The Intern Serials: Complete Box Set (42 page)

Chapter Twenty-Three

Cecilia

Perfect Endings

I WAS HIT with the bad news twelve days after saying goodbye to Ava. Her breathing became too rapid and her kidneys began failing just days after we left. It’s bittersweet knowing she’s up in Heaven with my dad now. I’m grateful I was able to spend that little time with her and to at least say goodbye. I can feel happy thinking she’s looking down on me.

Bentley and I spend the rest of summer and the start of fall preparing the nursery. I help Katelynn with final wedding preparations and Cora with the arrival of her baby girl outside of working. Jason finally got his own office, which I’m grateful for since Casey comes to visit him at lunch and their relationship went from ‘casual’ to serious.

Bentley’s new modeling company officially opens at the beginning of winter, giving us only a few months before I deliver. He spends his time traveling and setting up his new office downtown now before my due date.

Baseball season ended mid-summer, so I transition to something less physical at work since I’m pregnant. I work on a variety of different tasks, anything Coach Tanner asks of me, basically. I don’t mind it since I get to rest and sit at my desk mainly. It allows me to Skype with Bentley while he’s away.

*   *   *

“You ready?” I ask Katelynn as she stares at herself in the mirror. “You can still run,” I lean in and whisper. Her eyes lock with mine in the mirror, a wide smile spread across my face.

“You really suck as matron of honor, you know that?” she says sardonically.

“I’m going to take that as pre-wedding jitters and ignore that last comment.”

“You’re lucky Cora is still breastfeeding or you would’ve been tossed out like yesterday’s garbage.”

“There’s the stressed out bride-to-be I know.” I grin, fixing her veil. “Reason number thirty-three I eloped!”

“Hey, that’s my line!” Cora interrupts, laughing. She has Katie attached to her chest as she walks around the bridal suite.

“You know you can’t walk down the aisle like that,” Katelynn mocks.

“I can’t wait until you’re pregnant,” she teases.

“No kidding!” I add in. “We get to give all the shit you’ve given us right back.” I smirk, rubbing my belly that’s about to pop out of my bridesmaid dress. “Payback’s a bitch.”

“No problem. I just won’t get pregnant.” She snarls.

“Have you met your future husband? There’s no way you guys are going to keep your hands off each other.”

She smiles at the mention of his name. Oh yeah, it won’t take long.

The ceremony is perfect. Bentley and I walk down the aisle together in matching red color accents. Katelynn looks stunning as always as she and Brandon promise each other forever. I think back on the memories of when Katelynn and Brandon first met. The whole story is quite funny now that we can look back on it. I really hated hurting Brandon, but knowing he’s found his true soul mate makes me think that everything happened for a reason.

The reception and dance are both beautiful and run smoothly. I do my best to participate in all the wedding party shenanigans, but my belly often gets in the way.

Bentley and I dance for most of the evening. Although my feet are swollen and ache, I don’t want to let go of this moment we have together. It’s only a matter of weeks before our lives change forever.

“You look stunning,” he whispers in my ear. “Absolutely gorgeous.”

I smile back at him. “Do you regret not having a big, white wedding and reception?”

He looks around and smiles before locking eyes with me again. “No. I love every part of our wedding. I wouldn’t change it for anything. Well, maybe that one time I almost got stung by a jellyfish.” I laugh at the memory. “But honestly, I think it was perfect.”

“I agree. It
was
perfect.”

My feet are killing me by the time we leave. We booked a room at the hotel where the reception was so we didn’t have to drive all the way home after a long day. We step into the elevator, grinning at each other like a bunch of horny teenagers.

“I know that look, Mr. Leighton.”

“Is that so, Mrs. Leighton?” He walks over and pins me to the wall as much as my belly will allow him to. “And what look is that?” He dips his nose into the nape of my neck, trailing kisses up to my ear and jawline.

“It’s the look that got me pregnant in the first place,” I say matter-of-factly. His lips never part from my skin as he laughs.

“Well, it’s a good thing you’re already pregnant.”

It’s practically a race as we finally get the door open of who can get each other’s clothes off first. Bentley wins by a landslide with his greedy hands.

His kisses are hungry and raw as he walks us backward toward the bed. My knees buckle when I collide with the bed. He lays me back, worshiping my mouth with his lips and tongue. His hand lands on my breast as he wakes up every nerve sensation in my body, making me eager and practically begging for it.

“Bentley…” I whimper with no other words able to come out as I ache for him.

