by Heller, JB
I swallow and shake my head. “No,” I whisper, dropping my face into my hands.
Lee’s hand on my neck tenses, and he crouches at my side. “Babe, what’s wrong? You’re freaking me out a little.”
Keeping my palms pressed to my hot cheeks, I twist my head to look at him. “I need a pregnancy test.”
His eyes widen, and his jaw drops. “Wh—” he stutters. “I don’t understand. I’ve never not used a condom …”
“I know, but I’m late.”
He nods a few times, then determination fills his gaze. “Okay. I’m on it, babe. I’ll go pick one up right now.” He moves in as close to my face as he can get without actually touching me. “Either way, we got this. I promise.” Then, he brushes his lips over mine in a sweet kiss before pushing to his feet and striding away.
Somehow, I manage to hide my smile until I’m outside in my car.
Holy freaking shit. Tilly might be pregnant. With. My. Baby.
Hope blossoms in my chest. I can’t deny that I would be over the damn moon if it turns out she is knocked up. I’ll go above and beyond to be there for her in every single way possible. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
I haven’t been inside her without a condom once. Not even just the tip. I know how she feels about the issue, and I love and respect her too much to deliberately put her in a position she wouldn’t be happy with.
There are plenty of parking spots available at this time of the evening, so I pull into one right outside the front door to the pharmacy. Pocketing my keys, I stride in with single-minded focus, going straight for the condom aisle. Where there are condoms, there are usually pregnancy tests.
I’m confronted with a huge variety of tests, and I haven’t got the first clue which one to buy. I pick up a random box and read the packaging. Seems simple enough: pee on the stick. Easy. I scan the shelf again, spot a multi-pack, and figure it couldn’t hurt to get that one instead, for reassurance purposes.
Fifteen minutes later, I pull back into Tilly’s driveway to find her sitting on the front stoop, chewing her bottom lip. I don’t say anything as I sit beside her before wrapping an arm around her shoulders, tugging her into my side and pressing my lips to the top of her head.
She releases a huge sigh and tips her head back to look up at me. I trace my fingertips over her cheek with a feather-light touch then press my forehead to hers. “No matter what this little stick says, we got this. I’m here for you, babe. You’re not in this alone.”
Tears pool in her eyes, but she nods. “Okay,” she breathes. “Let’s do this.”
“Mother. Trucker,” I mumble as Lee and I stare at not one, not two, but three positive pregnancy tests lined up on the bathroom vanity.
Lee stands behind me, his arms curled tight around my waist, holding me against his warm body. “Wow,” he murmurs.
I turn in his arms, my hands coming to rest on his chest. “What are we going to do?”
His eyes bore into mine, then he asks, “Do you love me?”
My frown is instantaneous. “Of course I do.”
“Then there’s nothing to do except make an appointment with a doctor and get you on some vitamins or somethin’.” He smiles so big it reaches his beautiful eyes. “I guess Sailor’s going to get his little cousin-brother after all.” He chuckles.
I burst out laughing, drop my head to his chest, and just let it take me. Euphoria I never expected to feel overwhelms me.
I’m having Lee’s baby.
His big hands slide into my hair and tug my face up, a mischievous grin lifting his lips. “You know what this means, don’t you?”
I shake my head, confused.
He waggles his brows. “No more condoms,” he says with a wink.
My lips twitch. “Is that so?”
“Hell yes, it is,” he says then presses a quick kiss to my lips. “And on that note, I’m taking you to bed.” His hands move to my waist once more, and he hoists me over his shoulder in a fireman hold.
I squeal, “Lee!”
“Hush. You’ll alert the neighbours to our nefarious deeds.” He chuckles then flips me back over and onto the bed. Hovering above me, his eyes darken with lust and desire. “I cannot wait to be inside you with no barriers between us, Till. It’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
His tone is husky and so damn hot heat pools low in my belly.
He rubs a hand over his already hard length through his cargo shorts, and I arch up to unfasten his pants. His eyes never leave me as I free his cock and wrap my hand around the base, stroking once, twice, before enveloping the tip with my lips.
