Now and Forever (22 page)

Her dad cast a sharp glance as he walked past. “Language, Layla,” he scolded.

“What? That’s how we talk, Dad. When we have kids, they’ll be like, ‘Pass the fucking Cheerios’ and ‘Change my damn diaper.”

“Baby, our kids are gonna grow up with manners,” Ben said, putting an arm around her shoulders. “They’ll say, ‘Pass the fucking Cheerios,
please
.”

“Right,” Layla said, smiling at her parents. “The Montrose children will have impeccable manners.”

“Well, the Marlowe child is starving,” Emma said, rubbing her stomach. “Can we please find something to eat?”

“The pregnant lady has spoken,” Ben said. “We’re eating right now.”

Layla took his hand as they walked to the shuttle that would take them to their hotel. This place was exotic and beautiful. A warm breeze across her face felt like an omen that this was the perfect place to get married.

They found a small restaurant with beachside tables. Ben texted his sister Bree, who had already flown in, and she and her family joined them. Her two sons were blond-haired, blue-eyed spitting images of Ben. They flew into his arms at the same time and he lifted them both in the air, the older boy’s legs hanging down to Ben’s knees.

Layla pretty much did the same to Bree, crushing her with a massive hug. This was Ben’s twin sister, and she’d been dying to meet her since first getting together with Ben.

“You’re so pretty,” Bree said in her ear. “And so perfect for Ben. I’m really happy for you guys.”

“Thank you,” Layla said. She reached out to shake hands with Bree’s husband Jack, a well-built man with a smooth bald head and a very attractive face who looked like he was in his 40s.

Bree was a lithe, feminine woman with Ben’s eyes. She wasn’t nearly as tall as he was, and she was model slender, maybe a hundred pounds. Layla connected with her immediately, laughing over childhood tales about Ben.

The evening got away from the large group, and Layla realized her eyes were heavy when Ben told her they should go to the hotel and get some sleep. They parted ways with everyone in the hotel lobby and walked up to their room hand in hand, the silence between them comfortable.

When they got into the room, she didn’t even undress before crawling into bed. She grunted her thanks as Ben slipped her shoes off. He climbed into bed next to her and pulled her against him.

Layla was aware of nothing until she sensed bright light. She opened her eyes and immediately closed them again. Ben had opened the curtains in their room, flooding it with sunshine.

“No,” she said in a whine, pulling the covers over her face.

“Got to get up, sleepyhead,” Ben said, jerking the covers away. “We slept late. Were getting hitched today. You and Emma are supposed to go to the hair salon. She’s on her way over here to get you.”

“Mmm, fine. I need to jump in the shower first.”

Emma was waiting when she stepped out of the bathroom, and Layla grabbed her things and gave Ben a quick kiss. The day was a whirlwind of preparations – dresses being steamed, hair being styled, makeup being applied and photos being taken.

By the time she was preparing to walk down the aisle, Layla didn’t just feel like a princess – she felt like a queen. Her dark hair flowed over her bare shoulders and she wore a beautiful but simple white strapless gown. Emma’s hair was styled into a updo of huge curls, and she wore a sleeveless ivory gown with a forgiving waistline to accommodate her bump.

“This is it,” Layla said, turning to Emma to weave a dark pink tropical flower into her hair. Emma pinned an identical one behind Layla’s ear.

“You’re gorgeous,” Emma whispered.

“You too. I love you so much and I wouldn’t want this any other way,” Layla said. “I’m so happy we’re getting married together.”

“Me too.” Emma’s eyes glistened.

“Girls?” Their father smiled, his eyes glistening, too. He offered each of them an arm and they started down the aisle together.

Layla only saw Ben, who laid a hand over his heart when he looked at her. That did it; she couldn’t hold back the tears. But she smiled through them.

The vows were simple. Both couples promised to love, honor, cherish and support each other. Ben had taken out the old ‘obey’, which she appreciated. Their marriage would be strong because they stood together.

The sun was near setting when Ben leaned down to seal their union with a kiss.

“I love you,” he whispered against her lips. He wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her, love flowing from his warm lips into hers as he kissed her.

Ben loved her not just in spite of who she was, but because of it. It was a dream she’d never dared to have. And it was only just beginning.

