She offers up a weak smile. “Sounds perfect.”
“Why don’t you get up and take a shower, and I’ll go down and get started on some coffee and breakfast.” I move to sit up, but she latches onto my arm.
“Wait. Why don’t you join me in the shower?” she asks, pulling my mouth to hers.
I laugh around our kiss. “Because then we’ll never get out of this house, and I want you here full time, never having an excuse to leave.” I stand up and gently smack her ass. “Now, get busy, woman.”
She giggles from behind me as I walk out of the room and toward the kitchen.
21
Valerie
Watching him walk out of the bedroom in nothing but a pair of boxers has my heart racing. With each rippled muscle, with every sway of his hips, it beats harder and harder and makes me want to pull him back into bed where I can seduce him into never walking away from me again. But a part of me is just as excited for the next step in our relationship as he is. I want to live here with him. I want to get married. I want this little baby that I didn’t even know about but love wholeheartedly already. I place my hand on my stomach and look down.
“Your daddy is something else, little one.”
I laugh and shake my head at myself. In a way, none of this feels real. I never thought that this would be my life. I never considered working for a large company. I didn’t think I’d be ready to settle down at twenty-one with marriage and a kid. But here I am, ready to jump in headfirst. I know some would question my choices, I mean, I am really young. But this is something some people work for their whole lives. I shouldn’t run away from it just because I found mine a little sooner than most—most don’t have a Callan of their own.
I push all thoughts away as I stand from the bed. The moment my feet hit the floor, I feel dizzy. My mouth begins to water, and my stomach rolls. It growls and feels like I’m about to lose everything inside. I rush to the bathroom and fall to my knees just as I empty my stomach in the toilet. After several long minutes of retching, I wipe the sweat from my brow and flush the toilet.
“Morning sickness at its best,” I mumble as I move toward the shower.
I still feel sick and dizzy, my ears are ringing, and for some reason, the smell of eggs hits me, making my stomach flop yet again. I slide down the wall and sit in the shower floor while the hot water pours over me.
The longer I sit here, the better I feel, but then Callan opens the glass shower door, and that smell gets even stronger, making me gag and rush for the toilet again.
He shuts off the water and rushes to my side, pulling my hair behind me. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
I nod as I gag, having nothing left to throw up. “Morning sickness,” I mumble. “The smell of that food is horrible.”
“It’s just eggs, bacon, and toast.”
“I’m going to get dressed. Will you take the food out of the bedroom? I think I’ll stick with toast and water this morning.”
“Okay,” he says, rushing back into the room.
I force myself to stand and pull on a robe. When I walk out of the bathroom, he’s opening the windows to let out the smell of the breakfast he cooked. On the bed is a tray, only holding a bottle of water and a small plate with two slices of toast. I crawl back up onto the bed and take a long drink. I know my body needs water after losing everything inside my stomach.
Callan crawls up onto the bed, lying next to me. “How long has this been going on?” he asks, worried and confused.
I laugh. “For the past week. Usually, it’s just nausea, but today it was just overwhelming. Hopefully, I can keep this toast and water down.”
“If you can’t, we need to contact your doctor. I know morning sickness is normal in a pregnancy, but you have to be able to keep down water.”
I nod. “It usually only lasts the first hour I’m awake. I’m sure I’ll be fine, and we can start our day soon.”
“I’m not worried about starting our day, Val. I just want you feeling better.” He reaches out and rubs my arm.
“Go take your shower and I’ll eat this toast. I’m sure I’ll feel better soon, and we can get going.”
“You sure?” he asks, nervousness written across his handsome face.
I smile and nod. “I’m sure.”
He leans forward and presses a kiss to my forehead before standing and walking into the bathroom.
I choke back my toast and finish my water. When I hear the water shut off in the bathroom, I stand up slowly, not wanting to make myself sick again by getting up too quickly. I lean against the bed until I’m sure I’ll be okay, then head for the closet to pull on some clothes.
I slide into a pair of black yoga pants, noticing in the mirror how I fill them out more than before. My hips seem to be widening, my ass seems to be growing, and my stomach, while still pretty flat, is pooched out more than it ever has.
Callan steps into the closet and sees me inspecting my body. “You’re beautiful,” he says, coming to a stop behind me. He leans his head down and presses a kiss to the top of my shoulder.
I smile. “It’s weird how it’s only been a month since we found out, and already I’m seeing little changes.”
He wraps his arms around me, hands resting on my stomach. “You’re breathtaking. Even more so now.”
I spin in his arms and wrap my hands around the back on his neck. “I hope you keep that same thought process when I’m nine months pregnant and peeing when I laugh.”
He lets out a deep laugh. “Nothing is going to change my mind, Val.” He presses a kiss to my lips as his feet begin walking me backward. When my back hits the wall, I break the kiss and look into his blue eyes.
“I thought you didn’t want to spend all day in bed?”
He laughs. “I don’t, but my mind always changes when I’m touching you.” He pulls away and drops his towel as he pulls on some clothes. “Let’s get all your stuff packed and then go have a lunch date. Maybe by then, you’ll be hungry.”
