Family Bonds- Hunter and Kayla (Amore Island Book 1)

by Natalie Ann

  She was crying hard now, the sobbing breaking his heart and getting through his anger. “Aww hell, come here. I’d never do any of those things and I’m hurt you’d think that.”

  “I didn’t think it. I can’t control my dreams.”

  “I’m not going to let anything happen to you. You aren’t going to be alone. You aren’t doing this on your own and you sure the hell aren’t eating food out of dumpsters!”

  She sniffled. “I know. I’m sorry. It’s hormones. I know it is. And your family…they will hate me,” she said again. “They will say I planned this.”

  “No one is going to think that.” Though he knew it was a lie when he said it.

  His father still wouldn’t address the fact that he was dating Kayla. His mother wanted to have a family dinner, but he’d been putting it off since he wasn’t in the mood to deal with his father about it.

  Even when he was working with his father, Kayla’s name never came up. It was like she didn’t exist and that bothered Hunter more than anything.

  “You know that isn’t true.”

  “My grandfather loved you,” he said.

  They’d gone to his grandfather’s yesterday for the afternoon. Kayla and his grandfather had hit it off and he was thankful for that. That one of the males in the family was accepting of his relationship. That his grandfather even pulled him aside and made a comment about his own destiny flashing before him.

  Hunter hadn’t wanted to confirm or deny anything. He just smiled and his grandfather winked.

  “He was nice to me, but that doesn’t mean he loved me,” she said, wiping her hand under her nose. He walked over and got her a tissue. “Good Lord, look at me and what I just did. No one in your family would have done what I just did. I’m such an embarrassment. I’m not good enough for you.”

  “Stop it right now. You’re not an embarrassment and you know it. You’re just upset. And my grandfather liked you. He called me today to say you were a breath of fresh air to him and he couldn’t wait to spend more time with you.”

  “You’re making that up,” she said.

  “I’m not lying to you,” he said. “Why are you arguing with me over this? Hailey liked you and so did my mother.”

  “But not your father and your father is the one you’re worried about. He’s the one you don’t want to judge you and he is. I’m not stupid. It bothers you that he doesn’t accept our relationship and now he is going to be even worse when he finds out I’m pregnant. That is why you want to get married. So you won’t have a bastard. So you won’t take after the other side of the family. The one that is an embarrassment to the rest of you. Don’t make me part of that.”

  “Whether you like it or not, you are part of it,” he said. “You’re carrying my child and I’m going to be there every step of the way.”

  And he was damn well going to make her his wife one way or another.

  35

  Your History

  That went about as well as it could have in Kayla’s mind.

  Somehow she got through dinner and was able to get the food past her throat. It’d been hard a few times, but she was starving and she kept telling herself she needed to feed the baby.

  She’d spent the afternoon with Amanda reading the material that Dr. Mills gave her. Amanda was thrilled with the news and Kayla thought it was odd. She almost asked why Amanda was still single or didn’t have a few kids of her own by now but figured it was in poor taste to do that. Amanda had commented on being single enough times so she figured there was a reason for it.

  “I didn’t think otherwise,” she told Hunter. She knew he wouldn’t abandon her. That was never in question.

  “Then why won’t you marry me?” he asked.

  “Hunter. Can you just let it drop? We’ve got so many other things to worry about and deal with. I can’t focus on that too.”

  And he didn’t want to marry her because he loved her. He only wanted to do it so his kid wasn’t a bastard. No way. What woman wanted to get married for that reason? She didn’t need his name. She didn’t need his money.

  He stopped pacing and walked over to her, took a deep breath and pulled her into his arms and held her tight. This was what she needed right now.

  Not to be yelled at. Not to be lectured. Or told what to do.

  Hell, he didn’t even ask her to get married. Just said they should. Here she thought he was romantic and he was ruining that image.

  “I can fix a lot of things even though you are telling me I can’t.”

  “Can we not talk about it anymore tonight?” she asked. “Not the future. I just want to take it one day at a time.”

  “I suppose. For now,” he said, then pulled her back to the couch. “Tell me what the doctor said. When are you due? When’s your next appointment? Everything. I want to know what you know.”

  This was what she expected of him. “I’ve got a bunch of information they gave me. I brought it with me and you can look it over too. I’m learning it all as I go. I don’t know anything about having a baby or kids. I’ve never even changed a diaper.”

  “That makes two of us,” he said. “But we are both smart people and can figure it out.”

  “Time yet,” she said. “And that is the other thing. The first trimester is when so much can go wrong.”

  “Stop crying,” he said when more tears dribbled out of her eyes. “I was going to ask if you were even going to keep the baby. I hope the emotions you’re having are because of the fear and not because you are giving our child up. That isn’t happening at all. Nor are you ending this pregnancy.”

  “I wouldn’t do that. I never thought of ending it. I’m sure the hell not giving my child up. I know what it’s like to not be wanted. I’d never do that to another child.”

  “Sometimes I forget about your past,” he said.

  “I don’t. I can’t. It’s there like that dark shadow following every move I make, even on a cloudy day.”