***

The gentle swaying of waves and the distant song of an exotic bird woke Ben up. He lifted his head and smiled when he saw Layla curled up near him wearing nothing but a sheet that was wrapped around her legs. The panties he’d taken off of her the night before, with the name
Mrs. Montrose
spelled out in sparkling pink letters across her ass, were still crumpled in the spot he’d tossed them on the floor.

This wasn’t just the happiest, but also the most content he’d ever felt. Layla loved and accepted him with all his strengths and flaws.

His buddy from work had been right about Fiji – this place was paradise. He and Layla had celebrated their first night as man and wife in a thatched roof hut that stretched out into the bluest water he’d ever seen. The other family members were also in huts, but each one was so secluded that none were in sight of each other.

Nothing sounded better than spending the whole day in bed with his wife, but Ben knew they needed to get up before long. He wanted Layla and Bree to spend some time together, and there were lots of things to do here that everyone was eager to try.

This hut was home for the next week, and they’d have lots of opportunities to spend time together in bed. If last night was any indication, the connection Ben now felt to Layla enhanced sex between them. They’d both been sweaty and exhausted when they dropped off to sleep.

They needed to get going before long, but he’d only wake up next to his wife for the first time once in his life, and Ben wanted to enjoy it a little longer. Layla’s dark hair was spread out across her white pillow, and her face was peaceful as she slept.

Ben was laying on his stomach, and he pushed himself up on his elbows and snuck down to the end of the bed. He moved the sheet from Layla’s legs, and she moaned and shifted her body in her sleep. Holy fuck. She’d opened her legs and was now on full display. She was bold enough to do this while she was awake, but there was something about knowing she was asleep and unaware he was looking that made Ben immediately hard.

He bent down and breathed lightly on the smooth skin of her inner thighs. When he kissed her there, she shifted again but continued sleeping. He kissed his way up her leg until he reached her pussy, which was perfectly trimmed with just a patch of dark hair. His cock was throbbing now, eager to push past her smooth lips and feel the clench of her tight, warm heat.

She moved just a little as he ran the tip of his tongue over the line of her opening. He blew on it lightly, wondering how far he could go without waking her up. Soon he’d find out, because he couldn’t wait any longer. He slipped his tongue inside her.
Fuck
, was it hot to know he was the only man who would ever taste her again.

Stirring, Layla mumbled his name. He stroked a hand across her thigh and she relaxed and let out a low, sexy laugh. When he parted her thighs wider and sank his tongue in deeper, her laugh turned into a gasp.

She writhed beneath him, her hips circling to the rhythm of his tongue circling her. He wanted her to come this way, but she fought it, reaching down to his shoulders.

“Ben,” she said, whimpering. He couldn’t deny her. He moved up the length of her body, stopping to tease her nipples with his tongue before he entered her with a loud groan.

“Ah,” she cried, pressing her hands to his ass to drive him in deeper. Ben closed his eyes and got the flood of hot sensation under control. He knew what she wanted, and he gave it to her – hard, fast thrusts to finish the orgasm he’d started with his mouth. It didn’t take long until she was panting and crying his name in a sweetly tortured tone.

He came inside her with a rush of emotion, the sense of oneness he felt between them overwhelming him. He dropped down and rested his weight on his forearms, kissing her tenderly.

“Baby, that was the nicest wakeup call of my life,” she said in a sleepy tone.

“What can I say? I love tonguing my wife’s pussy to wake her up.”

“Mmm. I’m your wife now,” she said happily. “And you’re my husband.”

He grinned down at her. “I wish we could spend today right here, but we should probably spend some time with our families.”

“Absolutely. I want to take your nephews paddle boarding.”

“Guess we’d better get dressed then,” he said with a twinge of regret. He pushed himself up on his elbows and took her hand to help her into a sitting position.

Layla kissed him softly, and he toyed with the messy, dark waves of her hair that fell across one of her shoulders.

“Today is our beginning,” she said. “Our first day of kicking ass and taking names as one instead of two.”

“I’m so lucky I found you,” Ben said.

“So am I.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “However long my forever is, I can’t wait to spend it with you.”

