Chapter 10
Thank you so much for all of your reviews! They mean the world to me! Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
As usual, I don't own Lucy or Ian.
Ian's POV
Gazing at Lucy sleeping peacefully in the hotel bed next to me, I smile to myself as I watch her lips twitch up into a smile at whatever she's dreaming about. I've always found interest in watching Lucy sleep; to see her at her most vulnerable, peaceful, and angelic state. It's also a time where I get to see her without a trace of makeup on. I have always told her she doesn't need to wear it because she has a true natural beauty to herself that she doesn't need to put anything on though she refuses saying she has to wear a few things at minimum.
For it being just after eight in the morning the bright morning sun has found its way to peak through the blinds covering the large floor to ceiling windows. The sun light was just enough to shine across her beautiful body, outlining her silhouette. Lucy's silky hair is a mess of tangled curls from our love making all night. Yet, it still appears luscious none the less draped over her shoulder fanned across the pillow behind her. I carefully reach my hand up to brush away the lock of hair that had slowly fallen down the front of her face tucking it away to rest behind her alongside the rest of her long chestnut locks.
Lucy stirs faintly but soon settles back to sleep, snuggling into the pillow. Leaning forward, the near three inches between us, I place soft kisses from her wrist where her hand was hiding under the pillow all the way up her arm until I reach her shoulder. My left hand drifts underneath the thin bed sheet we are tangled in, skimming my fingers along her side—Lucy loves when I run my hands along her bare sides it's always been one of her turn ons. My lips relocate to the front of her chest and exposed neck. When Lucy releases a low moan I suck harder on the spot my lips are momentarily latched onto.
"Mmmm" Lucy purrs. "Babe."
"Wake up, Goosey." I murmur against her skin. I grin to myself when I feel that my hot breath fanning across her skin arose goose bumps along her body.
Her hand reaches out to paw at my chest. "Why are you so far away?" Lucy pouts, her eye remaining closed. Lucy wiggles across the mattress to snuggle up against the front of my chest, she then lifted her leg up to drape over my hip. "And how come your boxers are on." She hooks her finger in the band of my elastic boxers pulling them back to snap against my skin.
"Because I had to slip out of the hotel for a little while this morning to pick something up for you. However if you chose to remain asleep then I guess I'll just have to keep the surprise for myself."
That causes her eyes to shoot open and her face fills with excitement. "What'd you get?"
"Close your eyes and sit up," I whisper into her ear.
Eagerly she does as I said with the bed sheet wrapped around her chest loosely. Chuckling at her enthusiasm, I push myself up off the bed into my own sitting position to grab the box resting on the nightstand, sitting it on her lap.
"Okay you can open your eyes now."
"Ian!" Lucy shrieks in delight opening the box to see it holds her favorite Cronuts and a couple other doughnuts. Leaning over she lightly grasps ahold of my neck pulling me into a deep kiss. "Thank you, baby."
"Anything for you. I made sure to get the ones that were fresh out of the oven, still glazing hot so they should still be plenty warm by the time I returned."
Lucy moans softly and her eyes drift shut when she takes a bite of the beloved cronut.
"Heaven," Lucy murmurs in satisfaction.
Reaching into the box I was about to pick up a Chocolate Long John only to have my hand slapped away.
"That's my cronut," Lucy warns.
"I wasn't going to eat it. I want the doughnut next to it, Babe." I say in a mock tone at her seriousness over the delicious treat.
Picking up my desired doughnut I lay back on the bed slightly propped up against the pillows with my free arm wrapped around Lucy's lower waist slowly caressing her bare skin. Lucy shifts in the bed as well to snuggle next to me, munching on her breakfast. We remain in this comfortable position for the next half hour or so enjoying our breakfast over light conversation.
Nuzzling my nose against the top of her head I place a longing kiss, tightening my arms around her snuggly. "What do you say we take a shower then get dressed and spend the day walking around the city?"
Lucy tilts her head up just enough for her lips to hover over my own. "I'd love to."
Gently cupping her face I close the mere half an inch gap between us to kiss her sensually. In a snap of a finger after withdrawing my lips from hers I hook one hand under her legs and the other behind her back to swiftly carry her off to the vast bathroom. Heading straight into the glass shower where we spent plenty of our morning continuing our activities from the night prior.