  He’d never know what that was like. He couldn’t possibly.

  “You aren’t the only one whose past is everywhere you go,” he argued.

  “That is your history, not your past. There is a big difference.”

  “When are you due?” he asked. “There is no reason to get into an argument again. Let’s try to move past that part for now. There is no winning with you at times.”

  “It’s because you have no idea what my life was like,” she said. Nor would she tell him. Why, when he didn’t seem to understand it?

  “Due date?” he asked again.

  “Mid March. She said everything looks good. I need to make another appointment for four weeks. I’ll see a doctor every four weeks until we get closer to the due date.”

  He smiled. “My birthday is in March.”

  “Is it?” She didn’t even know that. He wanted to get married and she didn’t even know when his birthday was.

  “March twentieth. When is yours?”

  “April eleventh.”

  “See, we learned something new about each other today,” he said, smiling.

  “We learned more than one new thing today,” she said.

  “Come here.” He pulled her into his arms and started to kiss her. “It’s going to be fine. I know you’re scared. I know you’re confused. So am I. But we will get through this together.”

  “Thank you,” she said.

  “For what?”

  “For understanding,” she said.

  “Of course I understand. You didn’t do this alone. We are in this together and we can be scared together.”

  “But your family…” she said.

  “Doesn’t come into play. I’m a grown man who can make my own decisions in life and I plan on it. I don’t need my father’s approval even though you seem to think I do.”

  “But you want him to accept the decisions you make,” she argued.

  She knew that about him. Didn’t he say that Hailey did her own thing and it drove his parents insane? That he’d always been the calm
one in the family?

  “If he doesn’t accept them, then it’s his loss,” he said, then tipped her chin up and kissed her on the lips.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on because she had to. She needed to feel loved even if he didn’t say the words. Even if he didn’t love her the way she wanted to be loved, when they were together it was enough in her eyes.

  Hunter slid his arms under her thighs and stood up, carrying her to his bedroom. This was what she wanted. What she needed.

  She had to let their bodies take over the rest of the night.

  “Make me forget,” she said. “Just for tonight. We can deal with the rest of it tomorrow. I want you to hold me and make me feel like a woman for the rest of the night.”

  “I can do that,” he said, gently laying her on the bed, undoing her shorts and pulling them off with her underwear. He undressed her with care, more care than any other time they’d been together. The tears wanted to fall from her eyes some more, but she held them in tight.

  When he stood back to remove his own clothes, she scooted up on the bed, opening her arms for him to come to her.

  He didn’t hesitate, covering her body with his, heat to heat, lips to lips, opening her mouth and seeking her taste as much as she wanted his.

  His mouth moved from her lips to her ear, whispering to her, “You’re mine. I’m going to make you feel it. I’m going to make you believe it. I’m going to make you believe in me.”

  It might be as close as she was going to get to hearing words of love. Since she wasn’t sharing her own words she’d have to be content with them.

  He moved down her chest, pulled her nipple in his mouth and she all but shot off the bed. “Did I hurt you?”

  “No. They are just so tender. So reactive. In a good way though. That felt so good.”

  Good enough that the muscles between her legs started to twitch and clench. Could she come just from that alone? Maybe some of these hormone overloads weren’t a bad thing.

  “Tell me if I hurt you anywhere. Anything I can’t do or shouldn’t do?”

  “Dr. Mills didn’t say there were any restrictions so I’m going to assume there aren’t. I didn’t ask though.”

  “I think we’ll be fine,” he said. “No more condoms though.”

  “No,” she said. “The damage is done on the pregnancy front.”

  He laughed and she was glad he didn’t take offense to the word she used. She didn’t want anything to take away from their time together.

  His mouth didn’t stay in one place long though, moving down and stopping at her stomach, then kissing around her belly. Yeah, the tears were going to start to fall again soon if he didn’t move on to the task at hand.

  Just in case, she gave him a nudge. “Hunter. I’m pretty horny. I read that is common. Could you get back to what you were doing?”

  “I might like that you’re hornier. Sounds like a good side benefit to me.”

  Her hands went to his head and pushed him lower. She was done talking, she wanted some action.

  He didn’t disappoint, his mouth going between her legs and putting his tongue to work. He was tasting all of her, everything he could and she was on edge like she’d never been before.

  “Hunter!”

  “I’m not letting you fall. I’m just getting you warmed up.”

  “I’m hotter than hell. I don’t need to be warmed up anymore.”

  He gave her one more kiss on her clit and then moved up her body, his hands grabbing hers, their fingers interlacing together, him placing them over her head and holding them there.

  “Look at me,” he said. “I want you to see me when I enter you. When I feel all of you surrounding me. Squeezing me.”

  She looked into his eyes, felt him nudge her legs apart and slip inside of her. Holy shit, the feeling of him stretching her almost sent her over the edge.

  She wasn’t as tight as she used to be in the beginning, but not having that barrier to come between them was just a barrel of sensations she’d never experienced before.

  “It feels so good,” she said, her hips rising to meet his.

  “It does. It’s the first time I’ve felt like this myself.”

