidating.

  "Tera!" Dad calls out. He walks over, and they hug.

  I glance around the room. Jesse looks over then winces in warning. I nod slightly. I figured it wasn't going to be good at first. But I have my reasons for keeping this to myself—that being my wife’s wishes. They’ll have to understand, or they can go on being upset. Tera has to always come first—I learned that the hard way, we all did.

  The second Dad lets loose of Tera, Lucy steps up.

  She holds out her hand to Tera. "Hi. I'm Lucy, Jesse's wife."

  Tera shakes Lucy's hand. "Tera, Xander's wife."

  "Yeah," Lucy says, her tone leaving no question she's displeased. “I heard about that. It's great to meet you."

  "Thanks," Tera answers. "You, too. Finally."

  "Finally?" Lucy questions.

  Tera nods. "I've heard so much about you—all of you."

  Lucy taps her fingernail to her bottom lip. "Interesting. Xander hasn't been quite as forthcoming about you."

  Tera winces. "I'm sorry about that. It's so complicated."

  Lucy nods then looks at me. "Xan, Xan, Xan. Looks like you got some 'splaining to do."

  I knew this was coming. Tera and I will handle this like we’re going to handle everything from here on out—together.

  24

  TERA

  I steel myself, mustering up the courage to face all of these people who mean so much to my husband. I can do this. We can do this.

  Xander takes my hand and squeezes gently.

  “Are all the kids napping?” Xan asks.

  “Yeah, we put them down a little bit ago,” Jesse answers.

  “Shall we?” I ask Xander.

  He nods, and we take a seat on some throw pillows adjacent to the fire. This gives everyone in the room a clear view of us.

  “Hi,” I begin. “I’m Tera.”

  Everyone introduces themselves and, oh boy, Lucy's parents and grandparents, Sera and her husband, Dad and Sandy, Meggie and Trace, Joey Russo—the movie star (I just watched a movie with him in it the other night!), Jace and Summer,
Jesse and Lucy, Kennedy, Linc, Ethan, Ben and Nicole, Damian, Celeste, Ernesto, Joan, Nico, Bella, Emilio—all names I've heard but most of whom I've never met. Mama and Papa have gone to their living quarters behind the mansion. Guesthouse? That is so much more than a guest house.

  “We’ll start from the beginning,” Xander tells them.

  Xander tells them all of it. How he pushed me away and hated himself for it. How he missed out on those firsts with me. How they won the contest, and I was with them every step of the way, their biggest cheerleader next to our dad.

  "Hold up," Lucy says, frowning. "Keyboards. Linc played keyboards didn't he?"

  Xander nods, smiling.

  "Stalkerrrr," Sera teases.

  "He did. He also helped with the soundboards. The guy is a genius with the boards," Xander tells them.

  He goes on to tell them about touring, spending time apart, asking me to marry him, how I refused the first time. He continues on with the second time he asked and how he had to leave for the tour a couple days later. He starts to explain about me being an artist, how I won that competition and went to LA…

  Now it’s my turn.

  “I’d won a contest and the gallery that held it, had a showing for all of the finalists and winners. I should clarify. I paint. I’m an artist.” Then I tell them everything that happened. I don’t go into great detail, I won’t subject them to that. Lucy begins to cry. Others gasp. I hate telling this story, but at least I only have to do it once.

  Xander wraps an arm around me when my voice begins to crack.

  When I finish telling my part, Lucy walks over with a bottle of water and gives me a big hug.

  “One day we should talk, Tera. My story isn’t nearly as tragic as yours, but I have one too.”

  “I’d like that. Not to hear about your pain—”

  She smiles softly and sniffles. “I know.”

  “That couldn’t have been easy to share,” Cage says.

  I sniffle and wipe beneath my eyes.

  “It wasn’t,” Linc answers for me. “She’s had agoraphobia for nearly a decade, anxiety so bad she hyperventilates, and PTSD that can be debilitating.”