I couldn’t contain the grin that spread across my face as I look down at her. “You caved.”
“I don’t need a bodyguard, but it’s clearly important to you, and if it’s going to give you peace of mind and make you happy, I'll do it.” I close my eyes and sigh in relief. I feel my entire body relax. I lean over and pull her up to her feet and take her face into my hands. “I was being unreasonable and inconsiderate by disregarding your feelings on the matter. I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologise, baby. I get your reasons for not wanting a bodyguard, but my priority is always you and Alaia first and foremost.” I explain, brushing my thumb along her jaw, and she smiles beautifully, caressing my chest.
“And you are ours.” She whispers before I lean down and draw her in for the slow, hair-raising kiss I've been dying to give her all day. Shayla moans audibly. Her silky-smooth tongue sinks into my mouth, teasing my own as I back her up against the wall kissing her urgen
“Okay, we’re going to try this one more time.”I hold the spoon to Alaia’s mouth and feed her the vegetable medley. Her face goes sour, and she spits it out with a shudder. “You really don’t like this, huh?” I utter, putting her plate down with a sigh, and Alaia blinks at me and smiles showing her one tiny tooth she sprouted out of nowhere. “Don’t give me that smile. You need to eat your vegetables, young lady.”“Why are you scolding my daughter?” I hear Cole say behind me as he walks into the kitchen. He leans over and drops a kiss on my neck and one on Alaia’s head before he goes to the coffee machine.“She’s being stubborn and not eating her food.” I hold the spoon to her mouth, and she turns her head, shaking it. Cole sips his coffee and leans against the kitchen counter, watching us with a smile.“Wonder who she gets that from.” He mutters, looking at me pointedly over the rim of his coffee mug.“I love my food, actually.” I point out, casting
Cole brushes his fingers through my hair. “Well, you are going to come back to work eventually, right? I don’t see you being the kind of girl to want to give up your career to be a stay-at-home mum.” He explains, and I chew my bottom lip. That thought hadn’t even occurred to me. Cole noticed the saddened look on my face and tilted my head up so I could look at him. “Hey, what’s with the sad face?”“Cole, I don’t want another woman raising our kids,” I tell him ruefully, and he brushes his thumb along my jaw, his mouth set in a thin line.“Of course you don’t, baby, but what about your career? You worked so hard to get your degree. The last thing I want is for you to be unhappy.” Cole expresses thoughtfully, and I sigh, my shoulders dropping. “Honey, I was raised by a nanny, and I turned out fine.” He specifies with an assuring smile. “I want you by my side at Cult. We have an empire to run, baby,”“I know, but I don’t want a live-in nanny,” I say, peeking up at
The following two weeks were spent packing the old house to move to the new place. Cole was at work, so the girls came over to help me pack.“Jesus, I thought I had a lot of crap.” Aimee huffs, settling a box down on the floor, and winces.I smile sheepishly. “It’s mainly Cole’s stuff. All my stuff I fit into like four boxes. The rest is all his, Alaia’s and kitchenware.” I sigh, looking around the house sadly. “I can’t believe we’re moving again. I feel like that’s all I've done lately, packing and moving from one place to another. I moved out of the apartment to Coles, then back to the apartment, then back to Coles, then here, then back to the apartment, then back here again and now to a whole new place.”Aimee blinks at me and sighs. “I’m exhausted just listening to you say that sentence, girl.” She grumbles sitting on the floor, and she smiles when Jo comes waddling over. “That better be pillows in that box.”Jo smiles and sets the box beside the othe
