You're Such A Hornball

He chuckled briefly before returning to seriousness. "When...um... how did you know?" He abruptly ended his sentence, but it was obvious what he wanted to know.

"I believe I've known for some time, but I didn't come clean with myself until the evening of our reception party. While I watched you there with all those prominent individuals, you did everything you could to make sure I was comfortable." I chewed my lip as I struggled to find the proper words. "I suppose I now understand how fortunate I am to have you."

He kissed me so hard that made my toes curl. Then he spoke against my lips. "I had no idea I could be this happy. I'm the lucky one."

I basked in his love, his sentimental words had filled my heart to overflowing. "You will be even happier when I am pregnant."

Before his hand slid slowly down to cover my stomach, his kisses ceased. His touch was light. Nearly reverent. His eyes followed the same path before flitting back up to catch my gaze.

When his forehead wrinkled and he appeared to swallow a few times as if he were hesitant to tell me something, I started to worry.

"What? Do you not want children now?" I questioned, my voice quivering with concern.

He shook his head and let out a gust of air. "No. Oh my God, no, not at all. I do want children. But more than that, I want them to be with you. I can practically taste how much I want it." He sounded crazed as he took a few deep breaths, pressed his forehead to mine, and closed his eyes. "I swear..."

I tried to reassure him that whatever he said wouldn't be as terrible as he appeared to believe it would be by rubbing the back of his neck. I could handle anything as long as he was truthful.

Except, of course, for not being with him.

"What?" I pushed.

He once more opened his eyes. "I never really even inquired if you wanted kids because I was so eager to keep you with me. I assumed you wanted a family based on what I already knew about you, possibly significantly influenced by my own desires." The fine wrinkles under his eyes grew deeper. "Is this what you want?"

His anxious tone made my heart hurt simply thinking about how upset he might be. I offered him a smile and wondered what to tell him. I had spent countless hours since meeting him going over if I had made the right decision by marrying him.

There had been times I had doubted my decision, and I had asked myself why I didn't give it more thought before jumping into motherhood. I thought I had agreed to please him, knowing that he was feeling like he had no more time.

But I had quickly realized that was not true.

A major part of me wanted nothing more than to make him happy. It made me feel good to see a smile on his face, but I wouldn't simply agree to try for children based on that.

I reflected on the words he had read—the words I had written for my scholarship application, which had asked me what I believed to be the most crucial parts of life.

The simple things were what mattered the most to me; they were what had helped me get through the challenging times.

When I was a child and my dad gave me a goodnight kiss... the way his mustache tickled my face.

As my mother and I giggled at the mess we'd created in the kitchen, the aroma of cookies baking in the oven filled the air.

The comfort and joy I experienced when my father let me cuddle up in his lap as he read the newspaper in front of the fireplace.

My mom's voice as she read me bedtime stories, making different voices for every character and making them colorful and unique. Those were the things that mattered most in my life. Those were the moments I wants to give to others.

With so few people to share it with, I had a lot of love that I wanted to express. I wished to create new, treasured memories.

I turned my attention back to him and leaned down to slowly kiss his face. I only spoke when he eventually cracked a modest smile for me.

"For the past few years, leaving Atkins has been my only objective. I believe it was partially to explore new things and partly to escape the misery that seemed to hang over me continuously. Discover something new to myself. Do something unique."

"I thought college was the only way I could get the life I wanted." I sighed and shook my head. "And in a way, it was. It brought me to you." His arm tightened around my waist. "Yes, I do want to attend college. I want to learn new things and try new avenues in life. But I also know that it is not what I put the most importance in my life. It is no longer the necessity I once believed it to be."

I giggled and gently smoothed his wrinkled brow with my thumb when he scowled.

"You were correct to assume that I desired a family. Being married and pregnant right out of high school isn't a very modern idea. Women all around the world may look down on me because I'm young and it wasn't what I had intended, but I believe they would also respect me for making my own decision. I have mulled over the pros and cons and I am fully informed. And I'm choosing what I think is best for me based on what I desire." I touched his cheeks with my hands. "Yes, that is the answer to your query. I do want to have kids."

His smile radiated joy and warmed my heart. "Now? You are okay with having them now?"

I kissed his neck while giggling. He smelled wonderful. "Yes, right now. And stop stressing out so much. You may believe that you are getting old, but you are not. Most of the time, I think I'm more mature than you are."

His laugh echoed throughout the room. He said, "I fucking love you," before licking the skin right below my ear.

I smiled, enjoying his confession despite the inclusion of the term "fucking."

Our legs were still intertwined, with one of his hands in my hair and the other still clutching my ass. I couldn't believe he was prepared to throw me down again after all the sex we had that day. It was probably for the best that we didn't bother putting on our clothes.

"You're such a hornball."

As he repositioned us so that I was resting flat on my back, his lips came back to mine. He raised himself up on his elbows and hovered over me.

He replied with a lopsided smile, "Yes, I am." He lifted my knee first on one side, then the other, with his hand trailing down my leg till he was positioned between my thighs.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and savored how his body seemed to fit mine. "Is it time for us to make love now that we've declared our love for one another?"

He laughed along with me, but as he looked down at me, he developed a solemn demeanor.

"I've made love to you continuously. Each and every time. You were just unaware of it."

I was a melting puddle of jelly on the mattress at this point. I grabbed his hair and pulled him close to me, putting everything in my kisses.

He moaned and slowly pushed against me. "You feel so good, sweetie."

I knew what he meant. Nothing could have been better, in my opinion, than the way we were connected. He grabbed my shoulders while slipping his forearms beneath my back. He was able to keep some of his weight off me despite the fact that our bodies were pushed together. My breath became labored as I wrapped my legs around his waist.

"You feel amazing." He buried his face in my neck. "You smell wonderful. And taste fantastic."

How I loved it when he whispered against me.

"Willow, tell me once more." He panted. "Tell me right now." He thrust faster. Harder. He took over my body and mind completely and this time I could admit it, unashamedly.

"I love you."

The sound of his grunt echoed in my ears and satisfied my most basic needs. His arms encircled me more tightly, keeping us interlocked. "Please, Nicholas." I was close to orgasm.

He nibbled on my neck. "Willow, my god. Fuck." He licked, kissed, and panted. "I love you so much."

I shattered, pleasure rolling through me in waves. When I regained awareness, his weight was on me and I was unhappy I hadn't seen his face when he came.

Mr. Cocky had a pretty 'O' face. How could I resist it?

"I can't move. I can't even feel my hands and legs," he commented finally.

I giggled and rubbed soothing circles on his back. "That's okay. I like you right where you are."

I shivered when the air from his laughter touched my sweaty skin. I could only smile as I imagined our future as we lay there. Everything was brilliant and hopeful.

Now that I had his love, there was nothing to be afraid of.