December
Mama Credence called Bram at six in the morning. She wanted us to have lunch here in the Glass House. She also told Bram that she would bring the food over to our place. She said that she only cooked one special dish and the rest she ordered from her friends. Bram and I exchange glances after the phone call.
I had been with the Rivera family for quite some time as a Nurse. But when I married Bram I found out that when Mama Credence invite you for lunch, she really meant she wanted to talk to you and you needed to expect the unexpected. Bram and I turned to the TV again. We were watching the Netflix series about F1. Both of our feet were up on the sofa and Milan was sleeping on Bram’s chest.
“I can’t believe this little guy is turning one month already,” Bram whispered to me.
I turned to him on my right side, “Well, your birthday will come first?”
“I’m not really excited about adding another year at my age,” then he grinned at me.
“Are we going to invite Connor?” I asked him out of the blue. Bram had never discussed to me what really happened between him and his childhood best friend.
Bram gave me a sideway glance then looked at the TV screen again, “I don’t know, maybe?”
I nodded and bit my lower lip, “Do you want to talk about him? I mean the last time that you saw each other, you became…physical?”
Bram looked down on the floor for a moment. Then he stood up and placed Milan on his crib, “Connor and I already talked about what happened in the hangar. And I am not a violent person Emma, he deserved it by involving you.”
My lips parted, this was news to me, “So you two are okay now?”
Bram returned to his seat and pulled me closer, “We will never be okay again after what he did to us. I will spare you the details but Connor is deceitful and I don’t want to deal with him again.”
“But his brother was the COO at RGC?” I reminded him.
“Step brother,” Bram corrected me, “He was already there before I joined the company. I don’t know him personally, so there was no reason for me to treat him unfairly. Connor was asking for too much.”
Bram and I looked at each other again. I was thinking about Bram and Connor’s friendship. I hoped that Bram would not burn bridges with his long time friend. I watched as Bram laid down on the sofa and hugged me from the back. I slowly extended my leg because I was careful of my post surgery wound. Both of us were lying to our left side facing the TV screen. Bram placed his right arm on my waist then he cupped my left breast.
My eyes widened in response, “We can’t”
“I know,” Bram said from my back, “I just want to hold you.”
I was checking the crib to see if Milan was still asleep. Then I felt Bram start to knead my breast. He made me lay down flat then he kissed my lips. He was careful not to cover his body on my surgery wound.
“Bram?” I tried to call his attention but he still did not stop.
He lifted my cotton shirt and sucked each of my breasts. Then he lowered his pants and showed me how ready he was.
“I can’t even recall our last, Emma?” Bram told me his eyes were pleading.
I held his gaze, “I will help you but we still can’t do it, it’s dangerous.”
He nodded and we both sat up. He rested his back on the sofa and I held his exposed shaft. Bram gulped and closed his eyes. I massaged it up and down for a while and then I increased my pace. I was surprised when Bram uttered a low growl and his release came out.
He rested his head at the back of the sofa as I massaged his shaft slowly. He opened his eyes, leaned to me, and kissed my left neck, “We should have done this months ago. During your last trimester.”
I removed my hand and got some wet wipes, “My love, when I was pregnant, sex never crossed my mind,” I said to Bram, “All I was thinking of was, how can I get the baby out of me safely.”
Bram sighed, “And all those times I was just thinking of banging you. Sorry.”
I giggled, “You can think of that everyday. I won’t mind.” Then I smiled at him.
Bram’s expressions changed. He stood up and went to the bathroom. When he came back he was wearing different clothes. I told him to watch Milan while I washed my hands. When I returned, Bram was already cradling our wailing son.
“Maybe he wants milk,” I lifted my top, sanitized my hands with alcohol, and wiped both my breasts with clean breast pads, “Give him to me.”
We watched as Milan fed from my left breast. Bram fixed the pillow at my back to make me more comfortable. Then he placed another pillow on my lap to support my hand and Milan. Then he gazed down to Milan.
“I was thinking maybe we could have a church or beach wedding?” Bram said suddenly.
I turned to my right and blinked at Bram, “I don’t think that’s necessary?”
“It’s necessary for me,” Bram commented as he turned to me, “I want to do things properly.”
“It doesn’t have to be expensive, you know,” I told Bram. Then I looked at Milan.
“Money is the least of my worries, Emma,” Bram said to me.
My eyebrows met in the middle, “What are you worried about?”
“I was worried that you might say no,” Bram swallowed and looked directly into my eyes, “That maybe you would not believe anything that I do because of the contract.”
I felt Milan let go of my nipples. Bram carefully took Milan from me and placed him on his chest. I cleaned my breast again and picked up some of Milan’s cluttered things. I walked to the bedroom as Bram made Milan burp. I went to the bathroom and threw out the used tissues and wet wipes. Then I washed my hands.
I checked the time on my phone and it showed nine o’clock in the morning. I yawned because I also woke up when Bram answered Mama Credence’s call. I laid down on the bed for a moment then I drifted to sleep. I was startled because someone touched my left fingers. Milan was already sleeping on my right side. I looked to my left and found Bram standing at the foot of the bed.
“What are you doing?” I asked as I rubbed my eyes.
“I’m just measuring your ring finger,” Bram answered.
I frowned at him then I checked my ring finger. There, together with my white-gold wedding ring, was another princess cut gold ring with three rubies. The middle gem was bigger compared to the other two on the sides.
“What’s this?” I asked Bram as I slowly got up.
“I told you I will get you an engagement ring,” Bram explained. As he stared at my face.
“And I told you it was not necessary?” I told him as I sat properly.
“I’m yours Emma,” Bram said all of a sudden, “I don’t want sunrise or sunset without you.”
I covered my mouth with my hands. I could not believe that Bram just said that to me! I swallowed before I spoke, “Um…I just need to get this out of my head.” I sighed, “When did you start…loving me?”
Bram released a long breath and glanced at Milan for a moment. Then he turned back to me, “Is it required for me to answer that?”
I grinned at Bram, “What do you think?” I used the phrase that he always used on me.
He smiled and shook his head, “I think I started loving you…when I found out you were gone and you went to an island.”
I bit my lower lip as I recalled that time, “It was a precautionary measure…” I tried to explain but Bram stopped me when he shook his head.
“I was out of my wits that day,” Bram added.
I sighed, “And you took it out on Maria.”
Bram licked his lips, “Anyway, what about you? When did you start? I mean…did you ever…” Bram trailed off.
“Love you?” I said as I finished his sentence. Bram nodded in response, “I’m not really sure when it started. I have a lot in my head, even now. The contract will always be inside my head.”
Bram just nodded and gulped, “I’m sure about you. I’m just not sure how you feel about me, Emma.”
I closed my eyes and sighed. I laid down again beside Milan, “Can you transfer Milan to his crib?” I asked Bram.
“Okay,” Bram said, then he slowly did what I asked. Then he laid down beside me.
I placed my head on his left chest, “Remember the time when you told me that I yelled at you on the phone, when I really didn’t? Then I told you, you don’t tell me where you go when you leave? I think that’s when it started. When you get under my skin.”
I lifted my head so I could see Bram’s reaction. He was grinning at me, “I do remember what happened in our parking space after that.”
I pinched his left side and he laughed at me, “You really like ruining the moment, don’t you?”
Bram’s smile disappeared. He turned and wrapped his arms around me, “What I really want to do is to love you.”