024: Surprise Date

Kayla Ravenswood was just a week shy of her due date and had been spending most of her time in their home that was right outside the city. Her husband's club, Lux, which was located right on the Las Vegas strip, had shut down months before due to the pandemic. Now that things had calmed down, the popular nightclub had reopened which had caused Rick to spend evenings at the club playing the dashing host. For the blonde, it had been months since she'd stepped foot into the place, the last time being the night they'd decided to get married on a whim. The city had soon shut down afterwards and it wasn't long after that Rick and Kayla had purchased a lovely home.

Not only was Kayla due within eight days, but her husband was celebrating his birthday as well. She'd tried asking Rick what he wanted to do, but he hadn't seemed interested, telling her that she and the baby were enough of a gift.

The idea for his gift came to her when she had found a black lace maternity cocktail dress online. Once she saw it, she knew she had to have to have it and what better place to wear it than the exclusive club her husband owned? She'd go to the club without his knowledge and then surprise him with a night out for just the two of them. After their daughter arrived, they wouldn't have the opportunity for a night like that for a while. She hadn't told Rick that she was going to be at Lux, she wanted to surprise him. The idea had come to her after remembering the night she and Rick had actually met. Her plan was to go there and surprise him and whisk him away to the penthouse they'd shared before they'd moved into their home.

When she stepped into the club, she was at the top staircase that descended down the ground level of Lux. Even with so few people there, the place was still lively. As Kayla scanned the crowd, she spotted her husband looking as handsome as ever. She couldn't help but feel a sense of pride at the fact that he was hers and loved her more than anything. Her hand instinctively went to her baby bump as she just took in the scene. Finally after a few moments, she made her way down and approached the bar where Rick stood. As his back was turned to her, she managed to sneak up behind him.

"Buy me a drink?" She whispered into his ear as he hand rested on his shoulder, giving it a squeeze. "I promise it'll be worth your while."

He tensed at the touch on his shoulder, not because he'd been startled by it, but because he'd been trying very hard to keep himself at a safe distance from everyone since he'd made things official with Kayla. When he realized the whisper was hers, he felt a smile grow on his lips. "Mmm, well I suppose that depends what you're offering in exchange for a little slaking of the thirst." He turned a little, more so that he could see her in the mirrored reflection behind the bar that was partially obscured by the multicolored bottles there.

A playful smirk was on her face as her hand slid across his broad shoulders, the scent of his cologne intoxicating. "Well, Mr. Ravenswood, what do you desire?"

"Besides you, naked on every surface imaginable?" He turned to finally look at her, his eyes dark with lust. "I suppose an eternity of days like that, really. Is that what you're offering, my darling?"

The look in his eyes made her cheeks redden, but instead of becoming bashful, she nodded. "Oh I absolutely am." Leaning in, she seemed as though she were going in for a kiss, but instead she pressed her cheek against his. "If you think you're up to it?"

"Up for it?" He chuckled darkly, tapping his knuckle on the bar top, "the moment I felt your breath on my neck, the moment you touched me… I was." When the bartender arrived, he smirked and took his attention away from the beautiful woman for a moment, "a virgin Pineapple Upside Down Cake, please? And bring me another vodka and soda, when you've got a moment." He realized now what she was up to and he was finding this game quite enjoyable. That devilish smirk was back on his lips as he turned his attention back to her. "Sit down, lovely. It must be exhausting standing there in those unbelievably sexy but wholly impractical shoes."

She accepted his invitation and took a seat on the stool next to his. "I've been told by a very reliable source that these shoes make my legs and ass look fantastic." Her drink was slid over to her as she lifted it, taking a long sip. She'd turned on the stool so that her knees were brushing against his leg. "So, Mr. Ravenswood, are you here alone tonight? Or am I intruding on a date?"

"Alone." He picked up his own glass, taking a small sip as he studied her, "and even if I did have someone here, they would pale in comparison." He licked the moisture from his upper lip as he set the tumbler back down, his eyes locked on hers. "And you? Is there some dashing fellow that I'm going to have to fight later for your affections?"

Setting her glass down, her free hand rested on his arm as she kept her eyes locked on his. "As soon as I laid eyes on you, I knew I only wanted to give my affections to you." It didn't matter how long they were together, she knew that she'd never get tired of the way he looked at her. "So, they're yours for the taking."

"Now that's a deal I'd happily sell my soul for," Rick replied, chuckling softly as he leaned in a little closer. "What do you think, my angel? Care to blow this popsicle stand, as it were, and go somewhere a little more intimate?"

"Whatever did you have in mind?" Her eyes went wide with mischief as her hand slid up his arm.

"I've got a penthouse upstairs. Spectacular views. No curtains. You can see the Strip all the way to the end and nobody can see you." He rested his hand on her knee, inching it a little higher as he spoke. "A shower big enough for a whole football team -- definitely spacious enough for two."

