“Durov made a nuisance of himself in Russia, but it made me think. He was right to push the issue. If you wish to be a mother, we need to begin soon.”
Brie stroked his jaw, rough with morning stubble. “Do you really want to have a baby with me, Thane Davis?”
The tenderness in Sir’s eyes melted her heart. “Yes, Brie. I want you to have my child.” He smiled as he wiped away a tear that had formed in her eye. “But there’s something you have to do for me.”
“What’s that?”
“You need to stop taking your birth control pills, and we won’t be having intercourse again until our wedding night.”
Her jaw dropped. “For two whole months?”
Sir nodded, grinning when he saw her look of shock. “When we make love again, Miss Bennett, it will be as man and wife.”
“I can’t even imagine…”
“Now, that’s not to say we won’t enjoy each other’s company. It just won’t be in the traditional manner.”
“Oh, thank goodness! I think I’d shrivel up and die otherwise,” she said laughing. Then Brie looked at Sir seriously. “In case this is our last chance for a while, I’d like to make love with you tonight.”
Sir kissed her on the lips, slipping his tongue into her mouth. “Let’s…”
Brie scooted out from under him. “Did you buy a mask for tonight’s party?”
He nodded towards the nightstand. Brie opened the drawer and pulled out a black mask lined in silver. “I like this very much, it’s so stylish. Do you mind if I put it on you?”
He lifted his head and she slipped it over his eyes. She sat back to take in the sight of Sir lying naked in the bed, wearing nothing but the sexy mask. “You are one handsome man, Mr. Davis.”
He smiled and held up his hands. “Have your way, Miss Bennett.”
Brie growled lustfully at the invitation and climbed onto him, straddling his already hardening cock. She grabbed his wrists and forced them over his head. “Resistance is futile.”
She put pressure on his wrists, using them for leverage as she slowly slid her wet pussy over his shaft. “I want you to feel how much I love you.” She kissed him on the lips and left a trail of kisses down his chest. “I cherish every part of you.”
Sir groaned when she flicked her tongue over his nipple. She moved to the other and nibbled lightly before flicking her tongue again. “Do you want me, Thane?”
“What do you think?” he replied, thrusting his pelvis upwards so she could feel the hardness of his shaft.
Brie smiled as she lifted up to slowly descend on his cock. She threw her head back and moaned as she took the fullness of it. “You feel so good inside me.” Taking her time, Brie rolled her hips, purposely moving slowly so he would feel every movement, every slight tilt of her pelvis.
Sir stared up at her, totally infatuated with her dangling breasts. They proved too much of a temptation, and he reached up to play with them.
“God, you’re beautiful,” he murmured. Brie purred, loving the feel of his hands on her nipples, caressing and tugging on them. Sir leaned up and took a mouthful, grazing her nipple with his tongue before sucking it.
“I crave your mouth,” she moaned, pressing herself against him.
He amped up the suction as he showered equal attention on each breast. Brie rewarded his attention with deeper penetration and faster pelvic thrusts, which drove both of them to the edge.
Brie suddenly stopped and laid her head on his chest, listening to his wildly beating heart. She smiled up at him once it had slowed back down to a normal rhythm. “I treasure that heart.”
She sat up again, wiggling her pussy against his base as she caressed his body with her fingers, from his muscular thighs and toned stomach to his hairy chest and talented hands.
“Every inch of you is sensual and pleasing,” she confessed.
“Show me how much I please you.”
Brie bit her lip, bracing her hands against his chest as she began rolling her hips again. “I will not stop this time,” she warned him. “I’m going to use your gorgeous body for my own pleasure.” She took him at just the right angle to rub the ridge of his shaft against her G-Spot. With quick, short strokes, she built up the delicious tension until chills coursed through her.
“I’m close,” she whispered, throwing her head back and concentrating on his cock rubbing against that sweet, swollen area deep inside her. Her breath became shallow as her body tensed for release.
“Let me make it easy for you,” Sir growled huskily. He reached around, teasing her clit with his fingers. She moaned in pure bliss, creeping ever closer to the edge. When she was on the precipice, he slowly slipped his finger inside her ass.
Brie cried out in ecstasy as her body began its rhythmic dance around his cock. “Come with me, Thane.”
He pulled her down on top of him, wrapping his arms around her as he thrust his pulsing shaft into her, filling her with his seed.
Brie lay there panting afterwards, smiling. “I love when you come inside me.”
He gave a contented sigh. “I do too, babygirl.”
They lay in each other’s arms as the sun peeked over the horizon, bathing their bedroom with its light.
“Welcome to a new day, Sir.”
He leaned forward and kissed the top of her head. “Brie.”
She immediately looked up, responding to the serious tone of his voice.
“I want you to carefully weigh what we’ve discussed. This decision will change the course of our lives—not only our careers, but our relationship as well.”
The gravity of the decision was not lost on her. She curled up under the comforter as Sir got up to pull down the shades. The complexity of their situation was overwhelming. She was about to change what they had—the perfect life she knew and loved—to grasp for something out of reach.
It was risky.
