Page 6 of Sex, Love & Lingerie

Indeed it was. The celebrity-studded crowd along with the press was oohing and aahing as the models paraded down the runway to the beat of a remixed disco version of The Supremes sixties hit, “Baby Love.”

As I watched, a warm breath curled on the nape of my neck.

“I got here as soon as I could.”

I swiveled my head. Jaime! My sexy-as-sin god, clad in a pair of faded jeans, a soft white cotton tee, and a black cashmere blazer cut perfectly for his sculpted body. A megawatt smile spread across my face. “Hi, baby!”

My devastating husband smacked my lips with a hot kiss and then, still standing behind me, he massaged my tensed up shoulders. Aah! It felt so good. He felt so good.

“This looks amazing,” he breathed into my ear.

“It’s all thanks to Kev,” I said proudly, cupping one of my man’s soft, deft hands.

Kevin rolled his eyes. “That’s what you always say, Glorious. It’s your vision and you know it.”

“Yadda, yadda, yadda.” I laughed, continuing to take in the spectacular show. We just happened to be a damn great team.

A few minutes later, Claudia came backstage, bringing Blake Burns with her. Dressed in an impeccably tailored black suit and a dashing tie, he slapped a kiss on my lips.

“Hey, Blakester, watch it. She’s mine,” Jaime chastised playfully. The two of them loved to taunt each other. They were almost like brothers and, in fact, could be mistaken as siblings with their athletic, over six-foot-tall builds, blue eyes, and gorgeous chiseled features.

Laughing, Blake winked. “Man, don’t worry. I just wanted to tell Gloria the show rocks. Our ratings are going through the roof.”

I smiled. “Thanks, Blake. I think it’s one of our best shows ever.”

“Abso-fucking-lutely,” agreed beaming Kevin, who each year made the show bigger, better, and glitzier.

I turned to Claudia. “How are we doing online?” The show was also being streamed on our website.

“Amazing! Last time, I checked we had over two million hits.”

“Wonderful.”

“Can I get you guys anything?” she asked.

Claudia was the best assistant ever. Always so thorough and thoughtful. If I had it my way, she was going to go far.

“I think we’re good,” I responded. Jaime and Kev echoed the sentiment. On my next breath, my energetic assistant took off with Blake, who was eager to get back to his front-row seat.

The halfway point came quickly and the crowd roared—even rose to their feet—as Beyoncé, dressed in a pink infant-like onesie and sucking a sparkling pacifier, descended from the ceiling in an oversized crib. When the crib hit the stage, Beyoncé broke out of it, tossed the pacifier into the eager-to-catch-it crowd, and snapped off her onesie—revealing a white leather diamond-studded bra and a thong with large diamond safety pins holding it together at the sides. The audience shrieked as the beaming, long-legged star strutted across the stage in her thigh-high matching white boots and broke into “At Last.” Jaime, Kevin, and I were positively speechless. Totally mesmerized. She was amazing! Wow! Did she know how to bring it on!

She followed with one more song and then took a breather to introduce someone who owned her heart. The best thing she ever had, to paraphrase one of her hits. Her little daughter, Blue Ivy. And then holding the adorable toddler in her arms, she sang an original song for all the moms and moms-to-be. A lullaby. The room was so silent you could hear a pin drop. The lyrics, “Baby, you’re my love, you’re my everything,” tore at my heartstrings, especially when she kissed Blue at the end. I already felt that maternal connection. In fact, I had from the minute I saw the first ultrasound. Standing behind me, Jaime wrapped his arms around me, his large hands gently rubbing my tummy. And then as I gazed down, he formed a heart with his index fingers and thumbs. His love for these babies was as great as his love for me. Teary-eyed, I leaned into his hard body and smiled. Soon. Very soon, my love.

Lifting Blue high above her head so she was facing the audience, a radiant Beyoncé took a bow. A raucous standing ovation. A dazzling smile flashed on both her face and Blue’s. I was sure Beyoncé’s lookalike little one was going to grow up to be a megastar just like her mother.

Tired of being on my feet, I took a seat on the cushy couch; Jaime sat next to me draping his arm around my shoulders. We were still able to easily see the stage and runway. The fashion show continued with a final wave of supermodel angels parading down the runway with their babies and toddlers…followed by the last wave of very pregnant models proudly revealing for the first time our sexy new line of maternity lingerie. Our grand finale. Again, the crowd went wild. I was positive the show was going to get high ratings on the network broadcast tonight and that tomorrow, Valentine’s Day, would be a stellar day for sales in our stores all over the world.

My mind was calculating sales figures when my signature song—Laura Branigan’s “Gloria”—began to blast through the vast space. It was time for me to do my customary walk down the runway and take my bow. Jaime helped me up.

“I love you, my brilliant angel.” His lips pressed against mine with a proud, passionate kiss before I waddled down the long stretch. I was met with loud cheers, whistles, and a standing ovation as I joined the group of beaming supermodels who applauded me.

Standing at the edge of the elevated runway, I was dizzy with happiness. An explosion boomed in my ears, and confetti cascaded down from the ceiling, covering everything—and everyone, including me. As I held my hands out to catch the colorful paper flakes, a sudden razor-sharp pain ripped through my gut. I clutched my rounded belly, doubling over with pain.

“Gloria!” I heard a panicked voice call out. Everything was a haze. Stars mixed with the falling bits of paper. And then another sharp pain stabbed me. Hunching over, I gasped. And then yet another.

The pain was unbearable. I felt myself collapsing. Going down in slow motion. Just as my knees were about to hit the ground, two strong arms lifted me up and cradled me like a baby. I weakly gazed at my savior’s face. Jaime!

“Angel, what’s the matter?” The look in his eyes was one of pure terror.

“Mon amour,” I whispered, my voice a mere rasp, “I’ve gone into labor. I’m having our babies!”

“Holy fuck!” were the last words I heard as he whisked me out of the studio.

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