“We’ll come visit after you have the baby,” Maggie states, and Devon looks at me, his eyes getting big. Crap.

“You pregnant, Sophie?”

“Yes,” I say quietly.

“How did this happen?”

“Well, you see, when a man and—” I start flippantly.

“Cut the crap. You gonna marry our girl?” Devon asks, glaring at Nico. Nico—being Nico—glares back at him, putting his arm around my shoulders.

“You really want to ask about that at your wedding?” Nico asks.

“Hell yes. Everyone in this room loves Sophie, and no one here will be happy to know she’s pregnant with no ring on her finger.”

“That so?” Nico asks, looking around at the people in the room, who have all started to watch us.

I can feel my cheeks heating up. I know Devon thinks of me as family, but this is crazy.

“Devon, please sto—” I start, but suddenly Nico gets down on one knee in front of me. “What are you doing?” I whisper, watching as he pulls a small, turquoise box from inside his suit jacket.

“I knew from the moment I saw you that I would do everything within in my power to make myself worthy of you. I was going through life one day at a time, and then you came along and gave me a reason to plan for tomorrow. Every second, every minute, and every day, I will prove to be a better man, a man worthy of you, a man who will love you the same way you love me—for who I am, not what others see me as. I promise to love and protect you until my last breath, Sophie Jean Grates. Will you marry me, baby?” he asks, pulling a diamond solitaire ring from the hinged case in his hand, dropping the box on the floor, and pulling my hand towards him.

Before I can even think or he can get the ring on my finger, I tackle him. “Yes.” I push him backwards, climbing on top of him and kissing him all over his face. “Yes,” I repeat, holding his face between my hands and looking into his eyes. “I love you, Nico Mayson.”

“I love you too, baby.” He slides his hands through my hair, pulling my face down to his. Loud applause fills the room, and I feel myself turning red as he kisses me again, only to pull away and whisper against my lips, “Let’s get off the floor, crazy girl.”

I nod and climb off of him, fixing my dress. As soon as were both up, he slides the ring on my finger, pulling it to his mouth and kissing it then kissing me.

“I love you, girl,” Maggie says, pulling me into a tight hug.

“I love you too. I can’t believe he asked me in front of everyone,” I say, still in shock.

“We knew yesterday,” she tells me then moves to Nico before I can ask her what she meant.

Devon holds his arms open to me; I automatically go to him, wrapping my arms around his waist.

“You did good,” he whispers before kissing the top of my head. I nod, feeling tears filling my eyes. “I know you understand what you got in our girl, man; just take care of her,” Devon says over the top of my head before turning me around and handing me off to Nico.

“You happy, baby?” Nico asks, bending down to kiss my forehead.

“Yes,” I tell him, tilting my head back to get a kiss.

When his mouth leaves mine, I hold my hand up to his chest, looking at my ring. This is what my mom had with my dad; even if she only had it for a short time, I know this is what she felt.

“I love this dress,” Nico says from behind me later that night as his fingers run across my bare shoulders, making me shiver, “but I really love what’s under this dress.” He kisses my neck.

I feel his fingers on my zipper as he begins to pull it down. My breathing picks up as my dress starts to fall from around me. His hands go to the back clasps of my bra and it falls to the floor.

“Put your hands around my neck,” he says against my neck as my hands go over my head and behind his neck. His hands run over my h*ps and up my stomach before cupping my br**sts in his big hands. “I want to try something with you. Will you let me?” I nod. There is nothing I wouldn’t try with him. “Tell me.”

“Yes!” I cry out as he tugs on both of my ni**les at the same time. Since becoming pregnant, my br**sts have become extra sensitive, and I swear they are directly connected to my cl*tnow.

“Lie on the bed on your back and close your eyes.”

I step out of his embrace and walk to the bed, where I climb on, wearing nothing but a pair of pale-yellow lacy boy shorts that match my bra and dress perfectly. I lie on my back, feeling the wetness between my legs with every movement. I get comfortable and close my eyes, but I can’t help but to peek at what he’s doing—not that I can see anything. His back is to me, and his shirt is now off.

