Taking Chances (Taking Chances 1)

“Just sleep sweetheart. We can pick up where we left off tonight.” Wrapping his arms around me, he pulled me tight into his chest and let out a content sigh. “I love you so much Harper.”

I pressed my lips to his throat and whispered back my love for him. I was out in seconds.

***

Leaving Liam with Mom and Dad was incredibly difficult. Of course he didn’t notice because he was sleeping, but it took me over five minutes to actually leave the house. I almost started crying when I got back in the car but forced myself to keep it in. I knew he would be fine with them, I wasn’t worried about that at all. It’s just that other than taking a shower and the few hours I did sleep, I hadn’t been separated from him since we came home from the hospital. Taking a deep breath, I focused on Brandon and what we had planned for when he got back from his class. Glancing down at the clock, I cranked the car and drove home.

I enjoyed taking my time in the shower since I hadn’t been able to do that in almost two months. All my showers were about five minutes these days, and I’d been in serious need of this. After I was done, I took my time doing my make-up and hair as well. I know Brandon loves me without make-up, but I was starting to feel like a slob since I never got ready anymore, and I wanted him to know that I wanted to look good for him. I stood in the closet for a few minutes trying to decide what to wear, but eventually ended up in matching hot pink and black lacy underwear and bra. I wasn’t confident enough to just be naked when he got home, but I was pretty sure actually getting dressed was unnecessary. Running back into the bathroom, I studied my reflection to make sure I looked perfect. Tracing the lines of my tattoo, I was still beyond words that I’d just given birth a little over six weeks ago, and the only real physical evidence was my chest. Bree and I had gone shopping when my boobs grew two cup sizes during the pregnancy, and I was glad she’d forced me to get a few sexy bras, because everything else I had either wouldn’t fit now, or would be anything but a turn on. I put a little bit of body spray on and turned to leave the bathroom when I heard the front door open. My heart picked up pace instantly as I forced myself not to run to my future husband.

“Harper? I’m ho–” He stopped short when he saw me, eyes bulging, “dear Lord.”

I smiled and slowly walked toward him, “Good or bad?”

“Good,” he gripped my hips and pulled me to him, bringing his lips to mine, “definitely good.” Picking me up, he carried me back to the bedroom and sat me on the edge of the bed.

Grabbing the bottom of his shirt, he helped me bring it over his head as he bent to kiss me again. I let my fingers trail over his chest, down his abs and to the button of his jeans. Like this morning, he sucked in a quick breath when I ran my fingers along the top of his pants and I laughed against his lips. After unbuttoning and pulling down the zipper, he stepped out of his jeans and brought his hands to my back to unclasp my bra. When it fell to the floor, he pushed my body back to the bed and let his lips trail over me. My chest was rising and falling quickly by the time he brought his mouth back to mine. I caught his boxers with my fingers and tugged slowly, groaning when he stopped me.

“Let me love you first.” He whispered against my neck.

He pulled back, and put all his weight on his knees so he could slide me farther up the bed. Kissing me once more, he ran the tips of his fingers down my stomach, to my underwear. His eyes never left mine as he slid them down my legs, letting them fall to the floor too.

“You’re so beautiful, Harper.” Brandon said my name like a prayer as he ran his hands back up my legs.

My eyelids fluttered shut as his lips and hands loved me. When I didn’t think I could handle any more, I brought his face back to mine and grabbed the top of his boxers thankful he didn’t try to stop me as I added them to the pile of his clothes. He stayed hovering over me as I memorized every inch of him with my eyes, and spread out on the bed as my hands followed the path my eyes had just taken. I pressed my lips low on his stomach then made a trail up to his lips. Brandon flipped me onto my back just as my mouth found his and he nudged my legs apart with his knee. I thought I was going to go crazy as he stayed inches away from me and kept me from moving.

“You’re sure you’re ready?”

I ran my hands over his buzzed head and brought his face to mine, “I’m sure. I don’t think I can describe the way I feel for you. ‘I love you’ just doesn’t seem like enough, let me show you what you mean to me.”

