When we get inside, I make sure to turn the outside lights off, lock the door, and kennel the dogs. I want no interruptions. None.
Walking back to our bedroom, I find Ella trying to get her dress off herself but struggling with the ties in the back.
“Hey, why are you starting without me?” I step in to help. The reality setting in, my heart starts to race more.
“I’m just trying to move things along so we can get down to it.”
“Well, I don’t want to rush.”
“I don’t either but this took me ten minutes to get into, so I feel like it’s going to takeyoutwenty to get off.”
“You just say the word, baby, and I’ll have this dress off you in about three seconds.” My voice low and seductive in her ear, she giggles.
“Nooo, I don’t want to rip it.”
“I didn’t think so. Because who knows, if we’re blessed with a daughter, one day she can wear it.”
“Do you want a daughter?”
“Of course.”
“Really? I take you for a boy kinda guy.”
“Long as I get to make them with you, I don’t care.”
As I reach the end of the dress, Ella spins around to face me, takes a step back, and slips the lace sleeves off before slowly pulling the rest of it down her body and stepping out of it. Revealing what she’s wearing underneath has me taking a hard swallow, and my body starts to heat up. Her refusal to break eye contact makes all the blood in my body rush so much it almost aches. In the best way of course.
“Ella,” I choke out.
“You like?” she asks, running her hands over the white lace that barely covers her.
“Mm-hmm.” Proper words aren’t forming.
Gently cupping her face with my hand, I trace my thumb along her cheek before I kiss her softly.
The space between us closes when she presses her bodyagainst mine. Her hands run up my back and settle in my hair. My hands glide over her curves, down her sides, and stop at her waist as I deepen the kiss. She pulls me toward her, guiding us to the bed. My body comes down over hers and I leave a trail of sensual kisses along her neck.
Time stands still and the world around us blurs. It has me feeling like I’m living in a dream because there’s no way I got this lucky with the most perfect woman in the world that Ifinallyget to call my wife.
Epilogue
Fourteen months later
Ella
“Ella, are you sure you didn’t flush a tampon or something down the toilet?” Jesse asks, coming into the upstairs bedroom.
I shake my head. “Haven’t used any of that in a while, honey.” I point to the obvious presence of our baby growing inside me for the last seven months.
“Right.” He sighs and comes into the room. “How are you feeling today?” He asks, placing a kiss on my temple.
“Decent. I took a nap after lunch.”
“Good.” He looks down to the floor. “Your feet say otherwise, baby.”
I look at them; they do look pretty swollen today. I’m on them every day, almost all day when I’m at work. I thought maybe they’d get used to it but that’s not the case.
I’m due right before Christmas and counting down the days until I finally get to hold her in my arms. Yes, her. It’s a girl and we already picked a name: Cora Lee Jennings. I’m ecstatic, over the moon to have a mini me and even more excited to see Jesse be a girl dad. She’s already got him wrapped around herfinger and she’s not even here yet. He talks to her when we’re lying in bed or sitting on the couch, and he sings to her. It’s really sweet.
