The O'Conners: A Made for Love Novella (12 page)

She draws in a deep breath and blows it out slowly.
“
We can do anything together.
”

“
Anything
,
”
I reassure her with another kiss.

She wraps her arms around my neck, preventing me from pulling away. For the first time since we got home from dinner last night, a smile pulls at my lips.
“
I love you, Sonny,
”
she murmurs against my mouth.

“I love you, too.
”

“Did you mean what you said? About staying in bed all day?
”

Another smirk pulls at my lips as I make myself comfortable beside her. I encourage her onto her side and then pull her back against my front. She sighs and I can feel her body relax.
“
Get some sleep, Shorty,
”
I murmur against her hair.
“
Just close your eyes and try not to worry.
”

I don
’
t follow my own advice until her breathing pattern changes and I know she
’
s surrendered to her exhaustion. As soon as my eyes close, I let sleep pull me under, too.

A year ago today, I woke up feeling almost exactly like I feel right now. My stomach was full of butterflies; I felt impatient with anticipation; and while I
’
m someone who can sleep through just about anything, I woke up with the birds. Their song pulled me out of my slumber like I was in some sort of fairy tale.

A year ago today, I woke up
Avery Jade Grant
and fell asleep
Avery Jade O
’
Conner
.

This morning, I wake not just with butterflies in my stomach
—
but with a baby growing inside of me. I
’
m not sure what woke me, as the alarm hasn
’
t sounded yet. For all I know, it could have been my busy thoughts. I
’
ve been overwhelmed by them lately. For the last couple of weeks, I
’
ve been so incredibly distracted and anxious. My mind is trying to figure out how we
’
re going to make this work.

From what I
’
ve found on the internet, our baby is likely due in March. At that point, Sonny and I
’
ll both still have two more months of school. Although, part of me is wondering if I could shoulder an extra workload this fall in order to lighten my responsibilities for the spring semester. Then again
—
I won
’
t know if that
’
s even possible until I speak with my advisor. I haven
’
t scheduled a meeting, yet. It
’
s not something I can explain without announcing my pregnancy and we haven
’
t told anyone. I
’
m certainly not going to tell my advisor before I tell my family.

Today, Grayson and I are going to our first prenatal doctor
’
s appointment. According to the date of my last period, I should be at about eight weeks. When I worked up the courage to call the office, this was the earliest they could fit me in. Today, this baby will become that much more
real
. I
’
m still trying to get used to the idea
—
used to this reality. It
’
s hard when
—

“I hear you thinking.
”
A smile tugs at my lips as I feel Grayson
’
s big, warm hand slide over my flat belly. He spreads his fingers wide and I turn my face to look at him.

“You
hear
me
thinking?
”

“Mmhmm,
”
he hums groggily.
“
You think very loudly.
”
He moves his hand as he wraps his arm around me and pulls me towards him. Before I can say a word, his lips are pressed against mine. I
’
m expecting a quick peck, but then his tongue seeks entrance into my mouth.

There are two things that have proven to help distract me from my ceaseless worrying these last couple weeks. My cello
…
and my husband
’
s mouth.

I open up for him, unwilling and unable to deny him access to every part of me. I melt against him as his hand sneaks underneath my tank top. He palms my breast, my nipples hardening at his touch, and the ache emanating from my core is suddenly my only concern.

My God, I love this man with everything that I am.

“Now,
that
’
s
a thought I approve of completely.
”
I can feel his smirk pressed against my mouth as my cheeks warm with a blush.
“
And I love you, too, Mrs. O
’
Conner.
”
He makes quick work of my sleeping shorts, discarding them along with his boxers. Then he pulls me on top of him and frees me from my shirt before I know what
’
s happening. My hair falls all around us as I look down at him. He sweeps the dark strands out of my face and behind my ears
—
his gentle movement a beautiful contrast to his hard cock, evident beneath me.

“A year ago, you made me the luckiest bastard in the world. The last three-hundred and sixty-five days have been the best of my entire existence. I know the future seems scarier now than it did a couple weeks ago, but honestly, Ave
—
no matter what happens, as long as I have you, I
’
m better than good.
”

His words are like a warm blanket that he wraps around me snuggly. Every time he mentions our baby, he
’
s reassuring me that I
’
m not alone, that he
’
s scared too, and that it
’
s okay. More than that, he
’
s stepping into his promises to me. We don
’
t have a clear plan for our future. When it was just the two of us, uncertainty felt easier to manage. Our
plus one
complicates things. I
’
m dumbfounded by all that I
don
’
t know
. But there is one thing that I
do
know; and as I stare down into his brilliant green eyes, the desire that pools between my legs and the breathless sensation that clenches my lungs beseeches me to hold onto
this
truth:

The man beneath me will always take care of me.

I lower myself across his chest, bringing the tip of my nose to kiss the tip of his before I speak.
“
You
’
re more than I ever dreamed I could have in a man. You
’
re my proof
—
my proof that God loves me unconditionally and without ceasing.
”

“I love you unconditionally and without ceasing, too,
”
he whispers as he glides his hands down my back and around my butt. He squeezes my flesh and a pathetic whimper escapes me, my growing want robbing me of words.
“
How are you feeling right now?
”

It
’
s a question I
’
m already starting to become accustomed to. Aside from my lack of period, I haven
’
t really had any pregnancy symptoms. Both of us seem to be waiting for the other shoe to drop. Right now, though, all I feel is
needy
.
“
I want you. Sonny, I want to feel you inside of me.
”

He reaches for my mouth with his, squeezing my backside as his tongue tangles with mine. After a moment, he frees one hand and traces his fingers along my entrance. He groans when he finds me dripping just for him.
Always for him
. He inserts one finger, then another, pumping in and out of me. His touch turns me on even more, but it
’
s not enough. As soon as I start to grind against his hand, he pulls out of me and grips either side of my hips. He lifts my lower half above him and I prop myself on his chest with my hands.

“Saddle up, sweetheart.
”

I ease her down over my cock and she consumes me. She tilts her head back and draws in a couple ragged breaths as she gives herself a moment to get used to this position. I reach for her breasts and squeeze her nipples between my fingers. She moans as she begins to rock her hips back and forth. I swear, there is nothing sexier than seeing my girl ride my dick.

Absolutely. Nothing.

“
Oh
—
Grayson,
”
she breathes.

Alright. Except maybe that.

I know if she keeps calling my name while she grinds against me, I won
’
t last but a minute. My hands roam over every inch of bare skin that I can reach, each gentle caress spurring her on even more. When I reach for her clit with my thumb and begin rubbing slow circles across her sensitive flesh, her hands slip. She catches herself on her forearms against my chest,  her hair forming a curtain around her face.

“Sonny
—”
she pants.
“
Sonny, I
’
m
—”
She squeezes my shoulders, her movements growing wild and out of control. She grunts, her body begging for mine.
“
More
—
more
—
please. I
’
m
—
I
’
m
—”
She
’
s not speaking in complete sentences, but I
’
m aware of what she needs. I
’
m so close, and I know I can take her over the edge right along with me. I wrap my arm around her waist, stabilizing her as I buck my hips, meeting her thrust for thrust. She tightens around me almost immediately, beckoning my orgasm as well.

She lays still on top of me as we both attempt to catch our breath. I hold her against my chest, still buried deep inside of her. Today is a big day for so many different reasons. I know she
’
s nervous about this afternoon. I am, too. I
’
m also a little nervous about tonight. I planned something special for her that I hope she
’
ll like. Yet, no matter what we have ahead of us today, I
’
m grateful for this moment; grateful for the passionate reminder that we were made to love one another through everything.