Page 133 of A Kingpin's Weakness
He leaned in, voice low and lips brushing against my neck. “My wife,” he said, like that was a complete sentence. And somehow, it was.
His mouth left a slow, lingering kiss just below my ear, and I had to bite my lip to keep from melting into him. Meanwhile, the instructor was up front talking about breathing through contractions, and here I was needing to breathe through the fact that my man couldn’t keep his hands off me, even with a belly in the way.
Since finding out I was pregnant and getting married, it felt like we’d been walking on air. I never expected this kind of peace. Never expected to smile this much without wondering when it would be taken from me.
Who would’ve thought the city I once ran from would be the place that gave me everything I was missing?
My husband. A baby boy on the way, my mom back, and my bonus baby. I didn’t expect S3 to accept me overnight, and I damn sure didn’t expect to care about him the way I do now. Me and Jo… We’d come a long way. Jo and I talk every day, sometimes just about random stuff, and sometimes deep things that make my chest feel tight in a good way. She’s doing her program. She’s showing up. And so am I.
“Alright, parents to be, that ends today’s class,” Melody, our instructor, announced cheerfully. “There are refreshments in the back feel free to grab whatever you like.”
Seth stood up first, then reached down to help me. His hands were gentle, like I was made of glass, even though I felt more like steel lately. Stronger than ever. As I adjusted my shirt over my bump, Melody walked over, smiling wide.
“Stormi, Seth, surprised to see you two at a morning class. You’re usually night crew,” she teased.
Seth smiled, his hand instinctively settling on my lower back. “We’re going to dinner tonight. Celebrating my mom’s six months sober.”
Melody’s face lit up. “That’s beautiful. Especially with Shiloh due in just a few weeks. You ready?”
I placed my hands on my belly, feeling a soft flutter from inside. He always moved when people said his name, like he knew we were waiting on him.
“I can’t wait to meet my son,” I said, voice catching just a little.
Melody’s eyes softened. “I already know you’re going to be an amazing mom.”
That hit me in a spot I didn’t expect. “Thank you,” I whispered, pulling her into a hug. It wasn’t just polite it was real. I felt seen.
“See you two next week,” she said before walking off to speak to another couple.
Seth turned to me, fingers brushing my cheek. “You ready, baby?”
I nodded, heart full. “Yeah,” I said quietly.
“Wait, baby. I got a surprise for you.” Seth’s voice had that playful edge to it, the one that made me feel like I was about to be spoiled in a way that only he could pull off. Before I could ask what, he slipped a blindfold over my eyes and gently grabbed my hand.
“A surprise?” I asked, already smiling, the kind of smile you can’t fight off even if you try.
“You askin’ a lotta questions for somebody who about to be real happy,” he said, lacing his fingers with mine as he led me forward. I could hear our footsteps echo across concrete and feel the sunlight hitting my skin, warm and soft like a love note from God. We stopped. Then, silence. That kind where you can feel someone grinning even if you can’t see them. Seth tugged the blindfold off, and my eyes took a second to adjust before I saw it. Parked right in front of me.
An all-white Maybach truck. Brand new. Gleaming in the sunlight. Sitting pretty with a deep purple bow on the hood like it was plucked from a dream.
My hands flew to my mouth. “Seth you didn’t?”
“You said you wanted a push present, right?”
I turned to him with wide eyes, my voice somewhere between a laugh and a sob. “I meant a purse! Maybe a weekend vacation not a two hundred thousand dollar car!”
Before he could answer, Rich walked over, gave me a respectful nod, and opened the driver’s door with a little ceremony. He handed me the key fob like it was royalty. I climbed inside slowly, like I was stepping into a moment that wasn’t fully real yet.
The interior was smoky gray leather, soft and flawless. Diamond stitching hugged every curve of the seats. My nameStormiwas embedded in silver thread on the driver’s seat like it belonged there all along. Every detail was tailored to me. From the lavender-scented air freshener to the playlist that started up the moment I hit the ignition: Ella Mai, because Seth knows that’s my vibe. I was speechless. And that never happens. Seth leaned against the door, watching me with that proud smile that made my knees weak even after all this time.
“You like it?” he asked.
I climbed out, heart still thudding, eyes wet, but trying not to cry. “I love it, baby. Thank you.” I threw my arms around him, kissing him like I was still falling.
He held me close. “Anything for you and my son.”
I pulled back, wiping the corner of my eye with a laugh. “So does this mean your cars are officially off limits to me now?”
