Unexpectedly Expecting!

by Susan Mallery

  He slowly lowered himself to his knees, all the while trailing kisses down her belly. When he reached the triangle of silk covering her feminine place, he tugged it along the length of her legs, then supported her while she stepped out of it.

  “Sit down,” he urged, and she did as he requested.

  She knew what would happen next. She caught her breath in anticipation even as she stretched out on the bed with her legs still hanging off the side.

  He stroked her legs from ankle to thigh. The layer of sheer silk added an erotic element to his touch. Up and down, up and down, never getting very close to the apex, leaving her hungry and restless.

  “Touch me,” she breathed. “Touch me like you did before.”

  He did as she requested. As his hands continued to slid up and down her legs, his mouth covered her most private place. His tongue sought and found that tiny point of pleasure and he traced it, circling slowly, deliberately. He gave her long, slow licks and short, fast, teasing flicks. Touching, not touching, kissing, nibbling, blowing lightly, then sliding two fingers into her.

  He kissed her from above and stroked her from below, focusing all of his attention on her pleasure. Slowly at first, then moving faster and faster until she was out of control and gasping for breath.

  Her release was unexpected. One second she’d been reaching, straining, muscles tense and shaking. The next she was falling, every cell in her body giving itself up to the moment of sheer perfection. Emotions worked to the surface, but she held them in by a supreme force of will. Words hovered on the tip of her tongue, but when she would have spoken them, she reached for him and drew him up, kissing him instead.

  And then they were on the mattress, touching each other. Her hands were everywhere. She needed to be close to him, to pleasure him as he’d pleasured her. He pulled off his slacks and briefs, exposing his heavy arousal. She couldn’t help rubbing him lightly.

  He groaned as she stroked up and down along his length.

  “You’re going to kill me,” he muttered, shifting onto his back and urging her to straddle him.

  She still wore the garter belt and stockings. As she slowly lowered herself onto him, he found the hook holding her bra in place and unfastened it. His hands cupped her curves just as she took all of him inside of her.

  He was large and thick, filling her completely. Her first instinct was to move, but she also wanted to enjoy the sensation of being so connected with him. They stared into each other’s eyes, then she bent down and he stretched up as they kissed.

  His hands slipped to her hips, urging her to move. She did as he silently requested, sliding up and down, making them both groan. She was still swollen and sensitive from her recent release. The feel of him inside of her was too intense and she felt herself collecting for another climax.

  As if reading her mind…or perhaps her body…he deepened the kiss at the same time he cupped her breasts. Long fingers held her curves and stroked her nipples. It was more than she could stand. She tightened around him and cried out as pleasure filled her.

  Involuntarily she quickened the pace. They continued to kiss, his hands moved on her breasts. Between her thighs, the magic occurred again. With each deep thrust she found herself falling into pleasure, over and over until she felt as if she’d lost control of her body. He was making this happen and she never wanted him to stop.

  Finally he gave one last deep surge and was still. She shuddered around him, drawing his release from him, making them both gasp and cry out in a moment of perfect connection.

  Later, when they’d both caught their breath and he’d finished undressing her, Stephen drew Nora under the covers and settled next to her. He held her cradled in his arms, enjoying the feel of her body next to his. Their lovemaking had been extraordinary—just as it had been the first couple of times. But there had been a different element. Was it because they were married?

  He told himself that didn’t matter. He hadn’t married Nora because he loved her but because it was the right thing to do for their child. He hadn’t really broken his promise to Courtney—the one he made on her deathbed when he’d sworn to never love anyone else.

  The familiar guilt filled him, reminding him that all the promises in the world wouldn’t bring Courtney back to him. She had died because he’d insisted she have the baby. As always, the reality of the situation confused him. If he hadn’t insisted, she would have gotten rid of the baby—so he still would have had that death on his hands. He couldn’t find his way out of the circumstances in such a way that everything worked out right.

  He told himself he had to find a way to let the past go. He had a new life now. A part of his heart would always be devoted to Courtney and his son, but there were other souls to consider.

  Nora lay curled up next to him, her head resting on his shoulder, her knee on his thigh. He stroked the arm resting on his chest.

  “Have you thought about where we’re going to live?” he asked.

  She raised her head and looked at him. Confusion darkened her eyes. “No. But it’s something we have to discuss. I hadn’t realized there would be changes, but I guess that happens when one gets married.”

  “Usually.” He dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “My place is too small, especially with a baby on the way. Yours would be all right until the birth. I was thinking that we should buy a house together.”

  A smile tugged at her mouth. “I guess separate residences are out of the question.”

  “Absolutely. You’re my wife and I intend to keep you firmly under my control.”

  Well-shaped eyebrows rose toward her hairline. “You can’t be serious.”

  “Not for a second. But I do want us to live together.”

  She settled back on his shoulder and sighed. “All right. If you can stand a few weeks of lace and frills, why don’t you move into my place while we start house-hunting for something we both like.”

  She said all the right things, but he felt her tense as she spoke.

