One Day You'll Be Mine: Steamy Contemporary Military Romance (16 page)

Hugging me tightly, he whispered. “One day, you’ll heal. One day, you’ll be ready to love again. And darling, I’m going to be there when that happens, because one day, you’ll be mine.”

Chapter 26: Rose

I blinked. What?
No.

That had to be a lie.

“Give me another one!” I shouted.

“No!” Natalia yelled. “Accept your fate and admit I was right!”

“No! That’s impossible!”

I was sitting in my bathroom with a gallon of water on a Saturday afternoon. For the past week I’d been feeling super sleepy. I thought my period was coming, because it was due and my boobs were sore. But I couldn’t keep anything down, and I hated the smell of onions. After fighting with me about my period not being here, Natalia threw an old pregnancy test she found in the closet at me and demanded I take it.

I’d just spoken to Ellis this morning, and told him I was late. We both thought nothing of it. But Natalia eyed me and told me to check it out. It turns out she was right: I actually
was
pregnant. I thought nothing of the light period I’d had, or the sickness following our lunch at Knife. But as the days passed, I counted down to my next period. And it never came.

I took the test to shut her up. When I saw the positive result, I blamed the plus sign on the test being old. It had been in my apartment for a year. Pregnancy tests expired, didn’t they?

Refusing to take it for a fluke, Natalia dragged me to the store. I took the generic, and blamed the generic’s cheap brand for inaccurate results. Dragging me
back
to the store, we purchased one of every brand we could find on the shelf. And they all gave the same results.

Pregnant, pregnant, pregnant, and fuck yeah, you’re pregnant.

I peed on the last pregnancy test in the house.
Pregnant.

“I’m pregnant!” I screamed. “How did I get pregnant from pre-cum?”

Natalia swung the door open and looked at me. “You really want to have this conversation?”

“He pulled out!” I said.

My sister-in-law cocked a slightly unkempt eyebrow at me. She repeated herself. “Do you really want to have this conversation with me?”

I sighed. “Who gets pregnant from the pullout method?”

“Everybody. Now pull up your pants and clean up all these tests. We have to get you some prenatal and start looking for baby things.” She came back to add, “We’re going to have to alter your bridal gown also – unless you don’t mind waiting until after the baby to throw your wedding?”

“Oh no! I completely forgot about that!” By my calculations, I was almost a full three months pregnant. That’s at least how long it’d been since Ellis left. “I’m going to be as big as a house when he comes back!”

I panicked. Looking at the pile of sticks with those tell-tale plus signs, I didn’t know how to feel. I was a pure mixture of emotions. I was excited, because I really wanted Ellis’s baby, and was ready to start our family. On the other hand, I was sad because he wasn’t going to be here to share in the magic of the experience.

“Should I call him?” I asked, tossing the pile of sticks in a bag. “Should I save these and mail them to him? How do I tell him?!”

“Is he on Skype right now?”

“No, he’s probably asleep. He told me he was headed to bed when I spoke to him.”

“Well you can just wait to let him know the next time you speak to him.”

“But I don’t want to!” I whined. “I don’t want anyone else to know until I tell him first!”

“You don’t want anyone else to know until you tell him first, and until
after
the first trimester. That’s the riskiest time for a pregnancy.”

“I think I’m three months,” I patted my tummy. “Why aren’t I showing yet?”

“No idea lady,” Natalia replied. “But all this wine in the fridge is off limits from now on.”

I groaned. We’d purchased several bottles of wine for a pizza, wine, and Netflix marathon during this stormy afternoon. But, with a baby on the way, that wine would have to be substituted for sparkling grape juice.

At the store, I brought the prenatal and grabbed all the baby magazines from the shelf. Call me eager, but I had been waiting for the moment to read all the baby stuff, and now was the perfect time. Natalia rolled her eyes, reminding me that the magazines didn’t know everything, but I shooed her, insisting that I needed to have them to be prepared.

“You can never be fully prepared for a baby,” she said. “You just have to be ready to be a mother.”

I looked in her eyes and replied. “There’s no time like the present.”

***

I’ll never forget the look on Ellis’s face when I surprised him. When he logged on to Skype, I’m sure he expected a regular chat, followed by a Skype sex session. Instead, I greeted him with a close up of the pregnancy tests.

“Baby… we’re having a baby!” My squeals were met with shock. His expression was priceless as he processed the news.

“But I pulled out…”

“Yes, well, that’s exactly what your brother said when Natalia got pregnant with Jordan,” I replied. Natalia poked her head in the doorway and yelled, “Congratulations, Ellis!”

“Are you okay?” Ellis’s expression was still frozen in amazement.

“Yes, baby. I’m fine. I just… wow.” He tried to turn his face away from the camera to hide the tear that rolled down his cheek. “It’s time. I have so much to look forward too. I can’t wait to come home.”

He calculated the due date. “If you’re three months… that means he’s going to be born in May – like me!”

“I love you baby.” I said, blowing a kiss at the screen while rubbing my tummy. “We can’t wait for you to come home.”