He kisses down my chest, over my stomach, and down below to my clit. He teases and tortures me before pulling me to stand up.

“Bend over the bed, sweetheart.” His lips graze over my ear as I feel his cock pressing into my back. I do just as he says, spreading my legs apart for him.

I feel him walking away, leaving me exposed. I turn to look for him, but I can’t see that far back. Fortunately, he returns and kneels in between my legs.

“Hold the bed, baby.” I hear the sound of buzzing before I feel it. There’s no time to react before Bentley presses a vibrator to my clit.

“Oh, my god,” I scream. He presses a hand to my back, holding me in place. “W-What are—”

My words are soon lost as he circles it around my pussy, swirling the vibrator up and down my slit.

“Jesus, baby. You’re so wet.”

“God, Bentley…the sensation is too much.”

He pushes just the tip of it inside, allowing me to get use to the foreign feeling. My hips circle on their own accord as he teases my swollen lips. I can feel my own build up as he pushes it deeper inside me.

“Holy shit…you’re going to make me go into labor,” I say through heavy panting. My fists clench the comforter on the bed. I can barely keep myself up.

“No worries, sweetheart. I looked it up and made sure it was safe for you,” he says proudly. “Now relax and let go.”

He works the vibrator inside my pussy as his fingers rub against my clit. It’s a matter of seconds before I release hard, giving him exactly what he demands.

“Fucking beautiful,” he growls. He pulls the vibrator out before standing directly behind me and positioning his cock at my entrance. “Bend lower, baby.” He presses a palm to my lower back, guiding my body right where he wants me.

I feel him pushing inside me as my body fully accepts his impressive length. The raw feeling of his cock working my pussy is almost too much, but I try to hold back until he’s closer. I arch my back more and widen my hips, giving him perfect access to thrust deeper inside.

“Yes. God, yes,” I moan, urging him on. “Harder, Bentley. Faster.”

“God, sweetheart. I love when you’re desperate and needy for me.” He leans down and grips my shoulder as he pulsates deeper and faster per my request. His animalistic growls put me over the edge, releasing hard all around him.

He comes hard within seconds after I do, jerking fiercely inside me before we finally both come down. He pulls out and grabs me from behind so I’m now standing. He swings me around and collides with my mouth instantly. His kisses are filled with passion and love, fast and eager.

“God, I love you, Ceci.”

I smile against his lips. I can hear the intensity in his tone. “I love you, Bentley.”

He lowers his lips and kisses down my neck and in between my breasts before landing on my stomach. “And daddy loves you.”

Epilogue

Cecilia

“COME ON, HURRY!” I call out as I wait for Bentley to come into the living room. “It’s almost on.”

“Coming!” I hear him yell from his office.

I get comfortable on the couch as a new episode of CSI is about to start.

“Got the popcorn,” I announce as I hear him walk in.

“It’s weird that you have a whole set up thing, you know?”

I pop a piece into my mouth and smile. “No, it’s not. I get to see Hannah get slaughtered to death. She gets her fame, and I get to feel a tiny bit better by watching her guts explode all over the screen.”

“That’s gross.” He grabs a fistful of popcorn and begins shoving them into his mouth.

“Hey, we all have our quirks. Don’t judge.”

“Whatever makes you feel better. But she’s not really getting slaughtered to death…”

I punch him playfully in the shoulder. “Don’t ruin it for me!”

As much as I’ve forgiven Hannah for all the shit she’s pulled on Bentley and me, it doesn’t mean I won’t enjoy her character dying.

After she finished Celebrity Rehab, she was picked up by a new agent, who immediately started getting her auditions for parts in popular TV shows. This is her third episode where her character finally dies.

“Oh, my god!” I laugh as her eyes bulge out of her face the moment she realizes she’s about to die. Her character is side-swiped by a huge bus, the film effects showing body pieces and guts flying every which way. “C’mon.” I nudge Bentley in the ribs. “That shit is funny.”

“That amuses you, sweetheart.” He shakes his head at me. “However—”

“Holy shit!” I cut him off, holding my stomach with both hands. “My water just broke. Or I peed. Like a lot. Oh, my god,” I ramble off frantically.

He stands up, ready to follow orders, but I’m not even exactly sure what to do. “What do you need? Should I call the doctor? Is it coming out right now?”

“Bentley!” I scream, snapping him out of it. “Get me towels. And some new pants. And my shoes. And then grab my overnight bag. I’ll call the doctor.” I try to remain calm now because I know that’s the only way he’ll remain calm.