But when she closed her eyes, she saw herself holding Thane’s child and she knew peace…
The Mission
A few days later Sir sat Brie down, explaining that he had an important mission for her. “Lilly would like us to fly to China to visit our mother together. However, I need you to return to Denver.”
She felt a twinge of jealousy that Lilly was trying to leave her out. “My documentary can wait, Sir.”
“It’s not about the film, Brie. Mr. Wallace needs at least one of us to be with him right now.”
The mention of Faelan completely stunned her and she gasped, fearing the worst. “Is he dying?”
“Yes…and no.” Sir took her hand in his. “He will die without intervention, but a donor has been located and Wallace has finally been given a date for surgery.”
“A donor for what, Sir?”
“He lost a kidney in that car accident years ago. Unfortunately, his remaining kidney was also damaged in the crash and has begun to fail.”
“So he’s getting a kidney replacement?”
“Yes, but because of his blood type that has proved a difficult issue.”
“Couldn’t his parents just donate one of theirs?” she asked naively.
“No. He has the particular honor of being O negative, which means he is a universal donor but can only receive organs from another O negative patient. They are extremely rare.”
“But you said a donor has been found?”
Sir nodded. “Yes. In the most unlikely of places. After Mr. Wallace apprised me of his situation while we were at the Sanctuary, I began contacting people who might be able to help within our community back in LA. When no donor was found, I expanded the search. Naturally, donors are less likely to give up a healthy kidney to a complete stranger. The surgery itself requires months of recovery, extreme pain, and the very real loss of a functioning kidney.”
“That must be why Todd gave up all hope.”
“The likelihood of finding a donor in time was next to impossible, but fate has been generous and a man overseas has agreed to donate his organ. The surgery will take place next
week, but I want you to be there for Mr. Wallace now. I’ve been told he’s not doing well, physically or mentally. For this procedure to succeed, he must be as healthy as possible going in to the operating room.”
“Of course I want to help, Sir, but my preference is to be there for you.”
He kissed her tenderly on the lips. “I cherish your support which is why I plan to fly with you to Denver, before I continue on to New York to pick up Lilly.”
Brie could not hide her disappointment at being left behind. “I wanted to be there when you saw your mother again.”
“I wish that were possible, babygirl. Sometimes life pulls us in different directions and we have to do what’s best for all concerned.”
“Will you two be deciding whether to let her die?”
“I hope to convince Lilly that it’s time. However, she refuses to even discuss it until she sees our mother in person. I can’t blame her; it’s not easy to end a life.”
“But if you decide to pull the plug, you will send for me.”
“Brie, you are a part of me. I will need you there when the time comes.”
She laid her head against his shoulder and sighed. “I hate that there is so much going on at once, and none of this is easy.”
“Life isn’t easy, I learned that a long time ago. We must each find our happiness during the hardships if we are to survive.” Sir took her hand and kissed it. “You are my happiness.”
“And you are mine, Sir.”
“Before we start this unwanted separation, I have a pleasant task for you to complete. I’ve arranged for your mother to come this weekend. Do you think you can find a wedding dress in two days, my dear?”
Brie squealed, overjoyed at the prospect of visiting with her mother and finding the dress. “I will leave no stone unturned.”
“I have only two requirements for the gown.”
She raised an eyebrow, curious what they might be. “Please share.”
“I want it to be pearl-white and have a low, swooping back.” He rubbed the small of her back sensually with his fingertips. “I hope to see a hint of your brand.”
She blushed, pleased by his requests.
“Money is no object. However, I do have an added challenge for you and your mother—to add to the thrill of the hunt. I’m giving you ten thousand.”
Brie’s jaw dropped. “Ten thousand dollars?”
“Yes, but what you don’t spend can go to the charity of your mother’s choice.”
“I love the nature of this challenge, Sir,” she said, giddy with excitement.
“Good, but don’t feel any shame if you end up giving five dollars to your mother’s charity. I want you to purchase the dress of your dreams. One that makes you feel elegant inside and out.”
Brie threw herself at Sir. “Man, I can’t wait to marry you!”
He chuckled. “On a more serious note, have you given any more thought to having children?”
Brie nodded, answering his question by marching into the bathroom and bringing back her two packets of pills. She knelt at Sir’s feet and held them up to him. “I stopped taking them last night.”
He took the two cases from her and deftly tossed them. They made a satisfying clunk when they landed in the wastepaper basket. Sir took her hands and kissed each upturned palm. “You and I are officially starting a family, babygirl.”
Brie’s mother came late that Friday night and the two began mapping out the dress shops they wanted to visit. “Let’s go for the big wedding shops in outlying cities first—they should have the best selection of discount racks—and then we can concentrate on the smaller boutiques if we need to.”
Sir interjected, “I don’t want you to find a bargain deal, Brie. Your dress should be as exquisite as you are.”
Her mother cooed. “Oh, I love that you talk to my daughter that way.” She placed her hand on his shoulder. “But you must trust me that I will not fail in this duty I’ve been given.”
Brie grinned at Sir. “Getting my mom on the case was a wise decision. She has a nose for quality bargains.”
“As long as you’re happy with the dress,” Sir replied.
“Don’t worry, Thane. She will be, but you shouldn’t expect to see us until late tonight. There’s no rest for the wicked.”
