by Delilah Hunt
To her surprise, he picked her up and carried her to the couch. Matthew knelt in front of her and pushed her legs apart.
“What are you doing?”
Lifting the hem of her dress, he peeled it over her belly button. His fingers hooked into the band of her plain underwear. “I’m going to lick your pussy.”
Oh God, was he blind? She had no waistline to speak of and he probably wouldn’t even see her face above her big belly. Feeling churlish and unsexy, Zara tried to close her legs. “Go away, Matthew.”
He pried her legs apart preventing her from closing them and hiding from him. “Stop fighting me,” he rasped, looking up at her while removing her panties. He slipped it beyond her ankles and Zara felt her entire face heat when Matthew drew in a breath, gazing at her with tenderness.
“Let me do this for you, Z.” He rolled her clit between his fingertips. “It’s so full and ripe, sweet girl. I bet you were just aching for a touch, weren’t you?”
“I was,” she admitted on a whisper. How could she lie when his fingers felt like heaven on her pussy?
A soft kiss landed at the spot where her stomach curved below her belly button and two fingers slid in and out of her cunt.
“Does that feel good?” He pinched her clit and Zara lifted her hips, crying out. “Again, Matthew.”
He paused and looked up at her. He was now petting her pussy with the back of his fingers. “Hush. What you really want is my mouth on your pussy. Isn’t that right?”
Zara sank her teeth into her lips and pushed closer to his face. “Please do it. Please lick my pussy.”
He lowered his head and placed a delicate kiss on her clit. “Zara.”
“Hmm?” She closed her eyes and leaned her head into the couch. Another kiss in between her folds and she heard him whisper. “Your pussy tastes so sweet..”
She said nothing, only splayed her thighs in a welcoming invitation. Strong fingers spread her pussy lips apart and Matthew went to work with his tongue, licking in between her labia. Zara writhed above him, bucking her hips when his tongue dipped inside her cunt, mimicking the thrusting motion of his cock.
“Ooh, don’t stop, Matthew.”
His arms went around her waist, holding her still above his tongue. Her legs trembled and she knew she was close to coming all over him. “Going to c-c-come soon,” she sobbed.
No mercy.
Matthew licked at her opening and held her harder, lapping up the fluids she knew had to be trickling from her cunt. Her senses reeled. He didn’t mind the taste of her. Seemed to love it. Zara gripped his hair and screamed, her body shaking with lust.
His strokes gentled and finally he stood, sitting beside her. He held her close to him. “I’m going to take care of you, Z. I promise.”
She looked over at him, wanting to reassure him that she expected no false promises that would later be broken by guilt of getting too close to her. The delicate kiss he dropped at the side of her head however kept her silent.
Chapter Eight
Matthew exited the supply store, encountering a piercing blast of winter air. Two days into the month of November and the ground and roads were already covered by snow and melting ice, which crunched beneath his boots with each step.
Each day since the first snowfall he kept meaning to broach the subject of Zara moving into the ranch house. The idea of her driving out into the snow to reach the hospital on the other side of town made him ill with worry, panic.
Although he visited her a couple days a week and called her just about every night to make sure everything was fine, she was determined to keep him at arm’s length despite the promising turn of events from two months ago.
Can’t blame her.
He was glad she wanted him to play a significant role in all of this. Seeing her on those visits, even if she made sure their conversations geared strictly toward the baby, it was still a blessing to his ego. There was no guile or strategizing involved with the conception of their child.
Unlike the blow to his pride he had suffered when his wife had suggested she was willing to have a child with him to prevent the divorce. Dumbfounded, by the callousness of her statement, they had argued until she’d made the decision to leave for a few days to give him time to think and realize that he was being selfish giving up on his marriage because of a crush on a girl who would never fit into his life.
Matthew brushed away the memory. How ironic it was that Zara fit into his life more than Kristin ever had. Zara wanted him with a passion that no other woman did. It was Zara who was always asking him how his day was, if he was all right, despite her being the one seven months pregnant.
Matthew crossed the street. Ahead he caught sight of Zara walking down the sidewalk, her hand tight around the handle of a white, paper shopping bag. A slow smile spread across his lips.
So, she had decided to wear the green maternity coat he’d bought her two weeks ago as a “friendly gesture” instead of sticking it away in her closet. Unaware of him, Zara tugged at the light pink scarf around her neck. Her hand slackened on the bag and he watched as she stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, her lips parting in pain and her hand holding below where belly protruded from the winter coat.
He broke into a sprint and was beside her in a second. “What’s wrong?” He lowered his head to search her face.
Startled, she looked up and straightened, placing her hand to her side. “What are you doing here?” She darted a glance over her shoulder.
Matthew frowned. “Never mind what I’m doing here. I saw you holding your stomach. Are you hurt? Is it the baby?”
Her forehead crinkled and the briefest hint of a grin played across her lips. “Yes, it’s the baby. I’m not hurt, but you might want tell little Caldwell that my bladder is not something that needs to be kicked every ten minutes.”
“Hmm. Kid isn’t even out yet and he’s already in trouble.” Matthew winked at her, playing along with her suspicions that the baby was a boy. Zara had chosen not to find out the gender.
