Until Nico

Chapter 11
“But where are you going? Where in Seattle? Have you ever even been here before?” Sophie asks in rapid-fire succession.
We got to Washington yesterday for her best friend’s wedding. I hate f*cking lying to her, but there is no way I’m telling her that I’m going to meet her dad. She doesn’t even know he’s in prison, and the last thing I want right now is her worrying.
“Baby”—I finish tying my boot and grab her hand before sitting back so I can pull her onto my lap—“I go to cities I know nothing about at least once a month. Don’t worry about me. I won’t be gone long.” I run a hand down her back, the other lying over her stomach.
Her eyes go to her lap before meeting mine again. “I hate being away from you.”
“You’re safe here,” I tell her. Since the attack, she hasn’t left my side. I hate having her away from me, but because we’re so far away from Tennessee, I know I can relax a little.
“It’s not me I’m worried about.”
“I’m always safe. Besides, I’m not working. I just need to go out and pick something up.”
“What could you need to pick up in Seattle?” she asks, obviously frustrated.
“If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise. Now go back to sleep. You need your rest.”
“I’m not tired,” she huffs.
“I can see the bags under your eyes, Sophie. I know you’re tired.” I run my fingers under her jaw. Yesterday was a long day of traveling, and I pray we won’t have to do it again while she’s pregnant.
“Sheesh, you’re a charmer.” She shakes her head.
“You know you’re beautiful. Now stop being difficult and lay down. I’ll be gone three hours tops.”
“Okay, but you owe me cake—chocolate cake. Wait, no, chocolate cheesecake. No—just chocolate cake.” She bites her lip, and I burst out laughing, pulling her closer to me.
“How ‘bout I get you both? That way you don’t have to choose.”
“I’m going to be as big as a house by the time this is over.” She sighs.
“You will always be beautiful,” I assure her.
“Even if I weigh four hundred pounds?”
“Hell yeah,” I smirk. “Big girls are hot.”
“What?” she asks, searching my face.
“I don’t discriminate, babe.”
“You don’t?” she asks, her eyes narrowing.
This is one thing about Sophie being pregnant—she is moody as f*ck. One minute, she’s happy-go-lucky, and the next, you would swear she’s possessed by the devil.
“I didn’t before you. Women of all shapes and sizes are beautiful.”
“I get that.” She nods, looking off in the distance before her eyes come back to me. “I totally feel that way about guys. You know, skinny, muscular, jock, nerd—they all have something I find attractive,” she says, and I growl deep in my throat. I do not ever want her to check men out…ever.
“You better not be checking dudes out,” I tell her, watching her try to hide her smile. “You f*cking with me?”
“No. Why would I do that?” she asks innocently, batting her lashes.
“Just for that, when I get back and I’m inside you with you begging me to let you come, it’s not gonna happen.” I watch her breath pause before speeding up. “I should tie you up and torture you.” Her thighs tighten together and she squirms on my lap, rubbing against my dick, which is ready to go. “Seems like you like that idea,” I whisper against her neck before biting down on her earlobe. I slide my hand from her stomach to her thigh. “When I get back here, this is mine.” I run my finger up the center of the panties before pulling her in for a kiss. I end it quickly, knowing how fast things can get out of hand with her. “Be back soon.” I kiss her once more before picking her up off my lap and heading out the door.
“Be careful.”
“Always, baby,” I tell her, shutting the door behind me.
When I finally get to the prison and make it past security, I know I’m going to be late making it back to Sophie. Not only do I have this stop, but I have to pick up her ring from Tiffany’s. Maggie and Devon want me to ask her when they are there to see it. It’s f*cked up, but the only time I can do it is at their wedding. They’re leaving town in the morning to head out for their honeymoon.
I walk down a long hallway with phone booths and Plexiglas lining one side. “Wait here,” a guard says before going to stand near the door. I take a seat, watching as a man wearing an orange jumpsuit enters. He’s short with a stocky build, dark, greying hair that’s tied back into a ponytail, and a face that is weathered and aged. If not for eyes perfectly matching Sophie’s, I would have no idea that he’s her father. His eyes meet mine through the glass, and I can see the confusion on his face; I know he has no clue who I am or why I’m here. He sits down across from me and nods to the phone, lifting the one on his side to his ear as I do the same.
“I don’t know you,” are the first words out of his mouth.
“No, you don’t.”
