Chapter 59: Epilogue one

XAVIER

“You look like shit,” Gunner announced and sat on the couch with legs wide apart. Cole and Stefan lowered themselves as well. I could feel their curious gazes on me as I worked on my laptop.

My fingers were working furiously, making notes and underscoring important parts for the upcoming cases.

“Trouble in paradise?” Cole asked as he poured Scotch for himself and Stefan.

“What made you think that?” I asked without taking my eyes off my screen.

“For one, you have been sleeping in your office for the last two days, and you’re crankier and more of an asshole—” His voice cut off when my phone started ringing.

I received a call and placed it in my ear.

“Hey,” her sweet melodious voice came through the speaker, making my body warm.

“Hey,” I replied. My pulse quickened, and I grinned, letting the rush of desire take over.

“I miss you.” I could feel her pouting.

“Baby, we talked an hour ago,” I laughed.

“Yeah, but I can’t say in front of Mila what else misses you, can I?” she asked mischievously. Yep, she’d made it her mission to make my days and nights without her harder than they already were.

“What else misses me?” My smirk kicked up, and warmth flowed through me.

“My pussy is missing your hard cock and your magical tongue. My mouth misses your salty taste and the way your cock throbs down my throat when you cum.

“And my tits—they miss your sinfully talented mouth, the way you make love to them, nipping, sucking, biting.”

My dick responded, getting harder by the second as she told me what she was missing.

“Where are you?” I asked, even though I could guess, hearing the sound of water splashing.

“In the bathtub, naked.” Her voice was husky, full of desire. My fingers stopped working, and my pants started feeling uncomfortable.

Her husky voice was enough to wake up the monster sleeping inside my pants.

“Fuck baby, I’m still working,” I groaned and shifted in my chair to get in a comfortable position.

“I’m so wet and horny,” she rasped.

“Are you touching yourself?” I asked her, and before she could respond, I commanded, “Don’t touch yourself.”

My voice was calm, although my dick leaked pre-cum, throbbing from the very idea that her cunt was ready for me.

I heard a few coughs and glared at them to shut up.

“But—”

“No but. Did you forget who can make you cum?” I growled.

“You. You only, Xavier,” she whispered. I fucking loved the way she said my name.

“Damn right. Only I can. Now be a good girl and go to sleep.”

“Fine,” she snapped, “but you will have to make it worth it.”

I chuckled. “Don’t I always, love?”

“Good night.” I could feel her blushing, which made me grin.

“Love you.”

“Love you more,” she said and hung up.

“So.” Cole cleared his throat. “No trouble in paradise. Then why are you walking around like a zombie?” he asked.

I didn’t blame them. I hadn’t slept last night, and there were huge bags under my eyes. I ran my hand along my jaw, and the stubble was rough. I was way past due for a shave.

I printed some documents and tucked them away. Closing my laptop, I joined my friends and poured myself a whiskey.

“I’m taking a long leave.” I shrugged. “And before I go, I had to make sure everything is finished.”

“Long leave? Going on vacation or your honeymoon?” Gunner cocked his head.

“Holy motherfucking shit! You’re getting married! When?” Cole exclaimed. Stefan silently studied me without saying anything.

I placed the glass of whiskey back on the glass table in front of me and walked back to my desk to retrieve two files I’d kept for Gunner.

Picking up the files, I strolled toward the couch and took my seat again before passing the files to Gunner.

He shook his head as he skimmed through a file and looked at me with a “What the fuck?!?!” expression.

“You’re giving me the authority to act on your behalf in your absence? What the fuck, man!” he growled.

“As I said, I’m taking leave to spend some time with my family.” I grabbed my glass of whiskey from the table and sipped slowly.

“And you will be looking after everything while I’m not here.”

My words cut through the air, leaving no room for negotiation, and I began telling him every small detail he needed to know. We talked over everything for hours.

“So, no more late-night parties?” Cole asked with a gleam in his eyes.

“Nope,” I said, not that I’d ever liked them before. It had just been the way to get relaxed after a long-ass day. We used to go out to a bar or club for a drink every Saturday night.

Now, all I wanted was Melody. I wanted to spend every moment with her.

“Look at him.” Gunner grinned. “Still thinking about Melody.” He stood and placed a hand on my shoulder.

“I’m happy for you. If I know you as well as I think I do, I’d say good news is on its way.” Gunner looked at me, challenging me to deny him.