“Close your eyes. You peek again and I won’t do what I’ve got planned.”

I slam my eyes closed and feel my pulse start to race in excitement. I hear some clinking, the shuffle of feet on the carpet, and then the bed depresses next to me.

“Tell me you want this.” I nod, clenching my fists. “I need you to say the words out loud, Sophie,” he says, running a finger from the bottom of my foot to my inner thigh.

“I want this,” I tell him.

“Good. Lift your hands over your head.”

I take a second but do as he says, and then I feel something smooth wrap around my right wrist then my left. They’re drawn together and lifted higher, and I automatically tug my hands and feel that they’re tied to the headboard.

“Oh shit,” I moan. I know he’s joked about this, but I never thought it would really happen.

“Relax.” I feel his fingers run from where my arms are joined, down one, and then along my side and under each breast. “I have imagined this over and over again.”

I feel the bed depress. Then his hands travel from my ankles, spreading my legs wider as they travel up my knees, pulling my legs apart. His body comes over mine, his tongue licks over one nipple then the other, and then his hand at my side leaves and I hear clinking again.

Suddenly, the cold feel of an ice cube is circled around my right nipple then the left, causing my ni**les to become even harder. I grit my teeth then cry out as the ice cube travels down my stomach, around my belly button, and then over the lace that is covering me.

“I need to cool you down, baby. You’re really hot down here,” he says, but then the ice is gone and I hear some kind of metal-on-metal sound.

I scream when my nipple is pinched, and not by fingers, causing my eyes to fly open as I look down.

“Eyes closed,” he growls, making me wetter.

I close my eyes and squeak when he treats my other nipple to the same treatment as the first. The image in my head is strangely beautiful. He’s attached small, golden clamps to my nipples. I can feel the pressure, but it’s odd, because at the same time, I can feel the connection from the clamp to my cl*tlike a live wire.

“Perfect.” This time, his mouth comes down on mine, his teeth biting my lip, drawing my tongue out to play with his. His mouth travels down under my chin, between my breasts, and around my belly, and then I feel him sit away from me as his hands slide under my ass, pulling my panties down then off. His hands come under me again, lifting my ass of the bed.

“Now you can open your eyes.” I do immediately; our eyes lock and his tongue licks right up my center. “Did you know you’re so f**king sweet that I could eat you for hours? I love how wet you are for me.” He sucks my cl*tinto his mouth, my back bows, and the clamps on my ni**les shift, making me cry out. I tug my hands against their bindings, trying to get them free, but it’s no use. I’m completely at his mercy.

“I’m going to come,” I pant, feeling the pull and knowing I’m getting ready to crash over the edge. His mouth leaves me, his fingers running over me in soothing strokes, making me jolt and cry out. “I was so close,” I tell him, lifting my hips.

“I got you,” he breathes against my pu**y before licking me again. His fingers slide inside, and I cry out again as he flicks over my cl*twith his tongue. I’m close again, so I squeeze my eyes closed and lift higher, only to have him pull away again.

“Oh my God, I’m going to kill you!” I shout. His chuckle has me trying to kick him.

His hands grab my ankles then thighs, holding tight before his mouth is on me again. This time, his fingers fill me, his mouth covers me, his tongue thrashes before pulling my cl*tinto his mouth, my head presses deeper into the bed, and I scream as I come harder and longer than I ever have. I feel like I’m floating on a cloud before I slowly come back to my body. The feeling is so overwhelming that I feel tears spring to my eyes.

He pulls the tie at my wrist, flips me over onto my stomach, lifts my hips, and slides into me, slowly filling me inch by inch; I can feel his piercing dragging inside me, hitting all the right spots. The nipple clamps attached to my ni**les pull them down, and the feeling of them dragging against the sheets causes me to moan. I arch my back, lifting my ass higher wanting it deeper.