“Why are you here?” he asks, his eyes looking me over.
“You and I have someone in common.”
“Since I’ve been here for the last almost eight years and you look like you’re young enough to be my son, I doubt that,” he says and starts to pull the phone from his ear.
“Sophie,” I say, and his face pales, his eyes go wide, and his grip on the phone tightens so much that his hand and knuckles turn white.
“What did you just say?”
“Sophie,” I repeat and watch as he leans back in his chair, his hand going to his mouth, covering it.
“How do you know Sophie?” he asks as his hand moves from his mouth to run over his head.
“She’s going to be my wife,” I tell him bluntly.
His eyes look me over again before narrowing slightly. “Not my daughter.” I’m slightly taken aback by the adamancy in his voice. “She’s a sweet girl.”
“She is,” I agree. “So tell me why the f*ck you didn’t protect her?” Even though this isn’t my reason for being here, knowing the shit she went through after losing her mother, I had to ask him.
“I…I was lost.” He takes a breath.
“You were lost?” I repeat, wondering what the f*ck that even means.
“After her mother died, I was lost. I tried to be a good dad, but I couldn’t even look at my own daughter without hating her.”
“What?” I growl.
“She looked just like her mom. I know it was f*cked up, but I hated looking at her and seeing my wife. Do you know how f*cked up it is to look at your only child and wish they would have died with their mother just so you wouldn’t have to see the disappointment in her eyes when she looks at you?”
“You’re one stupid motherf*cker.” I shake my head in disgust, wishing the glass weren’t separating us.
“You think I don’t know that? You think I don’t regret the way I treated her?”
“I don’t think you do. You left her to the wolves.”
“I was f*cked in the head after losing my wife,” he says, shaking his head.
“I get that, man. I really f*cking get that. I honestly don’t know what would happen if I lost Sophie, and I pray to God I’ll never have to know what that feels like, but if she left me with our child, I would always make sure my kid was safe. No way would I f*ck my kid’s life up just to make mine easier to deal with.”
“I f*cked up!” he shouts this time, making the guard take a step towards us.
“You did, but what I want to know is—are you still f*cking up?”
“What do you mean?”
“You said earlier you wished Sophie had died. Do you still feel that way?”
“Do you know why I’m in this f*cked-up place?”
I do know. I know he’s in here for murder. “I do,” I reply, looking him dead in the eyes.
“Do you know who I killed?”
“No.” When Justin told me where Sophie’s dad was and why he was there, I didn’t ask any more questions.
“I killed the guy who touched her. It was two days after she left. I had been sober for two whole days, looked around, and realized what I was doing to myself and what I let happen to my daughter. I tracked the guy down that hurt her and killed him. I’m in here for the next fifteen years. I do not regret for one second taking that f*cker’s life. I know I should have prevented it from happening in the first place, but I didn’t, so I made it to where it would never happen again.”
“Holy shit.” I sit back in the chair, my body sagging.
“I know I f*cked up with her, but I never wanted her to be afraid again,” he says softly.
I shake my head, still in shock from what he just said. “Someone has tried to hurt her twice since she moved to Tennessee.”
“That’s where she went?”
“What do you mean?”
“I had someone keeping an eye out for her, and then one day she was just gone.”
“Yeah. She’s in Tennessee with me.”
“How long have you been in the picture?” He cocks his head to the side.
“A while.”
“How is she?” he asks, closing his eyes, but not before I catch the look of pain in them.
“Good, but I really need to know who’s after her. Do you know of anyone here from her past who would be messing with her?”
“The only threat she had is dead.” I nod. “What’s your name?” he asks.
I debate for a second if I should tell him, but seeing him in here behind bars and knowing the reason he is here, I quickly make up my mind.
“Nico Mayson.”
“And you’re with my daughter?”
“Yes.”
“Is she happy?” he asks quietly, hopefully.
“Very,” I tell him.
His eyes search my face. “Take care of her,” he chokes out before hanging up the phone and standing. He leaves me sitting there in shock.
I still know nothing about who’s after Sophie, but I do know that her dad loves her, and now I have to figure out if I should tell Sophie about him.
“F*ck,” I grumble out before hanging up the phone and getting the f*ck out of there.
*~*~*
Sophie
“Girl, you know I don’t do the whole ‘white meat’ thing, but that man of yours is seriously fine. I mean F-I-N-E,” Maggie says, throwing herself down on the bed next to me.