We finish getting dressed, and he drives us over to my Mom’s house. The moment we walk in, she’s up off the couch, giving us both a big hug.
“I can’t express how happy I am for the two of you.” She smiles on us fondly. “I always knew if you two could put aside your differences, you’d create something special.”
Callan laughs. “Yeah, it just took me a little longer than usual to worm my way into her heart.”
I playfully smack him with the back of my hand. “And to think, all it took was you being nice to me instead of torturing me,” I joke.
Mom shakes her head. “You two still bicker like an old married couple. Come on, let’s sit down and have some tea.” She doesn’t give us an option. She just leads us both to the kitchen where she fills the teapot.
Callan and I sit at the breakfast table and watch her move about the kitchen.
“So, tell me. What’s the next step for you two?”
“Well, Mom, we’re actually here today to pack up the rest of my belongings so I can move in with Callan full time.”
She smiles as she looks over her shoulder at me. “That’s wonderful. But you know, you could’ve just called me, and I would’ve hired movers for that. No need for you two to waste a whole day.”
“Callan wanted to do it himself,” I tell her.
“When is the wedding? Before or after the baby?” she asks, sitting down two cups of tea for Callan and me.
We look at one another. “Ugh, we haven’t really talked about the wedding just yet, Momma.”
She takes her seat across from us. “Take it from me: plan it for after the baby, dear. If you try getting married while you’re pregnant, you’ll be changing dresses three different times with that growing belly of yours.” She picks up her cup and takes a sip.
“Well, actually…” I say, eyes flashing back and forth between her and Callan. “We haven’t even talked about having a wedding. We could just elope.” I shrug one shoulder as I look over at him.
His bro
ws raise like he hasn’t even thought of that.
“Oh, how romantic. That’s how your father and I got married, you know?”
I shake my head. “I didn’t know that. You and Daddy eloped?” It feels like my jaw drops.
She nods. “Your grandmother had a fit when he told her he was going to ask me to marry him. I was poor, you know. She didn’t think I’d fit well in the family. So, he asked me, and we ran off that weekend to get married. When we came back, your grandparents were mad as all get out. But, there was nothing they could do. We were already legally married, and we didn’t sign a prenup. If they forced us apart, they knew I could take more than my fair share.” She smiles like she still enjoys thinking about pulling one over on them.
I laugh, and so does Callan. He reaches over and picks up my hand.
“Eloping sounds fun,” he says, smile still in place.
I nod. “It does, actually. Just us, no big fancy wedding, no stupid dress, or spending a ton of money on flowers that will just die anyway.”
“So?”
I nod. “Let’s do it!”
Mom smiles and claps her hands together. “How wonderful. I’m sure you two will have so much fun. Just don’t tell anyone until after you get back.”
“What? Why?”
“I’ve already overheard Maddie and that friend of hers planning your wedding.”
I laugh. “I’m surprised that you’re supporting this, to be honest. I thought you’d want to be a part of your only daughter's wedding day.”
She waves her hand through the air. “I’m glad someone is following in your father’s and my footsteps. Bennet did the big wedding thing. It’s overrated, and I’d rather see the two of you put all that money toward something good instead of a party. I’ve always found it to be quite frivolous.”
Mom finishes her tea and excuses herself to take her midmorning nap. “Please, wake me before you go,” she says, leaving the kitchen.
Callan and I stand, and I lead him downstairs to where my room is. Luckily, none of the furniture is mine. I have nothing more than some clothes, bathroom necessities, and a few mementos from my life that I’ve managed to hang on to.
As I’m walking into my room, Callan reaches out and catches my hand in his. He pulls me against his chest so that we’re eye to eye.
“Remember that night that I snuck down here?”
I nod and smile. “Of course I do.” I wrap my arms around his neck.
“Did you ever think then that this is where we’d be, getting married with a baby on the way?”
I laugh. “Hell no. Sometimes, when I wake up, I’m scared to open my eyes in fear that this has all been a dream. I’m scared that if I open my eyes, I’ll find myself alone in my bed.”
He shakes his head as he slowly leans in for a kiss. “This is a dream, but it’s one we’ll never have to wake up from,” he whispers just as his lips press against mine.
His soft lips move with my own for several long moments before his tongue demands entrance. My eyes flutter closed, enjoying the way he stirs the emotions inside of my body. It feels like everything goes numb and begins to tingle to the point of tickling. Every nerve ending lights and burns bright. Holding on tight around his neck, I jump up against him, and he catches me with two hands on my ass. Without having to ask or be told, he lowers us to the bed.
I smile to myself as he kisses his way down my body. Might as well put this room to good use one last time.
His hips are grinding against mine already, and neither of us has lost our clothes yet. His strong hands massage my body as his lips kiss lower, pushing and pulling clothing out of the way. When he rips off my jeans, he slides two fingers inside of me, and his tongue flicks against my aching clit. My eyes flutter closed at the same time my lips part with a heavy gasp. My hips begin lifting on their own, moving back and forth with his tongue. I never want to separate. I need him right where he is for the rest of my life.
When my release begins to build, he pulls away, leaving me hanging.