“Shit, baby,” Nico groans from behind me, the noises he’s making spurring me on. His hands go under my arms, lifting me up and impaling me on him. Then one arm goes around my chest and the other hand slides down to my clit. With each thrust, my br**sts bounce, causing a jolt of electricity to shoot from my ni**les to my clit. “I need you to come, Sophie. Come with me.”

Nico shouts his release, pulling off the clamps one at a time then slapping my clit. The shock sends me over the edge and lights flash behind my closed eyelids. I can feel Nico deep inside me, his come filling me. We’re both breathing heavily as he leans us forward, falling into the bed with him behind me, wrapping himself around me.

“That was wow,” I say once I can talk.

“Yes, it was wow.” His lips travel up my neck to my ear. “So when are we getting married?” he asks, pulling my hand up.

I look over my shoulder and see that his eyes are on the ring on my hand. “Whenever you want.”

“Do you want a big wedding?” he asks, looking at my hand then me.

“Honestly, I’m okay with just getting the license then doing dinner or something.” I don’t want a big thing; I don’t really have anyone I would invite besides Maggie and Devon.

“I don’t care either. I just need you. The rest doesn’t even matter.”

“Then we agree?” I ask.

“I do want it done before the baby gets here.”

“It’s not a chore.” I roll my eyes.

“Baby.” He chuckles, kissing my shoulder again. This time, I bite my lip. My hormones are turning me into a crazy woman.

“Okay. Before the baby gets here,” I agree before turning around to face him. “I’m so sleepy.”

“Let me get you cleaned up so you can sleep.”

I watch as he walks into the bathroom of the hotel room. I hear the water running, and then he comes back to me and gently cleans between my legs before tossing the washcloth towards the bathroom. I lean over and turn off the lamp as he gets into bed, pulling me into him and the blanket over us.

“I love you,” I whisper, cuddling deeper into his side.

“You too, baby. Sweet dreams.” He kisses my forehead, and before I can reply, I’m asleep.

I unlock the front door and run to the phone, trying to reach it before the answering machine picks up. “Hello?” I breathe when I finally get it to my ear. Tossing my bag on the counter, I unhook the rest of the shopping bags from my arms.

“This is a collect call from Seattle Correctional Facility from inmate”—the automated voice clicks off and a man’s voice comes on the line—“William Grates.” Then it’s back to the automated voice. “Do you accept this call?”

I stand there, frozen. I can still remember the sound of his voice after all these years. It’s like nothing has changed.

“This is a collect call from…” the automated voice repeats itself.

It takes me a second to realize what the voice said—Seattle Correctional Facility. My dad is in prison. I quickly slam the phone down into its cradle and take a few deep breaths. I can’t talk to my dad now; there’s just no way. Why the hell is he calling me, anyways? Better yet—how the hell did he get this number? The phone starts ringing again and I have the urge to run away and hide.

“Babe, you gonna get that?” Nico asks, walking into the living room. Not having noticed that he’s home, I jump and my hand goes to my chest, trying to calm my pounding heart. “Babe, answer the phone,” he says this time, walking towards me.

“It’s no one, just a telemarketer.” I lift the receiver then hang it back up.

“Who was it, Sophie?” His eyes narrow as he starts prowling towards me.

“It’s no one. I already told you it’s just a telemarketer.” I walk into the kitchen to put away the groceries, praying the phone doesn’t ring again.

“I can tell by the look on your face that it was someone.”

“Drop it. It was no one,” I grumble, going about putting the groceries away.

Just then, the phone starts ringing again. I try to beat him to it, but with his size and height, there’s no way to get the phone out of his hand.

“Hello,” he answers, holding me tight against his side with one arm under my breasts. “What the fuck?” he growls, throwing the phone across the room, shattering it against the wall. “Fuck me,” he says, pulling me around in front of him. His hands hold my face.

“I don’t know how he found me,” I tell him, closing my eyes. I have never seen him this mad.

“I know.”