Hand of Thorns (23 page)

On the car ride to the hospital I tell her about waking up to flowers on my doorstep, then about the phone call, my frustrating anxiety attack, and end with everything that happened between Leon and me. She listens as a friend should, not interrupting at all except to ask two simple questions.

When I'm finished, I look at her with fear of rejection. Her eyebrows are pulled together while she thinks. Peeking over at me during a red light, she asks, "Are you sure? I mean, that he's done with Ellie. He's not just saying that to keep you wrapped up in his bullshit."

"I don't know. When he said it I believed him. He seemed genuine."

"Be careful," she warns. "I know this is what you've been waiting for, and I know you love him, but keep your heart safe."

"I'll be okay, Sum."

She nods. "I know."

Sumner pulls into the parking lot of the hospital. I had called the nurse on the way, and she is waiting for us when we arrive inside. Shawna, the nurse, walks us to Mom's room, where we're updated on everything that has happened since she got called in. Mom has a tube in her throat, and is hooked up to a monitor and IV. They say she'll probably sleep the remainder of the day, and will be groggy for several days.

We sit in silence for over an hour, but as nothing changes and there is honestly nothing we can do, Sumner and I leave once again. It felt good to at least see her, to know she's breathing and that she'll be alright- hopefully- in the long run. I'm going to kill her when she's better for even attempting to do something such as cocaine.

I kiss her on the cheek before I leave, trying to remember the last time I even kissed my mom. I know I had kissed my father goodbye the day he passed away, but Mom... I think it's been a couple years. Maybe I should start attempting to be closer to her, maybe I can save her from this downhill slope. It’s hard when she makes things so impossible though.

My Valentine's Day started out horribly frustrating, and I felt like my life was ending- but by the time I finish dinner and a movie with Leon, and we make love until we're both too exhausted to go on, he falls asleep holding me, and I know life is as perfect as it's going to get.

I hadn't believed Leon when he told me his birthday was on Leap Day, but apparently it was. He had to work though, filming a commercial for a new cologne coming out this summer. So today we decided to celebrate after I got out of class. It happens to be a day I don't have to attend workshop with Doctor Marx, and everything about this evening excites me greatly.

He drives us up the coast a ways to stay at a Bed and Breakfast which sits on a cliff over the ocean. Standing inside the room with the French doors wide open and the white sheer curtains dancing in the wind, you can hear the waves crashing with force against the rocks below. The scenery surrounding us is stunning, with a field of wild flowers to one side and an area of hiking trails to the left. With having less than three weeks go to until D-Day, I know I'm not going to be able to hike. In fact, I was hoping to be locked up in the room anyways.

I had purchased a few things for Leon the other day, in case it was in fact his birthday. Most of our free time has been spent with one another the last few weeks, and it's getting to a point where I expect to see his face or receive a phone call for at least an hour a day. My addiction for Leon is the most incredible feeling I've ever known. It was hard to buy things for him without giving any hint, but I managed, and now I pull the wrapped presents from my bag, placing them on the bed.

He peeks over at me with curiosity. "Don't tell me those are for me."

"Obviously they are." I smile, pleased with what I got him.

Leon sighs. "No. You weren't supposed to get me anything."

"It's
your
birthday, yet you did all the planning and buying. Let me be happy about buying you a few gifts."

"Having you with me is present enough. Plus, you're holding onto my favorite birthday present right here." He stands behind me while holding onto my pregnant belly.

As Leon kisses my shoulder I rest my head backwards into him. "Please open them. I'm excited for them. In order from top to bottom."

He kisses my temple and steps around me. "I hate when people buy me things."

"Good." I stick out my tongue. "But you'll love these."

He eyes me warily but takes the presents anyways, sitting on edge of the bed. The first present he opens is a nice black collared shirt I was hoping he'd like, since he wears them pretty often. Plus I have a plan with it later. The following present is a crimson red neck tie, which he doesn't wear often, but I also have a plan with. He smirks when he sees it, cocking an eyebrow in the air. The third present is some lotion, and by now he's grinning. "I'm seeing a pattern here."

I purse my lips together, looking away. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Oh, come on. I know you only pretend to be innocent. I know the sexually aware nympho you truly are."

My face heats up. "Don't call me that."

He chuckles. "I only speak the truth." With a wink, he picks up the final present. He shakes it but it doesn't make noise. "Hmm, it's small and weighs hardly anything. I'm assuming handcuffs, a whip, or something equally as erotic."