“Hey,” I cry out as he moves back up my body.
He grins. “What’s the matter, Val?” he asks, sliding deep inside of me, filling every last inch.
I can no longer complain. My head falls back against the pillows as my eyes close. His mouth finds mine just as he begins to thrust in and out of me. God, I love the way he fills me completely. It’s like his body was made to fit mine. It’s like we were made to be a couple. He knows every spot to touch, every place to caress. I never thought we made much sense, but now, I can’t see myself with any other man. Callan Gregory is it for me.
I know we should make this quiet and quick, but I don’t want to. I want to take our time, feel every touch, every emotion that we cause one another to feel. I want to feel like I’m being pushed to the edge of the earth, nearly ready to fall, only to be pulled back again. I want that process repeated and repeated until I can’t stand it anymore. I want to feel like a tornado is wreaking havoc on my body. Like I never know which direction it’s going to go, which path it’s going to take. I love the way he keeps me on my toes, never knowing what move he’s going to make or what he’s going to say.
“You’re so fucking perfect, Val,” he whispers against my skin. “God, just sliding into you makes me want to come undone.” He thrusts inside of me again, this time deeper.
I call out, causing him to repeat the move; this time, he rocks his hips when he can go no further. My body tightens and prepares for my release.
“Callan, I’m going to come,” I cry out quietly so that we don’t wake my mom.
He doesn’t stop. “Shhhh, not so loud. Your mom will hear,” he whispers, turning his head to look at the ceiling.
My nails dig into his back, and I open my mouth to let out the moan that’s dying to escape, but he presses his mouth to mine, causing me to whimper into his mouth.
“Fuck,” he moans quickly just as his release builds and breaks free, spilling into me.
His hips slowly still, and he rests his head against my chest. “Your heart is pounding like crazy,” he says.
I giggle. “It’s all your fault.”
He lifts his head and looks deeply into my eyes. “I love you, Val. More than you’ll ever know. More than I could ever express.”
I can’t hold back the smile his words cause. “Me too, Callan. I don’t have the words to explain how much you mean to me.”
He doesn’t say anything, he just gives me a soft kiss, then lays his head back against my chest so he can hear how crazy my heart is going for him.
22
Callan
ONE MONTH LATER…
* * *
Today marks Val’s sixteenth week of pregnancy and the morning sickness hasn’t slowed down a bit. Every morning, she lays in bed or sits on her knees in front of the toilet while I get ready for work. While she showers, I make her toast and get her a bottle of water. We have to get up an hour early just so she feels decent enough to go to work. But today, the sickness doesn’t seem to be going away. She insists on going in anyway.
We’re in the car, stuck in morning traffic on our way to the office. Her eyes are closed as she leans her head against the window. I reach over and take her hand in mine.
“You know, there is no reason for you to be putting yourself through all of this. I know this isn’t the job of your dreams. Why do you keep forcing it?”
Her eyes pop open as she rolls her head to the side to look at me. “Because I’m an adult. I need a job. Women everywhere work while pregnant.”
I nod. “I know they do, but it’s because they have to or because they’re working their dream job and don’t want to miss a minute of it. Neither of those are the case for you. I mean, you haven’t slept in a single day. What if, this whole time, you could’ve been sleeping through your morning sickness hours. Maybe a little extra rest will do you some good. I’m sure you and the baby could both use a little extra sleep. I read somewhere that your pregnant body does more work while you sleep tha
n a normal man’s body does all day with a full day of work. Your only worry needs to be growing this baby to be strong and healthy.”
She offers up a weak smile. “But what about you? That would leave you short-handed at work.”
I wave her off. “I’d gladly pick up the extra work if it meant that you’d be home resting.”
She nods. “Okay. I’ll go in today, gather my things, and tell everyone goodbye.”
I smile and kiss her hand that I’m still holding. “Good. Tonight, you can go to bed early and sleep late tomorrow. Hopefully, we just figured out the key to allow you to keep down the contents of your stomach.”
Traffic begins to move, and I drive on, never letting go of her hand. When we get to the office, Val gets busy on today’s work. She brings me a cup of coffee even though I insisted weeks ago she stop. I don’t want her on her feet more than she has to be. She goes through my mail, returns phone calls and emails, then sets to checking messages. All the while, I sit at my desk, watching her do everything but gathering her things.
“Val, I will check the messages. You, get a box from the supply room and start packing. I’m taking you home at lunch. We can eat together, and when I come back to work, you can take a nap. How’s that sound?”
She leans her head back against her chair. “Amazing. I know I slept a full night, but I’m tired already, and I’ve only been up for three hours.”
“If you’re tired, it just means you need more rest. Stop pushing yourself so hard.”
When lunch rolls around, I carry her box of things to the garage and place it in the trunk before climbing behind the wheel.
“What are you thinking for lunch? You want something at home, or should I swing by someplace and grab whatever you’re craving?”
She looks at me with a smile. “I already called in our lunch order at Sammo’s.”
I laugh and shake my head. “You’re never going to get enough of that place, are you?”
His Every Desire (Contemporary Romance Box Set) Page 34
