The Better Brother

by Rye Hart

  She made another moaning sound, and I realized that she was still working herself. “You’re a naughty girl, Bella. You’re still rubbing that hot little pussy, aren’t you?”

  “Yes, it feels so good. Will you come out this weekend?”

  A slow smile spread my lips, and I’d hoped she’d want me to. “For you, I’d do anything.”

  “Good, because I want you to be with me when I go apartment hunting. I don’t feel right spending your money with you not even there, and this way, there will be no reservations about the quality or the location. I’d feel much better about it.”

  “Fine, and we’ll go look for some furniture too, preferably a big bed. Maybe something with a nice headboard where I can tie you up and fuck you.” She moaned and gave a little squeal, and I knew that the idea of it had pushed her over the edge of her next release.

  “I almost feel guilty for feeling excited about it.” She was going to worry about the money until it drove us both mad.

  “Be excited, Bella. Your life is about to change.” In more ways than one.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - BELLA

  It had been two weeks since Reed had bought the small house that he’d insisted on instead of an apartment. I was a little upset, but he’d told me that a house was a much better investment and since he was right, I couldn’t argue. It was still his money.

  I’d spent the entire day at home, waiting for the last of the furniture to be delivered and as the men were carrying it in, I stumbled and fell down the stoop, twisting my ankle in the process. I had been a clumsy fool the entire day, and it had finally caught up with me.

  Luckily, Kayla had stopped by for a visit and was there when it happened, only she’d been in the kitchen unpacking and didn’t see me fall.

  One of the men with the delivery truck had seen it, and he scooped me up and walked me inside. “Kayla!” I called out as I limped into the living room. She came out and saw me holding my weight on the poor delivery man and before she could ask I told her what happened.

  “I think you twisted it pretty good, Miss. You should probably go and get that checked out.”

  “I think he’s right, Bella. I’ll drive.” She turned and gave the man a sympathetic look. “Do you mind helping her to my car?”

  The man had the others help him get my furniture in the house while Kayla got some ice and gathered our handbags.

  The pain was so intense that it was throbbing and I had tears in my eyes.

  “You dinged it pretty badly. You might need a boot.”

  “I’m not going to need an ugly boot. I’ll be fine. It’s just a bruise.” I might have been in denial, but I hated to think the worst.

  “No, it’s swelling pretty good. Do you want me to call Reed?”

  “No, he’ll be here tomorrow. Don’t bother him. I don’t want him trying to make it any earlier.

  “You’re right, as fast as he moves, he’ll be at the hospital before us.” She let out a soft laugh, but she was right. Things had moved so quickly with Reed that even I couldn’t believe it, but things were also going too well to worry.

  We ended up in the waiting room for a half hour, surrounded by people with the summer flu. I had gotten nauseous from the pain by the time they had called me back.

  We got into the room just in time for me to grab the waste basket and dry heave into it.

  Kayla held my hair back and then placed me in a chair as the woman got the blood pressure cuff ready. “You wouldn’t happen to be pregnant, would you?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous, she’s only hurt her ankle.”

  “Actually, I’m a couple of days late, which isn’t usually that big of a deal. I’ve been late before, and I’m just getting back on my pills.”

  “You were off your pills?” The nurse asked with a smile that told me she thought I was pregnant.

  I thought back to the first weekend with Reed, and my stomach turned. I grabbed the basket and heaved again, this time expelling my lunch. No way. It was impossible, wasn’t it? I mean, that firsts night my last pill should have been working and then after he’d always been careful. I’d started my pills again too.

  “Let’s give you a pregnancy test while you’re here and then we’ll know what kind of pain meds we can give you and what kind of precautions to take during X-ray. You can’t be too careful, and I think you’ve got a nasty sprain.”

  Kayla’s eyes widened, but she waited for the nurse to leave. “What the fuck, Bella? Do you think you could be?”

  I was suddenly as scared as she looked.

  “I’m afraid there is a possibility.” I thought about Reed and what he would think, and then Kayla covered her mouth.

