Sweet Treats and Deadbeats

CHAPTER 15: Dream Lover

Madison

“You always taste so good, sweetheart,” Declan whispered, licking the top swell of my breasts. I arched my back encouraging him to go further.

A part of me felt weird being in Declan’s bed while my babies were downstairs, but mostly I just felt at peace. The tight feeling which was usually a mainstay in my chest was gone. It was like little pieces of me were floating happily around the man who was currently inside the deepest crevice of my body.

“Declan,” I moaned, grabbing his muscular hips. “Make me come.”

He raised my right leg and kissed the heel before placing it on his shoulder. Then, he began to thrust again, hitting all the good spots. I wrapped my left leg around his waist and dug my nails into his taut ass. As he began to rub my c**t, my eyes rolled back into my head.

“Stop. Jesus. s**t! Declan,” I yelled, not caring if the whole house heard me.

He kissed my lips, swirling his tongue around my mouth. Lazily, I opened my eyes. Declan made a strangled noise and pulled all the way out of me. I was about to protest when he pushed back inside. The sheer girth of his d**k always took my breath away.

“We…shouldn’tbe…doing…this. I… might … accidentally… hurt…you,” he grunted, gent ly caressing my n*****s.

I bit down on his bottom lip and squeezed his ass. “The baby’s deep in there. You won’t touch it. We’re fine.”

Declan smiled softly, resting his stubbled cheek against my chest. “I love you, Madison Smith. You make so damn happy. I never thought I would ever feel like this.”

The look in Declan’s eyes, the throbbing deep inside my folds, and the feel of his skin on mine was all too much. I came hard, whimpering his name. For a long time, my body spasmed and shook as if it didn’t want to stop the pleasurable release.

A few minutes later, Declan stopped moving. His face scrunched up as if in pain. My extremely wet center milked him relentlessly. Declan pumped hard, tears falling out of his eyes the whole time.

I watched the sun, always a rarity in these parts, shine brightly through the window illuminating his angelic features.

He’s so beautiful.

After awhile, we were both still. Declan was a little heavy on top of me, but I didn’t have the heart to push him off. As I played with his soft hair, he began to snore softly. I giggled and wrapped my arms protectively around his massive body.

He’d gone through so much over the last five years. I was eager for his name to be cleared so we could move on with our lives. The best days were still yet to come.

Declan finally opened his eyes and promptly rolled off of me. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. You should have pushed me. I was crushing you.”

Laughing, I climbed on top of him and watched happily as his eyes went from moss green to almost obsidian.

“Go again,” I asked eagerly, playing with his balls.

He hissed and grabbed my hips for leverage. “Aren’t you tired or hungry? It’s been almost seven hours since you last ate. The baby must be starving! What if there are two? They’re twice as hungry! I’m such an i***t for keeping you here when you and our child or children need sustenance. I’m already a failure as father.”

I rolled my eyes as I watched my boyfriend go into full panic mode. It was sweet that he cared about our health so much. I wasn’t used to any of this because Tom could have cared less if I ate or how our babies progressed. Our life had always been about him and his habits.

Suddenly curious, I began playing with Declan’s slowly swelling shaft. “You think there are twins inside of me?”

He shrugged. “It could be triplets. We have to be ready for anything. My sperm hasn’t been used in quite a while. I think that makes it more potent.”

I looked deep into Declan’s eyes to see if I could tell if he was joking. He looked completely serious and a little smug to boot! The fact that he would be okay with multiple babies both thrilled and frightened me.

“Uh, I’m not sure it works like that, Declan. Let’s just assume there is one in there. Trust me, one is more than enough,” I mumbled, climbing out of bed.

The minute I stood up, I realized that I couldn’t walk. Damn Declan and his monster d**k! I always needed recovery time after making love. He’d gone really deep this morning. Though, it was worth it because I needed to be close to him.

“Carry me,” I teased, holding out my arms.

A second later, he was holding me protectively as he walked to the bathroom. I wrapped my arms around his strong shoulders and began nibbling on his ear. He groaned and adjusted me so that I could feel his bulge.

“Please, sweetheart, I’m an old man. I can’t go again yet. Besides, the kids are waiting for us.”

After he set me down, I turned the water to a nice temperature and climbed in to the shower. Declan had one of those fancy ones with a bunch of massaging jets. I almost came from the sensation.

I chewed on my bottom lip as I watched Declan pour body wash onto a blue bath sponge. When he began softly rubbing my skin, I groaned in pleasure. After my body was clean, he used some expensive organic shampoo and conditioner to wash my hair. It smelled heavenly causing me to hum in pleasure.

“Um, Declan, I start to show pretty early, um, you know, with babies. I got really big with Noah and Sophie. Um, we should…while you still want me… I’ll be gross and huge… Nevermind,” I trailed off, blushing.

For a long time there was silence. Declan’s back was to me, and he was covered in suds. I soaped up my hands and reached around so that I could feel his c**k, smiling as it jumped. He tried to turn around, but I kept him in place with my breasts pressed firmly against his back.

He moaned low in his throat as I began long strokes up his smooth shaft. Before he could catch his breath, I used my thumb to cover the tip. There was already a clear droplet waiting for me. Declan made an indescribable noise and held my arm.

“Madison… Never think…you’re gross…Damn! I love you…Always want you,” he stuttered, using the tile wall as leverage.

I squeezed him hard, kissing the center of his back. “No you won’t, but it’s nice to hear you say it.

“Come for me, Declan.”

He turned around. I got down on my knees and took him into my mouth before he could protest. As I swallowed the first wave of c*m, I felt him gently pull my hair. Using his strong legs as support, I licked and swallowed as much of the monster d**k as I could handle. Declan came until I released him with a loud pop.

