Page 11 of Matrimonial Merger (Lakeshore Empire #2)

Daphne

“Fuck, Daph, slow down.”

I was a woman crazed. After falling asleep yet again before Cal could get to bed, I felt I owed him something . He took care of me nonstop. Why wouldn’t I do the same for him?

I looked at him from where I knelt. “You don’t want this?”

“Oh, God, I do. But damn it, woman, all I did was make you tea!”

If he didn’t get up at the asscrack, I could have woken him up like this, but the idea of going down on him in the kitchen still pleased me to no end. It was dirty, unexpected, and good all at the same time.

With no further protest, I went to work, taking his head in my mouth while I worked his shaft with my right hand. I bobbed slowly, focusing my efforts on the tip of his cock as I worked.

“Fuuuuuck,” he groaned. “Daph, all I want… oh God.”

“What?” I murmured using my tongue to lick the head of his cock.

“I just… fuck… I don’t deserve you is all.”

But he did. So, I ignored his half-hearted protests, taking him in—this time deeper. He dug his hands deep into my hair as I bobbed, enveloping Cal’s cock with my mouth. I only did this for him. He was the only one I trusted not to force me or take advantage of my willingness.

“God, I love you,” Cal moaned. “You are… so fucking good. Oh, fuck!”

He was so close. I ignored the sound of both our phones vibrating on the marble kitchen island to my left. Messages could fucking wait.

“I’m gonna cum, if?—”

I didn’t stop. I wanted him to. He always tried to warn me. It was another way he took care of me. It only made me love him more. I took deep and swallowed as he came hard, gripping my hair for dear life.

“God damn, Daph,” Cal panted as I pulled back. “Jesus, woman!”

I wiped my mouth with my hand.

Cal pulled my chin up towards him. “You’re so gorgeous woman. And when you take it so good? I can’t help myself.”

“I know,” I stood back up, returning to my tea.

“What got into you?”

“I’ve been so horny and you’ve been so good to me. I wanted to return the favor.”

“I know that’s probably complicated, so full disclosure I’d never ask?—”

“It actually doesn’t worry me, Cal,” I said. “You are so safe. It’s one thing I’ve taken solace in this entire time. I never thought I’d ever feel so comfortable with anyone. I love you Cal. That is the honest-to-God truth. I swore I’d never remarry, but… you made the decision so easy.”

He kissed me slowly. “I didn’t think it’d ever happen for me, Daph, but I couldn’t imagine it any other way.”

It couldn’t hold back. I loved this man to the ends of the earth and back. I brushed his face. “Thank you for loving me—loving us—like this.”

He rubbed my stomach. “It’s what you deserve, Daphne—both of you.” After a long forehead kiss that melted me once more, he turned to his phone. “Uh, Daph, the results are back.”

That was the vibration I’d heard earlier.

“Should we read them?” I asked.

“If they didn’t call us to say anything negative, that’s good, right?”

“We can either wait for the meeting or?—”

“I can’t wait, Daph.”

I beamed. “Then, let’s open them.”

I knew if they sent the results, we’d be alright. That was made clear by our OB. This was the moment we’d find out about the sex of our baby. To me, it didn’t matter, but I was curious if Mum’s spidey-senses checked out again.

“I love you, Daphne,” Cal said, opening the email. “Nothing changes here.”

“I know,” I said, watching him scroll.

“No elevated risk, no elevated risk,” he repeated aloud, as if needing a verbal confirmation. He reached the end, just above the sex and said. “I can’t read it.”

“Baby, the worst part is over,”I laughed.

“Well, I… you read it.”

I obliged, smiling as it confirmed what Mum thought.

“Well, Mum was right. We’re having a girl.”

And with that, Cal swept me up in a big kiss. “I’m so excited, Daph!”

I laughed, taking his face in my hands. “I am, too.”

“She’s going to be spoiled within an inch of her life—by all of us.”

“I cannot wait,” I admitted. “It’s perfect somehow.”

Somehow, everything felt bigger and brighter. This baby was really happening. I was going to finally be a mother—with the person I trusted most. I’d chosen well. The timing mattered less than ever. This was meant to be.

Cal

“Cal, hello!”

I looked up as Judge Mahony appeared in the doorway. “Your assistant said?—”

I stood, holding out my hand. “Thanks for coming by, John.”

“It’s been too long. I had you on my docket. They said your date changed?—”

“I knew we invited you to the party tomorrow,” I said. “But you are the officiant. So… can you officiate?”

“Of course. Your date was always held?—”

I shook my head. “No. Tomorrow night. I decided to surprise Daphne tonight. She’s expecting and… doesn’t want to be big-as-a-house pregnant when we do this.”

He did a double-take. “That is a… bold move. Are you sure?—”

“Her family has been helping me. They even helped with the dress. It was the whole reason I started thinking about it. And my sister?—”

“She really doesn’t know?” John asked.

“No. I was going to surprise her?—”

“Cal, you need a marriage license for me to officiate. This is… unconventional… but seems on-brand for the whole Delphine family.”

I snickered. “Yes, David could be impulsive . But this isn’t Daphne. It’s me. She makes me a little crazy.”

“First of all, congratulations on the baby. I should have said that first. That’s such a happy thing.”

I smiled. “We’re both very excited even if the timing isn’t super ideal. But, we already had the venue. She wants to wear this dress and not be miserably pregnant. I am trying to make it work?—”

“That brings me to point number two. You need to get yourself to the County Building and get the marriage license today. It is good tomorrow, but I cannot marry you without it.”

“Oh.” Panic set in. “Really?”

“Yes. Quickly. Because it could take a few hours.”

“I didn’t think about that detail,” I admitted.

“I think they might give you special treatment, buddy.” John chuckled. “I’ll call ahead and tell them the mayor is heading over.”

I blushed. “I feel like an idiot, John.”

“Nah. You’re just a man trying to keep his soon-to-be-wife happy.”

“She’s gonna probably kill me.”

“Yeah, no. She won’t. She might give you a little grief, but I think she wants this or you wouldn’t have attempted the stunt, right?”

“Probably not. Thanks, man. I appreciate it.”

“Now, I will get myself together for tomorrow. I need details on your planned script, though. Just shoot me a text later.”

“We want to do our own vows,” I said.

“You were surprising her and planning on that?”

I winced.

“I’m glad you called me in,” John chuckled. “Go get her and get this all wrapped up, man.”

As he left, I looked at Daphne’s calendar. We had a three-hour window to get this done by some miracle if I raced there like my legs were on fire. I emerged. “Sandy, hold all my calls. I need to go to the county building. And… I need you to reschedule my one if I’m not back.”

She furrowed her brow.

“Daphne and I are getting married tomorrow—don’t say anything. That was why the hold was on my calendar. I need to get a marriage license.”

She erupted in a smile. “Well, don’t wait around. I will transfer them to the deputy mayors as-needed.”

“Bless you,” I said, rushing out on a mission.