Authors: C.T. Nicholson
Lost Chances (23 page)
God, she’d missed his blue eyes in the two weeks he'd been gone. Every night she dreamed of them and those hands of his that still touched her face. "Why did you ask me here?"
"I know about the pregnancy and I know about that night."
She frantically glanced around for Ryan, but coul
dn't find him.
"He didn't tell me. You left a little gift up under my bed. When I found your tiny underwear yesterday, I knew instantly. I do remember that night; I just thought it didn't really happen. It was a dream I relived every night afte
rwards." He kissed her lips. "I'm sorry I didn't realize sooner. I'm not sorry it happened."
Tears filled her eyes when he touched her stomach.
"I don't regret any of it. Ryan did tell me the reason you were going to keep the baby from me. I was pissed, but I understand where you came from. To a point. I'm still angry that you did so, knowing you'd be alone during the pregnancy."
"I was going to tell you. Please don't think I'd act
ually keep your child from you. I just needed to make sure you fulfilled your dream first and kept the promise you made to your grandma. I know how important your music is to you." It all seemed unreal standing there with him.
"And now you're going to know just how i
mportant you are to me." He dropped down on one knee. "Sophia, you are the only woman I've ever wanted and the only person who can make me whole. I love you so much and want you to make me the luckiest man alive by marrying me."
She'd been so focused on him that she’d missed the orchids covering the front of the house. She gasped when the sight of them overwhelmed her, bringing tears to her eyes. It was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen. "You remembered."
"Of course. I've always wanted to ask the woman I was going to marry right here, just like my grandpa asked my grandma. I also know much you loved the way your father asked your mom. You deserve nothing but the best and I'm here to give it to you." He pulled a ring out of his pocket. "This was my grandma's and I know she would've wanted you to have it. If you want a new one, then I'll get you whichever one you want as long as you say yes."
"Are you crazy? Of course I want this ring!"
His eyes gleamed with excitement. He raised a questioning brow. "So that's a yes?"
"Only if you promise to keep living your dreams as a musician. You can't give that up for me or the baby."
"Anything." He jumped up after slipping the ring on her finger and wrapped his arms around her to swing her around.
"Hey! She is pregnant." Nick's
voice penetrated her laughter.
She watched as everyone came out of the house. Her father, Louise, Ryan, and her brothers walked toward them with smiles on their faces.
"I'm sorry. Are you okay?" He placed his hand on her stomach. "I wasn't thinking."
Sophia nodded. "Always."
With everyone there to witness it, Cooper kissed her like he'd never done before and she returned that passion with all of her heart. Kissing him would never get old and she couldn't wait to experience a lifetime with him and those magical lips.
One year later
Cooper didn't give a damn if his front door was locked or not. If it was, then he was busting through it. Luckily, it happened to be unlocked and he wouldn't have to replace it. After being gone for a month, he had to see Sophia and his baby boy.
She was already standing by the stairs with one fi
nger over her lips. The shorts, t-shirt, and bare feet made it that much harder to stop, so he didn't. He dropped his things to the floor as softly as he could and stalked toward her. She smiled teasingly and ran into the kitchen, her bare feet smacking the hardwood floors.
Nothing would stop him from having her. He just shook his head when she was backed in the corner of the kitchen counter. That worked just perfectly for him. Catching her by the hips, he lifted her until she sat right at the edge—the perfect height for exactly what he wanted.
"Hello, Husband." She placed her hands on the back of his neck and played with his hair. "I've missed you."
"I've missed you too, Wife. Our little Wyatt asleep?"
"I just put him down. If you want to see him, I could wake him up for you."
The little tease. He jerked the shirt up and over her arms and head. "I think you know good and well what I want right now. I've been waiting too long for this."
The smile on her face died when he latched onto her already rising nipple. He used one hand to tease the other side and the other hand to unbutton her shorts. Once he had her undone, he used both hands to remove the shorts from her body.