  He turned, rolling her onto her back. He pressed one hand against her still-flat belly, as if he could feel the tiny life growing inside.

  “I know this isn’t how you planned things,” he said. “But if we have the same goals and expectations, we can make our marriage successful.”

  “You want to draw up a five-year plan?”

  “Maybe. In the meantime I want to do whatever it takes to make you happy.”

  She looked away. “Be careful with words like that. They might go to my head.”

  Her voice sounded strange as she spoke, but he couldn’t figure out what was wrong. “Nora, I hope you know that I care about you very much. You’re a special woman and I’m happy to have you in my life. I think we’re going to enjoy many good years together.”

  She swallowed, then gave him a teasing smile. “You sure know how to sweep a girl off her feet.”

  Something was bothering her, but he didn’t know what. Had he said something he shouldn’t? Did she want—

  But before he could figure out what she might or might not want from him, she drew his hand from her belly to her breast. “Kiss me,” she whispered.

  The feel of her soft skin and the temptation of her mouth was too much. He bent toward her, all thoughts of conversation forgotten.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “A re you mad?” Nora asked her mother the following Monday morning.

  She’d called Hattie when they’d arrived back from Las Vegas the previous night and her mother had met her at the shop first thing that morning.

  Hattie sat in one of the straight-backed chairs in the waiting area. As usual she was dressed in jeans and a shirt, looking far younger than her fifty-plus years. She gazed at her daughter. “I’m not angry at all.”

  Nora believed her, but she still felt compelled to explain her reasons for eloping. “We knew we had to move quickly, because of the baby and all and I didn’t want to take away from Jack and Katie’s day.”

  “Of course you didn’t.” Her mot
her gave her a warm look. “Despite your reputation for being prickly, you’re actually a very softhearted woman. I’m pleased you and Stephen decided to get married. I think it’s the right thing to do. However, I want you to be sure this is what you want.”

  Nora twisted the diamond band on her left hand. The ring was still unfamiliar, but then so was being married. She thought of fifteen different ways to hedge the truth, then figured there wasn’t much point.

  “I’m not sure,” she admitted. “About anything. The only thing I absolutely know is that I want to have this baby.”

  “You’re doing that, so you should be happy.”

  Nora smiled at her mother. “Yes, but there’s a six-foot man who wants to tag along. He’s the something I don’t know what to do about. I haven’t told him how I feel because he doesn’t want to hear it.”

  Hattie picked up her daughter’s left hand and studied the diamond ring. Nora knew that her father had given Hattie a simple gold band on their wedding day and that she’d worn it until just a few years ago.

  Nora remembered being a little girl and finding out that her father had walked out on his family. Everyone had been devastated, but her mother had kept them all together, focusing on the future and their feelings for one another. She hadn’t let the family fall apart. Not even when money was tight and cattle prices falling.

  “Love is a tricky thing,” Hattie told her, squeezing her fingers then releasing them. “Our hearts don’t always listen to reason, but our heads have to. Sometimes there’s a battle. Do what’s best for the baby, but also what’s best for you, Nora. You have a responsibility to look out for yourself.”

  “I know.” She turned her mother’s words over in her mind. “For now I guess the best path is to try being married to Stephen.”

  “I agree. So give him a chance to be a good husband. I know a little about his past—that he was married before.”

  Nora was surprised. “He told you that?”

  “Yes. When he was first treating me.” Her mother shrugged. “I was feeling sorry for myself after my riding accident. I think he shared his past to snap me out of my self-pity. Hey, it worked.” She touched her daughter’s arm. “The point is he’s done the husband thing before. I suspect he’s going to feel some guilt and confusion about what is and isn’t allowed in your relationship. It will take him a while to get used to being part of a couple again. Give him that time. He has a lot to offer both you and the baby. If you give up on him too soon, I suspect you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”

  Nora knew that her mother’s advice was sound, but she didn’t know how long she could live with being second best. Worse, in a battle between herself and Courtney, she was never going to win. How could she compete with a brilliant surgeon who was also petite and pretty and dozens of other wonderful things? If Courtney hadn’t died, Stephen would still be happily married to her.

  “He’ll be a good father to your child,” Hattie said.

  “I know. That’s one of the reasons I married him. I know he’s a good man. I just don’t know if he’s willing to be the right one for me.”

  Her mother opened her mouth to say something else, but before she could speak, the front door of the shop flew open and a half dozen women charged into the reception area. Jill and Kathy led the way, followed by several clients. Mrs. Arnold, Mrs. Gelson and even Myrna Nelson stood beaming at her.

  “We all heard,” Jill said, stepping forward and giving her a hug. “Congratulations.”

  Nora wondered who had started the rumor. “News travels fast around here.”

  “Especially good news,” Myrna said, moving past Jill to offer her own hug. “I knew something was up when the two of you came to visit me. Sparks were flying all around my kitchen.” She arched her penciled brows. “I’m happy for you, my dear. You’re a sweet girl and you deserve some happiness.”

  The sincere words brought tears to Nora’s eyes, but she blinked them back. She accepted the good wishes from all the women, then urged Jill and Kathy to move to their stations and start the day. Hattie rose to leave.