“I know.” I smile.
“I’ve never seen you this happy.”
“I’ve never been this happy before. He makes everything okay. With him, I feel safe, like I can explore or just be me and know he will watch over me.”
“Yeah, I saw that. He’s kinda scary,” Maggie says quietly.
“He told me he doesn’t have to be nice to anyone but me,” I tell her, watching her eyes widen.
“Wow.” Her head turns towards me, her lips parting slightly.
“You know, when I first met you, I wondered how the hell this little ol’ white girl was gonna make it in the world if she couldn’t even be around a group of people without freaking out. Then you surprised me by never giving up. Yes, you did freak the hell out every time, but you never quit trying. You’re one of the strongest people I know, Sophie. So yes, that man will probably kill anyone who ever tries to harm you, but your strength is internal,” she says, and I start to cry immediately.
“Don’t mind me. This baby has me all messed up,” I say before thinking. No one knows I’m pregnant. Well, no one except Kenton, Nico’s friend Leo, the EMTs, and a whole bunch of cops. Okay…so a lot of people know I’m pregnant.
“Did you just say what I think you said?” I squeeze my eyes closed and shake my head. “You did! You just said, and I quote, ‘Don’t mind me. This baby has me all messed up.’”
“Um…”
“Holy mother of God! Sophie Jean Grates, you’re pregnant!” Maggie yells as she climbs up to stand on the bed. “You’re pregnant and you weren’t going to tell me?” She starts to jump up and down, and just like that, my stomach flips, I stand up and run to the bathroom, and proceed to get rid of my breakfast and lunch. “Oh shit, I’m so sorry! I didn’t even think.”
I feel a cool, wet washcloth run across my forehead. “It’s fine. Just the whole jumping-on-the-bed thing was a little much,” I say, flushing the toilet before taking the washcloth out of her hand and bringing it to my mouth.
“Why the hell were you jumping on the bed?” I hear growled.
Maggie and I look at each other in shock before turning our heads to the open bathroom door.
“Seriously, babe. You have a hard-enough time keeping food down as it is, so tell me why the hell you would feel the need to jump on the bed,” Nico demands, walking into the bathroom.
He is so hot that I have to look at Maggie and see if it’s just me who is affected by him. Nope. The look on her face says that he does it for all women. Today, he has on jeans, boots, and a black Henley with the neck unbuttoned, showing off his tattoos. The area between my legs starts to tingle just from looking at him. I watch as he gets out my toothbrush before putting some toothpaste on it and setting it on the side of the sink. Then he walks over to where I’m still sitting on the floor, picks me up, and places my butt on the bathroom counter.
“You said you were only going to be gone a couple hours,” I complain right away. He has been gone for the last six hours. I try to avoid pouting out my bottom lip like a two-year-old who’s not getting her way.
“I know. I got held up. Now open,” he instructs, and I do before I realize what he’s doing.
“I can brush my own teeth,” I grumble, pulling the brush from his hand to clean my own teeth, and shake my head at him.
“No more jumping on the bed, okay?” he prompts. He looks really worried, and I don’t think it’s from seeing me sick.
“Are you okay?” I ask, searching his face.
“I hate seeing you sick.”
“She wasn’t jumping.” Maggie laughs, looking between us. “I… Well, she slipped up about the baby, and I was excited, so I started jumping on the bed.”
I watch as Nico’s eyes start to narrow, and I pull his face towards me. “Maggie is my friend. I don’t care what you say about not having to be nice to your friends, but you treat mine like you treat me. Got it?” I say, waving my toothbrush around, foam flying everywhere.
“I don’t like you getting sick.”
“Well, then you shouldn’t have gotten me pregnant.”
“I like you pregnant.” His eyes go soft before he runs his hand along my stomach like he often does. I smile then realize I probably look like an idiot with my mouth full of foam and a big cheesy smile on my face.
“You guys kinda make me want to vomit,” Maggie says, making me laugh.
*~*~*
I look across the room at Nico, who has his head tilted towards Devon. They’re both standing next to the bar wearing suits, and each has a glass of what looks like scotch in their hands. Whatever they’re talking about looks really serious.
“What’s that about?” Maggie asks, coming to stand next to me.
“No clue.” I shrug, not taking my eyes off the guys.
“Well, Nico has Devon’s seal of approval.”
