“You mean slackers?” He laughed.
“Are you calling me a slacker? The woman who is incubating a whole human inside of her body?”
“You’re pulling that card, huh?”
“Until you can carry a baby, I will always pull it.”
“We need to set-up some rules. Otherwise, you’re going to win every damn argument.” Carter enjoyed their banter. Over the past couple of months, they had fallen into a comfortable place. Surprisingly, Harlem had been really easy to talk to.
“Exactly! Get used to it. Are you still at work?”
“Yeah. We’re prepping for that meeting with our shareholders tomorrow. When I leave, I’ll probably pick up a bite to eat and head home.”
“That’s right. I forgot your meeting is tomorrow. I guess you won’t be able to make it to my doctor’s appointment. I’m getting the ultrasound. Do you want to know the sex of the baby?”
Carter was slow to respond. Even though he was going through all the motions, Carter wasn’t quite sure how he felt about the whole baby thing.
Harlem heard the hesitancy in his voice. She was a little disappointed but understood. He wasn’t connected to the baby in the same way that she was. He was only going to be the father due to a technicality.
“I haven’t really thought much about it.”
“Well, I guess I’ll just play it by ear and see how I feel when I get there.”
“That’s surprising coming from you.”
“Why would you say that?”
“You’re the lady with the plans. Always.”
“Not always.” Her voice softened. “A lot has changed. I’m doing my best not to take everything so seriously and to be present in the moment. You never know . . .”
Harlem didn’t need to finish her sentence. Carter knew it would have ended with something like–you never know if it might be your last. He refused to go to that somber place that’s always just underneath the surface. Instead, he brought the conversation back around to the point of his phone call. “What makes you think I won’t be at the appointment? It’s at one-thirty, right?”
“Mmhmm. I just figured since it’ll be a lot of running around, you might have to cut something out. Plus, you’ve been keeping really late hours. Not quite sure when you sleep. You’ve got to be exhausted.”
“Is that concern? Are you worried about me?”
“Oh, my.” Harlem laughed. “Where on earth would you get a crazy idea like that?”
Carter didn’t want to admit it, but he liked the idea that Harlem might think of him in ways other than just being the sperm donor. “My meeting will be over by ten. I’ll pick you up around a quarter to one, and we can ride over together.”
“You don’t have to pick me up. I can meet you there. It’ll be one less thing you have to do.”
“It’s not a problem.”
“Carter, I know the last couple of weeks you’ve been burning it at both ends preparing for this meeting. I’m perfectly capable of driving myself to the doctor. You don’t have to be all things to everyone–especially me. Contrary to what you might think, you’re not Superman. And, isn’t tomorrow Elaina’s birthday?”
“Shit.” He sat up in his chair.
“Oh, God. You didn’t.”
“I did. Do I get points for remembering Valentine’s Day?”
“NO! That’s the day after her birthday. Sheesh. Did I ever tell you that you suck as a boyfriend?”
“I’ve always known that.”
“You still have time to have your assistant arrange something great.”
“Actually, I’m thinking of ending things with Elaina.”
Harlem wasn’t surprised. It had become obvious to anyone with eyes that Carter wasn’t really that into her. Harlem pretended to be blind. “Why? I thought she was the one.”
“I’m starting to think there is no such thing. I’ve tried. I really have done my best to make things work between us, but . . .”
“Have you, really?” Harlem didn’t give a shit about Elaina, but she had grown to care about Carter. She wanted him to be happy. She had a feeling that his not knowing how to open up to someone was the real culprit in the demise of his relationship. “My guess is any woman in her position would need a little extra TLC.”
“True, but I don’t have a desire to give it to her. We’re not connected.” Even the sex had grown stale.
“You guys should still be in the honeymoon phase of the relationship. It’s only been a few months, right?”
“Honeymoon? We never really had that, and yeah, four months.” He signed heavily into the phone. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, and now that my mind is clearer, I’ve realized that I’m trying to live up to the man Damian thought I should be. I’m not Damian. I can’t do the relationship thing.”