I stayed silent, neither confirming nor denying, which made him grin wider. Stefan had the biggest grin on his face. Cole looked shocked.

“Dude, we’ve been working closely for twenty years. I know you,” Gunner said.

Leaning forward, I rested my elbows on my knees and laced my fingers together. “Nothing is confirmed yet. I think she is, but she doesn’t want to believe she is.”

“Why?”

“It’s not easy, man. After everything…” I trailed off and shook my head. “She made it clear before we got together she doesn’t want any more kids.” I gulped my whiskey down and poured another.

“Then why do you think she is? Didn’t you guys use protection?” Stefan frowned.

“She’s on the pill, and she never misses one.”

Seeing they were still waiting for me to speak, I took another sip and told them why I thought she was pregnant. I told them how last month she’d had a fever and had thrown up all week.

We’d argued too when I’d reminded her she’d missed her period.

She’d shrugged, saying she’d missed her period a few times when she was in a relationship with Matt. I didn’t miss the flash of pain and fear in her eyes and the way her palm flattened over her stomach.

“Well, it’s my guess she might have conceived that time.” I frowned.

“And I also have reason to think she’s pregnant now, because she’s been showing signs. She has morning sickness, and she never liked guavas.

“Now, she wants everything with the flavor of guavas, even ice cream and candy,” I growled, frustrated, and it felt good to get it off my chest after keeping it inside for a week.

“If she is pregnant, I want to spend all my time with her, because I know she’ll need me,” I said. They nodded in agreement.

What I left out was that she would need some counseling too.

“Is she still taking birth control pills?” Gunner asked.

I nodded.

“Dude, if she’s knocked up already, then why is she still taking pills? It may harm the baby.” Cole frowned.

“I replaced them with vitamin pills.” I shrugged.

They gaped at me.

“What?” I growled. I’d talked to my doctor before changing the pills, and I was just waiting for the report.

My doctor had come to my home to get blood for Mila’s routine check-up, and I’d insisted we should get ourselves checked too.

My family doctor came once a year to collect blood samples, and I’d taken it as an opportunity.

Now all I need to do was wait. We ordered dinner and dined, talking about mundane things.

After Gunner, Cole, and Stefan left, I called Dan. “Can you meet me at my office?” I asked.

“Is everything okay?” He didn’t wait for my reply and shot another question. “Is Melody okay?”

I sighed and rubbed my forehead to ease the pain. “Everything is fine, nothing to worry about,” I added to give him a little comfort. “There is something I want to talk about.”

“Is this something related to Melody?”

I ground my teeth against one another so hard that my jaw ached from the pressure.

“Yeah,” I responded calmly.

“I’m on my way,” he said and hung up.

Fifteen minutes later, the door burst open and Dan walked in with a wild look. He leaned his palm on the desk and glared at me.

“You better not have hurt her again, because this time, only your dead body will leave this office,” he growled.

“Sit,” I said calmly, motioning with my hand.

“I swear to God—”

“I said, ‘Sit,’” I snarled, frustrated. “If for a second you think you can intimidate me, you’re wrong. So fucking wrong.

“You have no idea what kind of people I deal with all day. So keep your voice down next time you talk to me.

“I’ve been nothing but patient with you because Melody cares for you, and if it weren’t for her…” The rage was unexplainable as I slammed the edge of my fist down on the desk.

I took a deep breath and focused on calming my shit down, ignoring the irritation.

“Now sit,” I ordered. He sat on the chair across from my desk, and I passed three airline tickets to him.

He looked at me and then at the tickets. “Are you going somewhere?”

“Not me. You, Asher, and Mila.”

I leaned forward with my forearm on the desk. I told him they were going to Sydney. Mom was missing Mila, another reason I wanted Mila to stay with her grandparents for a few days.

I wasn’t surprised when he agreed, because I knew this fucker would move a mountain for Melody if he could.

With a final nod, Dan stood and walked out of my office. I rubbed a hand over my face, exhaustion finally hitting me. My head slumped back against the chair, and I gazed at the ceiling.

I’d been in my office for forty-six hours. For Melody, I was out of the city for a meeting with a client. I’d lied to her, and I’d had to.

I had to get things in control and get all the work done before I could enjoy family time with her and Mila. I thought back to the time I’d started working with my grandfather. I hadn’t stopped since.

