by Piper Rayne
“Good morning,” I say, picking her up and changing her diaper. Once she’s done, she starts kicking me to get down.
She runs out of the room and barrels down the small hallway to the family room.
“Ouch!” Denver yells.
Oh shit, I completely forgot he stayed, and Liam left.
I jog down the hall but stop, watching Calista poke Denver over and over again as he pulls a pillow over his eyes.
“You’re better off just getting up. She doesn’t relent,” I say, walking into the kitchen to get her breakfast going.
“Never. Even if I play dead?” His voice is rough and edged with sleep.
“Up! Up!” Calista screams.
“Why don’t you go wake up Daddy? He’s still sleeping,” I tell her, and she leaves Denver alone and runs down the hallway.
I start the coffee and pour some milk into a sippy cup for Calista.
Denver sits up, rubbing his eyes. Just like his brother, he’s fully dressed. His phone dings and he pulls it out of his pocket.
“I’m supposed to apologize for last night?” he asks with one quirked eyebrow.
Will I ever get used to them being twins?
“Baby girl, give Daddy ten minutes.” Rome’s loud groan echoes down the hall.
“Dada! Dada!” she says, and I have no sympathy for him. I have a class this morning so it’s all on him. He’s going to learn the hard way that hangovers and little ones don’t mix.
I shrug. “Don’t worry about it.”
“What did I do? I’m sorry. I can be an asshole when I drink.”
“True story,” Rome chimes in, coming into the kitchen holding Calista in his arms. “Did I get hit by a truck last night and not remember?” He sits down in the stool, placing Calista down on the ground since she views her highchair like it’s an electric chair lately.
“You threw up,” I say. “Which means you’re on daddy patrol with bathroom clean up.” I grab a few coffee mugs and then place some Advil out for each of them.
Denver joins us at the breakfast bar.
“How were you an asshole?” Rome asks Denver.
Denver looks at me. “I don’t know, but Liam told me to apologize to Harley.”
Rome’s lips fall and his eyes shift between his brother to me and back to his brother. “Harley?”
Just his tone implies he’s ready to ask Denver to step into a boxing ring. It’s kind of endearing, though I’m not into that whole alpha-fight-for-me kind of guy.
“I don’t remember what I said, but I apologized already.”
Rome’s eyes shoot to me. “What did he do? Did he hit on you?”
“No. Why would I do that?” Denver chimes in before I can say anything.
“Because when you drink you get horny and —”
“You think I’d hit on your girl? What the hell. I wouldn’t do that.” He looks at me, confusion still on his face. “Right? I didn’t?”
I giggle and pour their coffees. “You didn’t.” Then I focus on Rome. “He just wanted to make sure I wasn’t going to hurt you. Just being a protective little brother.” I stress the word little since Rome has shared with me how much Denver hates being referred to that way.
They both down their Advil with the bottles of water I put in front of them. It’s kind of freaky the way they screw the caps back on and pick up their coffees at the exact same time.
I’m not sure if some of our conversation comes back to Denver, but he stares into his coffee mug and looks at me a few minutes later. The true sorrow of his actions are clear in his downturned lips and apologetic eyes.
I nod. It’s done and under the table.
“I have to get ready for school. Have fun with that one, boys.” I ruffle Calista’s hair as I walk by and disappear down the hall, turning around at the last second to see them both put their foreheads on the cool granite of the breakfast bar.
“Dada! Dada!” Calista rants and I laugh because it’s going to be one helluva day for Rome.
Thirty
Harley
Another month goes by and summer is in full swing with warm weather and long days. I’m still not used to how little night time with dark skies they actually have up here. I’d like to say we’ve spent the time enjoying the outdoors as a family, but unless Rome makes a trip to the outside patio tables, he’s inside Terra and Mare until it closes.
My class finally ended and now all I have to do is pass my Massage Exam and I’m certified.
Sitting down, I pull out my phone to look at my calendar and figure out when I can get it done. It’s been crazy lately juggling my class, Rome’s busy schedule, my bartending and Calista but somehow, we’re making it happen.
It wouldn’t be possible without the help of Rome’s family watching Calista. None of the Baileys act like it’s a big deal, but to me it is. I’d never be able to pass that test or work at Terra and Mare without them. Juno and Colton have been our go-to recently because he’s back from vet school for the summer and they mostly just hang out and don’t seem to mind the company of an almost two-year-old.
Calista puts her toy unicorn in my lap. “Mama!” she says, and her head follows suit right after.
I pet her hair absentmindedly, looking at my calendar.
Perfect, I’ll see if they have any openings next week. I need to get Calista in for a check-up with our new doctor and I need to refill my pill prescription, too. I wonder if I can make that work next week, too.
I continue to thread my fingers through Calista’s hair, backtracking to my last period to figure out how long I have until I run out of pills.
Wait. Something’s not right. I should be having my period right now.
“Let Mommy up.” I slowly uncross my legs and pick her up. Her head falls to my shoulder and I look to the microwave clock. It’s not even her naptime, but we’re not really on a schedule as of late.