He smiled charmingly at her mother. “I hardly consider a mother and daughter shopping for wedding dresses as being wicked.”
“Oh, you don’t know me at all, son,” her mother quipped. “This woman is going whole milk in her latte today.”
Sir laughed. “I’ll be sure to warn the cops.”
As they were leaving, her mother confided, “I like your man, sweetie. A sense of humor goes a long way in a marriage.”
“He and his friends are all kinds of funny, Mom.”
She shook her head. “I can only imagine. Actually…” She giggled. “I’m afraid to.”
They spent the day running from shop to shop, trying on many beautiful gowns, but not one stirred Brie’s soul. She came back that night feeling defeated, until she smelled the enticing aroma of Sir’s ribollita floating from their apartment.
“What?! He cooks too?” her mother asked in astonishment as they walked through the door.
“Thane’s a true Renaissance man, Mom. Maybe now you can understand why I love him so much.”
Sir had set the table simply and let them dish up their own bowls, but he insisted on finishing their dishes. Brie’s mom was taken by surprise when he sprinkled her bowl with aged parmesan and a swirl of olive oil.
“Oh! I’ve never had anyone put oil on my stew before,” she said, giggling.
“Trust me, it makes the dish,” Brie assured her. The dinner was accented with many sounds of pleasure as her mother enjoyed the fruits of Sir’s labor.
He wore a pleased smile as he watched the two women consume the meal he’d made. “So no dress today, Brie?” he asked, once he’d finished his bowl.
She put down her spoon and shrugged. “I’m sorry.”
“Do I need to repeat that getting a bargain is not the goal? I don’t want my challenge to stop you from buying the dress you want.”
“It wasn’t that. It’s just…I never found one that felt right. There was one this afternoon that was close, but something was missing. I didn’t love it.”
Brie’s mother patted her hand. “Don’t worry about it, Brianna. Tomorrow we’ll try the smaller shops. I’m positive the dress you’re looking for is out there. We will find it, and at a price that will make you sing.”
Brie smiled, accepting her mother’s promise. In typical ‘mom’ fashion, she insisted on doing the dishes when Brie stood up and started to clean off the table.
Sir protested and tried to stop her. “You’re a guest in our home.”
“Nonsense. We’re practically family, and family helps out. Besides, you cooked the meal. It’s the least I can do.”
He nodded graciously, consenting to her offer and retiring to the adjoining room. Brie smiled every time she glanced at Sir while hand-drying his cooking tools.
“I wish your father could see this,” her mother stated wistfully.
“He will someday, at a holiday gathering, when he’s bouncing his grandson on his knee.”
Her mother stopped scrubbing the pot to look at Brie. “Are you planning on having children?” she asked in a hushed whisper.
Brie smiled shyly and nodded.
Her mother’s eyes suddenly filled with tears. “I never dared hope…”
Brie wrapped her arms around her mom and they both started crying. It wasn’t until then that she fully understood the dreams her parents had given up in their desire to be supportive of her marriage.
“Is everything okay in there?” Sir asked from the couch.
They smiled as they wiped away each other’s tears. “Everything is perfect, Thane,” Brie answered. She looked at her mother and they started laughing.
“Good. I prefer laughter to tears.”
Her mother
elbowed Brie. “A keeper for sure.”
The next morning, the two women started out early, driving over an hour and a half to get to a little shop south of LA. It was in an older area, and the shop was so tiny that Brie wasn’t sure she even wanted to stop, but her mother insisted.
When they entered the establishment they were greeted by an elderly couple. “Welcome, ladies! Which one of you is getting married?” the old gentleman asked.
Brie’s mother giggled. “Aren’t you so cute?” She pushed Brie forward. “My daughter is looking for a dress, but she has specific requirements, so why don’t we cut to the chase and not waste any time?”
The grandmotherly woman took both of Brie’s hands. “What are you looking for, dear heart?”
Brie blushed, moved by the woman’s gentle eyes. “My future husband requested a pearl-white dress with an exposed back.”
The woman’s eyes lit up. “Do you like lace?”
“I do,” Brie answered enthusiastically.
She turned to her husband. “It finally happened.”
“What?” Brie’s mother asked, laughing nervously at their odd behavior.
“Go get the gown,” she said to him in a reverent tone.
The old man smiled and disappeared into the back of the shop. While he was retrieving the dress, the shopkeeper explained, “Years ago, a young woman ordered a beautiful wedding gown but she never returned to claim it.”
He came back out with the dress and smiled as he lifted it for Brie to see. The woman continued, “The front is covered in Italian lace, but the silk sheath underneath will flatter your figure because of its princess neckline. So modest and elegant.”
She led Brie into the changing room to help her into the gown.
“Momma,” Brie called once it was on, grazing the delicate lace with her fingertips.
Italian lace…
When her mother entered the fitting room, she stopped short and put her hand to her lips, tears welling up in her eyes.
Brie slowly turned to behold the splendor of the back as the shopkeeper shared, “The back has a simple but beautiful scoop line, and just look at that train… We took a hard hit when the young woman never showed up, but I always trusted the right bride would come along.”