Courage by Kristen Proby

Chapter 7

~Natasha~

“Should I start a real fire so I can put it out?”

I gape down at Kevin and then squat next to him, making him look me in the eyes.

“No. Absolutely not. You’re a pretend fireman because it’s Halloween. You’re not a real one, do you understand me?”

“Yeah.” He looks down in disappointment. “But, someday, I want to be a real fireman like Uncle Sam.”

“I know you do.” I kiss his little head and then turn back to Kelsey, who’s been admiring her cowgirl outfit in the mirror. “I think we’re almost ready to go to the fire hall.”

“Are we gonna go twick or tweating?” Kelsey asks as she hugs her hobbyhorse to her and kisses its cheek.

“Yes, after we go to the fire hall to see Uncle Sam.” I fluff her hair one more time, loving the way the spiral curls bounce back into place. “And we had a deal that you each get to eat one piece of candy tonight. You have to save the rest for later, right?”

“Can we have one at the hall and one when we get home?” Kevin asks, always the negotiator.

“We’ll see. Get your hats on and let’s go.”

Once in the car, the kids are excited. They talk about the candy they’re going to get and how they like their costumes.

I can’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. Today has been stressful. I wanted Halloween to be special for the kids, the way their mom always made it. This was the first thing that Monica didn’t have planned in advance, so we had to come up with costumes and décor and everything.

My best friend was more than organized. The woman had lists for her lists. She planned way ahead. But she knew that the kids would grow and change their minds about what they wanted to be for the holiday.

I had no blueprint to use for this.

And I didn’t want to screw it up.

So, I’ve been worried all day. But their happy giggles and excitement helps to calm me down, just a little.

“There’re a lot of people here,” I murmur as I search for a parking spot. Every year, the fire department hosts a trunk or treat, a safe place for kids to come and get candy, see the trucks, and spend time with the firemen.

Kevin has been beside himself with excitement. He’s all about the firemen life these days, thanks to the many hours Sam spends with him, telling the boy all about his job.

I love listening in. Sam doesn’t speak to the kids like they’re just silly children. He treats them like people.

“Stay with me,” I warn them as we all get out of the car. “Take my hands.”

They flank me, each taking a hand, and we walk into the hall. It’s a cacophony of sound and movement. Little Ninja Turtles and Disney princesses run around, carrying bags and making all the noise in the world.

“You’re here,” Sam says with an excited grin and holds out his arms for hugs from the twins. “I almost didn’t recognize you.”

“I’m Kelsey,” the little girl says with a giggle. “I’m a cowgirl.”

“The prettiest cowgirl I’ve ever seen.” Sam kisses her cheek and then looks around as if he can’t see Kevin. “Where’s your brother?”

“I’m right here,” Kevin says with a laugh.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I just thought you were one of my work buddies.” Sam winks at me. “You guys look great. Did Auntie Tash help you get ready?”

“Yeah.” Kelsey thrusts her horse in Sam’s face. “Kiss Spwinkles.”

“Who’s Sprinkles?”

“My horse.”

“Oh. Right.” Sam kisses the horse, then stands and pulls me against him. “Now I’d like to kiss you.”

“This is hardly the place or time.” I narrow my eyes at him, but he just grins and plants his lips on my cheek.

“Later, I’m going to do all kinds of things that are completely inappropriate for an audience.”

He pulls back and winks at me, then turns back to the kids.

“Who wants to see the firetrucks?”

“Me,” the twins say in unison, and I watch as Sam leads them away.

“Here you are.” Fallon joins me and smiles as her daughter hurries to catch up with Kevin and Kelsey. “Sorry, we ran into traffic.”

I frown at her. “In Cunningham Falls?”

“Got stuck behind a tractor on the highway.”

“Ah.” I nod knowingly. “Yeah, been there. Is Isha a puppy?”

“Yes, she was insistent that since I won’t let her get a puppy, she would be a puppy.”

I laugh and then watch in concern as Fallon rubs her belly. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, we’re getting so close. I’m just uncomfortable all the time. I think I need a Snickers.”

“I’m quite sure we can find a few around here somewhere.”

Sure enough, we find a big bowl of candy bars and help ourselves to a few while we wait for Sam to show the kids everything there is to see.

“Are you sure you’ll feel good enough to go trick or treating around my neighborhood?” I ask her when she rubs her belly again. “If you want to go home, I’ll take Isha with us, and bring her home later.”

“No, the walking is good for me,” Fallon says.

The kids come running over to show us their loot and talk about everything they got to see.

“Can we go get more candy now?” Kevin asks.

“Who’s this little cowgirl?”

I glance over to see Seth King smiling down at Kelsey.

“It’s me! Kelsey.”

“Well, you look just like you should be riding a real horse. Maybe you guys could come out to the ranch, and I’ll put the kids on a horse.”

“Can we?” Kelsey grabs my arm and pulls. “Please, please, please can we?”

“Sure.” I smile at Seth gratefully. “We’d like that.”

