“Oh, Lex,” Dad says, holding me closer. “I love you so damn much.”
“This song is beautiful,” I tell him, resting my head against his chest.
“It’s called ‘I Loved Her First’ by Heartland.” We dance for another minute, before he says, “I can’t believe my little girl is all grown up.”
I glance up at him and sniffle back the tears. Realistically nothing is changing. I’m still living in LA with Alec, only a few minutes from my parents, but it feels like everything is changing.
“I can still remember when you were little,” he says. “Coloring everywhere, so damn carefree… I know I’ve been pushing you to find your place in this world, but, Lex, I need you to know how proud I am of you. Whether you go back to college, or surf again… or continue to paint the sides of those damn walls.” He chokes out a laugh and I join in. “I know whatever you decide to do you’re going to be amazing, because you already are.”
“Thank you, Dad.” He has no idea how much I needed to hear that right now.
The song ends and Mason comes over to dance with me. “First my goddaughter, and now my daughter-in-law,” he says. “That boy better treat you right, or I’ll throw his ass over the pier.”
“You helped raise him,” I tell him. “So you know how good of a man he is.”
“Yeah, I do,” he says, “and I’m so happy that you both found your way to each other.”
“Thank you.”
We dance as the song plays, and once it’s over, Alec takes me back into his arms as the deejay announces that everyone is welcome to join us on the dance floor.
After we finish our dance, we eat and spend time with our friends and family. We cut and feed each other cake and Chase and Georgia give emotional and funny speeches. The day couldn’t be any more perfect.
When it gets late, Alec reminds me we have a plane to catch. We thank everyone for joining us, and then after hugging and kissing our family, we take off on our honeymoon.
“Hey, Mrs. Sterling, you ready?” Alec asks.
I glance over at him, a huge smile splayed across my face. I’ll never get tired of him calling me that, and I know he says it because he loves hearing it just as much.
“Hell yes, I am, Mr. Sterling.” I wink, and Alec laughs, pulling my face to his for a kiss.
We follow the crowd through the airport, then, after grabbing our bags, head outside to snag a cab. The honeymoon he planned is a week in London, visiting the art galleries and exploring the city, and I couldn’t be more excited. I hated leaving Aiden, but Georgia promised she would check on him, and Greg has been paid for the tacos for the next few months.
The ride to our hotel doesn’t take too long, and since Alec planned everything so well, check-in goes smoothly. When we step up to the door leading to our room, Alec scoops me up into his arms and walks us through the door. “Not our threshold,” he says, “but it will do.”
He sets me down and pulls me into his arms. “I need you,” he murmurs against my lips.
“And you can have me.”
“We’re supposed to go sightseeing,” he says.
“I’d rather see you.”
Since our flight left right after the wedding, this will be our first time making love as husband and wife. Slowly, Alec removes my hoodie that has Just Married scrawled across the back and then my tank top.
He cups my breasts, which are sensitive thanks to being pregnant, and kisses the top of each one gently before he reaches around and unclasps my bra, exposing my hardened nipples.
“I can’t believe you’re mine,” he says, wrapping his lips around a nipple and sucking. “These are mine.” He takes my other breast into his hand and sucks on it the same way, sending zaps of pleasure through my body.
Stopping momentarily, he reaches behind him and removes his shirt, and I take a second to admire my husband. His tight abs and taut chest. I’ll never tire of looking at him.
We both reach for each other’s pants at the same time and laugh. After we’re completely naked, he lifts me into his arms, carrying me to the bed. He lays me out in the center and climbs over me. He trails kisses down the center of my breasts and stops when he gets to my belly.
“I can’t believe there’s a baby growing in there,” he says, awe in his tone. He kisses the spot just below my belly button. “I can’t wait until your belly is big and I can feel the baby kicking.”
Butterflies flood my belly and my thighs clench in want. I love when he talks about the baby and how excited he is. Since I told him, he’s already started looking for houses and saving baby furniture websites. At night, he looks up information about pregnancy and babies and tells me all about it. He reminds me every day how blessed we are and that everything will turn out okay.