“Fuck, babe,” Lee breathes, his fingers digging into my hair.
I draw him in as far as I’m able and bob my head back and forth, sucking as hard as I can.
His breaths become ragged, his hips thrusting into my mouth as his thighs tense.
I lift a hand and dip it under his T-shirt and run my fingertips over his sculpted chest, trailing my nails down the ridges of his hot-as-shit abs.
A moment later, his hand curls around my chin, and my eyes dart to his.
“You have to stop, babe. I need to be inside your perfect pussy.”
Oh, hell yes. I release his cock with a pop then push his shorts and underwear all the way down his thighs until he kicks them off. He grabs the neckline at the back of his shirt and tugs it over his head then drops it and reaches for my hands. He pulls me to standing and bunches the hem of my dress with his fingers, then yanks it up and off.
I make quick work of my bra while he sees to removing my panties. He smiles his brutally beautiful smile at me, dimples and all, and crushes his mouth to mine.
We stumble onto the bed, Lee lifting me to drag me higher up the mattress and settling between my parted thighs. Taking hold of my left leg, he lifts it to his shoulder, opening me wider. He strokes two fingers through my wetness.
“So wet for me, babe. Always so wet,” he murmurs and sucks his fingers into his mouth, licking them clean.
I shudder beneath him. I’ve had enough teasing. I reach out and curl my fingers around his shaft and position it at my entrance. “Now, baby, fuck me now,” I beg.
Liquid heat swirls in his gaze, and his hips surge forward, burying his cock to the hilt in one hard stroke. He closes his eyes. His jaw tenses, and he moans, “Fuck, yes.”
I’ve never felt closer to him than in this moment—nothing between us and his baby growing in my belly. I blink back tears, but one escapes.
Lee catches it with his thumb. “Why you cryin’, babe?”
“I never knew I could be this happy.” I sniffle. “You make me happier than I’ve ever been in my life. And it just keeps getting better and better.”
His smile is breathtaking. “Only you, babe. It’s only ever been you.”
He draws his hips back and drives forward again, grinding when pelvis meets pelvis. My clit throbs. He circles his hips once again before pounding into me relentlessly. I meet every thrust, my nails digging into his shoulder blades.
His head tilts to the side. “I need you to get there, babe—I won’t come without you.”
“Close, so close,” I pant.
Then, he drops his head and kisses me with so much love and passion I detonate around him moments before he comes inside of me.
On Monday morning, I’m just finishing up my latest blog post on Charlotte’s Closet about the importance of pockets. I’m very passionate about pockets in my clothing. In fact, I don’t own an outfit that doesn’t have at least two.
Gia knocks on the door before letting herself in. Ari runs in first, Pickles on her heels. I put my laptop away and stand to greet them. “Good morning, ladies. How was your weekend?” I ask, swooping Ari into my arms for a quick snuggle.
“We had a lovely weekend. Didn’t we, Arabella?” Gia says, making her way into the kitchen.
I follow behind her, asking Ari, “Did you do anything special?”
She nods. “I helped Granma make pantakes for bwekfast.” She
beams.
Gia chuckles as she pulls two coffee mugs out of the cupboard. “What she means is she helped Grandma make a big mess.”
I laugh. I never have been fond of cooking with the kids. I can’t handle the mess. It does my head in.
Ari squirms in my arms. “I wanna play with my dollies,” she says, continuing to wriggle.
“Okay, okay. Just give me one more big squeeze first.”
She grins at me and throws her little arms around my neck, squeezing as tight as she can. I place her on her feet, and she takes off to her toy box in the lounge, calling out, “Tum on, Pickles!”
I smile after her, my mind drifting to the tiny human growing inside my belly. I guess Ari won’t be the baby of the family anymore.
Gia goes about making our coffees while I pull out a container of choc-chip cookies I made yesterday and place them on the table. I take a seat before propping my feet on the chair across from me under the table.
“You wouldn’t believe who I had a phone call from this morning,” Gia says, placing a steaming mug in front of me then sitting at the end of the table.
