DUNCAN POVThe rise of the Christmas sun started with a crisp.I woke before dawn broke and started doing what normal ‘dads’ would do on Christmas morning; lavish the Christmas tree with presents and have the elf saving Christmas from the hands of the Grinch. Although Burkie told me flat and square that those things didn’t exist, and that they were for kids; I still had to do them for the sake of his siblings. Little darlings were convinced that he was lying and that all fairy tales are real. Who was I to burst their little bubble?Burkie on the other hand was a totally different case.He was such a genius and a brilliant chunk of energy, and he was so clever for his energy. He always managed to surprise Crystal and I every single day. I knew I made a good choice taking him to Cambridge. There was no telling what that little mind was capable of, but I knew it was something great. Who knows, maybe we were nurturing Albert Einstein.However, his little big brains didn't go hand in h

DUNCAN POVWhiskey settled like a memory of warmth in my stomach as I sat on the barstool, sandwiched between my two friends. The atmosphere was serene, reflecting everything that was cruising at a slow pace inside of me. My breathing was calm, the beating of my heart easy and unhurried. The air was laced with a hard whiff of liquor and was pleasant on my senses and my lungs.Add a melody of soft jazz playing in the background and the chatter of the people sitting not far from us.It was so calm, like the quiet before the storm.Except, there was no storm lurking in the distance. It was almost unreal.Apollo had been on a business trip across the country but when he heard that I was going to have a baby, the man dropped everything and came spilling here like diarrhea.I guess I should have explained that the baby wasn't due for the next 5 or 6 months.But still, I was glad I was able to have him ease down even a little bit. We were still cruising through the holidays and there he was

CRYSTAL POV “Cleopatra, aishtaqt lak ya tifl” “What is she saying?” I mouthed to Duncan before he started to walk away, holding the phone from me so Nerfetari would not have a meltdown. The woman was the epitome of chaos, and as much as I loved her son, she really scared me. Duncan’s shoulders shook graciously with silent laughter.“She misses you. She calls you 'child'.” He then stole a small kiss on my forehead and walked back to his desk. I watched him as he dropped graciously into his chair before focusing on the computer in front of him. He plugged a small earpiece into his ear and started barking orders to the other person at the end of the line. If I could get paid to watch Duncan work, then I would have all I ever wanted. Even if it was just a penny. “Hey, Nerfe. It’s good to hear your voice.” I focused my attention on the small device and whom I had to address as the mother of my boyfriend. Some unknown language slurred in the background before she turned her focus to me

CRYSTAL POV WIFE.The eyes excited three tones in my brain before it finally clicked into place. I jumped off the bed before staring at the silver band around my finger, my body buzzing with entirely different things. It wasn’t the remnants of the heavy orgasm I just had, it was not the realization that we were displayed front and center of the giant screen hanging above the stage for everyone to see. Heck, it wasn’t even the fact that Duncan just delivered all my wishes and fucked me till my voice grew hoarse. It was the fuckin’ band around my finger. He may have hinted it a few more times that he did want to wife me, but I didn’t expect it to be this soon. “Duncan?” I murmured, feeling something being in my chest the more I stared at the band around my finger. A movement caught my attention, and I finally peeled my gaze off my finger and stared at Duncan who was fixing his leather pants on his waist before scooting closer to the edge of the bed, his feet touching the ground a

Epilogue CRYSTAL POVThe sun streamed with a beaming fountain through the windows of the hotel’s room which was transformed into a bridal suite. Tiny particles of dust danced in the air like a flicker of gold, moving with rhythm as though they were telling me something.A promise of a better tomorrow. Although my body ached from every inch of it, I had a permanent smile on my face that the ache in my cheeks was now dull. Everything else didn’t seem to matter, not the swirl of nausea in the pit of my stomach, or my bulging belly that restricted every move. My body was sore, my ankles the size of drums, and I looked like I had swallowed a giant balloon before expanding to its size. I was at 10 months and still going through and hot. I swear Duncan’s baby had no intentions of leaving my belly. I swayed in my position as the stylist continued straightening my curls into a straight bob that would fit perfectly with my headgear.“Is everything okay?” Her eyes found mine in the reflectio