One Day at a Time (Starting Over Series Book 4) (28 page)

She did as he said and felt her heart rate slow back down, but just a bit because then his lips were on hers. This time there was no sweet and gentle, this kiss was needy and urgent. He drank from her lips, coaxing her lips apart as his tongue licked at hers.

Pulling out his shirt from the waistband of his jeans, she shoved her hands underneath his shirt. His skin felt warm to the touch. She dragged her nails across his abdomen and mentally smiled when he groaned into her mouth. He pulled away long enough to pull his shirt up and over his head. He brought her back against him, kissing her and sucking on her tongue as he slowly lowered them to the bed. She missed the weight of him on top of her, she thought, as he sank down between her legs.

As he ground his hardened dick against her pussy, she felt that familiar ache start to build. He kissed his way down her neck, licking and nipping at the skin. Cash bit into the flesh where her neck met her shoulders. Goose bumps broke out along her skin. He began making his way down her body. Cash pulled her straps down until her breasts were bared to him. Tessa’s hands went into his hair as his lips went around her nipple. She cried out as he sucked with deep pulls and then nipped it with his teeth.

He gave the other nipple the same treatment. “You are so sweet,” he murmured against her breast. Ever so slowly he kissed his way down her body. Pulling the nightgown down, he slid it past her hips, down her legs and off. He pushed her legs further apart and she felt her heart start to race as he lowered his head. At the first pass of his tongue against her pussy they both moaned. He licked around and around until she was writhing underneath him. It had been too long and she felt her orgasm start to build as he thrust his tongue inside of her. He pinned her hips to the bed as he sucked her clit into his mouth and then nipped it with his teeth.

Cash kept her on the verge of coming for so long she thought she was going to lose it. Until he thrust two fingers inside of her and rubbed against the sweet spot. She arched her back, crying out in ecstasy as waves of pleasure washed over her.

Chapter Nineteen

Cash licked and kissed at her pussy until she sighed heavily. He whipped his pants and boxer briefs off. Crawling back onto the bed, he let his tongue drag up her stomach and in between her breasts until he reached her mouth. He knew she tasted herself on his lips, and he knew she liked it when she began to lick herself off of him. Pulling back he rubbed his thumb across her lips. The glow from the candles made her look angelic.

“You take my breath away,” he whispered as his lips brushed hers.

Lifting her head, Tessa pulled him down, kissing him with an urgency that made him hard as hell. Her tongue gently licked at the seam of his lips until he opened to her. He took over the kiss and ground his dick against her pussy, feeling how hot and wet she was. He wanted to thrust deep inside of her, but he needed a condom. He pulled slightly back and grabbed a foil packet out of his nightstand drawer.

The little minx grabbed his hand. “I’m on the pill now. You don’t have to wear one if you don’t want to.”

He used all of the self-control he could muster as he slid into her slowly. The feel of her without latex between them was intense. A groan slipped past his lips when he buried himself to the hilt. Tessa rocked her hips, driving him in even further. With slow strokes he began to rock in and out of her. Her moans were soft and breathy.

“Harder, Cash,” she cried out.

That was all she needed to say. He threw one of her legs up over his shoulder and began to slam into her. Thrust after thrust he drove them both closer to orgasm. She was so wet and so tight and he was desperately trying to stave off his coming orgasm. “Touch yourself for me, baby.” He watched her reach down and start strumming her clit. He bent his head and sucked her nipple into his mouth. He felt her start to come so he picked up the pace, driving into her faster and harder until she exploded around him. Her back arching and her nails scraping down his spine caused his orgasm to hit him hard.

He felt it come and come, and he was afraid he was going to hurt her. While he waited for his breathing to return to normal he buried his head in her neck. He pulled his softening cock out and got up to grab a washcloth. After he cleaned her he pulled the covers over them and drew Tessa into his arms. She snuggled into him, kissing his chin as she settled in against him.

“Merry Christmas, baby,” he whispered against her forehead.