“Jesus,” he yelled, collapsing onto the shower floor.

After turning off the water for a minute, I curled into his strong arms. He had a contented smile on his strong, handsome face and was sighing. I felt good knowing I could please my man. Tom used to make me believe that I was lacking in bedroom skills.

“So you liked it,” I whispered, giggling.

He nodded and kissed my lips. “I love everything about you, Madison Smith. You know you shouldn’t be doing that, though. Think of the baby, sweetheart. I don’t want to jeopardize you or its health. It doesn’t always have to be s*x with us. I just like…being with you.”

Half an hour later, we were drying off and getting dressed to go downstairs. I had no idea what Laurie was using to keep the kids from distracting us, but I owed her big time. My babies were nothing if not nosy.

Declan threw on a pair of his expensive jeans which were made to appear rugged but cost hundreds of dollars. I had almost fainted upon seeing the prices on some of his clothing. He finished his look with a soft gray and blue sweater that made him look very handsome.

I was drooling a little when he helped me snap my bra strap in place. “Thanks,” I mumbled, trying not to be distracted by his long fingers.

“I like taking it off of you more. Your breasts are beautiful and ripe. I’ve had a lot of wet dreams about your body, Madison.”

I turned around and hugged him. “You make me feel like I’m actually a beautiful woman. I’ve never felt this way before. It’s all so new to me, Declan. appear

“Please, don’t let Tom hurt me or our babies. I’m scared to need you so much, but I do. You’re my rock now.”

He wrapped his arms around my body, pressing me firmly to his chest. “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll protect you and our kids with my life. I love you, sweetheart.”

I melted into his embrace, letting myself finally be held. “I love you, too, Declan. I’m yours.”

After I put on some jeans and one of Declan’s comfy white tees, we went downstairs. I could hear what sounded like Joey and Natalie arguing before we got to the living room. I just hoped the kids weren’t witnessing it.

“He’s just a little boy! I trusted you to take care of him, but you can’t be trusted,” Natalie yelled, poking Joey in the chest.

Declan stepped forward to hold his friend back. I did the same for Natalie. It seemed strange but shy, tiny Natalie was holding the upper hand. She had Joey backed up against the wall. It would have been funny if they both didn’t look so angry.

“It was a mistake. I’m new to this. I didn’t know he’d find it and play with it. The doctor says it’s fine. It’s just a small burn,” Joey replied.

“What’s going on?” I asked, pulling Natalie to my side.

She almost crumpled in my arms. With the help of Declan, I was able to get her to the couch. Declan jogged to the kitchen and came back with various beverages in an ice bucket. I took a bottle of all natural apple juice.

“That,” Natalie pointed at Joey, “man let my baby boy play with a lighter. A lighter, Madison! I don’t want him near, Ambrose. He’s irresponsible.”

Joey accepted a root beer from Declan and sat forward. He looked worn out. “I made a damn mistake, Natalie! Ambrose is my son. We deserve to be in each other’s lives. It won’t happen again. I’ll make sure to put all the dangerous stuff away when he stays in my room.”

“What about the floozies? You think I didn’t see you sneak out last night. Thank goodness Ambrose was with me! You’re a bad example,” Natalie accused.

Suddenly, I remembered that Declan had also gone somewhere last night. I’d been too exhausted after all the bullshit. I vaguely recalled Declan helping me into pajamas and putting me into his humongous bed.

Natalie had been invited to spend the night because Ambrose didn’t want to leave Noah’s side. Winnie and Poppy had also stayed over to comfort Soph. It warmed my heart to see that my babies had real friends.

“You left too, Declan. Where did you go?” I asked, calmly.

Joey and Declan shared an uncomfortable look. They were hiding something, and I had a feeling that I knew their secret.

“We went to find that asshole. I’m not going to apologize, Madison. We got a lead on a bar on the outskirts of town that he’s been hanging around. It’s frequented by a lot of lowlifes and losers. I have someone keeping a lookout. I couldn’t just go to sleep knowing that he was out there plotting,” Declan growled, standing up.

Joey nodded. “So you see, I wasn’t out putting my junk in some chick. I’m trying, Natalie. It’s not easy for me to change, but I’ll do it to be in Ambrose’s life…and yours. I feel really sick about all these years that passed.”

Natalie stood up and walked over to sit by him, grabbing his hands. “I’m sorry I flew off the handle. Ambrose is fine. I’m just really protective of my child.”

My eyes must have been burning holes through Declan’s head because he finally looked down. “What?”

“You know what,” I screamed, glaring at him. “You could have been hurt or worse. Tom is a dangerous man, and he hangs out with dangerous people. You’re a rich, Hollywood writer, that makes you a target.”

He sat down, helping me into his lap. “I had a gun. I wasn’t going to use it unless it was absolutely necessary. I just want to protect my family.”

Resting my palm on his chest, I sighed and kissed him deeply. “You meant well, but don’t do that again. We need you, Declan.”

Since Natalie and Joey were sharing their own tender moment, Declan and I easily snuck out of the room. Joey had his arm around Natalie’s shoulder and she looked so happy. I hoped that they could work out their differences for Ambrose’s sake. He was a sweet little boy and deserved two loving parents.

“Mommy, I drawed you,” Noah exclaimed, running into my arms.

Sophie wasn’t far behind. I knelt down on the ground and hugged my children fiercely. A few seconds later, Declan joined in and we all began crying. I promised my babies that nothing bad would happen to them.

“You two are finally awake to relieve me of the little monsters,” Laurie teased, hugging her brother.