“Right. Okay, on it.”

In less than fifteen minutes, Bentley’s driving through the Saturday night traffic. Everyone and their mom is out tonight apparently.

I text my mom and Casey, letting them know we’re on our way. They’ve been helping me prepare for weeks.

We finally arrive—in one piece thankfully. He helps me through the Emergency Room entrance and quickly grabs me a wheel chair. I feel and look like a whale. I haven’t seen my feet in weeks, and I’m not even sure I slipped my sandals on at this point.

“Ready?”

“Yes, hurry please. These contractions are getting more intense.” My head falls back as more pain ripples through me. “Oh, shit. Oh, fuck. Oh, my god.”

Bentley rushes me in and immediately takes the elevator up to labor and delivery. He flags down a nurse and follows her into the nearest room available.

Once I’m settled in and comfortable, Casey and my mom walk in. They look like a bunch of crazed lunatics with their messy hair and frantic expressions.

“Oh, my god, did we make it?”

I narrow my brows at them. “Do you see me holding a baby?”

“It’s going to be a while,” one of the nurses interrupts.

“How long is a while?” I ask, really not sure how much longer I can take this. “Are we talking like an hour or two?” I ask hopeful.

She smirks, hiding her face, but I see the look she’s giving me. “Depends, Mrs. Leighton. But you’re only dilated to a two. We’ve got some time, so get comfortable.”

“Oh, my god. Only a two?”

“Only a two what?” Casey speaks up.

“Centimeters.”

“Oh, right.”

“Are you all right?”

“Yes, it’s just…blood freaks me out.”

“You better not pass out!” I scold, pointing my finger at her.

“Anyone that’s going to faint with the sight of blood needs to stay above the waist,” the nurse chimes in again.

“Casey, no fainting.”

“I’m not going to faint. I’m fine,” she insists, although I’m not sure who she’s trying to convince.

Bentley stands next to me, gripping my hand in one hand while rubbing my head with the other. I’m already sweating, and I haven’t even started pushing yet.

“It’s been six hours. Oh, my god,” I whine as the nurse checks my stats. “Is this normal? Shouldn’t I have popped already?”

She grins as she continues reading my contractions graph. “Oh, honey. I’ve had women in here that were in labor for days.”

“DAYS?” I gasp, nearly waking Casey and my mom up who passed out on the couch two hours ago.

“Afraid so. We try to make you as comfortable as possible.”

The nurse checks me again and finally tells me the news I’ve been dying to hear. “Ok, Ceci. You’re at ten. It’s time to push.”

The pain meds have worked well so far. I’m already anticipating some discomfort, but either way, I’m squeezing Bentley’s hand the entire time.

“Are you ready for this?” he whispers, his eyes filled with passion and excitement.

“I hope so. Are you?”

“Yes. I’ve been ready. Having the most gorgeous woman on Earth have my children, what else could I ask for?” He leans down and softly grazes my lips. “You can do this.”

I nod fiercely, hoping to convince myself as beads of sweat cover my forehead. My mom and Casey finally wake up as the nurses and doctor begin prepping. They both stand on one side as Bentley stands on the other.

“All right, Ceci. It’s time to push.”

I nod, letting them adjust my legs how they need them. God, this is so uncomfortable. I lean forward, and as soon as the nurse tells me, I begin to push.

I push with every contraction and pray to God that this is the one that gets a baby out of me.

“You’re doing amazing, sweetheart.” Bentley focuses on me, keeping me on track.

“C’mon, Celia, you’re a West. Push that baby out already,” my sister calls out like it’s a game of football. I glare at her, mentally reminding myself to kick her ass later.

“I see the head. One more big push. Come on,” the nurse informs me. I watch as she starts handing the doctor gadgets and tools. I lean forward one more time and push with every ounce of energy I have.

My body finally relaxes at the sound of a baby crying. Tears begin strolling down my cheeks as I get a glimpse of my new baby.

“It’s a girl!”

“Oh, my god,” I whimper out. “Is she okay?”

I watch as one of the nurses holds her up briefly for me to see before taking it away.

“She’s just fine, Cecilia.” I hear the nurse call out. Relief floods through me as her screams get louder and stronger.

“You’re incredible.” Bentley covers my mouth with his. “So amazing.”

“All right, Cecilia. Not much time to rest. Baby number two is right behind and ready.”

I watch as my mother and Casey’s jaws drop.

Surprise
.