She could feel her skin prickle with goosebumps, which was not out of the ordinary when it came to his touch. "You know, I've always been interested in giant showers… So I absolutely have to see yours." She bit down on her lower lip and held out her hand to him. "Take me?" The words held more than one meaning.

He took her hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze before lifting it to his lips. He kissed the back of it, eyes never leaving hers. "Thought you'd never ask," he murmured, slipping off his stool.

She followed his lead and pushed off of her stool. The shoes were beyond uncomfortable, but she didn't care; within a short time her shoes would be tossed to the side. As they started to walk towards the elevator, she clung onto him, wanting to be as close as possible. He'd been away on business and then off shooting scenes for a project he was acting in. She'd missed him terribly but knew that he was going to be handing over the management of the club to his cousin Jude who was a former performer on Broadway. Months ago, he'd promised to scale back his workload, to be there for her when the baby came. He had no desire to be an absentee father like his own had been.

It helped that during the lockdown of Vegas, they'd been constantly together. Every aspect of his life had been streamlined, adapted and he was loath to go back to the way it had been just as much as she was. He didn't want to tell her that. Something about it seemed more like a weakness than anything else. He should be raring to get out there, to conquer the world and provide for his family.

Kayla hung on his arm, pressing against his side. Now that he was home and Jude's training was almost complete, she couldn't help but feel as though she were on top of the world. There was no more competing for his attention.

"Mmmm," she let out a soft laugh, "I feel like we've been here before." The button was pushed to take them up to his penthouse and she watched the light flare to life, counting the seconds before giving up and turning to slide her arms around his neck. She didn't care who was watching as her lips found his for a feverish kiss. When it broke, her eyes locked on his and she was having a hard time staying in character. "Hi." She said softly, her fingers playing with his hair.

"Hi." He replied, finding it easy to slip back into that memory. The moments leading up to the night they stepped onto the elevator were still there, a bit hazy round the edges but it made sense now, why it had seemed so damned familiar when she'd arrived for that interview and they'd flirted at the bar. This time, there was no bottle of schnapps to further cloud the evening, nothing but the desire he felt that he could see mirrored in her gaze. "You look incredible tonight, Kaylee. If nobody's told you that."

"You're the first." The glint of mischief in her eyes was still there but it was paired with so much more. Even though he hadn't been gone long shooting his show, it felt as though it had been years. "I've been very lonely, my husband's been away working. I was hoping you could help me curb it."

"What a fool to leave someone as lovely as you behind." Rick's arms wrapped tight around her, his lips curving into a smile before he leaned in close, kissing her deeply. When it broke, he was breathless, murmuring, "I'll do my best to make up for it."

"That's why I came to you." She kissed him in between each word she said. As she pulled back, the elevator doors opened. Her arms left his neck as she grabbed his hand and took a few steps back, pulling him with her. "You have a talent for this." It felt too damn good to have him back and she planned on showing him.

"Might have the talent, but you're the inspiration," his hands rested against the mirrored wall on either side of her head as he kissed her back, nuzzling against her neck. It had been months since they'd called the penthouse home, but as the doors opened, he couldn't help but feel that rush of nostalgia, that comforting feeling of coming home after too much time away.

Following him out of the elevator, Kayla realized at that moment how much she missed the place, even the way her heels rang out on the polished floors. She could see the piano across the room, that floor-to-ceiling view of Vegas just as breathtaking as it had been the first time she'd laid eyes on it. This had been the first place she'd truly felt at home in many years. Of course it was Rick who made the place feel safe and secure. After taking in the memories, her lips were on his again, but this time she kissed him softly.

His smile was wistful as the kiss broke and he stood there, looking down at the beautiful woman in his arms. "I missed this," he finally said, breaking the silence and it wasn't clear if he meant the place or what they were doing.

"Me too." Her arms found his neck once more. "And I missed you."

"Next time… you're coming with me." He ran his hands down her back, pulling her in closer. "For The City... there's been talk of a second season. They'll probably have me back -- I told them I'd do it in a heartbeat. I had a blast with that one, even if I did have to go back for reshoots when they decided to expand my role."

She smiled up at him, genuinely proud to be his wife. "That's wonderful!" Stepping up on her toes, she cupped his face in her hands and kissed him once more. "And I would stow away in your suitcase if you didn't ask me to go with you." As he talked, she led him into the master bedroom. "Because there is no way I'm letting you be away for that long again, without me." The back of her knees were up against the edge of the bed as she took a seat. "Ever."

"Never," he agreed with a solemn nod, dropping to his knees in front of her as though he was intending to beg for forgiveness. Instead he lifted the hand he was still holding to his lips, kissing her knuckles gently. "That was a mistake, darling. Have to remember, as much as you believe otherwise, I'm far from perfect. As far as all this goes, I'm woefully out of my depth and making it up as we go."

"I know you're not perfect." She let out a small laugh as she bit down on her lower lip. "Actually, that's a lie. You are. To me." Her eyes were so beautiful, so blue and that adorable innocence floored him as she stressed it, making sure he got the point. "Perfect for me."