“Where are the other kids?” I asked, looking around.

She informed us that the Howard’s had come by to pick up their girls and left a baked casserole. Ambrose, who I was told had been a ball of energy all day, was taking a nap. Noah pouted and asked could he go wake his friend up, but I told him no.

“What do you guys want to do today?” Declan asked, bending down so that Sophie could hop on his back. After she was on, he picked Noah up. He looked totally happy to be carrying our kids around. It was yet another thing their sperm donor had never done.

Laurie looped her arm with mine as we walked to the kitchen. “They’ve eaten, painted, eaten some more, ran Brando ragged, eaten again, and did I mention eat?” she joked.

I laughed and thanked her for taking such good care of my babies. When we first met, Laurie hated me, but now I was starting to believe she would make a wonderful aunt. Since she became free of their evil mother, she seemed to be blossoming into a great woman.

When we got into the kitchen I tried to go to the stove, but Declan made me sit at the table. He and Laurie put the Howard’s cheesy chicken bake casserole into the oven to heat and tossed together a salad.

“After we eat, you can show me your painting,” I said, tickling Noah’s round tummy.

He guffawed, climbing into my lap. I wasn’t surprised to see his tiny thumb enter his mouth as he laid on my breast. I rubbed his back and mumbled sweet words while Soph rested her head on my shoulder. My babies had been through so much with me.

“He’s never going to hurt us again. Declan’s house is safe and so is ours. Don’t worry, my sweets,’ I cooed, cuddling them both.

Before long, the food was ready. Since it was Sunday and we’d had a bad night, I wasn’t too hard on the kids as they made a mess. Declan just chuckled and wiped it up. Little Noah ate like he hadn’t been fed in years. Sophie wasn’t much better.

“Madison, you want another helping?” Declan asked, holding out his hand.

I passed my plate down, practically moaning when he gave me more food. The little bean inside was already affecting me. The smell of Italian dressing made me nauseous, so I chose ranch dressing.

“I don’t like the little trees,” Noah complained, holding up a piece of broccoli in his untouched salad.

“Eat your salad, baby. You want to be big and strong like Dex, don’t you? He’s on his second helping of vegetables.”

Noah looked at Declan’s almost empty salad bowl and began eating his. Laurie laughed and cut herself another slice of bread.

Eventually, Joey, Natalie, and a sleepy Ambrose joined our late lunch. We laughed and joked as the casserole disappeared. I made a mental note to make one for the Howards later next week. They’d been so kind to me.

After the dishes were done, with no help from me thanks to Declan, we decided to go outside and pick berries. My little girl’s face lit up when Laurie suggested it. My boyfriend was even more excited, practically running upstairs to get his pressed flower albums.

“It’s so much fun, Madison,” he yelled, showing me a book.

“Um, Declan, I thought you were joking when you said you garden and knit. I can’t believe you have all of this stuff.”

He kissed my nose. “I was so lonely when I came here. These hobbies became my life. When I wasn’t writing, I was playing in the dirt. It kept me sane and away from drugs. Maybe it’s not considered manly, but I enjoy it. The gardens are a good place to meditate, too.”

“You’re not alone anymore,” I whispered, winking.

Sophie loved the pressed flower books. Declan gave all the children one and a book about plantss. Then, we let them loose to explore. There were roses, honeysuckle, violets, azaleas, and more flowers I didn’t recognize.

Declan has a green thumb!

“These are my favorites at the moment,” Declan said, proudly pointing to some pretty pink flowers. “They’re Sedum or Autumn Joy. The color reminds me of your blush.”

I inhaled deeply as he held one to my nose. “They’re beautiful, Declan. This garden is amazing. I can’t wait until the radishes are ready to pick. I used to crave those all the time when I was pregnant with Sophie. I even bought a r****h recipe book. Tom hated them.”

Declan’s eyes darkened. “He didn’t treat you right. You are a treasure, and you deserve the best. No woman should go through pregnancy and childbirth alone.”

I was about to kiss him yet again when Sophie walked up to show Declan her book. They sat down on the ground and began discussing scientific names for the flowers. Noah was too busy having fun putting berries in a bucket with Laurie. He still had a baby crush on her and looked more than happy as she held his little hand.

Soon, I joined Natalie while she watched Ambrose and Joey monkey around. The pale, little redheaded boy looked so different from the deeply tanned, blonde Joey, yet somehow it was easy to see that they were father and son.

“How’s it going?” I asked, wrapping my arms around Natalie.

She smiled. “Great. Look how happy he is with his father.”

“I’m a champion of single mothers and fathers, but kids need both parents in their lives. It makes all the difference,” I said, looking at my own babies wrestling with Declan.

Almost three hours later, we had enough pressed flower books filled. There were also many pails of blackberries for cobbler. I vowed to make dinner even if I had to fight Declan. Laurie volunteered to pick up the rest of our friends. The phones were full of concerned messages.

Soon after, Dean arrived with Neal and Ashley. They greeted us as I passed out drinks. Neal hovered, letting me know he wanted to talk to me.

“Are you okay, sweetheart? I know I haven’t been there for you, but I’m working on mending my ways. I want to be in you and my grandchildren’s lives,” he said, helping me cut onions.

I held back tears. “I’m fine. Declan is taking great care of us. I told myself I never wanted to know, but I do. Why did you leave me? Growing up with Rhonda was a nightmare.”

He put the knife down and turned to me. “Madison… I loved you from the minute you were born. When they put you in my arms, and I saw that you had the same eyes… I was so humbled and proud. Rhonda and I were having problems before, and they got worse after you came. I started drinking heavily. My father was a drunk….”

I touched his arm. “Go on. I need to hear it.”

