Beyond Expectations (Mended Hearts Book 3) Page 9
“I love you. I realize that my caution is putting a strain on our marriage, and I want to rectify that. I can’t promise that I will be willing to get rough or kinky, though. But if you’re alright with gentle lovemaking, then that’s what I want to do. Your health and happiness mean everything to me, baby, and my concern for your health has overshadowed my concern for your happiness. I’m sorry, Kelly.” Kelly smiled at her wife and leaned up to kiss away the errant tear that slid down Alex’s cheek. “Honey, all I am asking for is a little confidence. I love you, Alex, and I don’t like fighting either. As far as gentle lovemaking goes,” she said, placing a lingering kiss on Alex’s lips, “I can handle some gentility for a while.” Alex beamed at her wife and kissed her again. “Well then,” she said, her voice low and lusty as she rolled to her back and pulled Kelly on top of her, “My wife needs my gentle hands on her body, and I fully intend to give her what she needs.”
Kelly looked into Alex’s eyes and sat up, straddling Alex’s hips, and reached up to run her hands through her hair. Alex sucked in a breath and groaned at the feeling of Kelly’s long ebony curls brushing her thighs. “Do you have any idea how sexy you are?” she asked, watching hungrily as Kelly brought her hands down to cup her own breasts. “As a matter of fact, I do.” Kelly replied with a teasing moan. Alex chuckled and slid her hands up the insides of Kelly’s thighs. She watched eagerly as Kelly arched her back and slid one hand down her stomach, holding her weight with her other hand on Alex’s thigh. “Oh wow baby.” Alex gasped when Kelly’s fingers found her mound. Kelly grinned mischievously and rocked her hips against her hand, letting out a moan of pleasure at the tingling that skittered across her center. Alex bit her lip and arched her hips, the sight and sound of her wife’s pleasure causing an almost painful build-up of pressure in her belly. She gripped Kelly’s hips tightly and rotated herself, rolling them over to place Kelly beneath her.
“If you keep that up, I’m going to end up breaking my own rule.” she said softly, her eyes darkening with unmet need. Kelly let out a yelp when Alex bit down roughly on the swell of her breast. “I’m okay with that.” she whimpered, offering her breast to Alex’s hungry mouth. Shaking her head, Alex placed a kiss over the mark. “Not tonight, baby. Tonight I’m going to take it easy, and show you just how much I love you.” Lowering her head, Alex feathered kisses across Kelly’s breasts, trailing them down her belly. Lingering for a moment over the little gem that still rested at Kelly’s navel, Alex placed an extra kiss there and whispered softly, “I love you, little one.” Kelly felt her heart thud a little faster with the sentiment. She reached down and ran her fingers through Alex’s hair, her breath hastening as Alex’s kisses dipped lower.
When her lips reached the apex of Kelly’s desire, Alex paused and looked up. Meeting Kelly’s eyes, she whispered softly, “Are you ready, baby?” Kelly nodded, biting her lip and lacing her fingers with Alex’s. Alex placed a soft kiss on Kelly’s center and after a moment, used her tongue to part her wife. With one long, lazy stroke of her tongue, Alex had Kelly moaning loudly. The weeks of abstinence had obviously taken a toll on Kelly as well. With gentle and loving strokes, Alex pushed her wife toward the edge of release. When she felt Kelly’s clitoris twitch and stiffen under her tongue, Alex closed her lips around the rigid bud and sucked. “Oh my God, Alex!” Kelly cried, fisting her hand in Alex’s shoulder length hair. Alex held on to Kelly’s hips and coaxed her through the orgasm, only slowing her efforts when she felt the woman’s thighs start to tremble.
Lifting her head to look at her wife, Alex licked her lips and slid up Kelly’s body, readjusting herself to rest her thigh where her mouth had been. “Are you alright, baby?” she asked, seeing the flush on Kelly’s face and the throbbing pulse in her neck. Kelly leaned up and crushed her lips to Alex’s in response. “I love tasting myself on you.” she whispered, licking her own lips. Alex groaned and flexed her thigh, watching as Kelly arched her back and shivered. Kelly lifted her leg slightly, rubbing her own thigh against Alex’s center. She smiled and kissed the underside of Alex’s jaw when the woman gasped and her balance faltered. “Baby, this was about you, not me.” Alex said breathlessly as Kelly continued to move her thigh. “That’s not how this works, honey. We do this together, just like we always have.” Kelly replied, pivoting and rolling Alex onto her back. Glancing at the clock on the bureau, Kelly leaned down to whisper near Alex’s lips. “It’s after midnight. Merry Christmas, sweetheart.” Alex smiled “Merry Christmas, babe.” She replied, accepting Kelly’s lips in a passionate kiss.
