Personal Challenges

  PERSONAL CHALLENGES

  Book #4 in the Personal series

  K.C. WELLS

  SMASHWORDS EDITION

  Copyright notice

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Personal Challenges

  Copyright © 2017 by K.C. Wells

  Cover Design by Meredith Russell

  Photo by Strangeland Photography

  Cover content is being used for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.

  The trademarked products mentioned in this book are the property of their respective owners, and are recognized as such.

  All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law.

  Acknowledgments

  A huge thank you to my wonderful team:

  Jason, my alpha – who puts up with long Skype calls and frequent Facebook chats!

  My betas Helena, Bev, Mardee and Lara – thank you, ladies.

  Thanks to Stevie Montoy and Ed Davies for their help and advice.

  A HUGE thank you to Trina Lane, who provided so much information for Nathan’s story.

  Thanks for making sure I got all the details correct, and

  for checking that what I’d written made sense.

  Table of content

  Copyright

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Epilogue

  Other titles

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  February, 2016

  Blake Davis glanced up from the couch as the door to the waiting room opened, and grinned at Ed Fellows and Colin Reynolds. “What time do you call this?” he said quietly, so as not to disturb Sophie who was curled up asleep in his lap, her precious rabbit cuddled up to her. He knew this peaceful state wouldn’t last long: she’d been dozing on and off during the six hours since they’d arrived at the hospital. He peered at the clock on the wall. “I phoned you hours ago.”

  Ed gave him a sheepish grin. “We thought you’d ’ave loads of people ’ere, to be honest.” He gazed at the empty room. “Where is everyone?”

  Sophie chose that moment to make a cute noise, and Colin looked like he’d melted into a pile of goo. “Aww. She’s adorable.”

  Ed turned to his fiancé and snorted. “When she’s sleepin’, yeah. When she’s awake, that’s another matter.” He met Blake’s gaze and winked. “We don’t call ’er Cyclone Sophie for nothin’.”

  Blake tried to suppress his laughter. Ed had done his fair share of babysitting during the last two years, and he always looked the same by the time Blake and Will arrived home—exhausted. “Rick and Angelo have been and gone, as have Lizzie, Dave and the kids. They would have stayed longer, but Molly was cranky and they think Justin is coming down with something, and didn’t want to risk him being in the hospital.”

  “Where’s Will?” Colin asked, sitting at the other end of the couch, his gaze focused on Sophie.

  Blake smiled. “In the delivery room with Donna. He asked if he could be present and she said yes.” He was glad one of them got to witness their little boy’s entry into the world. Will had been buzzing about it for weeks.

  Ed stared. “She still in labour? ’Ow many hours is it now?”

  Blake ran his fingers through his hair, raking over his scalp. “She’d already been in labour for an hour when I called you two. At least there are no complications this time.”

  Sophie wriggled in his arms and Blake knew the peace was at an end. She yawned and opened her eyes, blinking. “Papa, is he here yet?” she asked, her voice heavy with sleep.

  Blake stroked her long, brown hair. “No, sweetheart, not yet.”

  She pouted. “You said he would be here when I woke up.”

  “Daddy is with Donna right now, and it shouldn’t be long,” he told her, hoping his words were prophetic.

  Sophie sighed and turned her head. When she caught sight of Ed and Colin, all trace of fatigue vanished. “Uncle Ed! Uncle Colin!” Impatiently she squirmed off Blake’s lap and clambered down from the couch to run toward Ed, her rabbit clutched in one hand.

  Ed crouched and caught her in his arms, swinging her up into the air. Sophie giggled and screamed with delight. “’Ow’s my favourite girl?”

  Blake tut-tutted. “Don’t let Molly hear you say that. Or Mandy.” Ed’s niece Mandy adored her uncle, and whenever Blake and Will attended family gatherings, they’d notice how the five year old clung to him like a limpet.

  Ed cuddled Sophie to him. “This ’ere is my favourite little girl.” He glanced at the soft toy in her hand. “Are you still playing with that rabbit?”

  Blake coughed. “Mr. Bunny, if you don’t mind. And he goes everywhere with her. It’s a wrench on those days when Will throws him in the washing machine.”

  Sophie curled an arm around Ed’s neck. “Daddy gives him an in-jection, so he can sleep while he gets washed.”

  Ed bit his lip. “Oh he does, does he?” His gaze met Blake’s and he smirked.

  Blake shook his head. “You should see him. He has a syringe that we use for injecting brandy into the Christmas cake.”

  Colin stared. “Really?”

  “Yep. He injects Mr. Bunny’s paw so he won’t feel a thing while he’s in the washing machine. You should have seen her the first time we washed it. She sat on the floor in front of the machine the whole time, and when it paused during the rinse cycle and there was Mr. Bunny, nose pressed against the glass door…” He could still recall her anguished lament that Mr. Bunny was drowning. That was the last time they’d let her anywhere near the washing machine during its cycle.

  “I’m going to have a baby brother,” Sophie announced, beaming.