“Well… I was twenty and there weren’t many jobs in Tacoma at the time. Rhonda started seeing other men and letting me know about it. She told me she had an aunt here in Forks and that she was going to take you away. I begged her to stay. Later, I found out that the aunt and Rhonda were estranged. It had all been lies.”

“After I lost my temporary job as a short order cook, I applied to the Police Academy. Unfortunately, I didn’t pass the written exams. Day after day, Rhonda threw it in my face and called me a failure. I guess pretty soon, I started to believe it. I drank more and saw you less.

“Then one night, I came home drunk off my ass. Rhonda was in our bed having s*x with some guy. After I kicked him out, I lost my temper and hit her. I’m so ashamed of what I did that night. She threatened to call the cops on me. I was a coward, Madison. I packed my stuff and left you. I knew I should have come back, but she moved around a lot and it got harder and harder. Soon after, I became a stone alcoholic and convinced myself that you were better off without a miserable drunk like me.”

I cried, hugging my dad closely. “I would have loved you anyway. You’re my Dad.”

He used an old handkerchief to clean my face. “I’m so sorry I left you with her. Please forgive me. I was so damn weak. I should have fought harder for you. I’m the reason you married a man like that Tom bastard.

“Did…Were you ever…sexually or physically abused growing up?” Neal asked, tightening his fist.

I shook my head. “No, it was verbal abuse and neglect. I never suffered major abuse with Rhonda, other than the emotional pain. She purposely picked men who hated me or just children in general. I think that made her want them more. I was just the free maid and a general disappointment in her life.”

“I’m sorry, Madison. I thought about you every day,” he mused, reaching into his pocket.

“Is that me as a baby?” I asked, taking the picture he offered.

The most beautiful smile graced his face, making him look years younger. “You were my little girl. I used to walk you to sleep so you wouldn’t cry. I loved you so much. I still love you.”

All of a sudden, the room started to swirl. It was all too overwhelming. I clutched the counter, fighting to stay on my feet as Neal caught me. Less than a minute later, Declan was by my side and lifting me into his arms.

He carried me to the den and dialed a phone number. I tried to ask him who he was calling, but I was too light headed to form sentences. The last thing I saw before closing my eyes was Declan’s worried gaze.

Declan

It wasn’t hard to get Dr. Kelly to agree to a house call. She and her husband had always been nice to me. Plus, I had no problem sending a chauffeured car and paying a full bill for the services. Being wealthy didn’t fix every problem, but it sure made some things easier.

“She’s stable and resting, Declan. I think it was stress. Make sure she stays in bed tomorrow. I can’t do blood work here, but I would say she’s definitely pregnant going by what you told me. The drugstore pregnancy tests are rarely wrong,” Dr. Kelly said, handing me a couple of pamphlets.

I breathed a sigh of relief and so did everyone else in the room. “Thank you, Doctor. Here’s a blank check. Write in the charge. We’ll see you on Wednesday.”

She laughed and patted my shoulder. “I’ll see you then. Give my best to Ms. Smith.”

After she left, Sphie and Noah were allowed to see Madison. They cried and clung to Laurie and me. Neal did his best to soothe them while the women comfort ed Ashley. I quickly learned that once a pregnant woman started crying, there was no way to stop her.

While Madison slept, we all pitched in to finish making dinner. Our kids didn’t eat much. Natalie stayed to help Soph and Noah get ready for bed before leaving with Ambrose. Joey decided to crash at her house so that he could drive Ambrose to school on his way to Seattle. He had some business there.

Later, after everyone was in bed, I did some research on pregnancy and perused the medical journals in my library. When I had seen Madison faint, I’d felt like I was dying. I couldn’t even think of anything bad happening to her and our baby or babies.

After I finished, I went to the bedroom to check on my sweetheart who was still sleeping peacefully. I wasn’t surprised to see Sophie and Noah curled up in bed with her. They were as protective of their mother as me.

Quietly, I went to the bathroom to wash up and change. Then I crawled into bed, careful not to wake anyone. Brando was snoring on the corner couch. Smiling, I wrapped my arms around my family and found dreamland.

At six, my cell phone vibrated. My sweetheart was awake, cuddling our kids. She grimaced and pointed to my phone. I told her everything was okay and quickly left the room.

“Hello,” I answered, once I was in the hallway.

It was Daniels. “Declan, I’m sorry to call you so early on a Monday. We’ve made a major breakthrough. I’ll email you over the information, and we’ll talk in person as soon as I can get away. All of Los Angeles is going to be buzzing about you. I suggest you keep a low profile. A few reporters are already sniffing around Port Townsend, trying to break the big story. If you have any questions, call me.”

I frowned, wondering about all the secrecy. “Why can’t you just tell me?”

“Declan, there are people in my office I don’t trust. I’m sending the email on a secure, untraceable server. The Mayor and even the Governor have called me up this weekend. This whole thing is even bigger than you and Sarah. Maybe, one day, you’ll write a movie about it, kid. Remember, keep your head low. Stay out of trouble and stick close to the people you trust. Give Madison my best.”

“I will,” I promised, hanging up.

After that, I dialed my brother. He was in Seattle, meeting with some magazine. It turned out he was a fashion photographer. He’d always wanted to book some jobs in America and was using his vacation to do just that.

He answered on the second ring. “Hi, Declan. What’s up?”

I filled him in on the latest.

“Holy s**t,” he exclaimed, almost destroying my eardrum.

“When will you be back here? Are you planning to confront Holly?” I asked, hesitantly.

He made a noise that sounded like a deadly animal. “I called her and she hung up on me. I don’t understand her, dude.”