*****
“Merry Christmas, Sis.” Alex said the next morning, handing Angie an envelope. The entire family was in the sitting room opening Christmas presents, with Hank dressed as Santa Clause. The man sat in a large leather arm chair next to the elegantly decorated Fir tree, holding Jon and Cheyenne’s twins, Alec and Nina. Alex sat on the long brown leather sofa with Kelly and the other women, while the men and the kids all sat on the floor. Aviania, Abby, and Ashlynn had left the night before for their mother’s house, but would be back later in the day. “Thanks Alex! Merry Christmas.” Angie replied, passing Alex a small box wrapped in blue paper with large snowflakes on it. The adults had been taking turns exchanging gifts, alternating with the kids to prolong the event and minimize the chaos.
“Oh my God, are you serious?” Angie exclaimed, her eyes as big as plates. Alex barely had time to brace herself before her sister slammed into her, crushing her in a tight hug. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Angie chanted, regaining her feet and doing a little happy dance. “For Pete’s sake, Angela, what is it already?” Andrea admonished, curious to see what had made her daughter so happy. “Alex is giving Steve and I the cabin this year!” she said, her voice full of excitement. Everyone looked at Alex wordlessly. “Well, this year is a little different and I want to be home with the kids and my wife. It’s a thank you for all the above and beyond that you are doing with the facility.” Alex said with a shrug, lacing her fingers through Kelly’s and bringing them to her lips. Andrea nodded at her daughter knowingly. She knew what Alex hadn’t said. Kelly wasn’t up to going, and there was no way in hell that Alex would spend an entire weekend away from her. “What did you get, Alexis?” she asked, changing the subject before anyone could ask any questions. She knew that the others would wonder why Alex would give up her sanctuary, and she also knew that Alex didn’t want to go into details. Only Angie and Steve, Andrea and Hank, and Zane and Dej knew about Kelly’s condition, and the couple had preferred to keep it that way.
Alex tore the paper from the box and peeked inside. She let out a chuckle and held up a large coffee cup with the words “Don’t ask, my wife is pregnant” written on one side, while the other held a cartoon image of Maxine asleep at a desk littered with paperwork. “Thanks Ange. Now I can get rid of that gaudy “Twins for life” mug I keep at work.” She said, showing off the mug with a smile. Angie snorted and slapped her sister playfully. She had given Alex that mug, with rhinestones forming the words and two joined hearts, for their thirtieth birthday. She knew Alex hated it, but that she also wouldn’t get rid of it without an excuse. This mug had been her way of giving Alex permission to throw it away. Alex set the mug on top of the other gifts that she and Kelly had received and pulled her wife close to watch as Hank made the rounds with the presents again.
Chapter 10
Weeks later, as January was coming to an end, Alex and Kelly sat in Dr. Gilbert’s office. As the doctor moved the ultrasound wand over Kelly’s slightly protruding lower abdomen, Alex watched excitedly for the image of their baby to come on screen. While it was too early for Kelly to be showing signs of her pregnancy, they had both noticed that she had gained nearly ten pounds. On her slight frame, it was noticeable to others too. “Sometimes it takes a bit to find the heartbeat.” Dr. Gilbert explained to Kelly. Just then, the rapid fluttering of a tiny heartbeat could be heard coming from the sonogram machine, and a dark image appeared on the screen. When the
tiny profile was in frame, Alex felt her heart leap. She looked to Kelly and smiled at the wide grin that split the woman’s face. “Honey, look!” Kelly exclaimed, squeezing Alex’s hand. “I see, baby. I can already tell she’s going to look just like her beautiful Mommy.” Alex replied, leaning down to kiss Kelly softly. Kelly chuckled and looked back at the image on the screen. “They.” Dr. Gilbert said, startling them both.