Any other time he'd take his time getting her pr
epared, but he wasn't patient. "I'm sorry, but I need you now."
"Please."
Her breathy plea had him out of his jeans and underwear in record time. When he touched a finger between her spread thighs, he didn't have to worry about her being ready. She was already soaked. He pressed the head of his erection to her opening. She circled his waist with her legs and pulled him until he was completely enveloped inside of her.
"Shit." He ground his teeth, trying not to make too much noise. "This is heaven."
It was hard to move, but when he did, she threw her head back, eyes closed, with her mouth dropped open. The position jutted her breasts up, which had his gaze switching back and forth from her face to her mounds bouncing up and down as he pounded into her over and over. The friction and the sight of her breaking apart in front of him was enough to send him over the edge. When he felt her spasm around him, he let go.
His body spent, she also went limp in his arms. He ca
rried her into the living room and lay down on the couch with her. "I miss the hell out of both of you when I'm gone, but I'll never get tired of coming home to this."
"Me neither. It's better than make-up sex. Not that we've had more than two of those, but still better," she said softly.
Before long, her breathing became steady and he knew she'd fallen asleep. She’d mentioned not getting a lot of sleep with Wyatt having colic, so he left her there and grabbed a towel to clean her up. As soon as he finished, the sound of his baby boy crying sounded through the speaker.
He turned the speaker off to keep it from waking S
ophia, and hurried upstairs to the nursery. Wyatt quit crying when he picked him up and started singing to him. If not for Sophia's schedule, Cooper wouldn't know if it was time to feed him, but it looked like he'd just eaten right before the nap. He couldn't have been asleep longer than thirty minutes.
The rocking chair his grandma used to rock him in now stood in the nursery, so he sat down in it with Wyatt. It wasn't long before he fell back into a peaceful sleep and the door was pushed open. Sophia rested against the door jamb.
Neither of them spoke until he placed Wyatt back in his crib and they made it back downstairs.
"I love seeing you with him. He responds a lot be
tter to your voice than mine." She circled her arms around his neck and kissed him softly. "You know how bad my voice is."
"You sing beautifully to our son. I stay up listening to you every time." Not enough. "You put your clothes back on?"
Her laughter was something he missed; he called every day and night just to hear it. "Do you think I should walk around naked all the time?"
"Absolutely. I think it should be a requirement."
"Ha! I'm sure that would work, considering our family almost stop by every day—at least two of them each time."
"I love your family." And he did.
"They're your family too. Ours." She kissed his nose. Just then a knock sounded at the door. "Speaking of visitors."
"Does the doorbell not work?"
"Yes, but I threatened everyone with a slow and painful death if they touched it without knowing if Wyatt is asleep or not. There's a note over top of it that says knock or call." She placed her hands on her hips. "It worked. No more waking up when people drop in."
"Understandable. I guess I missed that in my rush to get inside to you." When her cheeks blushed, he could tell she was thinking about what they'd just done not long before. Another knock sounded. "I'll get the door, before someone risks the bell."
He expected one of her brothers or father, but not all of them. Louise reached up to kiss his cheek. Rick shook his hand and the brothers all gave him the quick shake and slap on the back.
Ryan was the last through the door behind Jacob. "Welcome back."
"Thanks." One thing was for sure when he was out on the road. Sophia would never be alone. And he'd never be without family himself. He walked over to sit down beside his wife, and lifted her hand to his lips. "You've given me a family and a beautiful son. I love you so much."
She rested her cheek against the hand that held hers. "I love you, too."
C.T. juggles raising two sons with her husband, a full time job and still manages to get her writing done. B
etween dirty diapers and sibling rivalry, she spends her only free time writing and escaping to the worlds that she creates. Sometimes she even manages to get some sleep…sometimes.
Writing and becoming
a published author has been a dream come true.
The fun of weaving new worlds and
characters into existence is her true calling.
She's a romantic to the core and wants nothing more than a happy ending. And of course sexy heroes!
You can find more on C.T. Nicholson on her website.
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