I snorted, thinking of Holly Walsh. “No one does. She’s my mother, but she’s an ice cold bitch.”

He laughed and assured me he would be home soon. I got a little jealous when he asked about Madison. Thankfully, he didn’t know about the pregnancy yet. Until we were all safe, I didn’t want too many people finding out.

After my morning calls and checking the early stocks, I opened up my email from Daniels. My heart started to beat wildly as the handwriting came into view. Because I knew my family needed me, I decided to wait until later. I’d lived with the nightmare for over five years, so a few more hours wouldn’t hurt.

When I got back to the bedroom, Madison and the kids were lazily playing with Brando. I’d never been so proud in my life. My real, honest-to-goodness family was in my bed. They loved me, and I loved them.

“I’m so tired today, Declan, but I need to be up in an hour. I can’t keep missing work. The shop is getting busy. If you help me get the kids…” my sweetheart began before I cut her off.

“You are not leaving this bedroom, Madison. Dr. Kelly said you need to rest and rest you will. Noah and Sophie can stay home from school today, too. I’ll get Natalie to collect their homework. I’ve also already called Vanessaa to help out at Sweet Treats and Laurie volunteered her services,” I finished, smiling smugly.

Surprisingly, my sweetheart didn’t argue. I crawled back into bed after turning on the television. The kids became livelier once they saw Spongebob Squarepants on the big screen. Sometimes it was nice to play hooky on a rainy Monday.

Around ten, I got up and got the kids dressed. Madison cussed me out because I wouldn’t let her leave the bed. I just laughed and kissed her rosy cheeks.

“This Friday, I’m taking you on a real date in Seattle. We can stay overnight. I have a loft there. What do you say, sweetheart?”

She huffed, but I could see the excitement in her bright eyes. “Okay but don’t make it a big deal. We’ll just have dinner and maybe go to a movie.”

Crossing my fingers behind my back, I promised that I would keep it low key. “You can trust me.”

We had a great day. I helped the kids paint and we watched educational videos. My sister, who was becoming quite a good person, stopped by to deliver lunch. She promised Madison that everything was running smoothly at the pastry shop.

Around six, the kids started to get sleepy. I carried them to the guest bedroom across from mine and put on some calming music. Noah was on his stomach with his thumb in his mouth and Soph was sprawled on her back. They looked so adorable. I stole a few kisses before leaving the room.

Fortunately, Madison was awake and feeling much better. She was talking to Ashley on the phone when I walked in. I listened to them make plans about Thanksgiving dinner and baby showers. Women always took on so much, and I had the utmost respect.

“Madison, we need to talk,” I said, after she hung up.

She smiled, turning to me. “I’d rather play.”

I groaned, adjusting not-so-little Declan in the process. “There won’t be any more s*x until the appointment. I won’t risk it again.”

She pouted prettily, crossing her arms. “Okay. What is it then?”

I took a deep breath and began reading from the stack of papers. My sweetheart held me as I cried and got upset on my behalf. By the time I was finished, we were both covered in tears. Madison had moved to my lap and clung to me as I rocked.

“Those bastards! They let you believe you killed your wife and baby all this time to cover up police corruption! You could have spent years in prison. I would have never met you, and we wouldn’t be having this baby,” she said, pointing to her stomach.

I rubbed her back softly. “Calm down sweetheart. I just can’t believe Sarah didn’t tell me. She had to know she was in danger. It does explain why she started using so heavily. She didn’t want to come down and risk telling me the truth.”

Madison laid her head on my shoulder. “Declan, I’m so sorry. The baby wasn’t even yours. I know it has to hurt. You obviously loved Sarah at one point.”

I shook my head. “I’m not sure I ever did love her, Madison. The way I feel about you… I never had that before. A part of me feels like a huge weight is gone, but the other part just feels broken. It’s all so fresh again. Sarah wasn’t perfect, but she was a pregnant woman and didn’t deserve to be murdered.”

“Did you know the LAPD Lieutenant she was sleeping with?” Madison asked gently.

I nodded. “TierrybDa Revin was one of the cops that helped us with the research for Shields of Blue, the cop movie I wrote. That’s how Sarah met him. We were both fighting and f*****g other people at that point. I guess she got off on dating a cop. Sarah always loved adventure.”

Madison frowned. “I’ve never seen Shields of Blue, but then again, I haven’t seen most of your films. When this is over, I’d like to sit down and watch them with you, even the one with Sarah. I want to know more about you, Declan.”

I kissed her forehead, hugging her more closely to my chest. “I didn’t finish writing the movie. The drug and alcohol binges were out of control. I stopped letting myself come down. Whole weeks would pass, and I wouldn’t notice. I’ll finish it soon. I have a feeling that it could be a great script.”

“I can’t believe he was the father of Sarah’s baby. The bastards didn’t have to kill him. He was probably scared enough to stay quiet. Would you, um, would you have let him and Sarah be together if you’d have gotten the letter he wrote to you. I know you two were cheating, but she was your wife,” Madison mused.

I shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s hard to say what you would have done. We surprise ourselves. All these years I thought I killed my wife and baby, plus that innocent family. I tried to kill myself once, sweetheart. I thought I deserved to die after what happened.”

Madison sighed and wrapped her arms around my neck. “I don’t even want to imagine a world without Declan Walsh. You’re nothing like I’m used to, but you’re everything I’ll ever need. I love you, Declan.”

We kissed for a long time, our tongues in and out of each other’s mouths. Madison’s wasn’t wearing a bra so I could feel her hard, pointy n*****s on my chest. We came up for air, only to dive in again. She tasted so sweet, and I needed the comfort.