“I’m sorry?” Kelly asked, certain she had missed part of the sentence. Looking to Alex, Dr. Gilbert asked, “Are you surprised? Twins run in your family, and surely you remember that IVF raises the chances of multiple births drastically, especially when there is a family history.” Alex nodded, her expression a study in awe. “Well, there are three strong, healthy heartbeats here.” Alex and Kelly looked at each other, then turned back to the screen with rapt attention as the doctor pointed out each of the three heartbeats. After pushing a couple of buttons, the screen changed, and the women were presented with a larger image of three pulsing red dots. “Those are the hearts.” Dr. Gilbert explained. Alex suddenly felt dizzy, her heart racing as she struggled to comprehend the news.
“Triplets.” She breathed softly, seeing her expression mirrored on Kelly’s face. Too stunned to say anything else, Alex stared at the tiny flutters on the screen. Kelly saw something flicker in Alex’s eyes, and wondered what her wife was thinking. Reaching out to cover the hand on her thigh, Kelly smiled at the thought of the three lives inside of her. When the ultrasound was over, and Dr. Gilbert gave the women a few moments of privacy, Kelly was a little surprised when Alex left the room. What is that all about? She wondered, quickly slipping back into her skirt and trying to ignore the thin layer of sticky goo that covered her abdomen.
Ten minutes later, with a stack of images in hand, Alex and Kelly climbed into their car. “Honey, what’s wrong?” Kelly asked, fastening her seat belt. Alex clicked her belt into place and gave her wife a confused look. “What do you mean?” Alex asked, starting the car and backing quickly out of the parking spot. Kelly felt her stomach roil when the car quickly executed a tight turn to exit the parking lot. “You just seem, I don’t know, stunned I guess.” Alex checked for oncoming traffic before pulling out onto the road, avoiding eye contact with her. “Just processing the news, babe. I’ve got a lot more work ahead of me now. I’m going to have to start soon if we’re going to have enough furniture for three babies.” Alex said with a shrug. Chancing a look at Kelly, who was busy studying the ultrasound pictures in her hand, Alex mentally kicked herself. You cowardly, bald faced liar!
*****
“So what do you think?” Kelly asked the kids, accepting the tea that Andrea offered. Andrea went back to her seat next to Hank and watched Alex carefully. The woman had been very quiet and reserved since the couple had returned from their appointment, and Andrea was sure that there was more to her daughter’s demeanor than just shock over the news. When their gazes met, Andrea nodded her head toward Kelly questioningly. Alex looked down at her coffee and shook her head sadly, wiping her eyes before looking back up. Andrea smiled knowingly when she realized what was bothering her daughter. I wonder how long it will take her to tell Kelly what’s bothering her. She thought, sipping her coffee and turning her attention back to her grandchildren.
“Wow, three babies,” Zane said, running his hand nervously through his hair, “You’re going to explode, Mom.” Andrea and Hank chuckled at the boy’s comment, which earned a smile from his mothers. “I hope they’re all girls,” Dej said, “I don’t want any more brothers.” Alex snorted into her coffee and turned to wink at her daughter. “Try having four of them.” She said with a chuckle. “I think it would be nice if at least one of them is a boy,” Kelly said happily, “I think Zane deserves a brother.” Dej just rolled her eyes at the woman and asked to be excused.
“So are the extra babies going to change anything with your blood pressure?” Zane asked, genuine concern marring his features. Alex stood and went into the living room, leaving Kelly to explain to the boy about the extra monitoring she would have to endure. Noticing the tears in Alex’s eyes, Andrea followed her daughter. “Alexis, hang on a minute.” She said when the pair was alone. Alex’s shoulders slumped and she let out a ragged sigh. Turning slowly, she met her mother’s concerned gaze and took a seat on the couch. “Alex, you have to tell her. She is going to know you’re hiding something, and that is going to stress her out even more.” Hank said, catching up to the women and sitting next to his step-daughter. Alex scrubbed her hands over her face in an attempt to stem the flow of tears. “I know, dad, but I don’t know if I’m ready to open that wound.” Hank looked at the woman thoughtfully. “I know it’s hard, sweetie, but you need to be able to support your wife, and you can’t do that effectively if you’re preoccupied with something that was out of your control.” Alex sighed heavily and rested her head on the man’s shoulder. “I know.” She repeated sadly.