I raise a brow and shrug. “I have no idea.”
She grins, that familiar sparkle in her eye that tells me she knows something juicy. “Why, it was Mrs. Wintergreen. I swear that woman knows everything that goes on in this town. She has grandchildren working all over the place, gathering information for her.”
My brows knit. God, I hope this isn’t going where I think it’s going ...
“And, wouldn’t you know, one of her granddaughters works at the pharmacy on Main Street,” she says, a blinding smile curving her lips.
Yep, it’s totally going there ... Fudge-nuggets.
I say nothing. Not a single word. We stare at each other, me blank-faced, Gia grinning like the cat who got the cream.
Finally, she throws her hands up in the air. “Put me out of my misery already! Are you …” She lowers her voice to a whisper. “… pregnant?”
My lips roll between my teeth, and reluctantly, I nod.
Gia jumps out of her seat, rushes me, and wraps me in a huge hug. “I’m so happy for you, sweetheart!”
I pat her back. “Need to breathe, Gia,” I wheeze.
“Oh, sorry.” She loosens her grip around my neck and eases back, squeezing my shoulders. “I’m getting another grandbaby.” Her eyes glaze over.
“Umm, Gia, you get that this baby isn’t Curt’s, right? So, it’s not your grandchild.”
She drops onto the seat beside me, shakes her head, then smiles softly, reaching for my hand. “You are still a part of our family, Tilly. Any children you have, be they my son’s or Lee’s, as long as they’re yours? They will still be my grandbaby.”
“Oh,” I murmur, once again blinking back tears as I fight to control my emotions. This baby is really doing a number on my hormones. I’ve been so weepy it’s not funny.
Gia smiles brightly. “So, when should we be expecting this new little one?”
“I don’t know. Seven and a half months’ time? I’m seeing my doctor early next week, so we’ll see what he says.”
“Okay, well, you just let me know if you need anything, sweetheart. Do you need someone to watch Miss Arabella when you go to your appointment?” she asks, picking her coffee back up and taking a sip.
I smile. “That would be great. Thank you, G.”
The following week, Lee sits beside me in the waiting room at my doctor’s surgery, his knee bouncing. I glance at him from the corner of my eye. “You okay?”
“Yep, all good over here, babe,” he says.
I nudge him with my elbow. “You sure? You look awfully nervous ...”
He chuckles and shakes his head before his gaze comes to rest on mine. “I’m the furthest thing from nervous, Till. I’m excited.”
My words get stuck in my throat. He’s excited? A smile stretches across my face. I rest a hand on his scruffy cheek and lean in, pressing my lips to his, right there in the middle of the waiting room.
“What was that for?” he asks when I sit back.
I shrug and murmur, “I just love you.”
His lips curve. “I love you too, babe.”
A few minutes later, we’re called up. Lee squeezes my hand as we take our seats across from Dr. McLellan, who eyes us then smiles.
“How are we today, Tilly?” he asks the cursory question.
I lick my lips then grin. “It would appear I’m pregnant again.”
He nods and laces his fingers. “Last cycle?”
“Seven weeks, almost eight ...” I tell him.
He nods again and pulls a little circular chart from his desk drawer, and swivels the top layer around a bit, then announces, “So we’re looking at a due date late in September.”
Lee squeezes my hand again, his knee back to bouncing.
“Should we do a quick ultrasound today? Or would you prefer to wait?” he asks.
“We can see it today?” Lee asks, his eyes wide.
I didn’t tell him that my doctor has an ultrasound machine here. I wanted it to be a surprise, and clearly, it is.
Dr. McLellan smiles at Lee and inclines his head to an unassuming room off the back of his office. “I’ll take that as a yes.” He stands and leads the way through to the small exam room. “You know what to do,” he says to me then excuses himself, drawing a curtain around us.
Kicking off my shoes, I undo the button and zipper of my shorts then climb on the table, tugging my shirt up under my boobs. “Ready,” I call out.
