In the beginning, p.44
In The Beginning, page 44
The building’s security guard gives me a warm smile. “Have a good night, Ms. Mackenzie.”
“Thank you, Mr. Allen.” I set out into the warm night and wait for the cab they said they were sending right away.
A few minutes pass before I hear that familiar rumble and see Reece’s Mustang turn the corner, stopping at the curb right in front of me. He hops out, looking a little frazzled. “I’m sorry. I was with Erik following a lead, and my phone died.” Reece opens the door for me, but before I climb in I kiss the underside of his chin.
“It’s okay. I was just so lost in trying to get stuff done at the end of the day that I lost track of time. When I came out everyone was gone, and then I remembered I didn’t have my cellphone to call you. I had to look up your number from your file.”
He strokes my cheek. “I forgot about your phone—no wonder when I called it earlier it went right to voicemail.”
We settle into our seats and my stomach rumbles. “He’s hungry,” I say, rubbing my belly. We end up stopping to eat dinner at a little Mexican restaurant.
“Were the leads you were following about a new case?”
“Yeah, it’s that guy who thinks his wife is setting up a new life without him somewhere. It’s going to get messy before it’s over.”
When they take those cases, it always makes me sad because the couples had to be happy once…right? It makes me totally gun shy about ever getting married. Plus, look at my parents’ marriage. Dad tried to make it last as long as he could, but he’d finally had enough. My mom used me as a pawn to manipulate him.
I don’t think either one of them know that I know Dad tried to get custody of me, but Mom threatened to take me and run.
“Hey. You okay?”
I look up at Reece and shrug. “Yeah, it just brings up bad memories. My mom put Dad through hell. Things were so bad between them, even after they got divorced. She’s mental and enjoys making our lives hell. I’m never getting married.” I mutter the last part, and then smile at the waitress when she sets my food in front of me. “Thank you.”
Neither of us speaks as we eat, and I’m thankful for the reprieve. My son can tell I’m upset because he gives me a little kick. What if I turn into my mom? I know I won’t, at least realistically, but that kernel of fear lives inside me.
After dinner, we head back home—or Reece’s home, I should say. I know I’m being quiet—distant, even—but thinking about my mom and my childhood has always done that to me. It’s taken a lot of love from my dad and Brandon to help me deal and cope.
I slip off my shoes and head up to my room. I change into a cotton candy pink tank top nightgown. In front of the mirror, I look myself over closely. My mom and I could pass for twins, and when I was little she used to preen when people would gush how perfect we were. Little did they know living with her was hell on Earth.
A noise startles me, and I turn to see that it’s Reece standing in the doorway. “You okay?”
I shake my head. He comes into the room and wraps me in his strong embrace. In minutes I feel more centered…relaxed. I pull back and look up into his eyes. “Sorry. I don’t know what my problem is. I do think I’m going to bed. I’m tired.”
“Grab your Kindle and come lie in my bed. I’ve got some stuff to do, but you can sleep in there.” I do as he says and let him lead me down to his room.
His bed is a huge California king with the softest cotton sheets, big fluffy pillows, and thick warm comforter. All are the same dark gray color, and the frame of his bed is a grayish-looking wood. I never really looked at his stuff before, or maybe I just didn’t really pay attention to it. He pulls back the blankets for me, and I climb up onto bed—settling in.
Reece bends down and gives me a kiss on the lips. “I’ll be up in a little bit.”
“Good night,” I tell him before he disappears out into the hall. I turn on my Kindle and get lost in my fictional world.
***
“Do you need help with anything?” I look up at Reece from in front of the stove. I’m working on browning the ground beef for my lasagna. The noodles are on the stove in a pot of boiling water.
“Nope. I’ve got the filling all mixed together, the salad is tossed and in the fridge, and the garlic bread is buttered and ready to go into the oven when it’s time.”
He comes to me, rubbing my shoulders. “Wow. Okay, let me know if I can do anything.” I feel his lips touch me right behind my ear, and I do a full body shiver.