  “Shit, Bella. You don’t think it could be Gavin’s, do you? I mean, you were just leaving him when you met Reed.”

  Bile rose in my throat at the thought, but thankfully I knew better. “No, I’d stopped sleeping with him that last month. The last time we’d had sex was about a week before the art expo. But let’s see before we alert the media.”

  The nurse came in and drew some blood and left the room again and then they took me to Radiology where they treated me like an expectant mother, taking every precaution as they examined my foot.

  They sent me back to my tiny room with Kayla, and she held my hand to keep both of us from being too nervous.

  “Reed will be happy, I’m sure. He’ll be understanding no matter what happens.” I wanted to believe that, but Gavin hadn’t wanted children, and though Reed seemed a little more open to the idea, the two of us also hadn’t talked about it. I knew he’d do the right thing and take care of me if I was, and he’d provide for our child. But with our relationship so new, it might be too much for him.

  I placed my hand on my tummy and closed my eyes as the nurse came back into the room. I opened my eyes and could tell by the look on her face on that she knew my results. “The doctor is on her way, and she’s seen the X-rays. She’s also got your results, so she’ll discuss those with you.”

  I opened my mouth to beg her for the results when a short, curly-haired blonde walked into the room with a white coat and comfortable shoes. She pulled up a stool and lowered herself into it and wheeled it right in front of me. “I’m Dr. Jenson, I guess you’ve been on pins and needles, but I’m going to start with what you came in here for. The good news is there are no broken bones, but there are a couple of torn ligaments. Because of the severity, you’ll have to wear a boot for a couple of weeks, but the good news is, I don’t think you’ll need any surgery. I’m going to recommend something for pain, which leads me to my next diagnosis.” She scratched her head and took a deep breath. “I’m assuming that since you came in here for an ankle that you weren’t expecting to be expecting, correct?”

  “I’m pregnant?” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

  “Yeah, and by the looks of it, you’re still early, but you need to find yourself an obstetrician and seek care immediately.”

  “Are you okay, Bella?” Kayla twisted her hands in front of her and chewed her lip.

  “I’m fine. I’ll call Reed as soon as we’re out of here.”

  “Reed is the father, I assume?” The doctor scribbled into my file and then passed the papers off to the nurse who whispered her congratulations as she hurried out of the room.

  “Yes. It’s a bit of a surprise.”

  “Well, congratulations, Bella. Tell Reed the same and stay off that ankle.” The doctor left, and I sat in a daze thinking about what I would tell Reed.

  After giving me some more instructions and fitting me with my boot, the nurse got us out of there wheeling me down in a chair so that I wouldn’t have to use my new crutches the whole way.

  “I’ll be out of work for a week. I can’t run the shop like this or travel to the sales.” Things were sinking in as I thought out loud as I got into the car.

  “You are dating a wealthy man—scratch that, you’re carrying his child. I think a little time off work and fewer dollars are going to be oka
y. I’ll be shocked if he lets you keep working.”

  “Let’s me? I think you sent the women’s movement back like fifty years with that comment. I’m going to work and if I choose not to it will my doing and not because he made me.” My tone was a little uglier than I expected.

  “Whatever, all I’m saying is, why worry about it? You’ll be fine. They baby will be fine.”

  “The baby?” I put my hand over my stomach as tears pooled in my eyes. “I can’t tell Reed over the phone. I’ll tell him when he gets here tomorrow.”

  I just wish I knew how he’d react.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - REED

  I had sped to the airport and couldn’t wait for the flight to be over so I could get to Bella. The window of opportunity was closing in fast, and I would have to take another approach soon. My first step was buying her house and getting her set up so we’d have more privacy.

  I longed for the times we’d be together and hoped that before long we’d be together all the time. I had considered a ring but thought it might be a bit soon to ask her. That was something that could wait, but not too long if it’s what it would take to make me a father.