“Really?” I ask, finally looking at Maggie, who looks beautiful in her wedding dress. The creamy color against her dark skin is stunning.
I look back at the guys, thinking how much the two men are alike. Devon is one of the hardest people to get along with. His childhood made him into an adult who doesn’t easily trust, yet he always sees the glass as half full. He is also very protective of those he cares about; he is a lot like Nico in that aspect. He is one of the first people who made me feel safe. I knew when we were in Job Corps together that Devon would hurt anyone who even thought about messing with Maggie or me.
“Really. I guess they have a mutual friend, and Devon said he heard about Nico Mayson a long time ago.”
“Seriously?” I whisper, this time in shock. Tennessee and Seattle are really far apart. Knowing that someone in Seattle heard about Nico makes me a lot more curious about his job.
“Yep. Seems your man has made a name for himself.”
“I knew he was good, but wow,” I breathe, my heart filling with pride.
I look over at Nico and Devon again, seeing that they both have their heads turned towards Maggie and me. Nico’s eyes travel from my head to my toes, and I can see the hunger in his eyes. I have the urge to pull him into the bathroom.
“So how does it feel to be married?” I ask, turning back to Maggie.
“No different, I guess.” She shrugs her bare shoulder. “You know, we’ve been living together so long we may as well have been husband and wife already. This is just a piece of paper that says we’re married.”
“I can’t wait to have that piece of paper,” I mumble under my breath.
Yes, I’m living with Nico, and yes, I’m pregnant with his child, but I want his last name. I want his ring on my finger, and I want mine on his. I really wanted it after the one night I was looking at all his tattoos and he told me why he didn’t have one on his left ring finger when he has them on all the others.
“When we get married, I’m gonna tattoo your name there,” he said, and I felt my heartbeat double-time at his words. I want my name on him. I love that idea, but I want him to wear a wedding band as well.
“Do you know the history of the wedding ring?” I asked him, tracing the empty space between his knuckles.
“No. Tell me.”
“In ancient times, the circle was the symbol of eternity, no beginning or end. The hole in the center of the ring also had significance. It wasn’t just considered a space, but rather a door leading to things and events for the couple. When an Egyptian man gave his woman a ring, it signified his never-ending love. Later, when the tradition was adopted by the Romans, the ring symbolized ownership. They also believed the ring should be worn on the left ring finger because they thought there was a vein in that finger, referred to as the ‘Vena Amoris,’ or the ‘Vein of Love,’ that was said to be directly connected to the heart.”
“How do you know that?” he whispered.
My eyes met his, which were warm and soft. “I read it somewhere.” I shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal. I had been fascinated by that little piece of gold on my mom’s finger since I was a little girl.
“Now tell me the truth about how you knew that,” he said, running his hand over my hair.
I sighed, loving and hating how he could read me so easily. “When I was little, I used to play with my mom’s wedding band on her finger. I remember always being curious about what it meant. I knew it meant forever. I just wanted to know why. So one day, my mom took me to the library, and we found this old book about the history of the wedding band. The first ones were made out of grass then later out of ivory or wood, depending on your wealth. But no matter what they were made from, the meaning was always the same.”
“Jesus,” he growled, flipping me onto my back, and before I had a second to think about what was going on, he was inside me.
“Sophie? Sophie?”
“Wh…what?” I ask, snapping out of the memory.
“Wow, that man must have it going on if you can stand in a room full of people and still be with him somewhere else.”
“It wasn’t that.” I blush, lowering my eyes.
“Uh-hummm. Whatever you say, girl, but I know that look anywhere. Hell, I plan on wearing that look later tonight.”
“What are you to talkin’ about?” Devon asks, walking up and putting his arm around Maggie’s waist as Nico does the same around mine.
“Girl talk, and you know we can’t tell you.”
“You and Sophie’s girl talks always mean trouble,” Devon says with a smirk. “Man, you gotta watch out for these two. They’ve always been nothing but trouble.”
“That’s a lie.” I laugh. “You were always trying to get us in trouble.”
“I’m a cop. I take offense to that.”
“Whatever.” I roll my eyes and shake my head.
Devon was always trying to talk us into doing things we weren’t supposed to. Job Corps was very strict; we weren’t allowed to leave the grounds unless you had earned it. We had a curfew and other rules as well, and he was always breaking them and dragging us along with him.
“Sophie loved the drama.” Maggie smiles.