*****
“Honey, is everything alright?” Kelly asked later that evening. The kids had already gone to bed, and Alex was watching the news in her recliner. Kelly waited, stretched out on the couch with a book in her hand, for Alex to respond. When it became apparent that her wife was not going to answer, Kelly reached for the remote and clicked the TV off. With a huff, Alex turned to meet concerned blue eyes. “I was watching that.” she said harshly. Kelly raised her eyebrow at the tone in Alex’s voice. “I noticed. When did the City Planning Commission become so interesting?” she asked, her patience for Alex’s sullen attitude wearing thin. Alex rolled her eyes and climbed to her feet, grabbing her beer bottle and draining it before heading to the kitchen. “Alex!” Kelly said loudly, following the other woman. “Alex, what is wrong with you?” she demanded, standing in the doorway with her hands on her hips.
“Nothing, I just have a lot on my mind.” Alex replied, staring out the window above the sink. Kelly stood silently, observing her wife’s rigid posture. She took in the way Alex gripped the sink with white knuckled intensity, and the slight trembling of her jaw and shoulders. “Would you like to talk about it?” she asked, fairly certain of what the answer would be. Alex sighed heavily and released her grip on the sink, turning around to face the woman she knew was angry with her. She considered Kelly carefully before she spoke, her voice shaky, “At some point, yes, we can talk about it,” she looked down at her feet, afraid that if she continued to look into those intense blue eyes, she wouldn’t be able to hold it together, “I’m just not ready right now.”
Kelly’s posture relaxed and she took a tentative step forward. “Honey, whatever it is, you can talk to me about it.” Alex’s lower lip trembled, and she nodded. “I know, babe.” She said, stepping over to her wife and reaching out her hand to caress the woman’s cheek. “Give me some time to work through it and we’ll talk, I promise.” She said softly, resting her forehead against Kelly’s. “I’m tired, I think I’m just going to go to bed.” Kelly nodded and kissed Alex gently, pulling her into an embrace. “That sounds like a good idea, come on.” Flicking off the kitchen light, she guided Alex toward the stairs.
*****
Alex sat in her darkened living room and stared unseeingly at the wall. She had been unable to sleep, and after an hour of tossing and turning, she had finally given up and gone downstairs. In an attempt to quiet the memories that had forced themselves from the depths she had locked them in, she had grabbed a beer from the refrigerator and sat in silence. “Why did it have to be triplets?” she asked the empty room, her voice barely above a whisper. She hated the emotional war going on inside herself. On one hand, she was ecstatic at the prospect of welcoming her new children with Kelly. On the other, the memories of the last time she had been told to expect triplets were giving her severe pause. She had known, of course, that the possibility of triplets was real, and her own reaction to the news had startled her. She would lie in a heartbeat if anyone asked her if she was happy about it, never wanting to hurt her wife with the truth. Setting the beer down on
the coffee table, next to the five empty bottles that she had accumulated in the last hour, Alex reclined back and laced her fingers behind her head as she closed her tired eyes, hoping for a dreamless sleep.
*****
“Hello, Alexis.” Alex’s head whipped up at the sound of the thick southern accent. Her eyes widened and her heart thudded with fear when she caught sight of the large man in front of her. Looking quickly around her at the crowded bar, her mind reeled with panic. “You… how did you get out?” she asked, her voice weak and gravelly. The man gave her a wide smile that showed off his rotting teeth, “You haven’t changed as much as you think, sweet thang. I’ve been waiting for this day for sixteen years.” When he took a menacing step toward her, Alex pushed off her bar stool. “No! Stay away from me!” she yelled, looking around frantically and hoping for a familiar face. Her eyes landed on the mirror behind the bar and she gasped, her hand going to her throat. Her reflection had caught her off guard, causing her to momentarily forget about the man inching toward her. She stared into the mirror at her long red curls, the makeup, the pretty black cocktail dress, and the heavily swollen belly that seemed out of place. “This isn’t right.” She whispered, placing her hand on top of her abdomen and feeling the firm thump, thump, thump of three tiny kicks.
“You finally agree, huh?” the man asked, grabbing her wrist and firmly yanking her to him. Alex desperately slapped at the hand that was gripping her, “Never! These babies were conceived out of love, you don’t need a man for that!” she spat angrily, struggling to get away. The man’s face contorted and his already hard features became harder, almost demonic. He seemed to grow bigger, and his grip on Alex tightened painfully. She struggled harder, kicking and screaming, as the man dragged her toward the exit. The air left her lungs in a whoosh when he shoved her hard through the door and against the alley wall. Dazed, she tried to orient herself with her surroundings. “This isn’t happening.” She whimpered, fighting against the clawing hands tearing at her dress. “Oh yes it is.” The man said, pinning her hands above her head with one hand and tearing the dress off of her with the other.