  I arrived at Bella’s house, eager to see the place fully furnished and try out the new bed. We’d been using a blow-up mattress the past couple of times I’d been over, but the bed I’d custom-ordered had arrived the day before with a few other things. Bella had been tired when I called the night before and knowing she’d had a rough one, I encouraged her to go to sleep. She’d had the sniffles and been so zoned out, that I was worried she’d come down with a cold or the damned summer flu.

  I put my key in the door and went inside, but Bella wasn’t there to greet me. “Bella?” I threw down my keys and went to the kitchen, but she wasn’t there either. Wondering if she was sick, I headed to the bedroom, but then when I saw that the bed was not assembled, I turned around and found her tucked in and sound asleep on the sofa.

  She looked so peaceful and beautiful that I walked across the room and knelt at her side. I pushed her hair away from her face; her face was flushed, her lips appearing much darker than usual. I leaned in and kissed her forehead, and she stirred, pulling her arms up to stretch and yawn.

  “Reed?” she said in a sleepy voice.

  “Yeah, did you forget I was coming today? It’s after six. Are you hungry?” She pushed the blanket off of her and confusion creased my brow.

  “What’s that?” I examined her foot which was stuck inside a medical boot.

  “It’s fine. It’s nothing.” She waved her hand like she didn’t want me to make a big deal of it, but I was growing angrier by the minute wondering why she hadn’t told me.

  “What happened to you and when? Why haven’t you told me?” I tried to keep my cool, but that wasn’t my strong suit.

  “Stop yelling at me.” She gave me a hard glare and took a deep breath. “I was helping the delivery men into the house and stepped on the stoop wrong. I twisted my ankle, and it’s sprained.”

  “And you didn’t tell me because?”

  “Because I didn’t want you to kill yourself getting here and I’ve been so tired.” She yawned and rubbed her eyes. “Besides, I had something else to tell you, and I wanted to tell you in person.”

  She stared at the floor, and her hands wrung together like she was twisting a rag.

  “Tell me.” I braced myself, wondering if it was what I’d longed to hear from her or if it was something else. It was the longest two minutes of my life as she gathered the strength to tell me.

  “Reed, I’m pregnant.” She opened her eyes and found me smiling. A look of confusion washed over her.

  “You are? You’re sure?” My chest swelled with pride, and I felt the relief of knowing my financial stability was intact for at least the rest of my life. I felt like I had everything all of a sudden; a wonderful girlfriend who I adored, my little heir in the oven, and my fortune to take care of us all.

  “Yes. Are you really happy? I didn’t know if you would be.” She placed her hand on her tummy, and it hit me.

  Fuck. She was carrying my baby. Mine; a life I created.

  “I’m happier than I can even explain, right now, Bella. The happiest man alive.” I realized that it wasn’t about the money, either. It was about this amazing woman who was carrying a baby for us to love together for the rest of our lives. I realized I wanted to do that with her too. I wanted to be a father to this baby, and be the man my own father had never been.

  I pulled Bella into my arms. “Are you happy, Bella?”

  She let out a sigh. “I’m not sure what I am. I know it sounds horrible, but I’m scared to death. I know I wanted this in the past, but now I just wanted time for me...” she trailed off.

  I felt a sinking feeling in my gut. “Are you saying you don’t want this baby?” I asked.

  “No, Reed, I want it, I do. I just feel so confused. It’s not a good time for me is all I’m trying to say.”

  I turned my back to her and walked away a few paces. She followed behind me and continued talking. “Reed, it’s all just happening so fast.”

  “I need you to be completely honest with me, Bella. Tell me how you feel.” I was an inch from her face, and I could feel her breath with every heave of her breasts.

  “I’m scared you’re going to realize how fast it is and leave me once the novelty of this wears off. Or that you’ll think I’ve done this to trap you. I swear I haven’t. I wouldn’t do that to you.” Her words were like a punch in the gut. I’d trapped her. I’d done all of this on purpose. I realized in that moment that I could never tell her or I’d lose her.