“Anyways, are you excited to go to the Bahamas?” I ask, changing the subject.
“Yes! Two weeks of beautiful beaches and sun. I love Seattle, but I hate that it rains all the time. It will be nice to get out of town,” Maggie says, leaning deeper into Devon’s side, smiling up at him. It used to make me jealous watching them, but now I have that kind of love for myself.
‘That’s one thing I don’t miss. I love Tennessee,” I tell them, feeling Nico’s fingers flex on my hip.
“We’ll come visit after you have the baby,” Maggie states, and Devon looks at me, his eyes getting big. Crap.
“You pregnant, Sophie?”
“Yes,” I say quietly.
“How did this happen?”
“Well, you see, when a man and—” I start flippantly.
“Cut the crap. You gonna marry our girl?” Devon asks, glaring at Nico. Nico—being Nico—glares back at him, putting his arm around my shoulders.
“You really want to ask about that at your wedding?” Nico asks.
“Hell yes. Everyone in this room loves Sophie, and no one here will be happy to know she’s pregnant with no ring on her finger.”
“That so?” Nico asks, looking around at the people in the room, who have all started to watch us.
I can feel my cheeks heating up. I know Devon thinks of me as family, but this is crazy.
“Devon, please sto—” I start, but suddenly Nico gets down on one knee in front of me. “What are you doing?” I whisper, watching as he pulls a small, turquoise box from inside his suit jacket.
“I knew from the moment I saw you that I would do everything within in my power to make myself worthy of you. I was going through life one day at a time, and then you came along and gave me a reason to plan for tomorrow. Every second, every minute, and every day, I will prove to be a better man, a man worthy of you, a man who will love you the same way you love me—for who I am, not what others see me as. I promise to love and protect you until my last breath, Sophie Jean Grates. Will you marry me, baby?” he asks, pulling a diamond solitaire ring from the hinged case in his hand, dropping the box on the floor, and pulling my hand towards him.
Before I can even think or he can get the ring on my finger, I tackle him. “Yes.” I push him backwards, climbing on top of him and kissing him all over his face. “Yes,” I repeat, holding his face between my hands and looking into his eyes. “I love you, Nico Mayson.”
“I love you too, baby.” He slides his hands through my hair, pulling my face down to his. Loud applause fills the room, and I feel myself turning red as he kisses me again, only to pull away and whisper against my lips, “Let’s get off the floor, crazy girl.”
I nod and climb off of him, fixing my dress. As soon as were both up, he slides the ring on my finger, pulling it to his mouth and kissing it then kissing me.
“I love you, girl,” Maggie says, pulling me into a tight hug.
“I love you too. I can’t believe he asked me in front of everyone,” I say, still in shock.
“We knew yesterday,” she tells me then moves to Nico before I can ask her what she meant.
Devon holds his arms open to me; I automatically go to him, wrapping my arms around his waist.
“You did good,” he whispers before kissing the top of my head. I nod, feeling tears filling my eyes. “I know you understand what you got in our girl, man; just take care of her,” Devon says over the top of my head before turning me around and handing me off to Nico.
“You happy, baby?” Nico asks, bending down to kiss my forehead.
“Yes,” I tell him, tilting my head back to get a kiss.
When his mouth leaves mine, I hold my hand up to his chest, looking at my ring. This is what my mom had with my dad; even if she only had it for a short time, I know this is what she felt.
“I love this dress,” Nico says from behind me later that night as his fingers run across my bare shoulders, making me shiver, “but I really love what’s under this dress.” He kisses my neck.
I feel his fingers on my zipper as he begins to pull it down. My breathing picks up as my dress starts to fall from around me. His hands go to the back clasps of my bra and it falls to the floor.
“Put your hands around my neck,” he says against my neck as my hands go over my head and behind his neck. His hands run over my hips and up my stomach before cupping my breasts in his big hands. “I want to try something with you. Will you let me?” I nod. There is nothing I wouldn’t try with him. “Tell me.”
“Yes!” I cry out as he tugs on both of my nipples at the same time. Since becoming pregnant, my breasts have become extra sensitive, and I swear they are directly connected to my * now.
“Lie on the bed on your back and close your eyes.”
I step out of his embrace and walk to the bed, where I climb on, wearing nothing but a pair of pale-yellow lacy boy shorts that match my bra and dress perfectly. I lie on my back, feeling the wetness between my legs with every movement. I get comfortable and close my eyes, but I can’t help but to peek at what he’s doing—not that I can see anything. His back is to me, and his shirt is now off.