“Cool. Be safe tonight, guys. And don’t eat all the candy. Save some for the rest of us.”

We wave and leave the fire hall. I was hoping to see Sam one more time, but he seems to be off with some other kids.

Just as we reach my car, I hear someone calling my name.

I turn to find Sam running out to meet me. Good God, the way that man fills out his CFFD T-shirt should be illegal.

“Did we forget something?” I ask when he reaches me.

“Hell yes, you did.” He kisses me. Not on the cheek. And not lightly.

He cups my face and sinks into me in that way he does when it seems as if he’s trying to consume me.

It makes me dizzy. Makes me want much, much more.

“There. That’ll hold me over.” He smiles down at me, waves at the kids, and runs back into the fire hall.

Fallon beeps her horn, waking me from this fuzzy haze of lust.

“Oh, sorry. Coming.”

The drive back to my place doesn’t take long. Fallon pulls into the driveway behind me, and we meet up on the sidewalk.

“I planned to just basically go around the block,” I say to my friend. “They’ll get plenty of candy. And it’s a little chilly tonight, anyway.”

“Sounds good to me.” We fall into step, the kids bouncing ahead of us. We wait on the sidewalk as they make their way to my neighbor’s front door to say, “Trick or treat!”

“So, how are things going?” Fallon asks.

“Good, actually.” I laugh when Kelsey stares down into her bag to see what someone dropped inside. “Things have calmed down a lot since the start of the school year. We’re almost in a routine. Kids are doing well in kindergarten, and I’m actually managing to keep it all together at home. Sam stays with us when he’s not at work. It’s normal.”

“That’s awesome,” Fallon says.

“I will admit, though, I’m not looking forward to the holidays.” We walk down the sidewalk to the next house. “I was a mess today. Worried about making Halloween just so, just the way Monica would do it. I wanted it to be familiar and special for them. And now I get to feel like this for the next two months. I’m not excited for it at all.”

“Hmm, I don’t think I agree with this approach,” she says. “Who says you have to do everything the way Monica did or would? You’re not her, Tash. I think you need to make it fun for all of you, get the kids involved, and make new memories. New traditions. If you do the alternative, you’ll only make yourself crazy. There’s enough to be sad about right now. Let yourself enjoy the holidays.”

I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Yeah, you’re right. I just don’t want them to think that I’m trying to erase their parents.”

“They’re five,” she reminds me. “They will enjoy it if you do. If you’re a basket case, it won’t be fun for any of you.”

“Thanks.” I wrap my arm around her shoulders and give her a squeeze. “I needed that reminder.”

“Now, tell me what I really want to know.” She grins at me. “How are things with Sam? If that kiss was any indication, I’d say you’re doing well.”

“We’re doing well.” I shrug and then return her smile with one of my own. “He’s pretty great.”

“Super into you,” she says. “It’s sweet to watch.”

It’s pretty sweet from my side of things, too.

“Ouch.”

I frown at Fallon. We just turned the corner to go back to my house, but she’s stopped on the sidewalk, holding her belly.

“What’s wrong?”

“Well, it would appear that my water just broke.”

“Are you kidding me?”

“This isn’t something to joke about.” She blows out a breath. “I guess I’d better get to the hospital. I need to call Noah.”

“I’ll call Noah.” I pull my phone out of my pocket, dial his number, and then walk slowly beside Fallon as she makes her way to her car. “You’re not driving yourself.”

“Well, no. But I have a bag packed in here, just in case. Crap, I need Noah’s parents to come get Isha for us. We have a plan in place.”

“It’s all going to be fine.”

“Hello?”

“Hey, Noah, this is Tash. Fallon’s in labor. Her water just broke.”

“Awesome,” he says. “Where is she?”

“We’re at my house.”

“I’ll call my mom to come get Isha and pick her up from your place. Be there in twenty.”

“Can you wait twenty minutes?” I ask Fallon.

“Of course,” she says. “We’re hours away from the grand finale.”

* * *

She almost hadthe baby in my driveway.

The kids are asleep in their room. The house is quiet. And I’m in bed, thinking about everything that happened this evening.

I had to call the ambulance, and Sam was on the team that arrived. When they got her onto the gurney, Fallon was already crowning and ready to push.

Noah arrived just before they drove to the hospital.

Thirty minutes later, Noah’s mom, Susan, arrived to get Isha, and told me that Fallon had already given birth to a baby boy.

I still can’t believe it.

I turn over onto my side and stare out the window at the full moon.

I should be asleep. If I don’t get some rest, tomorrow will suck. But I’m wide-awake, and my brain just won’t turn off.

My bedroom door silently opens, then is closed again and locked. Moments later, Sam slips into the bed behind me. He hasn’t slept in the guest room even once since I spiffed it all up for him.

Instead, he waits for the kids to fall asleep and then comes in here with me.

In the six weeks that this has been our routine, neither of the kids has asked to sleep with me, which seems completely impossible. Then again, maybe they’ve grown out of the nightmares and are happy in their room.

God, I hope that’s the case.