  “I know you wouldn’t. I’m not going anywhere. I love you, Bella. I’m going to take care of you.”

  She collapsed against me, and I lifted her up and took her into the bedroom where our brand-new mattresses were stacked in a corner ready for use. I stepped around the disassembled headboard. “Looks like I’ve got my work cut out for me.”

  “I’m sorry. I hurried them out when I twisted my ankle.”

  I let out a long calming breath. “I’m glad you’re okay. You promise me, no matter what, that you won’t keep something like that from me again.” I hooked my finger into her shorts and tugged them down, and she put her hand on her tummy again and then met my eyes.

  “I promise. We both do.” She smiled, and I dropped her shorts and crushed my mouth against hers, kissing her deep before trailing down to her breasts which I cupped over her shirt before I slipped my hand beneath it and found her nipples.

  A moan escaped her mouth, and she rolled her hips upward. “Those are so sensitive. I think it’s the pregnancy.”

  “I’m going to have fun knowing that.” I brought my mouth to one and suckled and then let my teeth drag along the underside of them and down to her tummy where I kissed the soft skin that would soon stretch for my baby.

  “Do you want a son or a daughter?” She tilted her head and glanced down at herself.

  “I’d like a healthy heir. That’s all that matters to me. They’ll be amazing like their mother and loved either way.”

  “I feel the same, but I’m partial to the idea of a son. I’d like to have a little Reed running around,” she said.

  I trailed my mouth down farther, and she squealed out in pleasure.

  “Is this more sensitive too?” I pushed a finger into her already dripping slit.

  She hissed out a breath and arched her back. “I hope you’ll like my new body. You should enjoy the skinny me while you can.” She made a face, and I wasn’t sure she was happy about the impending changes.

  “You’ll always be sexy to me, Bella.” I pushed her shirt up, and she helped me slip it over her head. When I had her good and naked, I stood up, letting my gaze linger on her body as I undressed. “You’ll tell me if that ankle hurts, even if I’m about to come.”

  “I promise, but I have a feeling you’re about to make all my pain go away.” She put her arms around me and pulled me close, centering her sli
t against my cock and stroking it up and down with her juices coating it.

  I couldn’t wait to come inside her again and again, and I reached down and centered my cock against her sopping wet snatch and pushed against it. “You’ll tell me if I hurt you.”

  “I will.” She rolled her eyes and lifted her hips, taking my cock halfway in one thrust. Then she leaned up to my ear. “I promise, I won’t break.”

  CHAPTER NINETEEN - BELLA

  I didn’t want him to be gentle, but I knew if I encouraged him to be brutal with me, that he’d lose his shit. He was going to be so protective now that he’d drive me crazy before nine months was up. I’d have to settle with a milder encouragement.

  “I swear I won’t break, Reed. You won’t hurt the baby. It’s very safe in there.” I wrapped my ankles around his hips and pulled him deeper, his cock spreading me nice and wide around it, my tender channel gripping him, milking him with my motions. I couldn’t be still.

  His cock worked in me nice and slow, and at this pace, I wasn’t going to come anytime soon. “Please, Reed. Fuck me harder.” He growled and sped up, lifting my leg with the boot up over his shoulder.

  “I’m trying to be gentle with my little mama.” He gave me a smoldering smile and then thrust harder and picked up his pace. “You want it like that?”

  “Yes, please. Fuck me. Please, Daddy.”

  His eyes flashed as a smile spread his lips. “That’s so much dirtier than you think, and I want you to call me that from now on.” He rubbed a hand against my bare mound grinding his thumb against my clit as he worked me. He picked up the pace until he was pounding into me nice and steady and sure enough, my orgasm consumed me, taking away all my other senses as I soaked him.

  Usually, he’d edge his release for me, but with me in my delicate condition in his mind, and with the clumsy boot on my foot, he didn’t hold back. His release followed shortly after mine and he ground himself hard against me, and I felt the tingle, and his pulsing cock as his load shot into me.