“Damian just wanted you to be happy.”
Damian wanted us to be together. “He had a lot of crazy ideas and always thought he was the smartest person in the room.”
Harlem had to agree. “That’s a fact,” Harlem remembered the crazy idea Damian wrote in his letter about them.
“The bottom line is I’m not the kind of guy who should be in a relationship.”
Harlem laid down on her side. “I don’t believe that. Maybe you just need more time.”
“I’ve given it time.”
“You would know better than anyone. But Carter, if you are going to end things, don’t do it on her birthday.”
“I might be an asshole, but I’m not a dick.”
“That’s debatable,” She yawned.
“Sleepy?”
“These days, it just kinda falls down on me.”
Carter wasn’t ready to let her go, but it was obvious Harlem was exhausted. “Then, get some sleep.”
“Okay. G’night. See you tomorrow.”
******
Slowly, her eyes opened. Something was off. Harlem went to caress her stomach but felt the large hands of a man. That’s when she realized she also felt the weight of an arm draped over her body. Her eyes widened, and she stared into the darkness. Harlem blinked several times, not only to clear her vision but to make sure she wasn’t dreaming.
Harlem stilled. She was supposed to be alone. Her mind was racing. How do I get to my phone to dial 9-1-1?! She didn’t even have a knife anywhere close.
She tried not to breathe or make the slightest movement that would alert the person next to her that she was awake. Still, she managed to turn enough to see a sleeping Carter lying next to her. Carter? Why is he here?
He was shirtless, exposing one chiseled muscle after another. He looked good. Damn good. Harlem swallowed hard and stared at him until she realized she was drooling. What the hell? She was losing her mind. Harlem knew one thing, he had to get up and out of her bed!
Harlem used her index finger to poke at his shoulder. She touched him as if he were dirty trash. He didn’t respond. Finally, she pushed harder on the same shoulder. “Carter! What are you doing here?!”
He was groggy. “What do you mean?”
“What do you mean, what do I mean?” She was on the verge of freaking the hell out.
“You asked me to come, remember?” He tried to rub the sleep out of his eyes.
“No. That’s why I’m asking.”
“You had a craving and called. It was too late to go home.”
“I called you?”
“Yes.”
Perplexed, Harlem scratched her forehead. She did not remember calling him. She was going to have to talk to Dr. Jones about this one.
Carter made no attempt to move. She placed her hands on his shoulders and pushed hard. “You couldn’t find anywhere else to sleep except for my bed?!”
He sat up. “I got my ass up in the middle of the night to bring you black-walnut ice-cream. You were loopy, to say the least, and didn’t want to move. So, I brought you ice-cream and a spoon.” He lifted his chin in the direction of her nightstand.
Harlem glanced over at it and saw the con
tainer.
“I didn’t think about where I was sleeping. I just fell out. Now, will you take your ass to sleep?! I have an early morning meeting tomorrow.” Carter never even opened his eyes throughout their entire conversation. He just rolled over onto his back as if nothing about this was strange.
Harlem couldn’t sleep in the bed with Carter. Not when . . . She looked down at her body. Not when he surprisingly induced some sexual tension. Harlem was a little warm and moist. Her body was doing the absolute most! Harlem pressed her lips together and her thighs.
“Harlem?”
“Yes?”
“Are you squeezing your thighs together?”
Harlem’s entire body blushed. If a word was invented to describe total and absolute embarrassment, it would explain her current state. She couldn’t get her mouth to work for anything. Not even to deny the undeniable.
Carter finally opened his eyes. He smiled mischievously. “If you have a sexual need, I can certainly help with that. Just ask.”
Before Harlem could protest, Carter kissed a patch of skin just above her collarbone. He pulled her skin into his mouth and sucked.
“Y-you can’t do that.” She stuttered.
“Why not? You’re horny, right?”