Holding her to me, I head to the bedroom, open the nightstand drawer then open my pill container.
Crap. I didn’t even notice I was taking sugar pills for the last six days.
Why hasn’t my period showed up yet? They’re usually light. Maybe it’s coming still.
My stomach turns over on itself and my chest tightens, making it hard to breathe.
“No,” I say to myself. There’s absolutely no way I’m pregnant.
Calista’s head slides off my shoulder. She’s going for a nap no matter what.
I push the whole idea of being pregnant to the side because I’m sure the stress of everything going on is the reason that I haven’t gotten it.
“Night. Night,” I say to Calista and kiss her forehead, shutting the door behind me.
Sitting back down in the family room, I go through the calendar and it’s clear to me that I’m late no matter how I try to spin it. Which means I have to address it.
I pull up Rome’s contact information and punch out a message to him.
Me: Do you have fifteen minutes?
Rome: Quickie? Love the way your mind works.
Me: I have to run to the store.
Rome: For what?
Yeah, I’m not going there until I know for sure. He might actually pass out if I told him. If my stress level is high, Rome’s is as high as the Empire State Building.
Me: It’s a surprise. Calista’s sleeping. So, can you come up?
Rome: Man, you got me all excited for a second. Yeah, give me five.
Me: Thanks.
I put my purse over my shoulders and pace the room.
No way. No way. No way.
Rome walks in fifteen minutes later because five minutes in his life is never five minutes. At least lately that’s the case. He’s in his t-shirt and pants, his hair is sweaty from being pulled away.
“Sorry,” I say.
He wastes no time, wrapping his arms around my waist and picking me up. “No problem. Lunch rush is over, and Colin’s got it handled. When did she go down?”
It’s not hard to see where his mind is going.
“Fifteen minutes ago,” I say.
He starts kissing my neck. “Perfect.” He sets me down on the ground and takes my purse off my shoulder. I should put a stop to this. I should say I have to go get a test because I could be pregnant. We can’t have sex because this is what got us into this situation in the first place.
“I have to go to the store.” I try to wiggle out of his hold.
“I’ll be fast.” He toes out of his shoes and shrugs off his t-shirt.
This is us lately, not that I’m complaining. Rome has the ability to clear my mind of anything but him anytime he wants.
Our lips brush across one another’s and like every time, my desire ramps up and he deepens the kiss, his tongue exploring my mouth. His hands pull fabric away so he can feel skin.
There’s still that nagging thought in my mind saying no sex. No sex. No sex.
I look at him and fall to my knees, unbuttoning his pants.
His fingers thread through my hair then his thumb runs along my bottom lip.
I love the way he looks at me when he’s aroused. Not that it’s the only time he has gushy lovesick eyes, but when he’s aroused, it’s like I’m the only woman who has the capacity to get him off.
His pants fall to the floor and I run my hand over the long hard length in his boxer briefs. My bad boy turned faithful lover and wonderful father looks one second away from falling to pieces.
I yank them off him, and he groans, his hands in my hair.
With every lick, his fingers grow tighter, the strands pulled tight between his fingers. I move my tongue like a lollipop, using my hand at the base to pump him.
“Jesus, Har,” he says.
I should have him in a chair or propped against a wall, but he doesn’t seem to want to press pause on this.
My eyes lock with his the entire time I work him over and the slurping sounds fill our small apartment. We’ve learned to be quiet over the past few months. Rome’s usually the one having to put his hand over my mouth.
“Shit baby.” He bucks into my mouth and I increase my speed, already familiar with what Rome enjoys and what gets him to the finish line. Since we’re on a timetable, my fingers play with his balls earlier than I normally would and he falls apart, bucking one more time and then stilling in my mouth, my hair wound tight around his fist.
Once I swallow, I slowly lean back and lick my lips.
I begin to stand, but Rome has other plans, picking me up and putting me in the chair. He strips off my yoga pants and panties then pushes each one of my legs over the arms so I’m spread wide for him.
He stares down at me, sliding his fingers over his tongue and places them between my thighs. “You’re so beautiful,” he says, keeping eye contact with me as his fingers circle around my clit.
There’s no going slow, he doesn’t tease me by kissing my inner thighs. He gets on his knees, both his hands on my thighs to keep me in place, and his tongue laps at me over and over again until he concentrates on my clit.
Just like I do him, he knows how to get me off. It’s his fingers pressing into my flesh, the moans that escape his throat as though he can’t imagine doing anything else. It’s the way he places exactly the right amount of pressure on my clit and then blows, eliciting a delicious feeling on my nerve endings. When he sucks on my clit, rolling his tongue around the bud and inserting two fingers into me, that’s when stars fill my vision and my back arches, offering myself to him as his sex slave.
He always makes sure I ride the wave back down until he slowly withdraws his fingers and places them in his mouth, tasting me like I’m one of the perfectly prepared sauces he serves downstairs. “Always so fucking good,” he says, kissing my clit one last time.
My thighs instantly close from everything being so sensitive down there and I run my hand down his face. “You’re way too much.”