  “Is that right?” Ed said with a wide smile.

  “Yes, but Papa says he has to sleep in his own room.” She scowled. “I want him to sleep in my room.”

  “My turn for a hug?” Colin asked from the couch, his arms held wide.

  Sophie’s frown disappeared and she held out her arms to him. Ed passed her over, and she sat on Colin’s lap, snuggling up against him, clutching Mr. Bunny.

  “I remember when you were a baby,” Colin told her. “You didn’t sleep well sometimes. Maybe Daddy and Papa want you to get a good night’s sleep. Because I think Sophie gets a bit cranky when she doesn’t get enough sleep.” He tickled her, and she giggled. When he stopped, she turned her face up toward his.

  “I have a picture of my brother. Do you want to see it?”

  Colin frowned. �
��A picture?”

  Sophie stretched out her arm toward Blake and made a grabbing hand gesture. Blake reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. He withdrew a folded card. “It’s the twenty week scan. She was so excited when we showed it to her, and she kept asking to see it so often, that I just keep it on me.” He handed her the card and she opened it with a happy little noise, holding it up to show Colin.

  Ed was watching his lover with a fond expression. “Before you ask, we are not ’avin’ one, all right?”

  Colin jerked his head to stare at Ed. “Excuse me?”

  “I see ’ow you are when you’re around kids, an’ the answer is no. You may be nearly thirty-five, mister, but I’m nearly forty, an’ that’s too bleedin’ old to be startin’ a family.”

  Blake cleared his throat and nodded toward Sophie.

  Ed’s eyes widened. “Oops. Sorry.” The little girl appeared not to have noticed his swearing, staring at the scan.

  Colin gazed serenely at Ed. “You have me all wrong. The joy of other people’s children is that you get to hand them back.” He grinned. “But yes, I love being uncle to Mandy, Ben and Lucy. Your nieces and nephew are wonderful.” Colin winked. “I value my life with you much more. I think having children might curtail certain… activities, if you get my drift.” He glanced at Blake with a grin. “Or have I got that part wrong?”

  Blake snorted. “Don’t get me started.” On a number of occasions he and Will had been caught mid-coitus when their bedroom door opened and Sophie wandered in, having awoken from a bad dream. True, those incidents had also coincided with the odd occasion when they’d forgotten to switch on the baby monitor, so they had no one to blame but themselves.

  Blake adored his daughter, and he couldn’t wait to hold their son in his arms, but he was under no illusions: lovemaking was going to be on the back burner for a few months to come.

  The door opened and Will entered, green scrubs over his clothes. He walked over to Blake, who rose to meet him. “Is everything okay?” Blake asked quickly.

  Will nodded. “Donna is fine, and we have a beautiful seven pound, ten ounce baby boy.” His eyes shone. “And he is so beautiful, babe.” Will looked tired but radiant.

  Blake took his husband in his arms and held him close, their cheeks pressed together. “I love you,” he whispered.

  Will put his arms around him and leaned into him. “Love you, too.” Then he chuckled and drew back, grinning. “By the way, Donna says she hopes that’s the last one, and that we don’t intend to keep on enlarging the Davis Empire. Her surrogacy days are at an end.”

  Blake frowned. “Is she really all right?”

  Will gave a slow nod. “She’s just exhausted. I think this pregnancy was hard on her. She said she is nearly forty, after all.”

  Blake stroked Will’s cheek. “You look tired too. Can we see the baby yet?”

  “He’s in the Maternity unit, along with all the other babies. We can go stare at him through the window.” He turned, seeking Sophie. “And there’s my little girl.” Will bent down and Sophie climbed off Colin’s lap and ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck. He scooped her up and held her close, nodding to Ed and Colin with a warm smile.

  “I’m not little,” she insisted, waggling several fingers in Will’s face. “I’m nearly four.”

  “That’s right,” Blake agreed. “You’re a big girl, aren’t you?”

  “I’ve got an idea,” Ed announced. “Why don’t you all go look at the baby, and when you’re done, we’ll follow you back to your ’ouse, pack an overnight bag for Sophie, and then she can come stay the night with me an’ her uncle Colin.”

  Will’s brow knitted. “Why?”

  Ed gave a patient sigh. “Because you’re both tired, and you could use a quiet night together. And tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, right? Why not spend some of it in peace and quiet? We can bring her back later, or bring her here for visiting time, whatever.”

  “Won’t that spoil your plans for a romantic day?” Blake asked.

  Colin snorted and stood up from the couch. “Romance? He’s bought a Dine in for Two meal from Marks & Spencer’s, and there’s a new DVD of the England vs Wales Rugby World Cup match from last year, already waiting on top of the DVD player.”

  Will grinned. “Oh, be still my beating heart. Sounds like the honeymoon is over, guys.”

  Ed did an eye roll and Colin laughed. “I do believe a wedding comes before a honeymoon, right? We might manage that, one of these days.”