“Close your eyes. You peek again and I won’t do what I’ve got planned.”
I slam my eyes closed and feel my pulse start to race in excitement. I hear some clinking, the shuffle of feet on the carpet, and then the bed depresses next to me.
“Tell me you want this.” I nod, clenching my fists. “I need you to say the words out loud, Sophie,” he says, running a finger from the bottom of my foot to my inner thigh.
“I want this,” I tell him.
“Good. Lift your hands over your head.”
I take a second but do as he says, and then I feel something smooth wrap around my right wrist then my left. They’re drawn together and lifted higher, and I automatically tug my hands and feel that they’re tied to the headboard.
“Oh shit,” I moan. I know he’s joked about this, but I never thought it would really happen.
“Relax.” I feel his fingers run from where my arms are joined, down one, and then along my side and under each breast. “I have imagined this over and over again.”
I feel the bed depress. Then his hands travel from my ankles, spreading my legs wider as they travel up my knees, pulling my legs apart. His body comes over mine, his tongue licks over one nipple then the other, and then his hand at my side leaves and I hear clinking again.
Suddenly, the cold feel of an ice cube is circled around my right nipple then the left, causing my nipples to become even harder. I grit my teeth then cry out as the ice cube travels down my stomach, around my belly button, and then over the lace that is covering me.
“I need to cool you down, baby. You’re really hot down here,” he says, but then the ice is gone and I hear some kind of metal-on-metal sound.
I scream when my nipple is pinched, and not by fingers, causing my eyes to fly open as I look down.
“Eyes closed,” he growls, making me wetter.
I close my eyes and squeak when he treats my other nipple to the same treatment as the first. The image in my head is strangely beautiful. He’s attached small, golden clamps to my nipples. I can feel the pressure, but it’s odd, because at the same time, I can feel the connection from the clamp to my * like a live wire.
“Perfect.” This time, his mouth comes down on mine, his teeth biting my lip, drawing my tongue out to play with his. His mouth travels down under my chin, between my breasts, and around my belly, and then I feel him sit away from me as his hands slide under my ass, pulling my panties down then off. His hands come under me again, lifting my ass of the bed.
“Now you can open your eyes.” I do immediately; our eyes lock and his tongue licks right up my center. “Did you know you’re so f*cking sweet that I could eat you for hours? I love how wet you are for me.” He sucks my * into his mouth, my back bows, and the clamps on my nipples shift, making me cry out. I tug my hands against their bindings, trying to get them free, but it’s no use. I’m completely at his mercy.
“I’m going to come,” I pant, feeling the pull and knowing I’m getting ready to crash over the edge. His mouth leaves me, his fingers running over me in soothing strokes, making me jolt and cry out. “I was so close,” I tell him, lifting my hips.
“I got you,” he breathes against my p-ssy before licking me again. His fingers slide inside, and I cry out again as he flicks over my * with his tongue. I’m close again, so I squeeze my eyes closed and lift higher, only to have him pull away again.
“Oh my God, I’m going to kill you!” I shout. His chuckle has me trying to kick him.
His hands grab my ankles then thighs, holding tight before his mouth is on me again. This time, his fingers fill me, his mouth covers me, his tongue thrashes before pulling my * into his mouth, my head presses deeper into the bed, and I scream as I come harder and longer than I ever have. I feel like I’m floating on a cloud before I slowly come back to my body. The feeling is so overwhelming that I feel tears spring to my eyes.
He pulls the tie at my wrist, flips me over onto my stomach, lifts my hips, and slides into me, slowly filling me inch by inch; I can feel his piercing dragging inside me, hitting all the right spots. The nipple clamps attached to my nipples pull them down, and the feeling of them dragging against the sheets causes me to moan. I arch my back, lifting my ass higher wanting it deeper.
“Shit, baby,” Nico groans from behind me, the noises he’s making spurring me on. His hands go under my arms, lifting me up and impaling me on him. Then one arm goes around my chest and the other hand slides down to my *. With each thrust, my breasts bounce, causing a jolt of electricity to shoot from my nipples to my *. “I need you to come, Sophie. Come with me.”
