~*~ Revelations ~*~
Safely in the car headed through town to their home, AJ put the privacy glass up, then took Andi in his arms kissing her the way he’d dreamed of doing for the last two weeks. He’d never imagined being away from her would make him feel the way he had. His whole body had craved her and now, he wasn’t sure he could go slowly. His hands couldn’t find just ONE place to stay…he wanted to feel her whole body, rediscover every inch, as his tongue took in her tantalizing tastes.
All the emotions she’d felt during the last two weeks were set free in that kiss and her tears spilled over effortlessly. They were like drops of fire burning her cheeks. She needed him so desperately but she needed answers too.
Feeling her tears, AJ pulled out of the kiss. "Hey," he whispered wiping her tears with his thumbs. "Why the tears, baby?"
"Why didn’t you call, Alex? I thought you’d given up, that I’d lost you forever," she whimpered as she took his hand in hers.
Realizing how scared she must have been, he cupped her chin in his hand. "Oh, baby, I never imagined you’d be this scared. Shh, stop the tears now."
Andi wiped her tears. "What happened to keep you from calling?"
A devilish gleam lit his eyes and he reached into his pocket pulling out her cell phone. "Baby, I DID call. You see this little symbol?" he asked pointing to a small envelope.
"Yeah, it showed up Wednesday morning."
"It means you have voice mail."
"Oh!"
With a smirk, he pushed a single button and held it to her ear. She listened to his MANY messages each ending with his telling her just how much he loved her. Her heart melted…he’d never given up, even when the private detective had said nothing was panning out.
"I should have known better," she said softly.
"Seth didn’t try anything, did he?"
"No, he left me alone mostly because I had exams to study for."
Andi stopped knowing she needed to tell him everything but nervous about his reaction. AJ took her silence as his cue to go back to devouring her and he nibbled at her neck.
Sensing that something was wrong, he pulled back only slightly as he continued to allow his fingers to dance lightly across her arms. "What’s wrong, baby?"
Andi took a deep breath. "Alex, I gave up on us being together."
"It’s okay, baby. It’s over now and I’m going to make sure you never have to feel that way again," he promised as he kissed a path from her ear to her collarbone.
"I know…but I have to tell you something…something I did so that I’d always have a part of you."
"It can wait. All I want is to hold you close, feel your body moving with mine, hear you scream my name."
"No, Alex. I need to tell you this."
Feeling the car come to a stop, AJ said, "Tell me inside then."
The door opened and AJ got out first. Reaching in, he took Andi’s hand to help her out of the car. Before she had a chance to even take a step, AJ scooped her up into his arms and their eyes met. That was it…she was lost and all thoughts were erased by the tenderness of his deep brown orbs.
"You’re home, Mrs. McLean," cooed AJ.
Marcus met the couple at the door opening it for AJ. As the couple passed, the bodyguard gave him a wink to let him know everything was set.
Setting Andi down in the foyer, Alex said, "Now close your eyes."
"Why?"
"Because I asked you to."
Andi eyed him suspiciously, "You’re up to something."
"Please," he begged.
"Okay," conceded Andi unable to resist his pleading eyes.
AJ turned her around and guided her through the foyer into the living room. With his arms around her waist, AJ whispered, "You can open them now."
Andi opened her eyes to find the living room a Christmas wonderland. In the far corner was a live cedar tree, beautifully decorated, and the lights twinkling like stars in the night sky. Underneath the tree were tons of gifts already wrapped. Poinsettias were placed throughout the room along with running cedar and colorful Christmas candles. There were several stockings hung by the fireplace; one for AJ, one for his mom, one for each of his grandparents, and one for her.
"Oh my god! Alex!! This is so….how did you do this?"
"Marcus did some of it this afternoon but my mom did most of it over the last few days. I wanted to bring you home to the house ready for Christmas so all you have to think about is me."
"Who are the gifts for?’
"Mostly you. I went shopping in Sweden for you. There are some for my mom and grandparents too."
"I haven’t been shopping at all…for ANYONE."
"We’ll go together. I want this to be a special Christmas…our first. Come here. I want you to see something." AJ led her to the tree and did a quick search of the ornaments until he found the one he was looking for. Pointing to it, he said, "Look at this one."
Andi looked at it and read, "Our First Christmas, 1998". Everything was just more proof that AJ had never given up on them being together and Andi couldn’t stand it. She pulled away from him and went to stand by the fireplace staring at the gas flames dancing in the logs.
AJ was concerned. Going to her, he put his hands on her shoulders. "Baby, I know you said you gave up but it’s okay. I’m not mad about it. What could possibly make you feel like this?"
"What I did! Alex, I’m ashamed of the fact that I gave up before you ever left for Sweden. I thought that when you left, that was it…that Seth was going to do something to take me away from you forever. I did something to try to make sure that I had a part of you forever."