I cupped Madison’s ass, putting her right over my erection. She screamed in my mouth and bucked into me, rolling her hips slowly. I lifted her shirt so I could taste her sweet skin. My tongue hadn’t even made contact when Noah came into the room.

“Mommy, Dex, what’re you doing?” he asked, pointing to us.

My sweetheart blushed, quickly throwing on her tee shirt before rolling off of me. Unfortunately in her haste her knee pressed down on my junk. I yelped and bent over the side of the bed. The pain was excruciating.

I was still wheezing when Sophie entered the room. She looked confused until Noah took it upon himself to explain. If I hadn’t been dying from knee in the c**k, I would have laughed my ass off.

“Sophie, Dex and mommy were giving hugs with no shirts. Then, Dex started to hurt. Mommy must not be good at those kinds of hugs,” Noah said, giggling.

Sophie joined in with the laughter. “Mommy, you silly goose, you should wear clothes next time. Dex looks sad.”

Madison laughed so hard, she almost fell off the bed. While they talked, I hobbled to the bathroom and put a cold cloth on my balls. It was a good thing s*x was out of the question for the next few days. After deciding I wasn’t going to die, I returned to the bedroom.

“So grownup friends sometimes hug like that to help each other? Ewww, I wouldn’t touch a boy. They all have cooties. Now you have cooties, mommy,” Soph was saying as I entered the room.

Noah shook his little head. “Uh-uh. Girls have cooties, so Dex has it now. Mommy, don’t give me cooties! I’m a good boy.”

Laughing, I made eye contact with Madison. She smiled and kissed our kids on the cheeks. They were so sweet and innocent. Sometimes, I wished that they’d never grow up, but it was inevitable.

The next day we all went back to our routines, but my family stayed under my roof. Ross kept tabs on the Tom situation. Madison’s mom went back to Arizona. She had a court date there for p**********n. Madison and her never spoke after the warning. I didn’t want to broach the subject and risk my sweetheart getting upset.

Wednesday, I drove Madison to Port Angeles. Lunch hour traffic was a nightmare, but we made it on time. Dr. Kelly was thrilled to see Madison awake. The blood test confirmed what we already knew; we were having a baby.

“Congratulations,” Dr. Kelly said, handing us the first sonogram.

“How far along am I?” Madison asked, curiously.

Dr. Kelly checked her charts. “You’re around 7 weeks, Madison.

My sweetheart and I shared a look and said, “Carrot cake,” in unison. We’d conceived our baby during that night of carrot cake, medicinal weed, and marathon s*x. It made sense considering our history.

“I could use a nice slice of carrot cake,” Dr. Kelly mumbled, not getting the conversation.

Madison smiled as I caressed her back. “I’ll bring you some from my pastry shop next time. Is there anything I should do besides take the vitamins and eat right. I…I lost a baby. Since then, I’ve had Noah, but I still worry.”

“Don’t’ worry, Madison. Our baby will be fine. I’m here all the way,” I whispered.

Dr. Kelly shook her head. “I know, honey. I saw it in your medical records. You weren’t at fault. Sometimes, babies just don’t make it. I’ve had couples miscarry or have still births multiple times before getting the one perfect baby. If you take care of yourself, which I’m sure Declan will be a help, you won’t have any problems.”

Thursday, we invited our friends over for dinner. Madison told Neal about the pregnancy. He hooted and called Will Howard to ask him to baptize the child. Apparently Taylor already knew but was keeping it secret until Madison said it was okay to tell Will.

Pastor Howard asked to talk to me, which was really just fifteen minutes of him throwing hints about marriage. I assured him it was in the plan. He said he was proud of me for coming so far and said he’d hope to see us all in Church on Sunday. I promised him that we’d be there.

“Hey, can we talk a minute?” Dean asked, coming up behind me.

I nodded and led him to the den. “What’s up?”

He sat down and began playing with the buttons on his shirt. “I just wanted to say that I’m sorry for the way I treated you. It was wrong. I never understood the damage small town gossip could do until I saw it happen to Madison and my Ashley.”

My Ashley?

“It’s all right, Stone. You’re not on my list anymore. There are a couple of bastards that I hate way more than you,” I said, chuckling.

He held out his hand to me. “Friends? I know it’s not gonna happen overnight, but I’d like us to get along. You’ve always been kind to Ashley. She considers you a friend. Besides, I think it’s time to start planning Snowflake and Brando’s wedding. If that dog is like you and gets her pregnant before the ceremony, I’m going to freak out.”

Laughing, I clapped him on the back. “Brando is a chip off the old block. Women can’t resist us.”

When we got back to the kitchen, the food was on the table. Neal said grace before we all dug in. I took a minute to remember my old lonely meals with only Brando for company. Now, I had a whole family and good friends. None of these people gave a s**t about Declan Walsh, the Hollywood screenwriter, or the money. They just liked me for me.

I was broken out of my moment when Cynthia held Noah down for a kiss. He screamed about cooties and ran to the bathroom. Madison sighed and went to check on him. Ryan shook his head and put Cynthia back in her seat as we all continued laughing. It was a good night.

On Friday, Daniels arrived with some of his legal team. We spent the day taking conference calls with the Mayor and Chief of Police. Madison held me when I cried and asked important questions. She was a woman any man would be proud to have by his side.

“Is Declan safe?” she asked, looking at Daniels.

My lawyer nodded. “The unit responsible for Sarah and Tierry’s death was disbanded three years ago. Most of the former officers are in prison or witness protection. The incident Sarah saw wasn’t the first. They’d been beating and killing suspects for years. The difference was Sarah. She wasn’t a poor junkie or immigrant from East L.A. She was a Hollywood actress who would have been believed. They were scared she was going to tell someone what Tjierry had told her. I assume he needed someone to talk to after living that life for so long.”