“I love you more, babe,” he said. “And our little one that’s going to be here before we know it.”

Chapter 27: Natalia

Thanksgiving and Christmas came and went so quickly, as did the New Year. Despite getting acclimated to my new life in Dallas, I missed my son, and Kelli. I spent the holidays in Twenty-nine Palms, with my son and Hollis, who was able to extend a cordial hand in my direction when we spoke about my visiting. 

Jordan had grown so much over the past few months. He was at least two inches taller. “Mom, I get to play basketball with the fourth graders!” he proudly proclaimed, beaming with pride.

“That’s awesome honey,” I replied. “My little man is growing up and getting all A’s! I’m so proud of you. You know that right?”

“Uh huh,” he said, wrapping his arms around me.

***

Jordan and Hollis went to Kristophe’s while Kelli and I lounged in the house. I took in the changes that took place in the house while I was gone. The house was decorated in more green and gray tones. It was interesting, because Hollis and Jordan loved the color blue.

“He’s really making himself at home in here, huh?” I said of Presley, gesturing to the new color scheme. “Hollis would have never let me put this much green in the house.”

Kelli shrugged. “You know what they say…”

“No. What do they say?” I sat up, genuinely curious.

She laughed. “Woman, I don’t know. It just sounded like the thing to say.”

Rolling my eyes, she continued to rib me. “You’re so
green
sometimes Natalia.”

I shot her a glare. She couldn’t help but to cackle harder. “Forgive me. I couldn’t resist.” She cleared her giggles, and got serious for a moment. “I’m glad you’re here though. I’ve really missed you.”

“I missed you also,” I said. “But I’m finally starting to catch my stride in Dallas.”

I filled her in on the good news: I found a new job at the local library, and I started taking cooking classes in the evenings. Thanks to Rose’s job as a beauty editor, I had access to beauty goodies and cosmetics without destroying my budget.

“And thanks to my personal trainer, I’m actually tightening up all those loose rolls I’ve been trying to get rid of,” I added.

Kelli was hip to my expression. “Who’s this personal trainer of yours, and why are you smirking like this?”

I blushed. “You remember that guy I twisted my ankle with?”

“Tuh! How could I forget!?” She said. “You’re the only woman I know who could injure herself on a first date.” We laughed at my comical misfortune. It was true; we didn’t know anyone who could be as clumsy as I was.

“Well… Desmond was a blessing in disguise. He’s been there for me every day since that night. He’s never let me down, and he’s completely comfortable allowing me to take my time with our relationship. And yes, we go jogging twice a week. It’s helping me blow off steam.”

“I can’t believe you have a new flame this perfect and you’re not sleeping with him,” Kelli snickered. “Don’t make Adam Levine’s little brother wait too long. A man that fine is tearing someone else up.” She started singing the chorus of Maroon 5’s “Makes Me Wonder.”

I laughed and rolled my eyes at my best friend’s off-key theatrics. I even joined in, lightheartedly, because for once in a long time, I was really that happy. Dealing with the sudden declaration of divorce was painful, especially when I love my marriage so much, but over time, I’d begun to look at things differently.

Desmond’s presence was the very reason for my new outlook. I feared the worst when I met him. I was scared that he was a player or a ladies’ man looking for his next flavor of the month. I was also scared that he wasn’t serious about being there for me when I needed him, and only said those sweet words to me the night I sprained my ankle to be nice. I figured he’d never contact me again after that incident.

But he proved me wrong – and I was so glad he did.

“He’s amazing,” I gushed. “Simply amazing.”

Whenever I had sleepless nights where I stared at the ceiling, scared and worried about the future, I could call on him. Whenever I realized even though I could never repair what I lost in Hollis,
I wasn’t meant to be alone –
and I could call on Desmond.

And when I’d pick up the phone those nights, aching to feel the connection of another soul that understood mine, Desmond never hesitated to make himself available to me. If it weren’t for his unwavering, increasingly present support, I don’t think I’d have made it, because he filled my heart’s desires with his gentle, masculine touch. 

I shared the highlights of our relationship. Desmond wasn’t just a great conversationalist and cuddlier. He loved to read, and encouraged my writing. Though I hadn’t written anything worth publishing, I was slowly coming around to building confidence and trying my hand at a short story contest.

“Well I’m happy for you,” Kelli cheered. She lifted her glass. “You seem much happier and effervescent than you previously were. And I’m for anything that lifts you up. You deserve to be happy.”

“But seriously,” she leaned in. “You really haven’t fucked him?”

“Kelli,” I groaned.

“Not even once?” She pressed.

“Kelli…” I said, in my warning tone.

“You haven’t even sucked his dick?”

“KELLI!”

Chapter 28: Rose

I waddled around the San Antonio apartment nervously. It was February 16, and after six emotionally trying months, Ellis was finally coming home. I was officially five and a half months pregnant, and couldn’t wait to see my husband. It was scary, but we’d made it through our first deployment, and now were opening the next chapter in our life: starting our family.