I’d been working and working and working, and had never taken a day off. Maybe once, if you counted that one week in Vegas.

Now I wanted to sit back and relax with my family with nothing hanging over me. Just Melody and I, and our little family.

I straightened in my chair, and my eyes halted at the photo on my desk. A grin spread on my face. It had been a week since I’d proposed to Melody, and she’d said yes.

I hadn’t planned to propose to her like that. I’d planned everything in the back of my mind, with flowers and a grand proposal.

I couldn’t say it had been just the spur of the moment, because I’d known it was the right moment when I’d heard Mila say, “I love you” to Melody. I’d known it was the right time.

So I’d just gotten on my knees in front of the love of my life.

I’d been carrying the ring in my pocket for a week after I’d told Mila I wanted to marry Melody and had told her to keep it a secret until I proposed to her.

Now I couldn’t wait for that special day. The day she would walk down the aisle to me in a beautiful wedding gown, looking like the most beautiful bride the universe had ever seen.

Until now, I’d never seen myself getting married, and I’d never thought about it, but now the picture was clear as glass. I could see myself standing at the altar, waiting for my beautiful bride.

Unable to hold back anymore, I fired up my laptop and opened the security camera I’d installed at my home. Several screens opened in front of me.

I clicked on camera number three, which was installed in our room. Not finding her in the room, I clicked on camera number four in the kitchen. She wasn’t there either.

I tried every camera, but I couldn’t find her.

I picked my phone up to call Melody, but my screen lit up with another incoming call. “Xavier?”

“Tell me the result,” I begged my family doctor and buddy, Charles.

He chuckled. “Congratulations, Daddy!”

~Fuck!~

~

~Daddy!~

~

~I’m going to be a father again…~

~

“Are…are you sure?” My voice was strained, and tears filled my eyes.

“Yes, I’m sure. According to hCG levels in her blood, she is pregnant. Come to my clinic for more tests and an ultrasound to follow up,” he said.

I had a few of my own questions, and after I was satisfied, I hung up and put my head on the desk.

Without wasting any time, I picked up my keys and headed home. I couldn’t stay away from Melody, not when she was pregnant with my baby.

Fuck, I needed to hold her and tell her everything was going to be okay. We were going to be a family. I couldn’t wait to hold our baby we’d made with our love.

***

Coming home from work had never felt this good, because I’d never had someone waiting for me. It had been weeks since she’d moved in with me.

We’d spent this weekend together staying in. It had been filled with laughter, long conversations into the night, and affection.

Her sweet aroma greeted me as I walked in, igniting the animal inside me. It had been more than a week since I’d been inside her sweet cunt.

Hell, it had been forty-six hours since I’d tasted her pussy. I’d been about to sink in her tight heat when Mila had knocked on our door.

~Fucking cockblocker.~

~

I loved her. I loved my daughter to death, but she’d been halting my every fucking chance to be with Melody alone, telling me she loved her mommy more than me and wanted to spend time with her mom.

I sighed and rubbed my forehead as I placed my briefcase on the table beside the door. Loosening my tie, I went farther inside. Melody was sleeping on the couch.

I frowned and went to stand beside her.

“Baby?” I caressed her hair, squatting down on my knees. Without a thought, I placed my hand on her stomach, caressing it and placing a small kiss. “I love you already, peanut,” I whispered.

I could feel love for my baby in my bones, in my every pore.

“Love?” I whispered when she didn’t move. Placing my hand beneath her, I carried her to our bedroom and laid her gently on her bed, covering her with a blanket.

After gently placing a kiss on her forehead, I went to see my daughter. Seeing her made my whole day more beautiful.

I peeked inside Mila’s room, and she was sleeping peacefully.

I walked back into the room and started shedding my clothes for a shower. I went into the bathroom, and after showering, I pulled on boxers, nothing more.

I silently walked toward the bed, trying not to wake her up. I lay in bed, holding her close, kissing her forehead. I whispered, “I love you.”

She snuggled close, and a contented sigh escaped from her as if she knew I was holding her. Shutting my eyes, I fell asleep with Melody in my arms.

***

My eyes fluttered open as the pale morning light drifted in through the windows. I smiled lazily, knowing full well she’d been watching me sleep.

This was us. This was how we started our morning. I opened my eyes. “Good morning, love,” I rasped before putting my lips on hers.

I refused to get out of bed until I’d kissed her thoroughly.