My throat felt dry, so I was thankful when Madison handed me a bottle of cold Evian. “I’m not interested in money or suing the city. I just want my name cleared and for everyone to know the truth. My late wife deserves that.”

Daniels showed something to his other colleague. “The governor doesn’t believe you won’t sue, so he’s offering five million dollars upfront. In return, you have to sign papers saying you won’t ever seek legal action. He’s also prepared to give you a public apology during a press conference. Every big media outlet will be there. We’re planning to have it in Los Angeles next week. That way, you’ll be done with this before Thanksgiving.”

Madison squeezed my hand and sighed. “It’s finally over. Thank you, Mr. Daniels. You’ve worked so hard to clear Declan’s name.”

As I thought about the money, an idea forms. “Take the money, Daniels. I want half of it to be used for a pro bono justice project at your firm. Help others like me who can’t afford a good lawyer. There are more innocent people out there.”

Jenk’s wrote it down. “What about the other half?”

I looked deep into my sweetheart’s eyes as I continued. “I want it to be used to start a charity for single mothers and children. I know people here that have experience with non profits. Madison and I will run it.”

“Oh, Declan! That’s a wonderful idea,” Madison said, throwing her arms around my neck.

After a few more hours of planning, my legal team departed. In one week I’d be back in Los Angeles, the city of all my dreams and nightmares. The only way I could do it is if my darling went with me.

“Will you go?” I asked, quietly.

She squeezed my arm. “You don’t even have to ask. I love you, Declan.”

At six, my sister took Madison away. All the women were helping my sweetheart get ready for our date. Laurie, Tina, and Ashley were all staying over to babysit so that Joey and Natalie could go out to dinner, too.

Natalie had started dressing a little better, but she had a long way to go. Lucky for her Tina and Laurie were fashion miracle workers. I just hoped Joey didn’t screw it up.

“Nervous, bro?” he asked, coming to sit by me.

I adjusted my black tie for the millionth time. “I’m not sure why I am. Madison and I are having a baby together. One date shouldn’t scare me this much.”

Joey nodded. “I have more to lose than you. Natalie hates me, but I’m trying. I know I mess up sometimes, but I love Ambrose. I care about Natalie, too.”

We were watching a game when Tina came down the stairs. She was walking funny and glowing. I had a feeling that Sheriff Ross had gotten his groove back.

“Now presenting, the beautiful Natalie and Madison,” Ashley called out, pointing to the top of the stairs.

Natalie looked young and modern in a slim fitting blue skirt and cardigan. She was showing actual cleavage! For once, he hair wasn’t in the granny braid. It was free and left hanging down her back.

“Yay for mommy,” Ambrose cheered, running up to his mother.

Joey’s eyes bugged out his head as she stared like a p*****t. “Beautiful, you’re so beautiful.”

Natalie smiled and accepted the roses that he gave her. “Thank you.”

I barely registered any of that because time stopped once I saw Madison. She was always gorgeous but tonight… The strapless, black and cream cocktail dress fit her like a glove. The corset made her naturally magnificent breasts look even more regal. My d**k led me to her side.

“I want…Gorgeous…Boobs,” I babbled, twirling her around.

Tina laughed and fixed one of Madison’s curls. “Men. They never know what to say.”

Noah and Sophie got a kick out of seeing their mother dressed up. I knew Tom had never took her anywhere special, and it was ashamed because Madison deserved to be seen. I could only stare in awe as she blushed at the compliments.

“Thank you babies,” she said, bending down to give them a kiss.

As we were walking out the door, Ambrose ran up to Joey and tugged on his arm. “Don’t let mommy give you nake-y hugs. Noah said they make boys get cooties that hurt.”

Soph nodded. “Mommy did it to Dex and he had to get medicine in the bathroom. Keep your clothes on if you give hugs.”

“I don’t even want to know,” Laurie said, shaking her head.

After we promised the kids that we’d keep our clothes on, a promise I knew I wouldn’t keep, we were off. I wished Joey luck and told him to be attentive. He assured me that he was ready for this.

The ride to Seattle was nice. Madison told me about her life. It was so hard hearing about all the pain she’d went through. Her mother had never shown interest in her and she used men to make herself feel worthy. Then, she met Tom and became a young mother. He never took care of her. I squeezed the wheel each time she mentioned his name.

“So you were Madison Cranston back then?” I asked.

She nodded. “He never gave Sophie his last name so I went back to Smith. I’ve been that every since. The bastard was heartless.”

“Why did you marry him?”

She began playing with her the belt of her black trench coat. “I was young. He had a motorcycle and a job. I thought he loved me. When he proposed, I saw it as my way out of Jacksonville. I hated Florida and the heat.”

I reached over and grabbed her trembling hand. “It’s okay. I just wanted to know. I didn’t marry Sarah for love, so I understand.”

Switching to lighter topics, I had her tell me some funny stories about things Noah and Sophie did while growing up. That topic made my sweetheart laugh and relax. Before long, we were in Seattle.

It was a nice but chilly night. We were in my Aston because I wanted to give Madison a little bit of Hollywood elegance. She seemed to like the car but didn’t understand why men were so into vehicles. I didn’t bother to argue.

I’d planned a nice romantic dinner at an Oceanside steakhouse restaurant. We had a view of the water and boats from our cozy booth. Soft classical music and candles made the place perfect for romance. The menu was already chosen and my sweetheart couldn’t have wine, so we cuddled and talked while waiting for the food to arrive.

