"Come on, it's time for a midnight pancake party!"
I grinned as Betsy covered her eyes and took a towel from her hands. I wrapped Belinda in one and slowly reached for the second towel.
"No peeking Betsy."
"I'm not!"
I laughed as I wrapped the towel around my waist.
She giggled as she ran out of the bathroom.
"I only peeked a little!"
I dried off my woman and myself and got us both dressed.
I was hungry for pancakes too.
Belinda
I nibbled the stone ground spelt pancakes. They were slathered with cinnamon, coconut manna and raw honey. Betsy tossed some fruit on my plate. Evan was flipping more pancakes in the air and sipping a beer.
Betsy told us he brewed his own.
Kyle and I exchanged a glance.
Of course he did.
Like everything in their house, they had renovated the kitchen themselves. The cabinets were dark wood, unvarnished but oiled to a dark sheen. Bets said they didn't use any chemicals on anything, not even the wood floors. The island was a huge honed marble slab with stools along on side.
I was wrapped in an enormous fluffy bathrobe. Kyle was beside me, dressed but without shoes, making sure I ate enough. He kept feeding me pieces of fruit and pancakes with his hands. I licked his fingers clean. Then I bit them.
"Ouch!"
Betsy smiled at him.
"Look out Kyle, she bites!"
"She's a wild animal."
Betsy winked.
"Must be the hormones."
Kyle laughed and pinched my bottom. I rubbed it, glaring at him. He winked and gave me a secretive smile.
"I think it's time."
"Time? For what?"
He stood and slowly got down on one knee. My heart started to beat like crazy as he pulled a box out of the pocket of his jeans.
"Kyle? What are you doing?"
He looked up at me. Betsy and Evan leaned over the island to get a better view. I swallowed nervously.
"Belinda Dawn Carmichael, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
I stared at him in shock. This could not be happening. Was this happening? He opened the lid of the box and there was a simple, very sparkly diamond solitaire inside it.
Oh yes, this was definitely happening.
My hand was at my throat as I nodded. I didn't even think about it. I felt my answer in my bones. I just said yes.
Actually, I may have shouted it.
"Yes!"
Betsy and Evan cheered as Kyle lifted me up and kissed me, spinning me in a circle. I was laughing and crying at the same time. I noticed that Betsy was too.
I stared at Kyle's happy face, still worried he was doing this for the wrong reasons. I didn't want to give in to the happiness until I was sure.
"Are you sure you aren't just doing this because of the baby?"
Kyle frowned at me. He looked mad. He looked serious.
"No Bellie, listen to me. For the last time, I want you, and the baby. I love you and I will forever dammit."
He squeezed me.
"I've been thinking about this moment since we met."
"Well, there's no need to exaggerate."
He squeezed me again.
"Actually, I'm not."
Chapter Twenty-Five Kyle
I leaned on my elbow, watching Belinda sleep. She was so peaceful, so beautiful. With her creamy skin and silky hair, she looked like a porcelain doll.
My doll.
I suddenly understood why little girls treasured their dolls so much. I wouldn't mind brushing her hair, dressing her. And undressing her...
I used a strand of her hair to tickle her nose. She flopped her hand at it and I laughed. She didn't wake up though.
So I did it again. She opened her eyes, blinking at me. She looked like a confused little owl.
"Hmmmuh?"
"Wake up sleepy head."
"What time is it?"
I grinned at her, kissing the tip of her cute little nose.
"After eleven."
"What? How long have you been up?"
I shrugged. "A while." I lifted the covers and peeked at her naked body. "But don't worry, I wasn't bored."
She squealed and turned pink, snatching the covers away from me. She was always turning pink. Along with the red of her hair, 'Belinda pink' was quickly becoming my favorite color.
"Kyle!"
"What? I can't look at my fiancé?"
I pulled her against me and nuzzled her neck. Her curves felt just right against me. Just like that, I was hard.
"Hmmm... Kyle..."
"I can't believe I'm saying this but you have to get up."
She moaned as I rubbed her tush. I could really go for another round right now. But she was pregnant and she did have to get up.
"Why?"
"You have to call your folks."
Her face changed as she looked at me. Her eyes were shuttered. She shook her head. It was obvious how much they'd hurt her. I wished I could take that away.
"Listen B, I'm mad at them too. But you didn't see them after you left. They were hurting."
She sighed and closed her eyes. When she looked at me again, they were open, her feelings completely exposed. I felt everything she was feeling. I'd never seen such naked emotion. She finally trusted me. She was letting me in.
She nodded bravely and sat up.
"Here, Betsy made you some tea."
Belinda laughed, taking the cup from me and sipping.