"You had my heart, baby. What more could you have possibly wanted?"
Might as well tell him and get it over with. What can he do now other than have the marriage annulled? Turning to face him, Andi took a deep breath and said, "I might be pregnant."
The initial shock caused AJ to collapse in the chair nearest him but there was no doubt in his mind or heart that this was a VERY good thing or that he was the father. His eyes wide, he asked, "How?" Seeing Andi want to giggle, he realized what he’d asked and corrected himself. "I mean, I know HOW but I thought…."
"That I was on birth control? I was but right before you left, I stopped taking them…hoping to get pregnant…so that I’d have a part of you no matter what happened." Andi tucked her head like a little girl being scolded and whispered, "I gave up on us, Alex, and if you’re mad, I’ll understand."
Reaching out, AJ took her hand and pulled her into his lap. "No, baby, you didn’t give up. Wanting a part of me…wanting to have my baby, that was holding on to us forever." Putting his hand on her stomach, he said, "You said you might be pregnant. When can you find out for sure?"
"I guess I could get a home kit tomorrow and find out. You aren’t mad?"
"Mad! HELL NO! Excited, thrilled, scared…YES! Honored, MOST DEFINITELY!"
Relief spread throughout her quickly and she relaxed in his arms. "What about the group? Won’t it hurt your image?"
"I don’t really give a damn about my image. You are the most important thing in my life."
Andi snuggled closer, nuzzling his neck and tracing her finger along his beard. She felt like a huge weight had been lifted but she had one more burning question. "Alex, you had a flight home so you’d be here yesterday. What happened?"
AJ could laugh now but at the time, it definitely wasn’t funny. "A snow storm and then we missed our connecting flight. We touched down here in town at 1:55. I thought Howie was gonna have Kevin tie me down."
Andi giggled, "Hmm, sounds like an interesting idea."
Hearing her laughter only served to intensify his desire for her and he placed a kiss on her forehead. "Now that we’ve unloaded all this extra baggage, think you can concentrate on US?"
"I think so. What do you have in mind?"
"I promise, it’s NOT sleep!"
"Oh, you want me to teach you how to cook?" teased Andi.
"Uh huh! That’s exactly what I want you to do…show me the EXACT technique of putting the bun in the oven," shot AJ. "I want you to get out of this dress first though."
"Aren’t you gonna help me?" pouted Andi.
"Not this time. I need to get a couple things set to get our honeymoon started. I hope you won’t be too disappointed but the trip I’d planned fell through because I came home early. We have to go back to Sweden sooner than we’d planned."
Andi couldn’t hide the disappointment as she asked, "Will you be here for New Year’s Eve?"
"Yeah, we have a show to do but we’re leaving right after we perform. Baby, I’m sorry…I REALLY am."
"I know and I’ll be okay. I know that when you come home this time, I won’t be with someone else…I’ll be with you."
AJ took her hand kissing it and promised, "I’ll make it up to you. Now, go to the guestroom across from our room. There’s something on the bed for you to change in to and a hanger for your dress."
"What’s wrong with our room?"
"A surprise." Seeing the gleam in her eyes, he said, "FORGET IT, beautiful. Marcus is under STRICT orders to keep you OUT!!’
Pouting, "That’s not fair."
Laughing, AJ said, "All’s fair in love. Now, GO! I have to go find your wedding present."
"Wedding present? Alex, I didn’t get you anything!"
"Yes, you did," reassured AJ. "You’ve given me your heart and loving me for the real me, not AJ, is DEFINITELY something. And if you ARE pregnant, that’s just that much sweeter. You WANTED to have this baby to have a part of me. That’s a helluva ego booster for ANY man."
"I do love you, Alex," replied Andi, her voice soft and tender, full of love.
She leaned close to him touching her soft lips to his. Kissing him set her on fire once more reminding her how much she’d missed him over the last two weeks, how much she had ached to feel his body next to hers holding her close. As natural as taking her next breath, Andi tangled her fingers in his hair as he deepened the kiss. Tongues dueling for the chance to find that ‘spot’ in the other that would send them crashing over the edge.
As they kissed, AJ’s hands roamed her body. It had been way too long for his liking and he never wanted to be away from her again.
"Go get ready," rasped AJ.
Andi looked into his eyes to see the will it was taking him NOT to give in to his urge to have her right then and she knew what he had planned was special. She was flattered that he would go to any lengths to make her happy. Kissing him quickly, "I won’t be long."
Helping her to stand, AJ watched as she made her way up the stairs to the second floor. He was hypnotized by the swaying of her skirt and only the sudden ‘yipping’ from the kitchen brought him back to earth. Adjusting himself, he headed to the kitchen to get things set for their evening. Howie had helped him plan it and he was looking forward to the look in Andi’s eyes when she saw it all. He wanted to give her the world but all she asked for was love.