She pulled back and straddled over me, placing both palms on either side of my head. She leaned down and kissed me, rubbing her wet pussy on my hard cock.

Fuck, I loved it when she took the lead, and she was never afraid to take what she wanted.

But every time she forgot, I liked to take the lead when it came to our bedroom, and when she was in our bed, pinned beneath me, that was where I liked her.

I flipped her over onto her back so I could look at her face while I tugged her underwear down her legs. She looked up at me with sultry eyes, her long brown hair spilling across the bed.

I sat up on the bed on my knees, arching over her, enjoying how she looked spread out beneath me, naked and incredibly turned on.

Cupping her face, I pressed my lips harder, kissing her possessively. She moaned.

“Inside me, Xavier,” she begged, arching her hips up.

“Fuck! I want that too.” I rubbed the tip of my cock to her pussy and slid inside deeply until my balls were touching her skin.

I filled her completely, and both of us gasped in pleasure, our breath coming ragged together.

“Fuck,” she groaned and wrapped her legs around my hips, locking me in place, begging me to move. I moved slowly, not wanting to hurt her or our baby.

“God, fuck me hard and fast,” she groaned, her eyes closed blissfully. When I didn’t, she opened her eyes and cupped my face, kissing it softly.

“It’s not going to hurt our baby,” she whispered so softly that for a second I thought I’d imagined it, but looking at her eyes, I knew. She’d said what I’d heard.

Her eyes brimming with tears, she nodded and said again, “Our baby.”

I swallowed slowly and reached out to cup her cheek, running my thumb from her cheekbone to her lip, lazily tracing the lines of her mouth. “I love you,” I whispered, kissing her again.

My tongue dove into her hot mouth, feeling the heat and need and love.

“Now move,” she said, moving her hips.

I pulled back and slammed myself inside her again, every inch of me in one swift stroke. I began slowly at first, then increased the tempo, bidden by the urgent need to drive into her again and again.

I looked into her eyes and then kissed her deeply and heavily, our tongues entwining in time with our hips, crashing against each other, building and building.

I leaned down and swirled my tongue around her nipple. I did what her tits were missing; I sucked, nipped, and bit. She moaned louder, and her pussy started clenching.

“Oh God,” she cried out, her body trembling with ecstasy.

Letting her nipple out of my mouth with a pop, I rubbed ruthless circles around her clit, making her brow pinch. Her mouth opened, and her body shuddered with the climax.

“Fuck!” I growled as I felt my orgasm near. I thrust again and again, and with a roar, I came inside her.

“God, I love you,” I groaned again with my forehead against her.

After we came down from the high, she rested her head against my chest. “I took a test yesterday,” she whispered, her finger making a circle on my abdomen.

She paused and looked up. “I’m scared, Xavier. I’ll die this time if something—”

“Nothing will happen. I won’t let anything happen. Do you trust me?” I tightened my arm around her.

“I do,” she replied immediately. We lay in each other’s arms, then she looked up and said, “You didn’t look surprised.”

I smirked and told her where I had been for two days and how I’d already known she was pregnant. She sat up and faced me, pouting. “I don’t want to walk down the aisle with a huge belly.”

“What?” I asked, surprised.

She had a huge grin on her face. “Either we get married before I start showing or two years after the baby, because I want to look good on my wedding day.”

Grabbing her hands, I pulled her back and nuzzled my face in her neck. “We’re getting married tomorrow.”

“No! Not tomorrow.” She hit my chest and started laughing. I couldn’t help but watch her laugh.

“Do you think Mila will be happy?”

“Of course she’ll be happy, but we’re not telling anyone now,” I said softly.

She nodded in understanding.

“You don’t need to send Mila away,” she snapped when I told her about Mila going to stay with her grandparents for a few days.

I sat and pulled her onto my lap. “We haven’t spent a day alone. It’s been almost five months since we’ve come back from Vegas.”

I tucked her hair behind her ear. “I want you all to myself, only for a few days. I know I’m being selfish—”

“I want that too, but Mila—”

“I’ve talked to my mother, and she said she’s happy to have Mila with her. You don’t need to worry about her.”

She frowned but agreed.

“So.” A wolfish grin split across my face as I pushed her back on the bed. “Should I start calling you Mrs. Clark?”

I glanced at my watch. We still had half an hour before Mila woke up. “Ready, love?” I asked.

“For you, always,” Melody replied in her sultry voice.