It’s been a couple of days since my “woe is me” pity party, and I’m feeling lots better. Reece has been great and hasn’t brought it up, for which I’m grateful. Tonight, Brandon and Jose are coming for dinner. Reece offered to make himself scarce, but I want him to know my best friend and the godfather of our child. No matter what happens with us, I want him to know the people that’ll be in our son’s life.
After constructing the lasagna, I stick it in the oven and then head upstairs to change. Since it’s just my boys tonight, I throw on some dark gray leggings and an off-the-shoulder red t-shirt that molds perfectly to the basketball in my belly. I pin my hair up into a knot and don’t bother with makeup.
As I’m heading down the stairs I hear the doorbell, and when I reach the bottom Brandon and Reece are exchanging one of those manly back-slapping hugs. I giggle when I see Brandon rest his head on Reece’s shoulder.
Reece is a good sport, patting Brandon awkwardly on the back. Jose finally has to intervene and pull Brandon off of my man—wait, is he my man? We really haven’t clarified anything. Although the past couple of nights I’ve slept in his bed with him, we’ve only slept. Maybe he felt I needed space, or needed the time to get my head straight.
While Jose talks to Reece, Brandon comes toward me. “You look fantastic.” He places both hands on my belly. “He’s going to be a monster.”
I slap his arm playfully, his green eyes twinkling at me as he chuckles. “My baby is not going to be a monster.”
“I know, I’m just teasing. You look beautiful. I can’t believe how much your belly has grown since the last time I saw you.”
I rub my belly, smiling at him. Jose comes to me and kisses both of my cheeks. “Hey, doll.”
“Hey, Ho.”
Reece grabs drinks for everyone and then sits down next to me on the sofa. I lean into his side when he wraps his arm around my shoulders.
“So Reece, Del tells me you used to be in the Army with her dad.”
“Yeah, we were both Special Forces. I enlisted when I was eighteen, and at first it was just because they’d pay for college. I just got out last year, and Jack had me come out to talk to him about a job, and well…we know how that story ends.”
He looks at me and gives me a squeeze. My cheeks heat up as I remember that night. I do a full body shiver that I hope no one notices, but I couldn’t get that lucky. Reece looks at me, his mossy green eyes flaring with desire…for me. I lick my lips—it’s a nervous habit, and I don’t miss the way he follows my tongue.
“Should we go?” I turn wide eyes to Brandon and Jose, who are grinning like lunatics at us.
It’s then I realize that Reece’s hand is in my hair, and he’s leaning over me, our lips so close I can taste the beer on his. He chuckles before kissing me chastely and then sitting back up. The timer goes off. I excuse myself, and as I step out of the room I hear them all chuckle. Being the mature woman I am, I flip them all the bird, and of course they laugh louder.
Earlier this week Reece bought a dining room table, so we eat in the dining room. Everyone seems to be getting along and conversation flows freely, but Brandon’s never met a stranger. Reece has been very touchy feely throughout, rubbing his hand up and down my back and pulling me by my head toward him to kiss my lips softly, but the best is when he just rests his hand on my belly.
After we finish eating, I clean up while they go out to the garage to look at Reece’s car. A thought occurs to me: I’m going to need a car. I sold mine when I moved here because I take the L or an Uber everywhere.
I don’t want to have to try and strap a baby carrier in and out of an Uber all the time. I could get something reliable enough to get me where I need to go and that’ll keep the baby safe.
I wrap up the leftovers and am sticking them in the refrigerator when the boys come back in.
“Del, have you told Reece that I’m your kid’s fairy godfather? Have you told him that the baby’s middle name is going to be Brandon?”
I smile at my best friend. “No, I haven’t.” I place my hand on my belly. “His middle name will depend on whatever his first name is, and we haven’t really talked about it. We start our child birthing class next week.”
I told Reece that he didn’t have to go, but he was insistent. He’s been adamant about being in the delivery room when our son is born too, which makes me very happy.
“How fun,” Brandon says, his voice laced with sarcasm.