Nico shouts his release, pulling off the clamps one at a time then slapping my *. The shock sends me over the edge and lights flash behind my closed eyelids. I can feel Nico deep inside me, his come filling me. We’re both breathing heavily as he leans us forward, falling into the bed with him behind me, wrapping himself around me.
“That was wow,” I say once I can talk.
“Yes, it was wow.” His lips travel up my neck to my ear. “So when are we getting married?” he asks, pulling my hand up.
I look over my shoulder and see that his eyes are on the ring on my hand. “Whenever you want.”
“Do you want a big wedding?” he asks, looking at my hand then me.
“Honestly, I’m okay with just getting the license then doing dinner or something.” I don’t want a big thing; I don’t really have anyone I would invite besides Maggie and Devon.
“I don’t care either. I just need you. The rest doesn’t even matter.”
“Then we agree?” I ask.
“I do want it done before the baby gets here.”
“It’s not a chore.” I roll my eyes.
“Baby.” He chuckles, kissing my shoulder again. This time, I bite my lip. My hormones are turning me into a crazy woman.
“Okay. Before the baby gets here,” I agree before turning around to face him. “I’m so sleepy.”
“Let me get you cleaned up so you can sleep.”
I watch as he walks into the bathroom of the hotel room. I hear the water running, and then he comes back to me and gently cleans between my legs before tossing the washcloth towards the bathroom. I lean over and turn off the lamp as he gets into bed, pulling me into him and the blanket over us.
“I love you,” I whisper, cuddling deeper into his side.
“You too, baby. Sweet dreams.” He kisses my forehead, and before I can reply, I’m asleep.
*~*~*
I unlock the front door and run to the phone, trying to reach it before the answering machine picks up. “Hello?” I breathe when I finally get it to my ear. Tossing my bag on the counter, I unhook the rest of the shopping bags from my arms.
“This is a collect call from Seattle Correctional Facility from inmate”—the automated voice clicks off and a man’s voice comes on the line—“William Grates.” Then it’s back to the automated voice. “Do you accept this call?”
I stand there, frozen. I can still remember the sound of his voice after all these years. It’s like nothing has changed.
“This is a collect call from…” the automated voice repeats itself.
It takes me a second to realize what the voice said—Seattle Correctional Facility. My dad is in prison. I quickly slam the phone down into its cradle and take a few deep breaths. I can’t talk to my dad now; there’s just no way. Why the hell is he calling me, anyways? Better yet—how the hell did he get this number? The phone starts ringing again and I have the urge to run away and hide.
“Babe, you gonna get that?” Nico asks, walking into the living room. Not having noticed that he’s home, I jump and my hand goes to my chest, trying to calm my pounding heart. “Babe, answer the phone,” he says this time, walking towards me.
“It’s no one, just a telemarketer.” I lift the receiver then hang it back up.
“Who was it, Sophie?” His eyes narrow as he starts prowling towards me.
“It’s no one. I already told you it’s just a telemarketer.” I walk into the kitchen to put away the groceries, praying the phone doesn’t ring again.
“I can tell by the look on your face that it was someone.”
“Drop it. It was no one,” I grumble, going about putting the groceries away.
Just then, the phone starts ringing again. I try to beat him to it, but with his size and height, there’s no way to get the phone out of his hand.
“Hello,” he answers, holding me tight against his side with one arm under my breasts. “What the f*ck?” he growls, throwing the phone across the room, shattering it against the wall. “F*ck me,” he says, pulling me around in front of him. His hands hold my face.
“I don’t know how he found me,” I tell him, closing my eyes. I have never seen him this mad.
“I know.”
“We can change the number,” I tell him, laying my head against his chest.
“No, baby. I mean I know how he got this number.” He picks me up, carrying me into the bedroom and crawling into the bed with me in his arms.
“What’s going on?” I ask, reading his face.
“Your dad’s in prison.”
“I know. I heard the recording when he called.”
“That’s not how I know.” He runs his fingers through the hair at the side of my head. “When you were attacked again, I had him looked into and found out he’s in prison. I needed to see if he knew anything about what happened to you, so while we were in Seattle, I went and saw him.” He pauses, looking down at me, studying my face. “While I was there, your dad asked for my name. He knew that I lived in Tennessee. It wouldn’t take him much to figure out how to find me and, in turn, find you.”
“You think my dad had something to do with me getting attacked?” I ask, skipping over everything else he just said.
“I wasn’t sure, but now, no.” He shakes his head.