“I love you, Cash.” He smiled. Running his hand up and down her naked back he let the feeling of happiness flow through him. It had been a long road to get where he was, but that just made him appreciate everything he had so much more. His reward was draped over his body and he planned on spending the rest of his life showing her what she meant to him.

Kissing her head one more time he whispered, “I love you, too, baby.”

Epilogue

Three years later

Tessa crawled out of bed, stretching her aching muscles. She pulled her nightgown down over her protruding belly. She smiled when baby Gavin started doing rolls. She knew he was awake too. At eight and a half months pregnant, she was ready to be done and meet her son. Every day she felt like she started to move slower and slower. As she made her way to the door, she grinned when she looked at her wedding picture.

She and Cash had had a small church wedding and the reception at The Barn. It had been a beautiful day—not a cloud in the sky. She cried softly as Jonathon walked her down the aisle. He had looked so handsome in his tuxedo.

She continued across the hall to the bathroom and relieved herself. She washed her face, brushed her teeth, and threw her hair up into a ponytail. Studying her image in the mirror she laughed. She was still thin but her boobs were bigger—thank god. She looked like she swallowed a very large basketball. She didn’t know who loved her belly more. At night Cash would lie in bed and sing to her belly until their baby started moving around like crazy. He definitely knew his daddy’s voice.

She walked down the hall and felt a twinge in her back. She rubbed it away and went into the kitchen where her husband was sitting at the table with his guitar and a notebook. In the past three years he’d written so many great songs and actually sold a couple to an up-and-coming pop rock band. He still did his handyman work, but he was able to focus more on his music, which was his passion.

She, with Cash’s help, had started her own PR business for authors. She decided to only take on a few clients to start with to see how it went, especially with the baby coming soon.

She came up behind Cash, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed his lips when he turned his mouth to hers. He rubbed her belly and smiled at her. “Hi, momma. Did you sleep well?” She was starting to become extremely exhausted and slept more than she was awake, but according to Journey and Betsy, it was completely normal toward the end just like in the beginning.

“I did. I’m sorry I’ve been worthless lately.”

He pulled her around until she was sitting on his lap. “Baby, you’re not worthless. Your body just wants you to rest while Gavin finishes cooking. Just think of all of the sleep you’re going to miss out on when we bring him home. Your body’s just trying to stock up.”

She snuggled into him. He always knew the right thing to say to her. This pregnancy had been so easy. She’d had no morning sickness. It had been too perfect that a part of her was waiting for everything to fall apart, but so far…nothing.

“What time do we have to be at your sister’s house?” They were going for a cookout.

“I said we’d be there at one. Is that okay?”

“Of course. I’m going to do some work before I jump in the shower.” He helped her off of his lap as her back spasmed again. “Will you rub my lower back?” she asked as she leaned against the counter.

He rubbed her back for her. She should’ve been embarrassed as she moaned and groaned like they were making love, but it felt too good for her to care. He rubbed it for what seemed like forever until she finally let him stop and went into their bedroom. She stacked her pillows against the headboard, grabbed her laptop, and made her way up onto the bed. It didn’t take long before she was engrossed in her work.

***

“She looks great, Cash. Are you getting nervous about the baby coming?” He looked down at his sister and smiled. He was so goddamned happy he felt like a lunatic. The people at his NA meetings probably hated when he spoke because it was all sunshine and rainbows lately. Really, they were all happy for him.

Haddie and Abby were both in front of Tessa, talking to her belly. Haddie even tried knocking, thinking that Gavin would come right out to play. Abby was growing into a beautiful girl and looked a lot like Journey. He still had times when it hurt him that his sister was raising her, but she was healthy and happy so he wasn’t going to mess with anything. When Tessa had first gotten pregnant, they along with Journey, took Abby out for dinner to explain what was going on. The girl was so grown-up already. She’d gotten up and gone to Tessa, hugging her tight. For the time being she was going to be the baby’s cousin, and when she was older, if she wanted a brother-sister relationship with Gavin, they all supported that.

