Page 54 of Say I'm Yours, Firecracker

Throwing on the only pair of converse I owned, thanks to Finn, we made it out the door and into his truck right on time.

Xavier decided to meet us at the location, stating it would be easier for him to set up his equipment early before we got there. Finn drove with one hand on the wheel and the other rubbing on my belly down to my thigh, and back up again.

“Don’t be nervous.” I said, lacing my fingers in his.

He looked at me briefly and gave me a small smile as he said, “I’m not.”

I lied. I was definitely nervous.

The only time I had professional pictures taken was family photos, and even those only lasted until I’d decided I was old enough not to participate anymore.

Xavier sent me a pin for his location. Which was annoying, but the smile on Ronnie’s face when we got there was indescribable.

He had us meet on an abandoned road that had grown over with clover and kudzu. Green surrounded the broken asphalt. Dandelions had grown into the cracks, but the afternoon sun had just started to peek through the foliage.

It was picturesque, even a guy like me could see his vision.

I watched her speak to Xavier as he took a few test shotstogauge the lighthe’d said. Her blonde hair was long and flowing in waves down her back. The setting sun made her look like an angel. Haloed in golden tones her smile was radiant.

She twirled and danced while Xavier threw flower petals and clicked away. The flash of his camera made her come alive. I wasn’t exaggerating when I said she was glowing. She was ethereal as she swayed and laughed.

Drops of rain began to lightly fall from the sky.

“Come on baby daddy!” Xavier hollered. “We don’t have all day!”

Her blue eyes met mine as I walked toward her. Smiling, I listened to all of her and Xavier's directions, posing and smiling when asked, not smiling when Xavier wanted serious. All for her.

Ronnie was facing Xavier, our hands meeting on her bump, brushing just barely.

I stared at her as Xavier’s camera flashed and clicked. She had done her makeup lightly, I could see the freckles that served as my very own constellation. The only way home I knew now.

She needed to know. I couldn’t hold it in any longer.

Gently placing my other hand on her chin I tipped her head up to mine. Drops from the sky began falling heavier now, perfect circles of water landed on her upturned face, but she didn’t flinch in her unwavering stare.

I scanned the smooth peachy skin of her face, eyes marking everything. Burning her beauty mark right below her right eye into my memory.

“I love you, Firecracker.” I told her. “I swear I’ll do everything in my power to make you happy for the rest of our lives.”

I love you, Firecracker.

I couldn’t process the words. Those four words that I had wanted to hear from him, but fear kept me from truly listening.

Finn’s tattooed hand threaded our fingers together against my stomach, and the other remained gently cupping my chin. His dark brown irises held nothing but sincerity, dark lashes framed his slightly hooded eyes.

His nose was almost brushing mine, his lips just out of reach. I knew what he wanted, and by God did I want to give it to him. This man who loved me, who wanted to make a life not only for me, butwithme.

My eyes filled with tears as the rain continued to fall and we stood there, locked in each other. Nothing else mattered, not the click and whir of Xavier’s camera, not even the rain.

“Say I’m yours, Firecracker.” He breathed against the skin of my neck as tears slid down my face. “Say it, and we can be the family you always wanted. The family you were robbed of.”

I couldn’t keep denying that I loved him, it wasn’t fair to keep holding my feelings in and hurting him. It was starting to erode my heart as well, and seeing him cry made me realize I hadn’t been fair to him.

I was suddenly glad I hadn’t put more makeup on. As the tears and rain mixed I whispered into his ear. “I love you, Behemoth.”

He shifted again, so we were back to where we started. His hand gently cupped my chin, hands firmly grasped under our child in my belly.

Smirking he growled quietly into my ear, “I think I’ve loved you since the night we fucked in the hallway of my sister's club.”

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