“Oh my god!” Jo gets up from the bed. “You two are killing me. Why don’t you do it together? Aimee, use the other bathroom, Shayla you go in here. Go!” Aimee and I jump, and I hurry into the bathroom while Aimee leaves the room to go to the guest bathroom. My fingers were trembling as I ripped the test open. I can’t be pregnant again; it’s not possible. I pee on the stick, wash my hands, and leave the bathroom. I place the test on my nightstand, and Aimee puts hers beside mine. We look at each other. I hold my hand out to her, and she takes it. Aimee was shaking too. We wait anxiously for three minutes.“It’s time,” Jo says, looking at the watch on her wrist. Aimee and I walk over to the nightstand.“On three?” She whispers, and I nod. We exhale and lean to look at the test. I stare at the word ‘Pregnant’ numbly. Well shit. I look over at Aimee, who had the same look on her face.“I’m pregnant.” She whispers.“Me too.”“Guys! This is so great! Why
“We’re going to church?” I hear Shayla ask sceptically from inside her dressing room.“Yes, we are,” I answer, pulling on a pair of boxer shorts. Shayla pokes her head out and gives me a bemused look.“Since when do you want to go to church? You don’t even believe in God.” I walk over to her dressing room and lean against the door, watching her stand there, her back to me while she looks through her selection of dresses in a matching pair of sexy black lace bra and panties.“I do now.” I declare, and she looks back at me over her shoulder.“You do?”I nod and stride over to her. Shayla turns and faces me while I place my hands on her waist and pull her against me. “The one and only time I have ever been to church was after you got kidnapped,” I explain, gazing into her eyes. Shay’s face falls at the mention of the incident. I lick my lips, brushing my fingers through her long dark hair. “They found a body that matched your description, and I had to
“What if we have another girl?” Shayla asks, resting her chin in her hand while she watches Alaia and I play.“Good, I hope we do. I’d love another girl.” I tell her earnestly, and Shayla blinks. A look of surprise fleets across her beautiful face.“Really? I thought you would want a boy.” I shake my head, looking at her over Alaia’s head.“I don’t mind what we have as long as he or she is healthy, but I love the idea of being a girl Dad,” I explain, and Shayla smiles adoringly at me. “A boy doesn’t need a Dad much, but a daughter will always need her father.”“Why are you so darn cute?” Shayla asks with a sigh, and I smile, resting my chin on Alaia’s shoulder, looking into her eyes.“Could ask you the same thing, Buttercup.” I quip, and Shayla rolls her eyes.“You’re really not letting that nickname go, are you?” She huffs, sitting back in her chair. I laugh and shake my head.“Not a chance.”“Excuse me?” Shayla and I look up
After we get home, Shayla goes to change and put Alaia down for a nap, and I throw myself on the sofa with a sigh. I’ve got so many meetings lined up on Monday, and it’s honestly exhausting just thinking about going into the office. I untie my tie, leaving it hanging on my neck, and unbutton my shirt, feeling too lazy to get up and get changed. As I mindlessly flick through the tv channels, I see Shayla coming down the stairs, and she’s changed into a pair of grey, tight-fitted booty shorts and a white crop top. I smile up at her and toss the remote aside when she straddles me and kisses my chest. I pull her head up and curl my fingers at her nape, pulling her mouth hungrily to mine.“Mm, baby, can we talk for a second,” Shayla mumbles in between kisses. “As insanely sexy as you look right now...” She moans when I aptly flick my tongue over hers, her hands running over my chest.“Mhm, talk. I’m listening.” I groan, grasping her hips and rocking up against her hot core.
“Are you going to find out the sex of the baby?” Aimee asks while she scoops up a piece of chocolate cake and eats it, followed by a delightful moan. I sip my mixed berry smoothie and nod.“Mhm, for sure. Are you?” I ask her, and she nods enthusiastically, chewing on a mouth full of cake. “Does Josh have a preference?” I question curiously, and she nods, glancing over at him.“He said he doesn’t mind as long as it’s healthy, but he’d like a boy.” I smile and nod sipping my smoothie. We were having lunch before our appointments. “Can you believe how late Jo is? She’s overdue by eight days.”I wince and nod, “I know. I spoke to her earlier, and she’s very irritable. Sam said she keeps snapping at him. They’re both on edge, just waiting for the baby to arrive. Even I’m getting antsy waiting for the phone call.” I explain, fiddling with my straw, and Aimee sits back in her chair and rubs her baby bump.“I hope I'm not overdue. I will literally rip Josh’s head