She giggled and the shadow he’d detected in her eyes faded with her laughter. “Big trouble. And he’s been keeping me up. Little guy just won’t sleep at night.”
“All right, Z. But if anything’s wrong you have to let me know.” He grazed his knuckle across her cheek. “No joke. I’m serious. You and the baby are my first priority.”
She arched her eyebrows and her smiled died. “The baby, Matthew. You mean the baby is your first priority.” Zara walked away.
She couldn’t believe that he didn’t care about her. In a single stride he caught up to her.
“What’s wrong with you today? You know damn well the baby isn’t my only concern.”
She took a deep breath. “It’s nothing. I just wanted to enjoy the day, but now…well.” She lifted her shoulders and the shadow returned in her eyes. “I’ll talk to you later, Matthew. I have a few more things I want to buy before I go home.”
He glanced down at the bag and recognized it was from the small baby store he’d passed by on numerous occasions.
“You started shopping for the baby?” The stark reality of it warmed him from the inside out. Zara really wanted this baby. His baby.
She nodded. “There’s a sale going on in Macy’s. It’s about time I started getting things ready. A few things for the moment.”
Matthew felt dumb. He hadn’t purchased a single item for his child. He looked back at where his truck was parked. He needed to return to the ranch, but leaving Zara to shop by herself for their unborn child didn’t feel right. He needed to be with her, wanted to be with her, and this gave him all the more reason to do so.
“Do you mind if I tag along?”
Her gaze swung over her shoulder again. “I’m not sure if that’s such a good idea. It’ll probably take me awhile to get everything.”
“I thought you said it was just a few items.”
“Yes, but—”
Matthew reached for her hand and took the bag from her. “I’m comin
g.”
“I don’t think—”
Matthew gave her a pointed stare. “I said I’m coming with you. No arguments, Z.”
“Fine.”
They walked in silence with Matthew stealing glances at her whenever possible. How could he have thought her looks average? Her face was a smidgen rounder from gaining weight and her lips were glossy, the bottom lips appearing slightly fuller than the top. God, she was stunning. He wanted to press her to the wall of the building they were passing and kiss her until she begged him to…
Damn, he needed to leave her alone.
She had to be uncomfortable as it was with the baby kicking her all over. The last thing she would want was attention from his prick, no matter how gentle he would fuck her.
She was hurrying, or trying to.
He smiled to himself. Was it horrible that he received pleasure from seeing her in this state? He lowered his gaze to her stomach and his cock throbbed. If Zara really was his girl, he had a feeling this would become a natural state for her before long. Matthew resisted the urge to groan thinking of her waiting in bed for him each night, her thighs parted, cunt gaping open and ready to take in a fresh load of semen.
Yeah, he was sick.
Pushing away those thoughts, Matthew glanced over at her again, not liking the way her eyes appeared distant. He stepped in front of her, tucking a strand of unruly hair inside her fluffy white hat.
She shied away from him. Matthew frowned. “What’s bothering you, sweet girl?”
“Have you told anyone about the baby?” she asked brusquely. “Apart from your cousin, did you tell anyone else?”
Was he supposed to? Zara knew he disliked sharing his private life with others, knew that was part of the reason he cherished living on the ranch and didn’t keep too many friends. “I didn’t tell a soul. Did you want me to?’
She shook her head. “No. I haven’t said anything to anyone either, except for a few people at the office.”
Matthew raised his eyebrows. Something was missing here and she didn’t seem keen on filling him in. She shook her head and smiled, although it didn’t quite reach her somber eyes.
“Don’t worry about it. It would just be nice if people around here knew how to mind their own business.”
He knew Krissy had mentioned certain aspects of their marriage to her friends and he’d even overheard her mentioning Zara’s name over the phone. Naturally that had led to another argument as he’d tried time and time again to explain to her that Zara was just a friend and even if she wasn’t, she was not the source of their issues.
So, how many people had bought into the gossip and accusations? Had they said anything to her face?
“What have they been saying about you?”
She tilted her head to the side, regarding him. “What haven’t they said about me?” Matthew stiffened. She laughed in an awkward manner and grabbed his hand. “Come on. I don’t want to talk about this.”
They entered the department store and headed straight for the baby section. “I want to buy some neutral colors,” she said, turning to him. “Just in case I’m wrong about the gender. Which color do you prefer, green or yellow?”
Matthew blinked. “Why?”
“Because I’d like for you to have a say in everything our child does, even the little things.” She crinkled her forehead and stared at him. “We’re in this together, aren’t we?”
Together. He must have waited too long to answer because she sighed and stepped away from him.
“I meant as parents, Matthew.”
He hurried to her, stilling her gait toward a rack. “Yellow. I like that color.” Matthew thumbed her chin. “And yes. It’s you and me in this forever.” His hand dropped to her stomach. “Don’t ever forget that.”
She pursed her lips and nodded, flitting through the hangers of clothing that looked small enough to cloth a child’s doll. Her gaze landed on a pale yellow one piece with duck-shaped, footed bottoms, and her eyes lit up.
The thing was so tiny, Matthew had to ask, “Are you sure the baby’s going to fit in that?”
