Love Deserved, page 15
I couldn’t wait to see his family again. Hopefully, we wouldn’t have to wait long between visits. With a jet at my disposal, I could fly them to Music Haven often. When our schedules allowed it, we would visit them. They wouldn’t have to worry about traveling to the wedding or missing the baby’s birth. Whenever I gave birth, they would be part of the special occasion.
Only one thing stood in the way of me enjoying the happy thoughts. Izzy. I didn’t expect her to accept my relationship with Ayden. There was too much bad blood between them. I could say the same about us.
Until I knew my sister wasn’t a threat to Ayden, the baby, or me, I couldn’t enjoy what should be one of the happiest times of my life.
Chapter 16
~Mia~
The strum of guitar strings came to me in a hazy, dream-like state I struggled to end. When I finally won the battle, I blinked my eyes open. The cabin was silent, and the bedroom was dark except for the crack in the doorway. A golden beam of light lit it up.
The distinct scent of basil and oregano filled my nose. It made my belly gurgle. I hadn’t eaten dinner. From the delicious aroma filtering into the bedroom, I assumed Ayden was making it, or he’d finished.
Glancing at the digital clock on the nightstand, a twinge of panic hit me when I realized it was after seven. I didn’t expect to sleep this long. Guess I was more tired than I thought. I wouldn’t sleep this evening if I didn’t get up now.
After using the bathroom, I turned off the light to go downstairs. As soon as I stepped out, I heard a guitar strumming again. When I glanced over the banister, I spotted Ayden sitting by the fireplace with my dad’s guitar.
My father kept it here for the holidays to play Christmas songs for the family. At night, when he thought I was sleeping, I once caught him serenading my mother. They were so in love back then. I couldn’t believe the way their story ended.
Like everything else, once my mother died, my dad quit doing the things he loved. I’d changed the strings on the guitar over the years, hoping he would pick it up again, but he hadn’t. Seeing it in Ayden’s hands brought back memories. I also saw our future. My father may not play anymore, but Ayden did, and he would do it for our child and me.
Whatever notes he formed at the moment were unrelated to any song I remembered. It wasn’t one of his band’s songs, either. Yet as I stood on the balcony staring down, the sound pulled at my heart. The guitar hooked me. Ayden’s voice kept me there.
There are plenty of love songs to say how we feel,
But they wouldn’t come close to revealing,
I’m head over heels for you.
No one else but you.
And when the light around you touches your eyes,
It’s like a million stars shooting through the sky.
There’s no place I could run, even if I tried,
But I don’t want to.
Just wanna be with you.
The last note hung for a moment as I held my breath. I knew I’d never heard this song. Had he taken my advice and written while we were away from Music Haven?
The rhythm picked up enough that his body jostled as he strummed the guitar and closed his eyes.
And if my world would suddenly end,
It would be worth it just to feel your skin.
Under my hand,
To remind me,
That I’m just a man,
Who would give his life,
So that yours would remain,
Take the love we have,
Never let it fade.
Hold it close to your heart,
When you need me,
To remind you,
That I’m just a man,
Who would give his life,
So that you could breathe.
I gasped at the words. My chest tightened as I fought to keep my lower lip from quivering. This had to be a new song he’d written. I would know it otherwise.
As I waited for Ayden to continue, he didn’t. His eyes opened as he stared at the fireplace. His blank expression revealed little about what he was thinking. When he released a deep breath and stretched his neck, I knew something was weighing on him.
Walking down the steps, I tried not to make much noise. I didn’t want to disturb him if he was writing new music. Of course, I wasn’t sure what I would do when I reached the main floor. He wasn’t facing the steps, so I knew he wouldn’t see me. But if the floor creaked, he would know I was awake.
As soon as I made it off the last step, I froze. Not one time during my descent did I make any noise. Still, Ayden cocked his head like he was listening.
Great. I’d disturbed him.
“It’s just me.”
He flinched at my words and turned to face me. A smile swept over his lips. “Did I wake you?”
I shook my head. While I remembered hearing music before I woke, the house was silent once I was awake. If anything caused me to stir, it was hunger.
“I didn’t mean to disturb you while you were playing.”
“You didn’t.” He set the guitar on its stand and stood. Once I reached him, he opened his arms and took me into a warm embrace. “Did you sleep well?”
“Yeah.” I drew in a deep breath, taking in the savory aroma coming from the kitchen. “Whatever it is you’re cooking, it smells delicious.”
“It’s ready. I was giving it time to cool down.”
The thought of food made my mouth water. “What did you fix?”
“An old family recipe for beef stew and bread bowls.”
My mouth gaped. I didn’t know my fiancé was talented in the kitchen. I had made him a few meals in the past. Normally, we ate at the local restaurant in Music Haven.
“I didn’t know you could cook.”
His sexy laugh made my heart flutter. “My grandmother and mom both taught me. They didn’t want me to starve if I moved away or found a woman that wasn’t—how did they say it—domesticated.”
“I think it’s wonderful they taught you how to cook. It smells amazing. I can’t wait to try it.”