Lucy's POV
After our shower Ian dresses in a pair of shorts matched with a loose fitting red t-shirt. I don a mid-thigh length sundress with a pair of my favorite black four inch heels. It is nearing one in the afternoon—much to our surprise—apparently we took longer in the shower than we had planned for. Now that we are dressed and ready to head out Ian laces his hand in mine as we walk out of the hotel room together. We hadn't planned to do much, simply walk around the city admiring the beautiful weather and the time alone together.
After roaming the streets for an hour or so we decided to pick up some lunch that we could munch on as we walked through Central Park. My senses perk up when I smell the strong aroma of heavenly coffee from Starbucks. Noticing my focus elsewhere Ian follows my longing gaze with a sigh.
"Luce, I know you want coffee but you can't have it with the baby."
Ah the infamous sentence I have been hearing repeatedly every single time I am craving a cup of that delicious beverage.
"I know, I know." I nod my head sadly with a pout forming on my lips.
"If you'd like I can go buy you a tea?" He offers gesturing over to the coffee shop with his hand.
I shake my head sadly tugging him along, "It isn't the same but thank you."
Ian nods his head reluctantly. I slip my arm around his waist blocking out the desire to turn around and make a dead bolt into the beloved coffee shop to fulfill my caffeine needs. Pulling myself from the internal debate nearly ten minutes later was my cell phone which is currently ringing loudly in my off the shoulder purse. A look of curiosity washes over me when I see it's my manager, Jasmine, calling.
"Hey Jasmine," I greet while Ian and I continue walking.
"Hi Lucy, so sorry to bother you I know you were spending the day with Ian, however there were a couple things I needed to talk to you about."
"Oh sure, what's up?"
"Well as I'm sure you can assume everyone is freaking out in happiness about the news of you being pregnant." She starts off, pausing a few moments before continuing.
I smile and my hand drifts down to my stomach just thinking of the baby. "Yes?"
"Since you and Ian are such a popular couple everyone is dying to be the first to interview you two to talk about the news. Now before you say anything, I know ever since the incident a couple months ago you denied taking any sort of interview because you didn't want to talk about what happened. However I think doing just a couple interviews at least would be good for both you and Ian."
Chewing on my bottom lip I ponder what to say in response.
"I don't have to have an answer right this minute though there is several requests for an interview with you tomorrow. Everyone wants to be the first person you guys talk about the baby with so they are giving the earliest days possible. There are a couple people in New York trying to snag you two first although I feel the most beneficial offers are for here, in LA."
"I'll have to talk to Ian about it before I can give a definite answer. How about I call you later and I'll have an answer for you by six?"
"That would be fantastic, thanks Lucy. Sorry to interrupt your day, I'll talk to you later. Tell Ian 'hi' for me."
"I will, talk to you later." Hanging up my phone I slip it back into my purse in contemplation.
"What'd Jasmine call for?" Ian asks when I don't bring it up after a couple minutes.
"She wants us to do some interviews pertaining the baby. Apparently it's the top story right now and we are in high demand as to who we'll talk to first about Baby Harding."
Ian shrugs his shoulders. "I don't mind, it's whatever you want to do. I'm not much of a public person when it comes to our private life though I understand we have many fans out there who are eager to know even a tidbit about our baby."
"I completely understand that and agree with that, but…"
"But what?" Ian looks down at me, his brow furrowed.
Shaking my head I look in the other direction to avoid eye contact with him. "Nothing never mind."
Ian doesn't let it go however and pushes me to tell him why my sudden mood change. When I shake it off continuing to walk, Ian lightly grasps ahold of my arm to stop me in my tracks pulling me back to him turning me around so I am now facing him.
"How come you're upset Lucy? You were happy and content as could be prior to that phone call. If you don't want to do the interviews just say no, I'm fine with whichever you chose. I figured you'd want to talk about the baby some."
"It isn't that Ian, I have no problem telling the world about our baby and how you've been nothing short of a loving husband during these first few pregnancy months." The tears slowly start to build up in my eyes. Damn baby hormones.
"Then what is it?"
"I've declined any and all interviews ever since…and well I am terrified that once I agree to an interview with someone, while the main focus would be the baby, they would slip in some questions about a couple months ago and I couldn't handle that. I don't want to talk about it to anyone outside of you and even that is hard. I don't want to relive what happened because people's curiosity got in the way of proper manners."