She quirked her brows. “I know my stomach isn’t exactly small, but trust me. Our baby won’t come out the size of a football player. It’ll fit.”
Matthew looked down at her stomach from between the buttons she had opened in her jacket. “You’re right it’s not small, but it looks cute and I like seeing you like this.”
“Fat with a big stomach?”
He shook his head. His throat felt tight, like it was hard to breathe being so close to her. “Ripe,” Matthew grated. “From your sweet little body accepting my seed.”
Dare he?
Matthew kissed her lips. She stiffened. “You look so adorable like this, Z. Makes me think of laying you on my bed and pumping into you every day. Would it be so bad if I kept you like this?” He rubbed his hand on her belly.
He heard a low intake of breath and finally she relaxed against him. He wanted to hold her forever. He clasped her to him, caressing her back.
I love you.
There it was. He loved Zara Whitley. He’d admitted it to himself and waited for the overwhelming sense of guilt to intercept his joy, for Kristin’s face to surface with tears in her eyes condemning him.
It didn’t. He felt free. A freedom he hadn’t felt in years, even before his wife’s death.
The sound of approaching footsteps and laughter on the other section of the aisle stopped him from kissing her again. Zara sauntered away from him, returning to her search through the clothing.
Unsure what to look for or even what the baby might need, Matthew scanned the section in pretense. He fingered a light orange burp cloth, his hands curling into the material at the sound of a woman’s voice. His lips curled in annoyance. Doctor Arlen’s wife, Beverly, and he could hear her loud and clear.
“She got herself knocked up. I hear she’s even gone so far as naming poor Matt Caldwell as the father. After everything that man has been through.”
His jaw clenched and every nerve in his body seethed with anger. Matthew heard Mrs. Arlen’s companion suck in her breath.
“The girl has absolutely no shame,” Mrs. Arlen continued, apparently bolstered by the dramatics of her friend. She huffed some more. “If he’s smart he’ll do a DNA test as soon as that baby is born.”
She paused and both women laughed. The companion jumped in this time. “Probably won’t even need one as soon as he gets one look at her baby. If you know what I mean. Not that anyone would even believe for one minute that he was her baby’s father.”
Mrs. Arlen grumbled something he didn’t make out then said, “Maybe she’ll take her child and move out of town, leaving that poor man in peace to move on with his life without her hovering around him.”
Matthew turned toward Zara. Her hands shook as she folded and refolded the baby clothes with her back to him.
“Zara.”
He reached for her hand, but she shook her head and tightened her hold on the items. She kept her eyes on the clothes and he saw a wet splotch fall onto the yellow duck-footed sleeper she was so excited about.
She turned to him, using a finger to wipe below her eye. She took a deep breath and said almost inaudibly, “I didn’t think she was going to come inside this store.” She raised her lashes to look at him. “I didn’t want you to hear that.”
“That’s why you were so upset earlier?” he asked, trying to contain his fury for her sake. “What did she say to you?”
She lifted a shoulder and turned her attention to the baby clothing. “Same thing you’ve said to me. That I need to leave you alone to grieve your wife. Stop pushing myself on you.” Her hands stilled then she spun around to face him. “I’m sure you’ve noticed I haven’t asked you for a single thing. I don’t even drive by the ranch anymore. I don’t mind you coming over to my apartment because I do want you to be involved, but there’s no way you or anyone can accuse me of pushing myself on you.”
Sighing, she told him. �
��I think I’m finished in here anyway. Do you mind if I just pay for these and head home? I want to be alone. I think it’s better that way.”
Matthew blocked her path. The hell it was. “No. It’s not better that way.” He took hold of her hand. “Let’s go.”
They cut across the aisle. The two women had their backs turned, chattering away. Matthew tightened his hold on Zara’s hand and coughed.
The women pivoted toward him. “Why, Matt.” Mrs. Arlen’s close-set eyes widened and her greeting came to a halt the moment she saw Zara standing beside him. The other woman’s mouth hung open before she closed it. Her face became red and a flicker of panic glinted in her eyes.
“Afternoon, ladies.”
They nodded, issuing him a tight-lipped smile. Matthew narrowed his eyes. “I take it you’ve heard the news then.”
“What news would that be, dear?” Mrs. Arlen asked with saccharine sweetness.
Matthew chuckled and drew Zara closer to him. “Not sure which other Matt Caldwell there is around here, but this one won’t be needing a DNA test anytime in the future, regardless of how many children Zara and I have.”
Mrs. Arlen’s face turned bright red and she took a step backward. “Matt, we were merely—”
“Being nosy? Spreading gossip where there isn’t any?”
Beside him, Zara remained still, despite his heated mention of future children with her. At least she didn’t jump away in outrage.
The other woman’s eyes shifted to Zara’s hand and Matthew was astonished that they still sought fodder for their gossip.
“I take it you’re getting married?” She looked at Zara’s stomach. “Before the baby arrives.”
To Matthew’s surprise and pleasure, Zara snorted low. “Were you two expecting invitations?”
Mrs. Arlen guffawed. “There’s no need to be rude. It was a simple question.”