“Come on. Let’s eat.”
As he led me into the kitchen, I gazed at the guitar again. I wanted to ask him about the song but didn’t. Something had been on his mind, something he didn’t want to discuss. Before the night ended, I would find out what was bothering him.
~Ayden~
* * *
Mia stretched across the sofa and drank some tea as she stared at the fireplace. The wood crackled as the flames rose toward the chimney. I sat near her feet and grabbed the blanket off the back of the sofa. As soon as I covered her with it and smoothed it over her legs, she clasped my hand.
“Thank you.”
“You look cold.”
She shook her head and stared at me. “That’s not what I meant. Thank you for taking care of me.”
I brought her hand to my lips and kissed the back of it. “I would do anything for you, Mia. Never forget that.”
Nodding at me, her eyes trailed to the end of the couch. “Tell me about the song you were playing earlier.”
My face grew hot. I wasn’t sure how much of the song she heard. It came to me while we were at my parents’ house. I jotted down the lyrics, but the moment I found the guitar sitting in the den, I finished what I started. Yet it wasn’t as easy as I thought.
“How much did you hear?”
She studied me as I leaned my back against the couch. “Enough to know it was beautiful. It’s new, isn’t it?”
I nodded. “The lyrics came to me after we took Toni to the parade.”
“What’s the song about?”
No matter how hard I swallowed, I couldn’t remove the lump from my throat. This was why I quit playing earlier, before I knew Mia was awake. This song was powerful and personal.
“It’s about you and our baby.”
Her breath hitched when our eyes met again. She squeezed my arm and gave me one of her amazing smiles. “Will you play me the rest of the song?”
I wasn’t sure if my voice would fail me. It nearly cracked earlier when I sang. Still, it was impossible to refuse Mia. I just told her I would do anything for her. Refusing to play the song would make me a liar, and I swore I would never lie to her again.
Lifting the guitar into my lap, I glanced at her. “Did you hear the first verse and chorus?”
“Yes.”
My insides shook. Even though we’d been through hell together, I still got nervous playing in front of Mia. This song would make it more challenging. It was me baring my soul to her, but it was the only way I knew how to express my feelings.
Placing my fingers on the strings, I found the next set of chords and strummed. I focused on the chamber and cleared my throat. Maybe I could keep my emotions in check if I didn’t look at her.
It doesn’t matter what they think.
It doesn’t matter what they say.
You are mine ‘til the end,
‘Cause God wanted it that way.
Put your hand in mine.
Face the unknown with me.
Where you go, I’ll be.
With every single moment that you and I share,
I’ll protect you from harm, your burdens I will bear.
Please believe me,
No other love compares to the one we know.
Never let me go.
When I came back to the chorus, I took a deep breath, felt the music vibrate through my body, and allowed my emotions to surface.
And if my world would suddenly end,
It would be worth it just to feel your skin.
Under my hand,
To remind me,
That I’m just a man,
Who would give his life,
So that yours would remain,
Take the love we have,
Never let it fade away.
Hold it close to your heart,
When you need me,
To remind you,
That I’m just a man,
Who would give his life,
So that you could breathe.
As the note rang through the air, I lifted my eyes to Mia. It was a mistake. She was tearing up. I tried to look away when I began the next verse, but I decided not to. This was the hardest verse for me to sing. It was also the reason the song came to be. Now she would know how I felt about her and our child.
And if I had to choose,
I would die a million times,
Just to make sure the light in your eyes never faded,
Never jaded.
I would face every battle,
I would fight ‘til the death.
Give up everything I had
‘Til nothing was left.
Then I would take my last moment,
I would take my last breath.
Just so you could breathe.
Take a part of me.
And remind her,
That I’m just a man,
Who would give his life,
Just to see her breathe…
The words caught in my throat. I blinked my eyes as they blurred. Mia’s hand rested on my shoulder. I heard her whisper my name, but I couldn’t speak. I didn’t trust my voice.
As I placed the guitar back on the stand, I turned to face her. Tears streamed down her cheeks. Her arms were around my neck a second later, and her chest heaved as she wept.
“I love you, Ayden.”
Squeezing her body, I drew in a deep breath and buried my face against her neck. “I love you too, Mia, you and our baby.”
She said nothing for the longest time. All she did was hold me close and sniffle. I’d already lost the battle with my emotions, too. Warm tears streamed down my face. I branded this moment into my mind, swearing never to forget it. It’s when all the walls came down, and I exposed my heart and soul to the woman I loved.
When she finally regained her composure and eased back, she kissed me softly. This time, when she pulled away, she stared at me. “You said her. Do you think the baby’s a girl?”
Wiping tears from her cheek, I inhaled the sweet scent of her perfume and nodded. “I’m probably wrong, but every time I think of our child, I think of a girl. Maybe it’s from spending time with Toni. I don’t know.”
I felt stupid for saying it. It’s not like I had psychic powers. I didn’t know if Mia and I would have a daughter. It was just a gut feeling. I would love our child regardless of its gender, and if I got my way, this wouldn’t be the only baby we had. I wanted more kids.