  “Good luck with all the talk,” her mother said. “I’ll forgive you for eloping as long as you promise to bring your new husband to dinner tomorrow night.”

  “We’ll be there.”

  She waved and watched her mother leave. Then she turned to find several pairs of eyes focused on her. The salon went silent. Nora raised her hands in a gesture of surrender. “Go ahead. Start with the questions. The sooner we begin, the sooner they’ll be done.”

  But they weren’t going to be done anytime that day, she realized by midafternoon. It felt as if everyone she knew in town stopped by to offer congratulations and find out a few more details. She’d explained about her dress, the wedding ceremony itself, the beautiful hotel and her flowers. She’d had women coo over her impressive ring and ask when they were going to start a family.

  “I think I should learn to be a wife before I worry about being a mom,” she said as she applied a final coat of hair spray to Mrs. McDirmity’s blue-white hair.

  “It’s so romantic,” the elderly woman said as she leaned against the arms of her wheelchair. “I remember the day of the tornado. I thought even then there was something between the two of you.”

  Nora wasn’t sure what that something could be. She was just grateful that they’d stopped talking about them having children. She knew it was only a matter of time until her condition showed, but with a little careful planning, that day was several months away.

  “You’ve found a winner,” Mrs. McDirmity insisted. “Stephen is very much in love with you. Everyone can see it.”

  Nora smiled but didn’t say anything. After all, she knew the truth.

  Stephen carried his coffee into the living room and selected the least pillow-filled chair. He’d been living in Nora’s house for nearly two weeks and he still wasn’t used to the lace, frills or scent of candles that filled the small rooms. Her house was an ode to the feminine. He should have felt awkward and out of place. Instead he found himself enjoying the contrast between this and his stark bachelor apartment. Even his house with Courtney hadn’t been decorated with more than furniture and lamps. They’d never had time to make it a real home.

  He set his coffee on an end table, then opened the folder he’d brought in with him. “We need to talk about houses,” he said.

  Nora barely glanced up from the large baby paraphernalia catalog she was flipping through. He’d studied it himself over breakfast and it covered everything from cribs to pacifiers. “We haven’t settled on baby names.”

  “I think a house is a more pressing issue,” he told her. “The baby isn’t going to be here for seven plus months. But if we’re going to have a house built, we should get started right away.”

  She looked at him and smiled. “What? You want to leave my place? I thought you said you adored my frills.”

  What he adored was her, he thought as he shook his head. She was the most amazing woman he’d ever known. Smart and sexy as hell. Even when she wasn’t trying.

  Nora could get his blood boiling with the scraps of silk and lace she liked to tempt him with, but just being around her turned him on more than she would ever know. Tonight she wore jeans and a cropped T-shirt. The wide neck kept sliding down one shoulder, exposing her bra strap. When she stretched, he caught a glimpse of bare belly. It was all he could do to stay in his seat when what he wanted was to slide his arms around her and pull her close.

  He knew that they were in the throes of sexual chemistry. In time the urge to make love would settle down into something more manageable. But he also sensed the need to be with her would never go away. There was a connection between them that he’d never experienced before—not with anyone else.

  He shook off the heat in his blood and ignored the heaviness in his groin. “We have to get serious about the house. While I do like the frills and lace around here, the place is too small.” He held up two flyers, each featuring a house they’d l
iked. “Pick one.”

  She returned her attention to the catalog. “They’re both fine.” She turned a page and her breath caught.

  “I don’t want you to live in a house that’s just fine. I want you to love it. Is there one you liked better or—”

  He froze, then let the papers fall to the floor. Nora sniffed as a single tear rolled down her cheek.

  “Honey, what’s wrong?” he asked as he moved toward her and gathered her in his arms.

  “N-nothing. Just this.”

  She held out the catalog to him. The open pages showed a pink-and-white nursery with a fuzzy teddy bear mobile over the crib.

  He didn’t understand. “Why would that make you cry?”

  “It’s so c-cute.”

  More tears fell, faster now. He hugged her close as he realized as a result of her pregnancy, she was being flooded with hormones.

  “It’s all right,” he murmured. “You’ll feel better soon. The chemicals in your body are making you emotionally unstable. But it will pass.”

  She jerked away and glared at him. “Emotionally unstable?”

  He recognized the deep, dark pit, but it was too late to avoid falling to the bottom. “That was a little harsh,” he said, backpedaling as fast as he could. “The first trimester is a time of great change in your body. This is manifested in many different ways.”

  Her gaze narrowed. “Don’t think your doctor double-speak is going to save you. You said emotionally unstable and now you have to be punished.”

  Not knowing how else to save the situation, he murmured, “Yes, dear” as meekly as he could, then pulled her close to him again.

  She went grudgingly, but gradually she relaxed.

  “Don’t think I’m fooled by your attitude,” she said, leaning her head against his shoulder. “You are trying to be accommodating, but that’s not your nature.”

  “I can’t fool you by tiptoeing around you?”