  She was going to assume he meant the first time he’d never worn a condom, not that it was the first he’d felt the emotions she did. She suspected he’d felt this good before with other women. Someone like him probably had a lot of women in his past.

  It wasn’t a thought that needed to be in her mind though. Not when their hips were lifting and meeting, retreating and then going back at it.

  The bed was creaking, her fingers were gripping his and her body was coiling up tight like a rattlesnake ready to strike.

  And when it did, her target was Hunter. Her muscles clamping down, tightening around him, a moan escaping her lips as his mouth crushed to hers while he emptied himself deep inside of her.

  The next morning, Hunter turned to look at Kayla sleeping on her side. He thought he’d have to convince her to stay the night, but he didn’t. In the end they were both so exhausted that she fell asleep and he followed.

  Rather than wake her up, he got out of bed and went into the bathroom to get ready for the day. When he was in the kitchen, he picked his phone up and sent a text to his sister.

  He needed to know more about Kayla and her past that she kept throwing in his face. If he was going to have a chance of getting her to marry him, then he was going to have to know what he was dealing with.

  Not only that, he was a Bond. She came from someone who didn’t want her, but would her mother want a piece of her if she knew Kayla was having his child or was going to become his wife?

  It was best to be prepared for anything. And if there was one thing he planned on doing, it was protecting his woman and his child.

  36

  Big Whopping Secret

  Kayla walked into the doctor’s office four weeks later for her next appointment. This time she’d made it on the island and was able to get the last appointment of the day with Dr. Mills. It allowed her to get up her normal time. She found she needed the sleep more than ever.

  “It’s good to see you again, Kayla,” Dr. Mills said. “You gained one pound.”

  “I’m surprised it was only that,” she said. “It seems like all I want to do is eat, but I’m trying to stick to fruits and vegetables as much as I can.”

  “That’s good, but you need meat and dairy protein too. A nice wide range.”

  “I’m eating it all,” she said. “I guess I meant if I’m hungry outside of a meal, I try to reach for that as a snack. It’s hard to eat a lot with my work schedule.”

  “I didn’t ask what you did,” Dr. Mills said, looking at her information on the computer. “It says you work customer service at Bond Retreat. So you are on your feet all day? Any swelling or problems there?”

  Kayla looked down at her ankles. “They look normal to me.”

  “That’s good,” Dr. Mills said. “Why don’t you lie back and let’s see if we can hear the heartbeat with the fetal Doppler. If not, we’ll hear it on the transvaginal ultrasound.”

  “Am I going to get an ultrasound with every visit?” she asked as she leaned back and lifted her shirt. She only had to remove her pants and underwear today and had a sheet draped over her waist.

  “Not unless there is a problem. We’ll do a 3D ultrasound either the next visit, which would be seventeen weeks, or the one following if you want to know the sex of the baby. We’ll have a better chance at twenty-one weeks than seventeen.”

  She hadn’t thought about knowing that yet. “I think I’ll want to know. It will be easier to prepare for it.”

  “That’s good.”

  Dr. Mills put the device on her belly and moved it around and within seconds they could hear the constant swishing beat of her baby’s heart. Her eyes started to mist up again. “That’s loud.”

  “Nice and strong. Steady too. Why don’t you lie back and I’ll examine you.”

&n
bsp; Kayla dropped back and put her feet in the stirrups. It was still uncomfortable. She tried to relax as much as she could during the exam, then Dr. Mills rolled her stool back. “Are we done?”

  “With the exam we are. Why don’t you get dressed while I update my notes and we can talk for a few minutes.”

  That didn’t sound good to Kayla, but she did as she was instructed, dressing faster than normal and wanting to know what bad news was going to fall on her head this time.

  “Is everything okay?” Kayla asked when she walked back out and sat in the chair.

  “Of course it is. I’d tell you otherwise before I’d send you in there. The last time we talked the father hadn’t known about the baby. Does he now? Is he going to be a part of the pregnancy? If not, as I said before, we’ve got resources to help you.”

  “He knows. He’ll be there for everything.”

  Hunter had wanted to come with her today, but she’d said no. It was a small island and someone would recognize him. Even though they weren’t hiding the fact they were dating, the baby was still one big whopping secret.

  “That’s good to know. At some point can you get his family medical history or have him fill out the forms? I’ll make sure the office staff give you them to take home.”

  “I can do that,” she said. Though she might put off returning them until everyone knew who the father was. Or at least most knew she was pregnant. Mainly Hunter’s family.

  She made her next appointment and left for Hunter’s. It was almost five and though she didn’t have to be to work for two hours, she planned on cooking dinner for him and letting him know how the appointment went.

  She was just starting dinner when the elevator door opened. She turned to say something to Hunter but saw he wasn’t alone. By the looks of it, she was about to meet Charlie Bond.

  Hunter couldn’t think of any reason to give his father to keep him from coming up to his place to talk about something. Not a good enough one. Then he told himself—why bother? It wasn’t a secret he was seeing Kayla and if she was there cooking dinner like she’d said, his father would see that this wasn’t just a fling.