“This is so juicy and tender,” Madison moaned around a mouthful of steak.

I smirked. “I’ll be saying that later when my tongue is on you, sweetheart.”

“We’re having s*x,” she squealed, a little too loudly.

The couples at the other tables laughed as Madison blushed. I pulled her closer to me. “Hot monkey s*x that leaves both of us exhausted.”

She shivered. “Promise.”

“Promise.”

After a desert of strawberry cheesecake and chocolate sorbet, we took a walk on the pier. I bought Madison a pretty knitted quilt that she liked. Then, Madison talked me into going to a karaoke bar. She said she’d only done it once with adults, but played around sometimes with the children.

“I wanted to take you on the night cruise,” I complained.

She giggled. “Another time. We’ll have fun. Besides, I don’t think my stomach is up for that right now. I’ve had morning sickness the last two days.”

Agreeing, I walked into the place. It was noisy and full of people having fun. Madison browsed the book while I looked for a table and ordered her a ginger ale. Thankfully, a couple was leaving and gave us their space. I helped Madison take her coat off, snarling when I saw other men notice her assets.

“You’re so beautiful,” I said, kissing her indecently.

“Wow, Declan. Maybe we should have skipped this and gone straight for the loft, “she teased, rubbing my chin.

Half an hour and two orders of hot pretzels later, Madison’s turn came up. I helped her up on stage, hovering in case she needed me. Luckily, she was only wearing ballet flats. I would have to thank my sister for being cautious with my sweetheart.

“This song goes out to Declan, my boyfriend. I love you and I always will,” Madison cooed, looking into my eyes.

The first beats of the song began. It was True Blue by Madonna. I smiled shyly, bobbing my head to the beat.

As Madison’s soft and off key voice sang the words, my heart swelled. It was amazing to me that such an amazing woman loved me. My life finally had meaning. I would never be along again.

“True blue, baby I love you,” Madison sang, doing a cute little step.

After she finished, we gathered our jackets and waited for the valet. My Aston was in perfect condition, so I left a tip. We were getting in when I heard a shriek and saw a woman flying in our direction.

“Declan Walsh, is it true that you are about to be found innocent in a few days? What is the real story?”

Madison groaned, coming to my side of the car. “He doesn’t want to talk to you.”

The heavily made up redhead rolled her eyes. “I didn’t ask you, sweetheart. I was talking to Declan.”

I growled, pushing my sweetheart behind me. “Leave us alone before I call the police and report harassment. How did you know we were here anyway?”

“I alerted them. It was easy enough to follow you here. An Aston in Forks isn’t a conspicuous car, Declan,” Jennifer Miller said, stepping forward.

Madison gasped and squeezed my hand. “Stay away from him, b***h. He doesn’t want you or your drugs.”

Jennifer grimaced. “Who the f**k are you? Declan, you know you miss me. I’ve changed, and I won’t use again. Plus, I’m a hell of a lot more beautiful than that slut on your arm. Gina here is a friend of mine. Let’s clear you name. I always knew you were innocent. Just imagine, we may be on Oprah.”

“Delusional b***h,” I yelled, stepping forward. “You think I’d want you when I have the goddess behind me. You didn’t believe I was innocent. It’s taking all I have not to hit you in the damn mouth. Apologize to my Madison.”

“Whatever, Declan. Do you want to do the interview or not? We can both be on television.” She sounded so psychotic.

Shaking my head, I helped Madison into her seat before getting behind the wheel. We drove away quickly so they couldn’t follow us. I had my sweetheart dial Daniels so I could fill him in. He said he’d make sure to handle it.

“I’m sorry, Madison. You know she was lying. You’re the only woman I’ve seen tonight. Your beauty captivates,” I said, kissing her hand.

“I feel beautiful when you look at me,” was my reply.

My loft was cleaned and stocked, just as I’d requested. Madison and I separated to slip into more comfortable clothes. I was lighting lilac scented candles when she came out of the bathroom wearing a black, silk slip.

“This is gorgeous,” I groaned, fingering the straps.

She blushed and placed my hand over her breast. “Make love to me.”

Hours later amidst sweaty sheets, we were still joined and experiencing o****m. I was almost dead, but my sweetheart looked like she was up for another round.

Sighing, I leaned down and kissed her lower stomach. “Hey, baby. Don’t tell your brother and sister that we did the nake-y hug and passed cooties.”

Madison laughed so hard she had to go relieve herself. When she returned, her eyes were mirthful and clear. I wrapped my arm around her waist and helped her climb on top of me. We didn’t make love, but the connection was there.

Later, I was counting the little freckles on my sweetheart’s side when my phone alerted me to an urgent text. Not wanting to wake her up, I went to the living room so I could call whoever it was back. I just hoped it wouldn’t ruin our time together.

“Hey, Ross,” I got your message. “Is something wrong?”

He sighed. “I’m glad I got in touch with you. We got some new information. Tom is in Seattle. He’s planning a bank heist to get the money he owes. One of the men is a police informant. Seattle PD will take them down the day it happens.”

“What about Madison and the kids? Is he still planning something?” I asked, tightening my grip on the phone.

“He’s scrapped the ransom plan. The informant says he doesn’t want to risk it. He needs a lot of money and fast. I know you’re keeping your family safe. I contacted you because I didn’t want to worry Madison and the baby. Call me if you need me.”

“Thanks, Ross,” I whispered, hanging up.

When I turned around, Madison was behind me, naked as the day she was born. “Come back to bed, sexy. Looks like you’re ready again.”

I glanced down at my semi hard-on. “I’m always up for you.”

As I tackled my sweetheart on to the luxurious canopy bed, I had one thought. Wife.