Ben’s heart swelled to the point of aching. She was the sun behind every cloud and the answer to every question. Forever would be blissful with this woman by his side.

5 months later

Cole ran a cool washcloth over Emma’s forehead, wiping away beads of sweat. The dark circles beneath her eyes and the listlessness of her head resting on the pillow said she was exhausted. And no wonder -- she’d been in labor for almost 14 hours.

But when a nurse watching a monitor took her hand, Emma took a deep breath and pushed back up onto her elbows.

“Here we go,” the nurse said. “You’ve got this, Emma. You’re doing amazing. Let’s meet this baby.”

Her face twisted with pain and Cole picked up her other hand and laced his fingers into it. When she cried out in agony, he closed his eyes. Seeing her hurting was fucking unbearable.

“Push, Emma!” the nurse said. “Come on, you can do this.”

“You
can
do this, baby,” Cole said, leaning his face in to hers. “You’re almost there. I love you so much.”

Her clammy hand gripped his and she strained. The nurse counted down, and when she reached one, Emma collapsed back against the pillow.

“Almost there,” the doctor said, smiling. “Deep breaths and let’s do this again, Emma.”

She breathed in and out and met Cole’s gaze. “I’m so tired. Will you hold me up?”

“Of course.”

She pushed up on her elbows and he slid an arm around her lower back to support her. She panted against the pain she was in and he wished he could hurt instead of her. It would be a hell of a lot easier than seeing her in pain.

“Ready?” the nurse asked. Emma nodded and her face strained again as she pushed.

Cole leaned his forehead against her hair, which was wet with perspiration, and spoke softly in her ear. “I love you for having our baby, Em. You’ll be an amazing mom. Come on, baby, you’ve got this.”

“There we go!” the doctor said. “The shoulders are out. Okay, got her. It’s a girl, Mom and Dad!”

Emma sank against Cole, tears sliding down her cheeks. “A daughter,” she murmured. “We have a daughter.”

Cole saw the bald, screaming, beautiful baby the doctor held up and lost it. He hadn’t cried in so long, but happy tears blurred his vision and spilled over. “Em, there she is,” he said, helping his wife lean forward enough to see their baby. “She’s beautiful. You did so great, baby.”

She looked at him and smiled weakly. “Can I hold her?”

Cole took the scissors the doctor offered and cut the umbilical cord.

“Give the nurses just a second with her,” the doctor said. “She looks great, guys. Congratulations.”

Cole kissed Emma and laid her against the bed, which was raised up to support her back in a sitting position. She raised a hand to his face and brushed away the dampness of tears from beneath her eyes.

“I love you,” she said.

“I love you, too.” He buried his face in her chest, the sterile smell of the gown helping dampen the wave of emotion that was about to make him cry
again
. The shrill wail of their daughter came closer, and he sat up and watched as a nurse lowered their swaddled daughter into Emma’s waiting arms.

“Hello, Caroline,” she cooed. “You’re a beautiful girl.”

Cole took out his phone to snap a picture, though he knew this moment would be etched on his heart forever. When Emma passed their daughter to him, he could only stare at her tiny, perfect face.

“Em?” Layla stuck her head in the doorway. “I’m sorry, but we’re dying out here! They said you had the baby but they won’t tell us if it’s a boy or girl.”

“You have a niece!” Emma cried happily. “Caroline Grace Marlowe.”

Cole turned to show Layla the baby and she burst into tears.

“Get in here!” Emma said. “Tell everyone else to come in, too.”

The doctor had just finished his work and a nurse had placed a blanket over her lower half. Pride and happiness overrode her fatigue as their family filed into the room, filling it with a chorus of oohs and aahs.

Ben and Shawn shook Cole’s hand, and his dad pulled him in for a teary hug. It was the most beautiful, emotional moment of his life. Five months ago, two had become one, but today, three had. They were a family now, and Cole already loved his daughter in the same fierce, protective, overwhelming way he loved his wife. And he knew he’d love Caroline the same way he loved Emma -- more and more every day. This moment had been ten years in the making, and Cole still couldn’t believe his good fortune. There had been bumps in the road, and there would surely be more to come. But he and Emma could weather any storm together. The imperfections they had as individuals and as a couple . . . well, they were absolutely perfect.