He pressed his lips to my forehead, then kept his eyes locked on mine as we showed each other feelings we couldn’t put into words. He groaned and my breath caught when he finally pushed inside me and we stayed unmoving for a moment, just enjoying the feel of each other. We moved together like we’d been made for each other, each giving the other exactly what was needed. I didn’t ever want it to end, I could spend an eternity loving Brandon in every way possible, and it still wouldn’t be long enough for me. Our bodies remained intertwined when we were finished, and our lips and hands went back to their earlier exploration. We stared at one another, whispered our love for each other, laughed, wrestled, and kissed with such raw passion, that I felt like the first time blended right into the second and then the third. Each time different and more amazing than the previous.

We broke apart after the last time, exhausted in the most exhilarating way, breathing heavily and laughing huskily. Our alarms to go get Liam had gone off and we’d hit the snooze twice before both deciding it was time to get our son. When the third alarm went off, we shut it off and hopped in the shower quickly, the only thing keeping us from getting lost in each other in the shower was our aching bodies and the need to see Liam again. After we were dressed, Brandon pulled me in to kiss me roughly before leading me out to the Expedition. I called Mom to let her know we were on our way, and placed a hand over his resting on my thigh.

I was still smiling wide, and after a quick glance to my left, saw that Brandon was too. “That was –”

“Perfect.” He finished for me. “That was absolutely perfect.”

“It really was. I’m sorry it took us so long to get there.”

“Don’t be. If we hadn’t waited and hadn’t had this last year happen, it wouldn’t have been the same. I’m not saying it wouldn’t have still been more than amazing, but it just wouldn’t have been like that.”

I thought about it for a moment before agreeing, “I think you’re right.” I leaned over the console and kissed his cheek softly.

“I love you.” He turned his head to press his lips to mine before I could sit back in my seat.

“I was made to love you Brandon.”

His smile got even broader and he ran his thumb over my hand and across my engagement ring.

“And I can’t wait to marry you.”

“Other than you giving birth to Liam,” the deep timbre of his voice got even lower, “marrying you will be the best moment of my life.”

When we pulled up to Mom and Dad’s, Brandon ran around to the passenger door and pulled me out of the SUV, pressing my back against the door after it was shut. These last six hours had gone by way too fast. “I’m not ready for our night to be over, but I can’t wait to see him.”

“Next Thursday can’t come fast enough sweetheart.” He skimmed his nose across my jaw before capturing my already swollen mouth with his. I moaned against his lips and wrapped my arms around his neck, letting him lift me up so I could secure my legs around his waist. We stayed like that, making out like we were teenagers dating in high school, not ready to separate for the evening. Our breaths were coming quicker, our grips harder and kisses rougher.

“I don’t think I’m able to go for another round tonight baby. Besides, I don’t think Mom and Dad’s neighbors would appreciate the show.”

He laughed and rested his forehead against mine, trying to calm down again, “Honestly, I don’t know how I’m not collapsing right now. You wore me out Harper.” He chuckled softly and placed me back on the ground. “Ready to get our son and go home?”

I smiled and pulled him up the driveway and into their house. Mom took one look at my swollen lips, messy hair and red neck from where Brandon’s scruffy jaw had rubbed across too many times, and laughed softly.

She pulled me away from Robert and whispered in my ear, “So I’m guessing you two had a good date night?”

Blushing fiercely, I glanced back at Brandon and Dad talking, then back to her. “Oh my God, you have no idea.” I had been seriously mortified the first time I heard Bree talking to her mom about anything sexual, but soon got over it and was glad to have another person to talk to. I looked around, “Where’s Bree and Konrad?”

“They went to get ice cream, she’ll have to wait to hear the juicy details until another time. What was this…the first time?”

I nodded and bit my lip to hide my smile.

“Oh, no way! I was kidding, I had no idea. You just looked too happy to not joke about it.”

“Mom!” I hissed and shot a quick smile to the guys, “I told you we hadn’t been like that before.”

“Yeah, before, but you’ve been living together for months now.”

“Like we’ve had time before tonight? I was super huge pregnant and Dr. Lowdry told us not to, then we’ve been taking care of Liam. We couldn’t rush through these first few times, we’d waited too long to do that.”

“Few!”

I grinned like the freaking Cheshire Cat as we made our way to the nursery.

“Well now that you’ve had those times, I assure you you’ll find time all the time.”

“Ha! Oh I can’t even think about that right now. I’m too exhausted.”

“Well just know, we’re always available to babysit.”

“We’ll keep that in mind.” I laughed softly and pulled my sleeping baby out of the crib. My heart warmed when he was finally back in my arms. “I missed you little Gummy Bear.” I whispered against his head and cradled him in my arms.