I wrap my arms around his thin waist and hug him tight. “It will be, and we’ll learn lots of useful things.” I look to Reece. “I hope they don’t show a birth. Blood makes me squeamish.”
Brandon kisses the top of my head and then turns to Reece. “When we were about twelve, I tripped while we were walking home from school. My knee got tore up, and Del took one look at it and passed right out. I had blood running down my leg, but I had to carry her home.” I nod because hell, it’s true. “In high school, we went to donate blood, and she did fine when they stuck her, but she accidentally looked, and they had to hit her with the smelling salts to wake her up.”
“I’d like to think I won’t be like that with my own child,” I grumble. Great, now I’ve got one more thing to worry about. Instead of letting it show, I plaster on a fake smile. “I guess we’ll just have to see what happens.”
When it’s time for them to go, Brandon drags me outside to talk quickly. He places both hands on my shoulders. “I’m really, really happy for you. He’s absolutely crazy about you.”
“He likes me, but he’s not crazy about me.”
“Del, you know I love you, but you’re blind. He never stopped touching you. He watched you with an intensity that we could all feel. When you practically started fucking on the sofa I felt like I needed a cigarette.” His face turns serious. “Girl, I’m so fucking happy for you. After years of not being happy, or as happy as you could be, it’s nice to see you smiling like you have been all night.”
“I just don’t want him to regret being with me because I’m a lot younger than he is.”
“Age is just a number. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t matter. All you need to worry about is being a good mother, and being a good partner, co-parent, or whatever you and Reece decide to be. I know you didn’t have a great childhood, and that you still carry the scars, but you are so strong. You survived that, so you can survive anything.”
“I love you, Brandon. I don’t know how I survived without you.”
He gives me a squeeze. “You would’ve survived because that’s what you are…a survivor.”
Jose and Reece come out, and Jose kisses me goodbye. Once they leave, with his arm around my shoulders, Reece leads me inside.
***
Reece grips my hips as he powers into me from behind. “Oh God, right there, baby,” I cry out. He’s hitting a really good spot deep inside of me, and my body trembles. I’m so wet right now that I feel the wetness all over my groin and upper thighs.
He’s already given me two orgasms—once with his fingers while sucking on my sensitive nipples, and then once with his tongue between my legs. I’ve never been a fan of oral sex, but Reece knows what he’s doing and gave it to me so good, and then some.
My arms tremble as he picks up speed and then moans against my ear. “Get yourself there, baby.”
I reach in between my legs and begin making little circles around my clit. My moans turn to cries as I feel my orgasm coming on, and fast. “I’m coming,” I moan.
His thrusts become brutal, but I relish the pleasure/pain I experience. My orgasm seems to last forever, and I’m vaguely aware of his groan as he plants himself to the root. Aftershocks shake me as I feel each blast of his hot cum inside of me. When we both finally start to come down, he pulls his softening cock from me. “I’ll be right back.”
I watch his gorgeous naked body as he disappears into the bathroom. He comes back with a washcloth and cleans me off. After he tosses it into the laundry basket, he climbs back into his bed and pulls me toward him, but my big belly gets in the way.
After sex the baby always acts like it’s party time. Reece’s large hand covers my belly, and he smiles so sweetly at me as we feel our son move around. “I love feeling him kick my hand,” he whispers.
“I love it too. Except when his foot gets caught in my ribs, and Carrie says that toward the end he’s going to love using my bladder as a kickball.”
He leans forward, kissing my lips. “Let’s get some sleep.”
I roll over and he pulls me so that my back is up against his chest. I grab his hand, pull it up to rest in between my breasts, and let myself fall asleep.
Chapter Eleven
Reece
I step into the office after grabbing a quick sandwich. Shayla is behind the desk in reception, and for once Erik isn’t hovering over her. She shoots me a big smile. “Hey, Reece! Jack wants to see you in his office.”
“Thanks, Shayla.” I head through the doors and find Jack sitting at his desk.