At last the tears fall.
"Hey honey, shhhh. It's okay, it's alright." Ian instantly wipes my tears and I bury myself in his chest dampening his shirt with my slow streams of tears. "If anything Jasmine will make it clear to them no questions about what happened; that the interview is strictly about the baby."
I nod my head against his chest in agreement. "She says there are a few people who are asking for us as soon as tomorrow which means we would have to fly back earlier than planned."
"We can do that if it's what you'd like."
"I better call Jasmine then so she can get them scheduled and we can buy plane tickets for a red eye tonight."
Remaining buried in my husband's chest I remove my phone from my purse once more to dial her number. Picking up almost instantly I explain to her the circumstances but otherwise Ian and I would be pleased to do however many interviews she feels would be appropriate. After hanging up Ian places a couple more kisses to the top of my head, his smooth muscular hands caressing my back.
"When we get back to the hotel I'll see about changing our plane tickets. In the meantime, how about I take you out to a nice fancy dinner tonight to cheer you up and get your mind away from those unpleasant thoughts?"
"I'd love that," I grin happily up at him pressing a kiss to his lips. "I didn't bring anything fancy to wear though?"
"Well it's a good thing we're in New York City now isn't it? Let's take you shopping to buy a dress."
Ian's POV
Later on that night Lucy and I find ourselves putting on the finishing touches before leaving for dinner. Correction, I was dressed and ready, Lucy however was taking a little extra time in the bathroom getting ready.
"Come on Luce, we don't want to be late for the reservation." I call out to remind her.
"I know I know I'm basically done." Her angelic voice replies through the closed door.
Not five minutes later the door opens to reveal my goddess of a wife. Her hair is curled to perfection. She's wearing a seductive yet modest little black dress that accentuates all of her beautiful curves and slim figure.
"You are absolutely breathtaking my dear." I stand up from my place at the end of the bed walking over to her.
"Why thank you, Babe. You are pretty handsome yourself. I just need to grab my purse and I'll be all set to go."
I reach a hand out to stop her for a moment. "Before you do that, I have something for you." Stepping over to the nightstand I remove the jewelry box that has laid in there since the night prior waiting to be opened. When I face Lucy she has this look to her face, a smile evidently arising. "This my dear is for you."
As soon as she opens the powder blue box to reveal the sterling silver diamond heart necklace I bought for her she covers her open mouth with her hand as tears fill her eyes.
"Ian… When did you? Why did you? I love you so much." Lucy gushes unable to form full sentences.
"I bought it yesterday while I was killing time before the concert; I wanted to buy you something special."
"Thank you, Shmian. Will you put it on for me please?"
"I wouldn't have it any other way, Sweetheart."
Taking the necklace out of the box I move to stand behind her, unclasping the tiny little chain. Lucy lifts her hair up for me to see the clasp setting the necklace around her neck. I leave butterfly kisses at the base of her neck and over her shoulder to the front of her neck inhaling her luxurious scent.
"Have I ever told you how much I love when you wear this Channel perfume? It's intoxicating to me; drives me wild in desire."
Lucy drops her hair to lace her hands over mine which are roaming her body, specifically twining around her waist. She moans with each and every kiss I leave on her flawless skin.
"No more hickies until tonight please. It was hard enough covering up all the ones you gave me last night. Not to mention the two from this morning when you were walking me up."
"Okay fine," I pull back from her with a fake pout on my lips making her giggle. "Tonight however I believe I have a few more places to cover with love bites." I purr lowly into her ear knowing full well it would make her squirm.
"At this rate I can only imagine how the taxi ride to the restaurant will be." I hear Lucy murmur under her breath.
And what an interesting taxi ride it was—both to and from the restaurant.
Things have been pretty fluffy lately, my long time readers know what that means… I really hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Please review and let me know. Oh and you will soon find out the gender of Baby Harding. :)
If you want to follow my account on twitter to have an idea as to when I'll post, it is EzriaLover4Ever
There are so many big things coming up that I am extremely excited for you guys to read! I wrote the first half of chapter 18 last night and I have to say, it is going to be a very long chapter as well as highly emotional.