“We can’t.”
“We can.”
Harlem was transfixed and unable to move.
Carter slid her gown off her shoulders, traced hot kisses down her shoulders, and licked her lower back. She could feel the smile on his face as he tasted her.
He cradled her hips in his hands.
Carter made his way back up her body and kissed Harlem hard on the lips. Her eyes fluttered closed as she placed her hands flat on his chest.
Carter flipped Harlem over so that she lay flat on her back and settled himself between the firmness of her thighs. “Convenient for me that you’re not wearing any underwear.”
The feel of his erection against her slick heat felt good. The moisture at her core seeped out and dripped onto him.
Harlem moaned, “Yes . . . no. Yes.” Her hands began to caress and explore the beauty of his body. She glided her hands lower until she touched his rock-hard cock.
Carter didn’t think it was possible to get any harder, but he was sadly mistaken when her fingers wrapped around him.
Harlem stroked him once. He bit down on his lip. She stroked him again and felt his pre-cum drip down over the sides of her fingers.
She couldn’t deny that she wanted him and that he wanted her. Harlem guided the head of his cock to her entrance.
Carter covered his hand with hers. His voice came out raspy, “I’ve wanted you for so long.”
Her voice was strained with need, “Me too.”
Carter surged inside.
He felt so good that Harlem’s eyes rolled into the back of her head.
Their control snapped. He thrust into her hard while Harlem rose up to meet each and every powerful stroke.
She wrapped her legs around his waist and tilted herself so that he could go deeper and deeper he went.
Their frenzied pace was insane. Carter captured Harlem’s mouth in a hot kiss. Their tongues moved in almost perfect rhythm as he pummeled into her.
He felt Harlem as she started to spasm. He continued to thrust in and out–in and out–determined to give her everything that he had.
Just as she was about to explode, her phone rang. Her eyes popped open, and she sat straight up in bed. Her chest heaved up and down as she took in gulps of air. One could even say her breathing was labored. Harlem glanced around the room, looking for Carter, but he was nowhere to be found. The other side of her bed hadn’t been slept in. Harlem was alone.
“Oh, shit!” She said to herself and fell back onto her pillow. She’d didn’t dare answer the phone. It might have been Carter, the man starring in her wet dreams. That was a problem. That was a big big problem.
Chapter 27
Harlem was antsy. Her leg bounced up and down as she and Carter sat in the waiting room of the doctor’s office. She couldn’t focus on the magazine she’d been pretending to read for the past fifteen minutes. Not when he was making appearances in her dreams.
Carter placed his hand on her thigh and whispered. “That’s driving me nuts.”
Harlem glared at him, an overreaction, to say the least.
Shit. Carter quickly realized he’d said the wrong thing. “I don’t recall you being this nervous when we talked the other night.”
“I wasn’t until we had to reschedule for today of all days because of your meeting running over on Friday. I’ve had all day and night to think about every crazy scenario under the sun.” If he only knew.
“Today is actually better than yesterday. I don’t have to go back into the office. We can grab lunch or something after.”
“Are you crazy? We can’t hang out today.”
“Why not?”
“Dude, it’s Valentine’s Day! I would have to kick Elaina’s ass.” And it’s Valentine’s Day!
“You don’t have to worry about Elaina.”
Harlem narrowed her eyes. “You didn’t.”
Carter tried to look innocent. “Didn’t what?”
She lowered her voice. “You broke up with her on her birthday?”
“Of course not. Elaina . . .” He shrugged. “She decided we needed a break.”
Harlem wasn’t fooled one bit. “What did you do to convince her she needed a break?”
“I didn’t do anything. She gave me an ultimatum.”
“Whatever it was, you were supposed to choose her, Carter.”
“Couldn’t do that.”
Harlem stared at him. She had a feeling their breakup had something to do with the baby. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m not. It is what it is.”
Before Harlem could ask what the ultimatum was, the nurse called her name. “Ms. Thomas?”
