Page 64 of Scarred Sunrise

“Ready for the first dance?”

“I guess.”

This was the bit he wasn’t looking forward to, being on display and not being able to dance but he had a secret up his sleeve, and what Liz wanted she got. Not because she was a brat but because he wanted her to have everything she wanted in life. There was nothing in this world he wouldn’t give her if it were in his power to do so.

“Come on, it won’t be so bad, just imagine them all naked.”

He gave her a wry look. “Or I could imagine you naked.”

He took her into his arms as the lights dimmed and the world fell away as the first notes of Fleetwood Mac’s Everywhere began to play. They both loved the song and it was upbeat which they liked, but for him, it was the words that touched him. He did want to be with her everywhere and always.

He twirled her around, and she laughed as she spun back into his arms, her hands landing on his chest. “When did you learn to dance?”

“I’ve been taking lessons with Lucy and Roz,” he admitted with a smile as he spun them again. Seeing the light in her eyes was worth every tortured minute of it.

“It’s very sexy, a man that can dance,” she said breathlessly, and it wasn’t from tiredness but husky with desire. His body tightened at the sound. His dick, already hard from holding her so close, was a hard length against her rounded belly. Liz wiggled, and he was glad for the suit to hide the evidence of his lust for his sexy wife.

“Yeah, if I’d known that earlier, I would’ve had lessons.”

Liz shook her head. “No, you wouldn’t. Then wasn’t our time, now is.”

He leaned in and kissed her as the lights twinkled down on them, surrounded by family and friends, and knew she was right. Now was their time.

“I love you, Elizabeth Smith.”

“I love you, Whittaker Smith.”

“Ready for our next adventure?”

“Always if you’re with me.”

* * *

Head to toein blue scrubs, he held Liz’s hand as his heart almost beat from his chest with nerves and excitement. Today was the day he got to meet his son or daughter, a day he never thought would come and yet, here they were about to do just that. Liz was having a planned caesarean section because of the damage to her pelvis. They’d been lucky, and Liz had only spent four weeks on bed rest.

Liz held tight to his hand as he sat beside her, the doctor working the other side of the green sheet to deliver their baby into the world. “I can’t believe it’s happening. I’m so excited to meet him or her.”

“Are you okay? Can you feel anything?”

Liz shook her head, squeezing his hand. “No pain at all. It just feels weird like someone is washing up in your belly. It’s hard to explain.”

He arched an eyebrow. “That was a pretty good description, babe.”

The sound of a loud cry broke his smile, and he glanced in that direction as the doctor held up a pink-skinned, dark-haired baby girl who was letting the world know she wasn’t impressed with any of it. His eyes began to water at the sight of her, relief washing over him that she was here, and both her and Lizzie were okay.

“A very healthy baby girl, congratulations.”

He lost sight of her then, but Liz pushed him. “Go see her. I’m not going anywhere.”

He felt torn for a second but then stood, kissed Liz, and walked to where the nurses were cleaning his daughter. His throat closed up as he realised he was now a father. He loved Mateo like a son, but he’d never experienced this part of it, coming into his life so much later.

He looked on in wonder as his daughter bellowed out her disdain for the world, her face screwed up in anger and he instantly fell in love. It was a feeling he never thought to have happen once, let alone twice. The first time being with her mother and he’d even worried that he couldn’t possibly love anyone like he did Liz, yet now he realised his heart didn’t have just one amount of love to give, it was infinite.

The nurse wrapped his daughter up and turned to him. “Would you like to introduce your wife to your daughter?”

He nodded as the tiny, perfect bundle was placed in his arms, tears forming as he moved with so much care and sat beside Liz. Her eyes never left their child, the love there almost bringing him to his knees because he felt it too. It was a feeling unlike any other in the world, and he wanted to shout it from the rooftops.

“She’s so perfect.” Liz reached out to touch her tiny fingers, as he laid her across Liz’s chest, his hand on her back to keep her safe. Her eyes opened, and she blinked and turned her head as he stroked her silky cheek.