I was in our base San Antonio apartment alone. Natalia had flown to Texas. She landed a new job, but was in the midst of finalizing her divorce from Hollis. Their announcement was official over the holidays, when they were able to peacefully spend time with Jordan. Both parties were relatively quiet about the dissolution of their marriage. Only Ellis, I, and Kelli knew about what happened. Or at least we knew from Natalia’s side. Hollis remained notoriously tight-lipped, although we learned of his increased time spent with Presley, thanks to Jordan’s big mouth.

Despite the painful way Natalia realized her husband was done with her, she seemed to be blossoming under the care of Desmond. He visited the house to pick her up often, and they did a lot of activities together. Just as I’d thought, the moment he laid eyes on her, he was crazy about her. I could see it in the way he looked at her. There was a tenderness there, a protective cadence in his gait when he walked with her, as if she were the most precious thing on Earth.

My heart quickened when I heard the lock turn in the door. I twisted my wedding band as I sat on the couch, trying to maintain my cool as I realized the moment I’d been waiting for over the past few months finally arrived.

When he stepped into the foyer, I screamed. “Baby!!!!!”

I couldn’t get up fast enough. My love, my honey, my heartbeat. He was here, and I’d never been happier in my life.

Tears of joy ran down my face when he dropped his bag and hugged me. Dropping to one knee to kiss my tummy, he rubbed our child, “Hey there baby boy… or girl.  Daddy’s home!”

He looked at me. “Do you know what it is?”

I shook my head. “I wanted to wait until you came with me. I wanted to save that for us to learn together, seeing as you couldn’t be here for the other milestones of the first six months.”

“Come on,” I grabbed his hand. “Let’s get you out of these clothes.” I pulled him to his bedroom, which hadn’t been touched since he left until last night. I drove slowly, taking my time because I was tired, and crashed there so I wouldn’t miss him the moment he returned.

As he got undressed, I laid on the bed, rubbing my baby bump, and thanking God for bringing my husband home safe. As promised, Ellis was much thicker than when he’d left. His arms were cut up with muscles, and his six-pack turned into a twelve-pack.

Looking at him turned me on so much. Being sexless without him wasn’t a good experience either, because my libido had soared out of control as the months passed.

“Baby,” I cooed, as I watched him. “Come here.”

Ellis crawled onto the bed and hooked his arm around me. I closed my eyes and pointed to my puckered my lips, informing him that I wanted a kiss.

He passionately wrapped me in his arms and kissed me, reminding me of what I’ve been missing all this time. My hands traveled down his chiseled chest as I moaned into his mouth. He smelled mouthwatering; I wanted to slide my tongue over every inch of his flesh.

Ellis pushed my hand over his bulge. “Grab it, baby. Feel how hard my cock is for you.” I stroked his hard cock as I purred about how much I missed. “Daddy, I want your hard cock inside me.”

“Oh you do?” Ellis said. He tugged on the spaghetti strap of my dress. “Give me one of those juicy tits.” Sinking his lips over my breast, my eyes rolled as I cradled the back of his head in my palm.

Six months had given me a lot of time to regain every ounce of sensitivity in my nerve endings. My nipples were exceptionally sensitive to my husband’s oral caress, and he became more feverish with lust as I moaned out his name.

“Ellis, sweetheart, I missed you so much,” I said.

Ellis caressed my tummy through the dress, and tried to lift it up. I resisted in an attempt to keep my over my tummy. “Don’t cover up that beautiful tummy,” he commanded. Pushing my dress up to expose my round belly, he kissed it as he said, “That’s my masterpiece.”

He kissed his way back down between my legs, spreading them until he had full access to my pussy. He slowly tasted all of me, and I could hear him grunt with pleasure as he licked me until I screamed in ecstasy.

“That was a delicious meal,” he said, positioning himself at the hot entrance of my opening. “Better than any MRE I’ve ever eaten.”

He pushed himself inside me. The feeling was intense because I was still pulsing from the powerful orgasms he’d given me just moments before. All the extra tightness added friction that drove my nerves crazy. I never remembered sex feeling this explosive; I couldn’t wait to tell my friends how much better pregnant sex was.

Ellis’s face broke into a sheen of sweat as we he penetrated me; I could feel my lips suck against him, creating wet suction as he massaged himself against my core. The passion between us was so thick; every nerve in my body sang as I came to life.

With the excitement between us, we knew this round wouldn’t last long. As I neared my orgasm, I looked my husband in the eyes and warned him I was coming. He locked gazes with me and we surrendered to bliss.

Crazy moans echoed from our throats as we both came together. There was no need for Ellis to pull out. I was already pregnant, so I relaxed and released control of my orgasm, losing myself in the sensation of being filled with my husband’s excitement.

Ellis pulled out of me, laid down, and drew himself close to me, spooning me from behind as I laid on my side.

“No more worrying baby,” he said, wrapping me in his embrace. “Daddy’s home.”