He looks up when I knock on the doorframe. “Hey Reece, come on in and shut the door.” I do as he asks. “I wanted to give you an update on things, but first—how was Delilah’s checkup?”
Delilah had her seven-month checkup the day before. “It went well. He’s measuring big, but I was a big baby. I tell you what—I’ll never get tired of hearing his heartbeat.”
“I’m glad.” He stares at me a beat. “I know I didn’t react well when I found out you were the father of Del’s baby, but I’m glad it’s you.”
I’m stunned speechless, and I don’t know what to even say or do. “I appreciate that. I care deeply for her.”
“I know you do.” He scrubs his hands over his face. “I wanted you to know that we’ve hit a dead end on Delilah’s case. I’m honestly so fucking lost right now. Do I keep chasing dead ends, and pushing myself toward total fucking exhaustion? If I pull back the only thing that keeps me feeling okay with it is that she’s got you protecting her.”
“Of course, you’ve got me. Man, even if we’re not together I’ll always protect her and our kid.”
“I know you will. That’s why I’m glad it’s you. I’ve just never been this fucking stumped. We’ve been monitoring her phone and there have been no calls, nothing.”
Since the phone call and the rock through my window there’s been nothing, and I’m happy about that, but a part of me is waiting for shit to fall apart. “Maybe since they know there’s a whole team protecting her they gave up.”
“Yeah, maybe. I’ve got another case I have to follow up on, and I’ll be out of town for a week. I need to trust that you’ll help keep an eye on things.” Jack scratches the stubble on his chin. “Erik and Marcus will keep an eye on all ongoing business, Delilah can run everything else, and you—you just take care of my daughter.”
“You got it, boss.” I stand and salute him, but then I get serious. “I won’t let anything happen to either of them. I promise.”
Our workday ends at noon and Delilah and I decide to take lunch to Carrie and Egan. I know she’s excited to get her hands on their baby. To be honest I am too. I need to practice changing diapers.
They live about ten minutes from the office in a nice apartment that looks like a huge house. Delilah practically sprints to their door, with me chuckling as I walk sedately behind her. Egan answers with their son in his arms. I know he’s married, but I have to stop from growling when he kisses Delilah’s cheek.
She takes the baby from his arms and disappears inside. “Hey, Egan. How are you?” I shake his offered hand.
He scrubs a hand over his dark blond hair. “I’m fucking tired, but I’m so happy. My wife is the shit.”
“That’s great, man.” I clap him on the back before following him inside.
We find Delilah and Carrie sitting on the sofa, and Delilah is cooing at the baby. Carrie smiles up at me from the sofa when we enter the room. “Hi, Reece.”
“Hey Carrie, how’s it going?”
She smiles warmly at her son, and then up at me. “It’s going great. I can’t remember the last time I slept longer than four hours, but it’s so worth it.”
The plan was to order takeout once we got to their place, but another idea came to me on the way here. “I know the plan was to order takeout, but what if you guys went out to lunch, and we stayed with this little guy? You know it would give us a chance to practice.” I hope they don’t think this is because we don’t want to hang out with them. “Or we could grab some takeout, and maybe you guys could go have a drink after we eat.”
Delilah smiles at me. “Yeah, guys. Let us give you a break.”
The couple look at each other and then back to us. Egan speaks up. “How about this—we’ll go to this great pizza place that’s about ten minutes from here. Carrie and I will have a drink and an appetizer. We’ll order pizza to bring back for all of us.”
After the new parents leave, I sit down next to Delilah. “Here, let me have him.” Carefully, she places the little chunk in my arms. He’s so tiny, but substantial. His eyes open, and he blinks at me. His balled up little fists go right to his mouth and he begins sucking on them. “He’s a lot heavier than he looks.”
I look up at Delilah, and her eyes are bright with unshed tears. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
She shakes her head. “Nothing, you’re just going to be a really good dad. I’m glad you’re his father.”
“I’m glad too.”
The baby makes a wet fart sound. “I think someone just made a deposit in his drawers.”