“I’ve never seen her look more beautiful.” He wrapped an arm around his sister’s shoulder. “I’m terrified, but I can’t wait. I just don’t want to screw it up this time.” That was his biggest fear. But this time he was clean and sober and his woman had her shit together.

As they watched the girls and Tessa, he noticed her brows were furrowed. She had a hand at her back and one at her stomach. Suddenly she was bent over, groaning. Rushing to her side he got down in front of her. “Honey, what is it? Is it time?”

“I-I do-don’t know. They shouldn’t be starting this hard.” His girl had tears in her eyes as she stared at him.

Cash wrapped his arms around her he whispered, “It’s okay, momma. Let’s get you to the hospital, yeah?” The kids all hugged her and his sister and brother-in-law followed them around to the front. They both kissed Tessa before he got her into the truck.

“Good luck, guys. We love you,” Journey said bouncing up and down. “Keep us posted.”

He promised he would, and before he pulled out of the driveway he texted Tessa’s brother and Betsy, who was going to help with the coaching.

***

Five hours later Tessa was exhausted. His girl had been handling the labor well until about two hours ago when her water broke. The contractions were now coming faster and stronger. She still refused pain meds, but her tears were breaking his heart. They’d come in and checked her thirty minutes before and she was dilated to seven centimeters. They said they could give her something that would help her sleep for a bit and might help things move along faster but so far she’d said no. He loved her for being so brave but she needed her rest.

She started to have a contraction. He and Betsy helped her breathe through it. Sweat was pouring off of her and she could barely keep her head up. “Please, baby, let them give you something so you can rest. You need all of your strength to be able to push when it’s time.”

“He’s right, Tessa, it won’t hurt Gavin.”

Tessa broke his heart when she started to sob. “O-o-okay. I’ll take it.” Betsy went to get the nurse, and a few minutes later they were giving her a shot that had her snoozing fast. He kissed her forehead and sat in the chair next to the bed. It didn’t take long before he felt his own eyes drift shut.

“Cash? Cash, wake up.” He flew up from the chair to Tessa who smiled sleepily at him. “It’s time to start pushing.”

It didn’t take long before the nurses had the room ready for his son’s delivery. Betsy got on one side of the bed while Cash was on the other. They immediately had her start to push. For a while he couldn’t see anything except her lady parts looking all swollen. With every contraction his girl pushed with all of her might and then a miracle happened.

“I see the head,” the midwife, Jane, said. He looked down and sure enough, there it was.

“Keep going, baby, I see his head.” He could already feel himself getting choked up. Tessa continued to push for the next hour until finally his head was out. He started screaming as soon as they suctioned his mouth.

“Okay, Tessa, let’s get his shoulders out, and then it’ll be just about over.” Jane said as Tessa began to push again. He and Betsy pulled her legs back and watched as one shoulder than the other came out and the rest of his body followed.

Cash knew he had tears in his eyes as Gavin’s little cries filled the room. “Baby, he’s beautiful.” Tessa smiled up at him with tears running down her face. Jane placed Gavin on Tessa’s chest as they did stuff down below, and Cash even cut the cord. Betsy was playing the good godmother, taking lots of pictures. The nurse had Gavin latch on immediately to start nursing and his little man was already a healthy eater. Betsy kissed them both and excused herself to start making phone calls.

He put the side rail down so he could get closer to his wife and son. Gavin was perfect—ten perfect fingers, ten perfect toes, sweet little lips, and lots of blond hair on his little head. They watched him suckle at Tessa’s breast and it was the most precious thing he’d ever seen. After a few more minutes they took Gavin so he could get measured and weighed and they could get him washed up.

Cash bent down, kissing Tessa’s lips. “I love you so much, baby. You are my hero.” She smiled sleepily at him.

“I love you too. Will you go get some pictures of him?”

***

Tessa’s eyes drifted open and she smiled at the sight in front of her. Cash was singing softly to Gavin as he rocked him. She couldn’t believe he was a month old already. He had changed so much. He was such a good baby. Most days he went down for the night around ten and didn’t get up until six in the morning, usually only getting up once.