I chew on my nail beds as he tears apart the blue and green wrapping paper. He opens the white lingerie box to pull out a lacey bra and matching thong. He grunts deep in his throat looking up to me with wild eyes, his pupils dilated. "
Fuck
. I need to see these on you. Now."

I rip them from his hands. "Perfect response," I tell him, as I feel my insides dampen with need. I grab his shirt and tie as well, then head towards the bathroom.

When I walk back out, I have the shirt unbuttoned- since there is no way it'd fit over me anyways- and the tie loosened around my neck. The matching red lingerie is playing peekaboo, and it all matches the dark red lipstick I added. I walk towards Leon, swaying my hips as I go. He leans back on the bed, watching me intently, his erection pushing against his jeans. I love knowing I can turn him on so easily.

As I crawl over his lap, I push against Leon's shoulder, making him completely lay back on the bed. I straddle over his lap, untying the necktie and reaching forward to tie up his hands together. I sit back up to slowly slide the shirt from my arms, tossing it to the floor. His eyes scour my body. "Holy fuck, Monica. You are so fucking sexy."

"And you're still dressed." I climb back off to undo his jeans and slide them down to his feet, adding his briefs into the mix. I make sure he's watching as I slide my thong down to the floor. When I straddle over him again, I rub my pussy against his hard cock, while shoving my thong into his mouth. I've never in my life done anything like this, nor have I imagined I'd have the audacity to do so, but it's thrilling and erotic, and I love how much Leon seems to thoroughly be enjoying it.

I slide my pussy over Leon's erect dick. My insides pulsate against him almost immediately. He groans, the thong echoing his sounds. Slowly I work my way up and down his cock, rocking my hips side to side as I get more of a rhythm. When he seems as though he's going to get off, I decide to press my fingers against myself so I, too, can come the same time as him.

When I'm hit with pure euphoria, I throw my head back, screaming out Leon's name. I can feel myself tighten around him as he fills me with his own release. When I catch my breath, I climb from Leon to suck my mess off his cock. I can hear the words, "Oh. My. God,” reverberate from Leon.

I smile at him when I'm finished, reaching to pull the thong from his mouth. He shakes his head at me, grinning ear to ear. "You're always surprising me. And I fucking love it."

I feel like a giddy school girl being rewarded with a gold star, giggling with slight embarrassment. “I was nervous it’d be too much for you.”

“Too much?” He sighs. “If you want kinky, I’ll give you kinky. I’ll take you any way I can have you, and in all the ways you desire to have me.”

I kiss him before heading back towards the bathroom. “Thank you. That probably means more than you know.”

It takes us both a while to get dressed, because apparently our hands can't stay off one another, but finally we are dressed and ready to go. Leon brings us to an extremely fancy restaurant down a winding road, which is almost too close to the edge of the cliff for comfort, but I feel safe being anywhere around Leon.

As we're eating dinner, my phone rings. I had told everyone where I'd be for the night and not to call unless it was an emergency, so I dig through my purse to find it, knowing it has to be something important. It's William's name that pops up on my screen.

"Oh my gosh," I yell out excitedly before actually answering my phone, probably causing a few heads to turn in my direction, but I don't care. "Hello? Is everything okay? Is she-"

"Yes," William interrupts. "We weren't sure if they were real contractions since she's been having so many Braxton Hicks, but she's already four inches dilated, and apparently they're going to start an IV and they're discussing an epidural."

"Wow. That was quick." I look to Leon, hating to interrupt his birthday dinner date, but I promised Penelope I'd be there for her. "I'll try to get there when I can." I can see the hurt on Leon's face, but he doesn't say as much.

William says he'll call if there are any updates before I get there, then the phone goes silent.

"I'm sorry," I apologize. "Penelope is in labor. I need to go to her."

He nods his head. "I get it. I'll get us to go containers and pay the bill." He leaves the table and somehow I feel like he's angry with me. I don't want him upset about it. He should be understanding, but at the same time I'm also understanding as to why he'd be disappointed with ending everything he planned. I mean, who knows, maybe he had something extraordinary planned for later. I feel guilty ruining it all.

The car ride to the hospital starts out silent, but since there is over an hour drive, I decide to ask him what's wrong, hoping it doesn't ruin anything... well anything more than what apparently has been ruined. "Did I upset you?" I ask.

"Nope."

