I could melt in his arms, that was how much I loved being held by him. Placing his hand on my cheek, he kissed me slowly and passionately, his tongue finding mine. He pulled me into him as he lay back against the pillow, and I rested my head on hischest.
"What else did you do today?" he asked while rubbing myshoulder.
"I went to the doctor," Iwhispered.
"What's wrong? Is something wrong with Emma?" Alarm filled hisvoice.
"No, Emma is fine. Her checkup isn't until afterChristmas."
"You not feeling well?" he said, sitting up and leaning on his one arm, looking into myeyes.
"I'll be okay. Nothing that seven or eight months won't fix," I said, giving him a gentlesmile.
He looked at me a little confused, and then his eyes lit up. "Are youserious?"
I nodded, tears coming to my eyes. "Are youhappy?"
He leaned down and kissed my mouth hard. "Happy? Are you kidding? I am ecstatic." He kissed me again, taking me in his arms. "God, I am so in love with you," he murmured betweenkisses.
I could feel him grow hard against me as he kissed me harder and deeper. He moved on top of me, and I opened my legs to accommodate him. I could feel him at my entrance, and he slowly slid into me, filling and stretching me. He let out a deep moan as he pushed himself inside of me, all the way to the hilt. I could feel the pressure building inside of me as he gave a few slow, deep strokes. It didn't take long. I could feel myself tightening around him as he swelled and throbbed. A few more deep pumps, and I felt him fill me, and he collapsed on top of me, breathinghard.
Emma started to cry, getting louder by thesecond.
"I'll get her," he said, pulling out of me and cleaning himself off with histowel.
I lay back and watched him walk out of thebedroom.
Minutes later, he came walking back into the bedroom with a giggling Emma in his arms. "You sure know how to ruin a moment, don't you, princess," he spoke to her in the softest voice, looking down into her face. "I think she is hungry." He held up a bottle in his other hand and laid her down beside me. He crawled into bed, spooning me, and we watched Emma drink her bottle and fall off tosleep.
When I woke, Tatum andEmma were both still asleep. I went into the kitchen, put some light Christmas music on, and pulled the turkey out of the fridge. Jen and Elliott would be on their way over later this morning to see their goddaughter. I wanted to get as much done and out of the way before they got here aspossible.
I went about making my magical stuffing and got the bird ready. I had just slid it in the oven when I heard soft footsteps behindme.
Tatum wrapped her arms around my waist and pressed herself into me. "MerryChristmas."
"Merry Christmas, beautiful." I turned so I could take her in my arms and kiss her. "Would you like some coffee, freshlybrewed?"
"Mmm, yes, please. Emma is stillasleep."
I leaned over and placed another deep kiss on her lips. "Well, go sit down. I just need to finish up, and I'll be rightin."
I took the mugs out of the cupboard. Once I was sure she was out of the kitchen, I took a deep breath and reached inside the pockets of my house pants. I gripped the small box that was hiding there and prayed that this time her answer would bedifferent.
Elliott and Jen had been building up my courage to ask Tatum to marry me. Jen had pretty much guaranteed that she wouldn't turn medown.
I cleaned up the mess that I had made and figured I had stalled enough. I picked up the full mugs and made my way into the living room. Tatum sat curled up on the couch taking in the warmth of the fire while watching the lights blink on the tree. I put the mugs down in front of her and sat down on the edge of the couch besideher.
"What’s that?" I nodded in the direction of thetree.
As soon as she turned her head to look, I slipped down on one knee and took the box out of my pocket and held it in myhand.
"What’s what?" she asked, turning to me and taking mein.
"I wanted to do this a long time ago, years, in fact, but things didn't quite go as planned on that day." I swallowed hard, taking her small hand in mine. I got all the reassurance I needed when I felt her squeeze my hand. I held up the ring and immediately her eyes filled with tears. "It was always you, Tatum. It always has been you, and it always will be you. Spend the rest of your life with me? Will you marry me, baby girl?" I almost choked on the words, I was sonervous.
She blinked away the tears, and with her other hand wiped her cheeks. "Yes."
I removed the ring from the box and slid it onto her finger, feeling more complete than I ever had. I pulled her into me and gave her a deep kiss, tasting the saltiness of her tears on her lips. Emma let out a shrill cry from the other room, letting us both know she was awake and ready to start her day. I had everything I had ever wanted right here under thisroof.