“Why’s he in there?” I ask even though I don’t know how I feel. Part of me cares, but then the other part—the part that was abandoned by him—doesn’t care at all.
He lets out a long breath then pulls me up his body so I’m lying on top of him before he rocks my world—and not in the good way. “Your dad’s in prison for murder,” he says, and my stomach rolls, making me hold my breath, praying for the nausea to pass. I can’t imagine my dad killing anyone. Even when he was at his worse, he was never violent.
“I feel sick.”
His hand goes to my back, rubbing it in soothing strokes. “I gotta tell you the rest, but I need you to know it has nothing to do with you,” he warns.
“Okay,” I say, bracing myself.
“Your dad killed the man who attacked you.”
“What?” I scream, trying to jump out of the bed.
“Baby, calm down. This is why I didn’t want to tell you,” he growls, holding my wriggling body, which is trapped to his by his muscular, tattooed arms.
“You can’t tell me to calm down! How can I calm down? My dad is a murder! He killed someone because of me! How is this not my fault?”
“Your dad made his own choices. This does not reflect on you.”
“I’m gonna be sick,” I tell him, and this time, he must know that I really am going to be sick because he releases me immediately so I can run to the bathroom. I lean over the toilet, gagging.
I can’t believe this. My dad is a murder.
“Take some deep breaths for me,” he says, laying a cool washcloth against the back of my neck.
I sit back on my calves and take a few deep breaths before he picks me up off the floor, carrying me back to the bed, tucking me in front of him.
“Okay. I think you can tell me the rest now,” I tell him, wanting to get this over with.
“After I saw your dad, I did some research about what happened. I knew you would feel guilty about this, and I didn’t want that for you.” His arms wrap around me tighter, making me feel safe. “When you left, your dad sobered up. He finally realized what he did—or I guess, didn’t do. The court documents say your dad started asking around about the guy who attacked you and found out you weren’t his first victim.”
“Oh my god.” I close my eyes. I never even thought that what happened to me could have happened to someone else.
“He molested a girlfriend of his young daughter and then raped another woman.”
“No.” I shook my head not wanting to believe how really horrible that guy was.
“I’m sorry, baby.” He kisses my forehead, pulling me closer to him. “Your father went to his house to confront him about what he had done. He said the guy attacked him first, but your dad had no wounds or anything that proved his claim. Your dad killed him.” He pushes the hair away from my face, his lips going to my forehead again. “I know you feel differently than I do. I’ll be happy if our child has your kind of compassion, but I’m glad he’s dead. He deserved what he got. Actually, he deserved a lot worse for the things he did.”
I’m glad he’s dead too. I’m glad he isn’t alive to hurt anyone else. I still feel guilty though. I don’t even realize I’m crying until I feel Nico wiping the tears off my cheeks.
“Please don’t cry, baby,” he says quietly, running his hands over my head.
“Why’s my dad calling?” I wonder out loud.
“I don’t know, but I’ll find out before he calls again.” He rolls me to my back, his body leaning over me. “You know I love you, and there is nothing on this earth I wouldn’t do for you. I would kill for you, walk through fire for you, and fight your demons if that’s what you needed from me.” He wipes my cheeks again before kissing me softly. “This is something I’m going to need you to fight through with me though. I know it’ll be hard for you, but I think it may help heal some of what he broke in you if you talk to him.”
“I don’t know if I can. Why is he doing this now when before he couldn’t care less?”
“He had someone checking on you while you were in Seattle.”
“What?” I breathe. I look into his eyes, and he nods then shakes his head.
“He told me he had someone checking in on you, making sure you were okay, but then one day, you were just gone and he didn’t know what happened to you.”
“Okay… I don’t know how I feel about that.”
“I think he was doing it so he had peace of mind. When I met your dad and he talked about what happened to you, I could see how guilty he feels. He feels responsible for what happened to you, but he also feels guilty for your mother’s death.”
“He told you that?” I look at him, wide-eyed.
“He didn’t have to. That’s why I think it would be good if you talked to him.”
“Can I send a letter or something first? I don’t know if I’m ready to talk to him on the phone yet.”
“You can do it however you need to,” he says, kissing my forehead before pulling me into his chest. I’m not sure I’m ready to face my past, but I know that, as long as I have this man with me, I will be okay. I also know that, deep down, he is right; I need to face my past so I can move on to a future with Nico.