"Don't lie to me."

He glances over with a sigh. "No. I'm not upset."

"Disappointed?"

"Nope."

"Leon..."

His fingers grip into the steering wheel before taking a sharp corner, going a little too fast, causing us to hit gravel. The car fishtails towards a small field on top of one of the cliffs. I start screaming out, holding my palms against the dashboard, but thankfully he gains control and we're back on the road. He doesn't even come close to losing his cool. Seconds later, when I know we're on a straight away and no cars are coming, I reach over to pound my fist into his arm. "What the fuck was that?" I yell. "You had me scared for my life."

"I wouldn't let anything happen to you." I see as his eyes move in my direction under his sunglasses but he gives no other hints.

"You don't know that. We are driving along cliffs. We could have easily died back there!"

"Monica, I wasn't going to let anything happen to you or the little potato. Stop it."

I grunt in frustration, staring out the window at the sea disappearing as we start to head closer towards the city rather than the coast. Another few minutes pass, but I'm getting more irritated with each passing second. Ever since I hit the last trimester of this pregnancy, I've been irritable with everything.

"No," I yell at him. "You're going to tell me what is wrong with you. I don't want this between us. We were fine, then you shut me out because I'm on the way to help a friend in need."

He starts to grip the steering wheel again, and I realize it was never about gaining control of the car, it was about being frustrated.

"Leon..."

"Monica." He says my name with a simplicity I don't care for.

"This is ridiculous. Pull over. I'll walk."

"You're not walking. It's almost eighty degrees outside. You'd dehydrate yourself."

"It'll be dark soon enough, the air is going to cool off. Besides, if you're truly concerned about me, you'd stop stressing the baby and me out by telling me what's wrong."

His jaw ticks back and forth for all of a second while he whips the car to the right, slowing down a lot faster than I had expected. He shoves the gear into park to turn and look at me. "You want to know what's wrong?"

"Yeah." I thought that was obvious.

"I'm about to be a dad, Monica. I don't know what the fuck I'm doing."

"That's... That's what this is about?"

"Soon I'm going to be getting a call saying you're the one in labor, and... I don't know if I'm fucking ready."

I let it all register for a minute, and all my frustration evaporates. In replace of it is amusement. I start to crack up. "Seriously? That is why you're being a grump?"

"Yeah," he deadpans.

Reaching for Leon's hand, I lace my fingers in with his. "You're going to make an amazing father. You're already protective by nature, you're smart, you're kind, you're caring. It's not going to be easy, but I promise you, it'll be worth it. You'll be great." I pull his hand to my stomach where Spud is kicking. “See. She loves you already. You're impossible not to love."

It takes a few moments for his posture to relax. He smiles softly, staring at his hand against my bare belly. "Why couldn't things have been different?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why couldn't this be
our
baby?"

Sometimes that's a fact I forgot... and by sometimes, I mean often. I hate forgetting that I'm going to hand Spud over to Ellie and Leon, to be faded into the background somewhere. I knew it from the beginning, obviously, but I didn't know I'd love a child I hadn't met yet, nor did I expect to fall in love with her father.

Shrugging, I say, "It wasn't meant to be."

"You know." He clears his throat. I hate the sudden change in his tone. Removing his hand from my stomach, he corrects his glasses, looking through his rearview mirror, like suddenly other things are more important than this conversation. "You know, I'm going to have to be there for Ellie."

"I assumed. I'd actually be sad if you weren't. I mean, that isn't a way for Vivienne to start out, having her family be broken before she's even born."

He tilts his head over at me. "Really?"

"It hurts, and I'm already jealous, but... but I can't say no."

"Thank you, beautiful." He leans in to brush his lips against mine. "One last thing."

"What?" I question, kind of nervous.

"Next Friday there is a banquet in honor of my brother. I was asked to invite you."

"You were asked?"

He runs his hand through his hair nervously. "By my brother... in front of Ellie. They both suggested I asked you."

"Oh." Not what I had expected at first.

"You don't have to go, but I'd like for you to."

"And Ellie is going to be there?" He nods his head. "I don't know, Leon. It doesn't sound very enticing."

He rubs my thigh, squeezing it while he stares at me through his frames. "You're due in three weeks. You could go early, late, or on time. We have no idea. What I do know is for the first few weeks after the baby is born, I probably won't get to see you much. I want to spend every moment between now and then as possible together, even if it's something like this banquet."