Chapter 21

EPOV

I held my phone in my hand. The number on the screen stared back at me, waiting for me to press the call button, but my nerves were getting the best of me. It was the first time I was asking the label for anything big, aside from having Bella join us.

I took a deep breath as I pressed the button, holding it to my ear as it rang.

"Edward!" Marcus answered after a few moments. "To what do I owe this pleasure? Is everything working out with Laurent? Everything with the tour going well?"

"Hey, yeah, he's working out great. Everything's fine, but—"

"But you're not calling about that or just to chat. Hit me with it. What's up?"

"You know my wife is pregnant and, well, her ultrasound to find out the sex of the baby is coming up. I hoped maybe I could fly home for it. It's during that stretch next week where we'd be traveling for a day or two, anyway."

He paused before answering. "Look, I can't make any promises, but I'll talk to Sam and see if we can make it work, okay?"

"Yeah, okay, thanks, man." I threw my head back against the headboard, letting out a breath.

"Not a problem. I'll call you back as soon as I have it all figured out," he said before ending the call.

—BtMO—

I sighed in relief as the car pulled up to the curb outside our house. I was thankful that Marcus and Sam had worked everything out, even though I was on a strict schedule. I'd be able to spend the night with Bella and all day tomorrow before I had to fly back out at night to meet up with the guys. It'd be a quick trip, but I knew it would be worth the jet lag.

Her car was in the driveway, so I knew she was home. It would have been an amazing surprise to have her walk in and find me, but I liked it this way better. I'd rather not have to wait for hours to see my girl.

"Thanks," I called to the driver as I climbed out of the car. My stomach was in knots from excitement as I walked up to the door. It had been over a month since the last time I'd seen her face to face. We'd spent a lot of time on the phone, though, and it was beneficial to us. We'd slowly hashed out the things we wanted to repair between us. It was a daily effort to stay connected when I sometimes felt like I was being pulled in so many directions, but it was beyond worth it. Our marriage was too important to let it slip any longer. Bella was everything good in my life; she was my inspiration, my muse. She was the reason I worked so hard. I wanted her and our child to have everything they could ever need.

I unlocked the door as quietly as possible and slipped inside. Inhaling deeply, I took in all the familiar scents of home. It had been months since I'd been here, and even though I was still enjoying my time on the road, I couldn't wait to sleep in our bed again and hold Bella against me every night.

As I walked down the hallway, I smiled to myself, listening to her move around the kitchen. I wasn't sure what she was making, but it smelled wonderful. It felt like an eternity since I'd had a home-cooked meal. Her back was to me as I leaned against the archway, taking in the way she hummed and how her hips swayed as she danced along to the music she was playing.

"Darlin'?" I said, watching as she stopped dancing and dropped the spoon she'd been using with a clatter. Her head lifted, and she turned toward me.

Her eyes went wide as she took me in. "Edward?" She rushed over to me. "Oh, my God, Edward!" she shouted as she jumped into my arms, almost knocking me to the floor.

"Whoa, mama." I laughed as I regained my balance. She hugged me tighter to her, and I could feel her belly firm against me. "Let me look at you," I breathed, setting her down. My gaze drifted from her face to her breasts where they lingered for a moment until I took in the curve of her belly. She was about five months along, and the bump that seemed so tiny in the pictures she'd shared suddenly felt larger than life. I dropped to my knees in front of her, resting my hands on her stomach and hearing her sniffle. I looked up, noticing tears streaming down her cheeks. "Don't cry, baby."

"I'm pregnant, it's kind of what I do now." She laughed through her tears. I gave her belly a quick kiss before I stood up, wrapping my arms around her. "How are you here, Edward?" she murmured against my chest.

"I called in a favor to Marcus. I couldn't miss this appointment. I've already missed so much." I put my hand back on her swollen belly. "I'm only here for tonight and during the day tomorrow, though."

"I'll take what I can get, daddy." She threaded her fingers through my hair, standing on her tip-toes and capturing my mouth with hers. I parted her lips with my tongue, letting out a groan at the taste of her as I deepened our kiss.

We'd had moments while we were apart when our conversations got heated and I'd tell her all the dirty things I wanted to do to her. As much as I loved listening to her panting and moaning my name as she touched herself, it was nothing compared to her in the flesh.

I pulled back, gripping her face between my hands and staring down at her. "I need you, Bella." I once again attacked her mouth, kissing her roughly, nipping at her bottom lip before pressing open-mouth kisses to her throat.

"How do you want me, daddy?" Her voice was breathy as she spoke.

"Be a good girl and strip for daddy." I palmed my length through my jeans, watching as she pulled each item of clothing from her body until she stood naked in front of me. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, her chest heaving with desire.

"Put your hands on the table, bend over for me." I walked behind her, dropping to my knees and running one finger through her folds, circling her clit slowly with my thumb. "Can I taste you?" I let my teeth graze the backs of her thighs.

"Please," she whimpered.

"Hm? I couldn't hear you." I pinched her clit lightly, rolling it between my fingers.

"Please, daddy, please. I need your mouth on me." That was all I needed to hear. She let out a deep moan as I spread her open with my tongue, fucking her with it while I continued to work her clit with my fingers. It didn't take long until her moans turned into quick pants, and I knew she was close.

She whined as I pulled back, standing up and running my hands over her ass before giving it a soft smack. I pressed my front to her back, being cautious to not put too much of my weight on her. "When you come, it's gonna be on my cock, you hear me?" I growled in her ear.

"Yes, daddy."

"Good girl." I let my pants drop to the floor, gripping my cock in my hand and lining myself up with her entrance, grunting as I pushed into her slowly. My fingers dug into her waist as I found my rhythm. "Oh, God, Bella. It's been too long. I love this tight little pussy. Fuck."

"Harder. I need it harder, Edward." She gasped, and I hesitated for a moment. I was nervous to go any harder than I already was since she was pregnant, but I had to remember the fact that it was her body and she knew what she could handle.

I pulled her back against me, pounding into her over and over, giving her exactly what she'd asked for. As I reached in front of her, circling her clit, I could feel her walls tense around my cock and she cried out, her pussy spasming and coaxing my release from me.

I fell back on to the kitchen chair behind me, catching her as she flopped back onto my lap, holding her to me as we both tried to catch our breath.

"I'm really glad you're home," she whispered.

"Me too, baby."