“You know I run on a check and balance. You get off when I get off.” He stands and puts on his boxers and pants. “I want inside you tonight though.” He holds out his hand and I allow him to pull me up. “Now go do your errand before she wakes up.” He kisses me hard, leaving me dizzy and finding my legs.
I love when we take our time, but I also love this Rome who takes what he wants fast knowing we don’t have a lot of time. It’s kind of a necessity with a young child around.
“Okay.” I pick up my panties and yoga pants, stepping into them. “I’ll be right back.”
I give him a chaste kiss and he winks. “I hate to see that ass leave, but I do love seeing it.” He sits back on the couch and presses the button on the remote.
Typical man.
“Ten minutes,” I say and run down the stairs and down Main Street to the drugstore.
I stop in my tracks as I stare at the condom and pregnancy tests in front of me. What am I thinking?
“Harley!” Selene says, spotting me.
“Selene,” I hug her. “I meant to stop by this past weekend but…”
“It’s fine. I know you’re busy. But I’ll be at the Farmer’s Market this Saturday so come by.” She eyes the aisle I’m in and looks back to me.
“Definitely. Calista loves the Farmer’s Market.” I plant a fake smile on my face.
We stand there in silence for a moment. “Everything okay?” she asks.
I bite my lip and she puts her hand on a box of condoms. I shake my head and her eyes widen as she places her hand on a pregnancy test.
I close my eyes.
“Oh.”
“Yeah,” I whisper.
I eye the cashier. I don’t know him, but he probably knows me, and I can just see tonight’s Buzz Wheel if I go up there with a pregnancy test.
“Why don’t you go pick up all the stuff you came in here for?” She picks up two tests and puts them in her basket.
“Thank you,” I mouth.
“I know you have to get back so don’t let me keep you,” she says extra loud. “I’ll see you Saturday though?”
“Yes. We’ll see you then.”
I pick up some detangler I meant to get for Calista and Rome was running low on soap the other day, so I grab some of that.
By the time I get to the front, Selene is picking up her bags to leave and the guy is looking to me.
“Thank you.” I place my items in front of him.
Selene leaves without more than a bye. The cashier is way too enthralled in some show on his phone and probably wouldn’t have noticed if I had bought the pregnancy tests, but better safe than sorry.
Once I’m on Main Street again, Selene takes her bag and tucks it into mine.
“Thanks,” I say.
She nods. “No problem. I’m here if you need me.” She touches my arm and I nod. Please tell me I won’t need to talk to her or go back and live with her because Rome freaks out.
I head back to the apartment and Rome goes back downstairs to the restaurant. Thankfully Calista stays asleep.
Sitting in the bathroom, I hate that I am alone in this endeavor again. Just like Calista, this baby couldn’t come at a worse time. It’s only been months since we moved in together. There’s no way we can handle the stress of another baby.
I pee on the stick and set a timer on my phone.
Three agonizing minutes later, I pick up the stick and bile rises up my throat.
Pregnant.
Calista wails on the other side of the wall, like she knows that she’ll no longer be the center of attention.
Throwing it all back in the bag together and tying it in a knot, I drop it in the trashcan and head into her room.
She’s crying uncontrollably, sitting up in her crib. I find a pacifier and put it in her mouth, soothing her back down since she’s not ready to get up yet. Leaving the room again, I shut the door and try to wrap my brain around how to tell Rome.
I have a sinking feeling that this will be the thing that drives him away.
Thirty-One
Rome
Harley hasn’t been herself for an entire week. She hasn’t been receptive to any of my sexual gestures. She seems to have a reason to hate me every day and I have no idea how to make her happy anymore.
“I’m going over to Savannah’s tonight,” she says from the bedroom.
“Why? It’s my first night off in two weeks.”
I put the garlic in the oil pan. I had plans to make us dinner and put our daughter to bed early then make love for the first time in two weeks. Other than a little oral, we’ve done nothing.
“She’s having the girls over for some wine.”
I nod.
“When will you be home?”
She comes out putting her earrings in. Her hair is down and curled and she’s wearing a sundress with strappy sandals. She’s gorgeous when she first wakes up, but tonight she looks like she’s going on a date and it turns out I’m jealous of my own sister.
“I’m sure it won’t be too late,” she says, putting some stuff in her purse.
“What’s going on with you? You’ve been avoiding me.”
She stares around the apartment. “This place is a mess. Her toys are out of control.” She ignores my question and picks up Calista’s toys.
Calista stares at her while she eats some puffs from a bowl on the coffee table and watches television.
“Rome!” Harley takes the bowl away from Calista. “You can’t give these to her. She’ll never eat her dinner.” She throws them into the sink.
Okay, time for a talk.
“First of all, I can. I’m her father. She’s starving and I’m making dinner, but it’s gonna be awhile. I was going to make us dinner, but now you’re going out.”
She stares at me for a moment like she’s double checking that I had the audacity to talk to her like that. She’s not having it. “But you can go out and get drunk with Denver and Liam?”
“I don’t care if you go out, but I just thought—”
“I sit around most of the day with her. By myself. Which I love, but I want one night alone and you’re giving me attitude about it?”
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