“Why aren’t you sleeping?” Sam whispers in my ear.

“Too much action tonight.” I wiggle onto my back and cup his cheek. His eyes shine in the moonlight. “Did you deliver the baby?”

“Almost,” he admits. “It was close. She delivered about five minutes after we arrived at the hospital.”

“That’s crazy. How is it even possible to have a baby that fast?”

“This was her second. I’ve seen it happen that fast before on a second pregnancy. You were so calm and collected.”

I blink up at him. “I was not.”

“You seemed like it.”

“I was in a panic. What if she had that baby in my driveway?”

“Well, you would have brought her inside, and she would have had the baby in the house. But that’s not what happened, so it’s okay.”

“I’m not qualified for that situation.” I smile when Sam’s hand drifts down my side to the hem of my nightgown, and he starts to caress my bare skin. “Did you have fun tonight?”

“The kids are always fun,” he says and leans down to nibble on my ear. “And the ambulance ride was exciting. But this, right here, is what I’ve been looking forward to all night.”

“Making out with me in bed?”

“Hmm.” His thumb brushes over my hard nipple, and he groans. “For starters.”

He pulls my nightshirt up and over my head, and then makes quick work of getting my panties down my legs.

“Do you have any idea how fucking sexy you are?” He licks my collarbone. “You make me crazy. I wanted to fuck you in a firetruck tonight.”

“That might be interesting.”

“I can’t get enough of you. Can’t keep my hands off of you.” He nibbles my shoulder as his hand travels over my pubis and down into my folds. “You’re always ready for me.”

“I mean, you turn me on, Sam.” I swallow hard as he flips me onto my stomach and starts to kiss down my spine. The first time he did this, I almost came out of my skin. He knows it gets to me in the best way possible.

He just knows.

“I’m going to make you crazy,” he whispers in my ear. “And the best part is, you can’t make any noise. Don’t want to wake the kids.”

“I had no idea that you were a sadist,” I reply, earning a chuckle in response. The sheets are crisp and cool under my hot body.

And Sam’s hands are everywhere.

They roam over my back, my ass, and all the while, his mouth does the most delicious things to me.

I want him.

Now.

I arch my ass in invitation, but he just bites the globe of my left cheek.

“Patience,” he says.

“I’m fresh out,” I reply. “Sam, you’re killing me here.”

“That’s the goal.” His tongue slides over the skin where my ass meets my thigh, and I sigh. Then he travels inward, and I hold my breath in anticipation.

Because every single time he does this to me, I have the best orgasm of my damn life.

Every. Time.

But he switches it up on me, and instead of using his mouth, he just plays.

With his fingers.

Which is no less amazing, I have to admit.

“Sam.”

“Getting there.”

Finally, he boosts my butt into the air, and with his hand pressed to the small of my back, he slides right inside of me.

Each time is like the first time.

I gasp.

He sighs.

And we fall into a rhythm of push and pull that just feels amazing. After I come for the first time, he pulls out and rolls me over, pins my hands above my head and slides back in, his gaze riveted to mine in the moonlight as he fucks me wild.

We don’t make much noise. I don’t want to wake the kids. But our breaths are ragged, and when he leans in to press his lips to mine, I know without a doubt that I’m only moments away from falling over the edge all over again.

“Do it,” he whispers. “Go over.”

I have to press my lips together to keep from crying out as the orgasm flows over me like a tidal wave. When I surface, Sam’s there, holding onto me as he follows me over.

“Jesus,” he whispers. “It’s just never enough. Am I nuts?”

“No.” I push his hair off of his forehead. “You’re not nuts.”

He kisses me softly and then leaves the bed to clean up, unlocking the door just in case someone needs us.

Sam informed me that it’s safest to sleep with the door closed in case there is ever a fire. So, that’s what we do.

But the kids know they can come in if they ever need me.

I pull my nightgown back over my head and grab a clean pair of panties.

When Sam climbs back into bed, wearing his boxer shorts and a T-shirt, he pulls me to him. I rest my head on his chest, finally feeling sleepy.

“Nothing like a good time with you to make me sleepy.”

He chuckles. “I do what I can. Wait, does that mean I’m boring.”

“No. Not even a little bit.” I kiss his chest. “Life is not boring with you in it.”

He kisses my forehead. “What’s on tap for tomorrow?”

“Thankfully, Halloween fell on a weekend this year. But the twins have a birthday party to go to in the afternoon. It’s at the bouncy house place. I’m praying for no broken bones.”

“Nah, they’ll be fine. They’re young. Seth was at the fire hall tonight. He said he mentioned horse riding to you guys.”

“We saw him, too.”

“He invited us to come out on Sunday. Does that work?”

“Are you kidding? The bouncy place and horses in one weekend? The kids will be thrilled. It’ll be fun.”

“Okay. Weekend plans are set, then.”

We’re quiet for a long moment, and then his arms tighten around me.

“You okay?”

“Yeah. Just glad you’re here with me.” He kisses my head. “I couldn’t do this by myself.”

“And you don’t have to.”