The thought drifted as Mia’s lips pressed to mine again. There was something desperate about the way she swirled my tongue with hers. I gripped her body, tugging it closer.
She was on my lap a second later. I grabbed her ass, squeezing it harder when she worked her hips in a circle. Her hands slid under my shirt and lifted it from my chest. I helped her pull it off. Before she could undo my jeans, I stood up. Her feet touched the floor, then we took turns undressing each other.
I led her to the rug in front of the fireplace and sat down. Mia kneeled beside me. I guided her body to mine until she straddled me. As I gazed at her, taking in every inch of her beauty, she covered her belly.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m getting so big.” Her cheeks flushed as she hung her head. It took me a moment to sense her embarrassment, and when I did, I stared at her in disbelief.
“Mia, look at me.” Her eyes rose and locked with mine. “You are a beautiful woman. No one can deny that. I wanted you the moment I saw you.” I clasped her hands and broke them apart. She tried resisting at first, but finally gave in. “When I look at you, I see the beautiful woman I met almost a year ago. When I see this—” I teased the firm mound below her navel and smiled. “—it reminds me how lucky I am that you chose to share your life with me. I love every part of you, and knowing you’re carrying my child… I think that’s sexy as hell.”
The corner of her mouth lifted. When she leaned in to kiss me, I said nothing else. Our tongues rolled together as she lowered her hips and slid onto my cock. Warm, wet heat sheathed me. I groaned at the sensation, loving how it felt to be inside of her.
The instant her body relaxed, I sank deeper and pulled her hips to mine. Mia broke our kiss as moans left her mouth. She closed her eyes and sat up, but she kept her hips working with mine.
I gazed up at her, dazed by her beauty. Her breasts had increased in size and were twice as sensitive to my touch. The moment I cupped them and thumbed over her nipples, she moaned louder. The sweet sound of her voice made me thicken as she rode me.
Too amazed to look away, I stared at her in awe. The way her face contorted as her little nub got caught in the friction building between us satisfied me. When her movements quickened, I knew she was close to orgasm. I eased into a sitting position and clasped her shoulders. As she tossed her head back and slid down me again, I raked my teeth over her neck.
Working my mouth up to her ear, I bit the section below it, causing her to buck against me. When she took me to the hilt, I grabbed her ass and held her in place. She whimpered when she realized she couldn’t move. Just as I teased her nipples with my tongue, she began grinding against me.
A second later, her nails dug into my shoulder. Her pussy contracted around me as she came. I worked her hips faster, building the friction between us. She convulsed around me, making my cock so hard and thick I knew I couldn’t hold off.
So I didn’t.
As we came together, I held her body and cried her name against her neck. My chest heaved with each breath I struggled to take. A few seconds later, her body grew weak. She had to be drained.
Once she eased off my cock and laid beside me, I grabbed the blanket I used to cover her up earlier and pulled her into my arms. The blanket cascaded over us, providing another layer of warmth. I kissed her lips, her cheeks, her nose, and even her eyelids. She laughed at me on the last one, but I didn’t care. She was happy, content, and safe. That was all that mattered to me.
“I think it’s pretty clear how much I enjoyed the song.”
I chuckled. “Yeah. You just showed me.”
She smiled again and snuggled closer. “I know you will do everything you can to protect the baby and me. I’ve never doubted you, but it won’t be necessary. At least, I hope not.”
“We need to check in with your dad soon. I’m curious how things are progressing.”
“I agree,” she replied. “He texted me a few nights ago and said he would be in touch in a few days. I’ve just been giving him time to call.”
“Well, let’s give him a few more days. We have more than enough to keep us busy here.”
She laughed when I wiggled my brows at her. “I love when you keep me busy. Besides, I’ve enjoyed not working. I love what I do, but it can be grueling. Now that we’re starting a family, I want to take more vacations.”
“Sounds like a plan. I know we’ll work it out. We’re committed this time.” When I cupped my hand around her belly, she stroked my face and nodded.
We spent the next few minutes watching the fire, holding each other, and forgetting everything but the love we shared. I knew our time away would end at some point. We both had careers. Still, we would spend every second together when we weren’t working. Those moments would get me through any future tour. I hoped Izzy was better by that point, or out of our lives.
Leaving Mia for the first tour was difficult. It would be impossible to leave her and our child if Izzy was still causing problems. No way was I spending time away from my family or allowing her an opportunity to harm them.
I had to prove to Izzy that any chance she had with me ended with our relationship. If she threatened my family again, she would regret the day we ever met.
Chapter 17
~Ayden~
I held Mia’s hand as we walked through a local shopping center, searching for Christmas gifts. The bag in my other hand held mostly items for Toni. Mia was already spoiling her. We both wanted her to have an enjoyable Christmas. If it took her mind off her father and the abuse she’d received at his hand, we would spare no expense.
The other items were gifts for friends and family. Though we might not see them at Christmas, we wanted to buy them gifts. Shopping gave us something to do besides sit in the cabin. I didn’t want Mia to get bored with being cooped up.