"Flattery isn't necessary when you've already got me on my knees, worshipping you… but I'll take it." Rick chuckled and lifted his hand to cup her cheek. "I love you," he murmured, the smile on his face the one that was reserved solely for her. It wasn't that cocky smirk, that almost malevolent leer he used on others when he was playing the role of debonair devil within the club. Here he was just a simple man who loved this impossible and sometimes quite vexing woman.

He'd given her that smile so many times and it never ceased to make her weak in the knees. "And I love you." Her arms found their way around his neck once more. "More than I can ever tell you." Even though she loved their home, the penthouse held so much appeal and fueled her memories as well as her fantasies. If it wasn't for her baby bump she would've sworn they'd gone back in time to March, before the whole world had completely fallen apart.

Grinning, Rick rocked back on his heels and started to unbutton the dress shirt he had on. "Don't need to tell me. It's better to show, don't you think?"

"Showing is always better, no doubt about that." As he removed his shirt, her eyes never left him even as she worked on kicking off those awful high heels. "After you get done, maybe you could help me with my dress?"

Holding out his hands to her, he rose and pulled her up to her feet, turning her around. One arm was around her, his hand resting against that baby bump as he kissed the back of her neck before turning his attention to the zipper. He struggled with it for a moment before it finally budged and then his lips were on her skin, following it down.

She instantly prickled with goosebumps as his fingertips ran over her flesh. The shame she'd felt over the scars on her back had been gone for months and it had everything to do with the man behind her. As his hand rested over her stomach, she placed hers over it. The dress finally dropped to the floor, leaving her in a matching black lace bra and underwear set. She was just about to turn and face him, she suddenly felt something that she'd gotten used to in the previous weeks.

"Our strawberry's feeling active." A warm smile crossed her face at the mention of their unborn daughter. In recent weeks the baby had started moving and sadly it had started while Rick had been gone filming. "I think she missed you." It wouldn't surprise her if the baby was moving in response to hearing her father's voice.

"She's feeling active, hmm?" Rick lifted his head from kissing his wife's exposed shoulder, moving over to sit on the side of the bed so that he was in front of her, almost eye-level to her baby bump. "Hello, little strawberry… did you miss me, too?"

Watching him interact with her pregnant stomach made her smile only widened as her hand stayed over his. "While you were gone, I played some recordings of you playing piano for her." It was something else she did to keep Rick close to her while he had to be out of town.

"Did she enjoy them?" The question was simple enough but there was an underlying meaning there and he leaned in, kissing beside where his hand rested. "Does she know how much we love her, you think? I wonder how much they feel inside there… how much gets passed on besides the nutrients and things?" His dark eyes lifted to meet hers, that smile a little devilish, "I wonder if she knows what we're doing when your heart races a little faster than usual."

Kayla's cheeks reddened as she laughed. "Honestly, I don't know -- I'm sure she knows something saucy is going on." Seeing how concerned Rick was with what their unborn daughter could understand was one of the most precious moments of her life. As she looked down at him, there was such a swell of love and pride in her heart that she could hardly contain it. "You are a wonderful father and she is going to adore you when she gets here."

"I don't know about-" he stopped talking when he felt a little flutter of movement beneath his palm, eyes going wide as they met hers. "Was that… did I just feel her?"

"You did!" She was grinning now as she gave his hand a squeeze. "I told you, she missed you."

He couldn't help the prickle of tears as he stared at her, feeling that swell of emotion that was all joy and fear and pride and love all mixed together. "Hello," he murmured, "hello little strawberry. Papa loves you."

"She loves you right back," Kayla grabbed his other hand, giving it a squeeze as her eyes met his. She could see that shimmer of tears that he tried to hide and she couldn't hold back that swell of emotion. "I know she does." She brought his hand up to her lips, kissing it. "And now, I need to sit down. Those shoes were a huge mistake. Suddenly my back is absolutely killing me." She moved to the side of the bed and eased herself down slowly. "She's going to be here before we know it…" she trailed off, feeling the pain shift instead of abating, bringing a rush of panic with it.

"The thought terrifies me in the best way." He replied, turning towards her as his hands moved down her back, looking for the knots he knew would be there.

"You are going to be great. Rick." She leaned back into his touch, hoping that his fingers working their magic would be enough. "Besides, we've gotten plenty of practice in watching Charity and Bruce's twins."

"As long as I'm nothing like my parents, it'll be a blessing." The way he said it was meant to be a joke but she could hear that undercurrent of doubt beneath the chuckle that followed.

"I have nothing but confidence-" the words caught in her throat as the pain intensified and for a moment she thought she might pass out.

Rick's hands were on her shoulders, holding her steady as he knelt in front of her. "Kay? Darling, what is it?"

Her eyes were as wide as saucers as she stared at him, feeling wetness soaking the bed and running down her legs -- her water had just broken. "I think… oh God… I think the baby's coming. Now. Right now."