“Hey, don’t drop that.”
I open my door to spy on the new neighbor. Santa Monica is a city on the beach. Anyone from a writer to a teacher, a single parent, or an attorney could be moving in. Any and all walks of life live here, and even though I’m only a two-hour drive from where I grew up, I feel like I’m experiencing life for the first time.
Movers are traipsing up and down the stairs, furniture, paintings, and boxes in their hands. Jeez, how big can that apartment be to need four Damian-sized men to move everything in?
Something red is wedged between a mover’s arm and body, and I squint my eyes to make it out, trying to get an idea of who is moving into apartment 2B. Whatever it is, it looks familiar. The mover pulls it out of his arm and places it on top of the mattress he and another man are carrying into the doorway.
My heart thumps and my mouth dries. It can’t be.
The men make it all the way through the door jam leaving the hallway wide open.
Except for Damian.
Tall and broad, he is taking up all the air in the place. His arms are crossed over his chest, his biceps bulging under his short-sleeved black T-shirt. That grin, it’s lopsided, the left side of his mouth quirked up adding a light to that dark and intense gaze.
It hurts to breathe. I’ve lived without this view for three months, pouring over news broadcasts and magazine articles to get a glimpse of the man I walked away from. Nothing could have prepared me for seeing him in the flesh.
“You brought the pillow.” I finally spit out.
His grin widens. “I can’t sleep without it.”
“We’re neighbors.” I say, pointing out the obvious.
He nods, his eyes never leaving mine. “Yep. I’ll be living right next door.”
Uncrossing his arms, he takes a slow and steady step towards me. “I missed your mugs.”
The backs of my eyes are burning, tears threatening to fall at any moment. My breath is coming up short and I’m sure I’m going to pass out. He continues to advance, his hands shoved in the pockets of his jeans, his eyes studying my reaction to his presence.
“I missed your abs.”
His body stills, and he stands a mere two feet from my grasp. He begins to gently laugh, the line of tension slipping away. Removing his hands from his pockets, he grabs the back of his shirt and swiftly pulls it over his head.
My reaction to the view in front of me hasn’t changed. If anything, it’s intensified. His eight-pack is just as prominent, a small amount of dark hair is still scattered on his chest. He’s thinner, but it doesn’t take away from the impressive mold of his body.
Taking another step in my direction, the air around us shifts, as he gets within reaching distance.
I throw my arms around him and bury my face in his neck. He’s warm and solid and I can’t believe he’s here. “Damian,” I whisper.
He takes my face between his large hands and kisses me. His lips gently caressing mine, his breath warm and familiar. “Love me Addison, forever, because, I can’t stop loving you. I don’t even want to try.”
Pulling away, I look deep into his eyes. “Can forever start now?”
His lids lower, and he pulls me tight to him. Sighing, he lifts me in his arms and carries me inside my apartment, shutting the door behind him. He finds my bedroom, and gently places me on the bed, his body hovering above me. “We have a lot of making up to do.”
“Maybe I should take the week off of work,” I suggest.
“Or the entire month.” His hands slide under the hem of my shirt, his fingers trailing up my skin as he removes it from my body. A slow ache begins between my legs as his eyes pool in desire.
“When did you rent the apartment next door?”
Shrugging, his lips pull my bra down over my nipple and he begins to run his nose around it in circles. “About three months ago.”
“This was always your plan?”
His face comes back to mine, his arms resting on either side of my head. “Addison, you asked me once what my end game was. It’s always been you. Whether you were on board with that plan or not, you’ve always been it for me.”
I trace his bottom lip with my finger. “Love me, Damian because I love you. I love you.”
“How exactly did the baby get inside Addison’s belly?”
I choke on a sip of water, my face flushed, my chest heaving with a coughing fit as I try to force the water back up into the right pipe so I can breathe again. Maybe if I make a big enough deal of choking, she’ll forget she asked the question.
I cough a few more times, take another sip of water and look into her big blue eyes. “Want to play a game of Battleship?” I ask.
Emily shakes her head. “No, I want to know how babies are born.”
I nod and look around the room for help. We’re having lunch at my parent’s house in Malibu, everyone is in town for the baby shower my mom is throwing tomorrow. Addison stands and kisses me on the head, “I need to use the ladies room. I’ll be right back.” The woman is seven months pregnant and she always needs to go to the bathroom. But right now, I’m thinking she’s using our baby as an excuse to get out of this conversation.
“My friend Macie says you have to kiss a boy, but Charlotte insists there’s a special hug and then the baby magically appears. Which one is it?”
Reed stands and clears everyone’s dishes, Mia and Paige following behind.
“Hey guys we’re gonna go catch a movie. We’ll see you later,” Mia announces.
“Reed, you’re not going anywhere. You need to help me set up for tomorrow.” I call behind his retreating back.
“Not on your life, Dude!”
Fucker.
I look at her sweet face and take her all in. Her blonde hair is growing in nicely. It’s short, but covers her entire scalp. If you didn’t know her story, you’d have no clue that twelve months ago she was lying in a hospital bed fighting for her life.
“They’re both right,” I say. “There’s a little bit of magic, some hugs and kisses, but most importantly Emily, there’s an abundance of love.”
She nods like she gets it, but her eyes tell me she’s still trying to figure it out. “But how does it get in there?”
I look around the house she now calls home, wondering how much information I’m supposed to divulge to a nine-year-old about sex. “You know how chickens lay egg—”
“I’m taking Emily to do some last minute shopping, Damian.”
I’m startled by my mother’s voice, but so damn thankful she just saved me.
“Sounds great,” I say quickly as I jump up.
Emily grabs her coat, conversation over, crisis averted and they leave out the front door hand in hand.
“Is she gone?” Addison is peering around the corner.
“You left me on purpose, didn’t you?” I ask as I begin to walk in her direction.
She shrugs and starts walking backwards. “I had to pee really badly,” pointing down at her beautiful round belly; she looks me in the eyes. “Your daughter likes to sit on my bladder.”
Shaking my head, I begin to move quicker in her direction. She’s laughing, and picks up her pace. There’s no way she can outrun me. When I’m right in front of her, I pull her into my arms, my hand resting against her belly and my heart soaring knowing the little girl in there is one we created together, a piece of each of us.
I run my nose along her jaw, her scent surrounding me, the feel of her in my arms never losing its effect on my body.
“We’re alone,” I point out.
She nods.
Leaning down I gently kiss her.
“It’s hard to find alone time when ten people live in this house,” I say.
“What are you suggesting, Damian?” Her hands run through my hair and gently scratch my scalp. Like clockwork, I shiver and close my eyes, feeling the need to be inside her and needing it soon.