  Ed gave him a mock glare. “Shut it, you. It’s not like we’re in any ’urry, is it?”

  Colin leaned across and kissed him on the mouth. “Absolutely.” He straightened and faced Will and Blake. “But we really don’t mind having Sophie for the night.” He gazed at the little girl in Will’s arms. “Do you want to come and sleep at our house tonight?”

  Sophie’s face lit up. “Can Tigger sleep on my bed?”

  Ed laughed. “Like that cat would sleep anywhere else when you’re around.” He peered at Blake. “See? No problem. And it’s not like we’d have to go miles out of our way to follow you, is it? You only live a mile down the road from us.”

  Will kissed Blake on the lips. “Say yes, babe.” He leaned in closer and whispered, his breath tickling Blake’s ear. “And we can make love all… night… long.”

  “You’re tired,” Blake remonstrated.

  It was Will’s turn to do an eye roll. “Tired, maybe, but I’m not dead, and when was the last time we got the chance to…” He gave Sophie a glance before continuing. “Spend a night being as loud as we want?” he concluded.

  Blake’s libido roared into life. “You’re on,” he informed Ed and Colin, before taking Will’s hand in his. “Now let’s go see our son.”

  He led his husband, daughter and best friends out of the waiting room, his heart full of joy.

  Our son.

  * * * * * *

  “Goodnight, sweetheart.” Blake kissed the top of Sophie’s head. “Have you got Mr. Bunny?”

  “Here he is!” she announced triumphantly, holding aloft the off-white soft rabbit whose fur was already starting to thin in several places. She looped her arms around Blake’s neck, still holding onto Mr. Bunny. “G’night, Papa.”

  Blake breathed her in, the smell of soap, clean cotton and the faintest whiff of chocolate. He narrowed his eyes. “And what were you and Daddy doing in the kitchen just now?”

  Sophie’s eyes were huge. “How did you know we were eating choc—” She clamped her hand over her mouth, blinking furiously.

  “Sophie Elizabeth Davis!” Will put his hands on his hips and gave her a hard stare. “Did you just tell on me?” Before she could react, he kissed her cheek. “It’s all right, sweet pea. I’m sure Papa already knows we’ve found his chocolate stash.”

  Sophie giggled as Blake let out a loud theatrical gasp.

  From the front door, Ed laughed his head off. “Serves Papa right for not hiding it well enough.” He held out his hand. “Okay, Princess, time we got you to bed.”

  Sophie did her customary pout. “Daddy lets me stay up late because I’m nearly four.”

  Ed guffawed. “Yeah, nice try. That cute bottom lip may work on your daddies but it doesn’t work on me an’ Uncle Colin.”

  “You speak for yourself,” Colin murmured beside him. “I was all for letting her watch some cartoons before bed.”

  Ed gave him a warning glare but it was too late. Sophie clapped her hands together and all but bounced across the hall carpet into Colin’s arms.

  Blake shook his head. “Nice one, Uncle Ed.” Their daughter gave them a cheery wave as Colin carried her out to the car.

  “Sorry, guys.” Ed looked crestfallen.

  Will grinned. “We’ll just refuse to feel sorry for you tomorrow when you tell us how long it took the pair of you to get her into bed.” When Ed continued to stare at them, Will laughed. “Oh, come on, you’ve babysat for us before. You can’t act all surprised now.” H
e copied Sophie’s cheery wave. “Good night, Uncle Ed.”

  Ed turned and walked out of the house, mumbling under his breath about it being the last time he’d attempt to do something nice for them.

  The door closed, and Blake listened to the sound of the car pulling out of the driveway. He sighed when Will slipped his arms around his waist and rested his chin on Blake’s shoulder.

  “I suppose we need to make up our minds about names,” Will said before kissing Blake’s ear.

  A shiver ran through him. “Now? Do we have to do it now?”

  Will chuckled and kissed a trail down Blake’s neck. “Well, I did have a few other activities in mind.” He rubbed Blake’s belly in a leisurely circle. “Dinner, for one thing.”

  Blake was about to complain when his stomach growled.

  “See?” Will kissed his cheek. “Light the fire and I’ll bring us in something to eat on the couch. Nothing too heavy. I have plans for you later.” He patted Blake’s arse and left him to go into the kitchen.

  Blake set about his task, his dick growing stiff at the thought of Will’s plans. He lit the gas fire, watching the flames grow higher as he set it to the required level. When the thought struck him, he couldn’t hold it in.

  “Do you ever regret our decision to have kids?”

  A moment later Will was at the lounge door, staring at him, his forehead furrowed. “Is that a serious question?”

  Blake sat back on his haunches on the rug. “Colin got me thinking, that’s all.”

  “What—not wanting kids because it could ruin their sex life?” Will gave a short laugh. “You make it sound like we never get to fuck.”

  “Not as much as we did before Sophie arrived.”

  “And that bothers you?” Will came into the room and sat on the arm of the couch. He folded his arms. “Come on, Blake, out with it.”