Moments later, we’re staring at a black-and-white screen. I squint because I can’t truly be seeing what I think I’m seeing.
My doctor adjusts the probe on my stomach then glances at us. “Congratulations, you most certainly are pregnant. In fact, you got a two-fer. And judging by their measurements, you’re about seven weeks along. We might need to bring that expected due date forward a little due to it being a twin pregnancy, but we’ll see how you go.”
I blink, then blink again, this time keeping my eyes closed a second longer. But when I open them, nothing has changed. There’re still two little blobs on the monitor. Not one, but two.
My head swings to Lee. I can’t keep the accusation from my tone when I declare, “You have super sperm! Not only did you knock me up while wearing a condom, but… but—” My eyes flick between Lee and the ultrasound screen in disbelief.
Lee’s eyes are just as wide as mine. Then, a slow, satisfied grin curves his lips. “Heck yeah, I do. Twins. Holy shit, babe. We’re having twins.”
Holy shit is right.
I was done at three. How the hell am I going to manage with five?
THREE WEEKS LATER ...
Morning sickness has hit in full force. I’ve been feeling so shitty I didn’t even make it to Lee’s mum’s wedding. Joy was too over-the-moon that I was carrying her first grandbabies to even care that I had to bail on her big day.
I’m lying on the couch while the kids play and nursing some hellish nausea when there’s a knock at the front door. I push to sitting and swing my legs over the side to stand when Lee’s firm hand presses on my shoulder.
“I’ve got it, babe. Lay back down.”
I don’t even try to argue, lifting my feet up again.
Lee swings open the door to Gia, my mother, and his. He smiles at them and quirks a brow. “Ladies, what brings you all here?”
Joy slaps his shoulder and pushes past him. “What a way to greet your mothers,” she huffs with an eye-roll.
He turns to her, jaw slack, as Gia and my mum follow Joy into the lounge room.
“We have presents!” Gia announces, gaining the kids’ attention.
They swarm their grandmothers and the bags they’re toting. They hand each child a wrapped gift, then oddly, Joy sends them to their rooms to open them, saying, “Stay in your rooms until we come get you, okay?”
When we’re alone, they usher Lee over to sit by my legs as they proceed to take a seat on the edge of the c
offee table in front of us. Their eyes sparkle with undiluted delight as my mother presents me with a sparkly silver bag.
I look at it then back to her. “What’s this?”
Gia rolls her eyes, snatches the bag away from me, and opens it herself. She holds up two teeny, tiny white bodysuits—the first says Buy One, the second says, Get One Free. Then, Joy pulls out another set. These ones are navy blue with gold writing. The first: We Solemnly Swear. The next: We Are Up To No Good. And finally, my mum digs in the bag before revealing a third set that both say Womb Mates.
That’s when it dawns on me why they sent the kids to their rooms. We haven’t said anything to them yet, agreeing we wanted to make it through the first trimester before we told them.
“We couldn’t help ourselves,” says Joy. “The moment we found out it was twins we went on a little online shopping spree.”
I’m crying—again. “I love them,” I sob, my hand coming to rest over the little bump protruding from my abdomen. I wasn’t even showing at this stage with my others.
One of Lee’s hands entwines with mine as he takes the outfits with his other. “These are great, guys. You’re spoiling them already, and they’re not even here yet.”
Gia shrugs. “We’re grandmothers. It’s what we do.”
“If you think we’re going to spoil them, just you wait until the kids and Dixie find out,” my mum says, chuckling.
Oh, Lordy. I can only imagine how the kids are going to take the news ...
ONE MONTH LATER ...
Till and I are sitting in my car outside the house after having just had another ultrasound. The grandmothers are inside with the kids, eagerly awaiting the sex of the babies. Apparently, unisex twin outfits just aren’t good enough.
I couldn’t care less about the sex. As long as they’re happy and healthy in there, it’s all good with me. And I told Tilly as much, but she, too, wanted to find out their sex so she could be better prepared.
Lifting our joined hands to my mouth, I press a kiss to the back of Till’s and murmur, “I love you.”