Nervously, Harlem stood.
Carter stood too. He watched that vein at the base of her neck beat wildly. He had a strong desire to kiss it. Instead, he leaned down and spoke for her ears only. “You’ve got this.”
Harlem hated to admit it, but she was glad Carter had come with her. She held his gaze, then nodded.
Carter captured her hand in his and squeezed. “Let’s do it.”
*****
Carter walked around the room, looking at the photos on the wall he missed the last time, while Harlem laid on the table. He stopped in front of one image in particular. “This picture would give any man nightmares.”
Harlem turned her head to see what he was looking at. She laughed and snorted at the same time. “You’re an idiot. That’s just the uterus of a woman.”
“Damn. It looks so big. I have to say I’m intimidated.”
Harlem shook her head and rolled her eyes.
The OBGYN walked into their room just in time. “Hello, Ms. Thomas. Mr. Owens. How are we today?”
“I’m a little nervous but good.” She said.
“There is nothing to be nervous about. I’ve just reviewed your chart. You’re doing great, and so is the baby.”
Carter came and stood next to Harlem at the head of the bed.
“Let’s see the baby shall we?” Dr. Jones flipped the switch and turned down the room's lights before walking back over to sit on a stool opposite Carter. The monitor was already on. He then began to part Harlem’s gown.
The last time Dr. Jones exposed her stomach in front of Carter, Harlem wasn’t the least bit embarrassed. This time, she turned crimson.
He could tell that she was uncomfortable and tried to put her at ease by focusing on the movements of Dr. Jones. It was interesting watching him pour the clear jelly-like substance onto Harlem’s belly. Carter began to study his every move in earnest. “You need that for the ultrasound too?”
“Yes. This time what we are doing is called ultrasound imaging. It’s also called ultrasound scanning or sonography. We are using this small probe called a transducer and placing gel directly
onto Harlem’s skin. High-frequency sound waves will travel from the probe through the gel onto her body. The probe collects the sounds that bounce back.” He glanced up at Carter, then down at Harlem. “This is how you will be able to see the baby on the monitor.”
Dr. Jones began to slide the device across Harlem’s stomach. It took a few moments until he found what he was looking for. “There he or she is.”
Carter finally glanced up at the screen. At first, he couldn’t make out a damn thing. Then, Dr. Jones began to point out a leg, an arm, the head, and an image of a baby began to take shape. Until this point, the entire pregnancy had been an abstract idea. Suddenly, everything got real. Carter’s eyes were literally glued to the little television. He didn’t want to even blink for fear he might miss something.
“That’s the heart.”
“It’s beating so fast,” Harlem whispered. She was just as in awe as Carter.
“Did you want to know the sex of the baby?” Dr. Jones asked as he continued to glide the device across her stomach.
Harlem turned to Carter to ask his opinion, and her face softened. It was clear seeing the baby on screen had caused him to levitate somewhere else. Most likely, it was the same place she had been. Harlem knew this was the moment that Carter realized she was having a baby. It was written all over him. “Hey . . .” She tried to bring him back into her orbit.
Carter tore his eyes away from the screen to look at her. Harlem’s mom was right. She was glowing. Carter suddenly felt different about Harlem. It was a feeling he had no right to feel.
Harlem repeated herself. “Do you want to know?”
Carter had to get a grip. He pretended the wind hadn’t been knocked clean out of him by both the baby and Harlem. He cleared his throat. “Um . . . Yeah, I do. I definitely want to know the sex, but I’ll leave it up to you.”
Harlem’s smile lit up the room. His chest expanded as he wondered how he could make her smile like that all the time. This is crazy. What the fuck is happening?
Gleefully, she nodded. “I definitely want to know.”
“Great! Then, let’s see if we can find out.” Dr. Jones’ booming voice broke up whatever was happening between them.
Her Baby His Gift (The Slow Burn Duology Book 1) Page 14
