Lock & Key Collection

by Rebel Rose

  “Because I’m a fucking stud.”

  Tristan looks at me and laughs, but he blinks rapidly and I swear that I think his eyes are glassing over.

  He comes to me and cradles my face, placing a kiss against my lips. “We’re having a baby, mon bien-aimé.”

  “I heard.”

  “Let’s figure out when you’re having a baby. When was your last period?” Cat asks.

  “September twelfth.”

  She twists a plastic wheel in her hand. “You conceived on the twenty-sixth. That makes you somewhere between five and six weeks, but I want to do an ultrasound today to confirm your due date.”

  Pregnancy. Ultrasound. Due date.

  Shit.

  And speaking of shit, that’s what Conrad Grant is going to do when he finds out that I’m pregnant.

  Cat opens the exam room door. “Come down the hall with me.”

  We enter a barely lit room at the end of the hallway.

  “Well, this is cozy and romantic,” Tristan says.

  “We keep the lights down so we can see the image on the monitor better.” Cat holds out a bed sheet. “Take off your bottoms and wrap this around your waist. Bathroom is there, but don’t empty your bladder.”

  I come out and lie on the bed beside the ultrasound machine. “I’ll try scanning your tummy with the external wand first.”

  “As opposed to what?”

  “The vaginal probe.”

  Shit. That sounds like something Tristan would like to use on me.

  Cat pulls the sheet down, squeezes warm gel on my stomach, and presses the wand against my belly, rocking it back and forth. “I can’t see anything inside the uterus, but I really didn’t expect to as early as you are. No worries.”

  “So you’ll use the vaginal probe?”

  Cat picks up this rod-looking thing and rolls a condom onto it. Before Tristan, I probably would have passed out if I’d seen something like that coming at me, but after Tristan? Piece of cake.

  Tristan cups both of his hands around my one. He leans forward, bringing our hands to his forehead and closes his eyes. Is he praying?

  “You’re shaking, Tristan.”

  He looks up at me and smiles. “We’re about to see our child for the first time. I’m excited.”

  I tense when Cat places the probe against my vagina. “Try to relax your legs and pelvic muscles, Emma Lia.”

  I loosen my muscles, same as I do when Tristan pushes his cock into my ass. He’d get a hoot if he knew that was what I was thinking right now.

  “You’re going to feel pressure,” she says.

  I groan. “Mmm…yes, I am.”

  “I’m going to measure your uterus first.”

  Every little movement of the probe makes me feel like I’m going to pee all over myself.

  “Doing okay?”

  “Whew, Cat. I need to pee. Bad.”

  “Need me to stop for a minute?”

  I’ve had so much worse than this. “No, keep going.”

  I watch the screen, but I have no idea what I’m looking at. Looks like bad reception on a black and white TV.

  “Okay. All done with the uterine measurements.” She angles the probe upward and presses. “Ah, there’s baby Broussard.”

  I stare at the screen. “Show me.”

  Cat points to the monitor. “This tiny little white area here—that’s your baby. And I see a heartbeat.”

  “Oh my God, Tristan. Look. You put that tiny little being inside of me.”

  “It’s amazing,” he says.

  “I swear that is the sweetest little dot I’ve ever seen.”

  “The measurements correlate with your last menstrual period, so the baby is growing right on schedule.”

  Tristan can’t take his eyes off the screen. “The baby looks healthy?” He’s barely able to choke out the words, and that melts my heart.

  “Still very early but all looks well from what I can see today.”

  I stare at the white oblong circle on the screen, mesmerized that I’m looking at the beginning of a human being. A little person that Tristan and I created.

  Part of him.

  Part of me.

  Our baby.

  Cat prints several of the ultrasound pictures for us to take with us, and all I can do is stare at them. “Thank you so much. For everything. Seeing me today. The tests. The printouts.”

  “You are so very welcome. And congratulations. I’m happy and excited for you guys.”

  “Cat… before we walk out of here, we need to talk about what’s coming off of the menu. I don’t want to do anything to hurt her or the baby.”

  “I understand.” Cat lowers her voice. “I think it’s best if you let me comprise a list of don’ts specially tailored for your specific kind of relationship. That’s something that we should discuss outside of the clinic. Until then, keep it vanilla.”

  “Got it.”

  We’re barely out of the clinic when Tristan puts his arms around me. “Are you happy, mon bien-aimé?”

  “I am.”

  “Are you really?”

  “I am, Tristan.”

  “I haven’t told you how hopeful I was because I didn’t want to push the topic and anger you, but I wanted this so much. I tried to tell myself that it was fine if it didn’t happen but that was because I didn’t know I would be this happy if it did.”

  “After being so angry with you, I didn’t know I was going to be this happy either.”

  He lifts me from the ground and spins me around. “You are so precious to me, and now this life that you carry inside you is too.” He returns my feet to the ground and kisses me hard, not caring who sees. “I love you, mon bien-aimé.”

  “I love you, too.”

  He opens the passenger door, and I get into the car. “Always such a gentleman in public.”

  “Sometimes I’m not sure who the real Dominant is in this relationship. I’m the one who has to constantly prove that I’m worthy of your submission.”

  I hadn’t ever thought of it that way. “That’s actually a good point.”

  Tristan gets into the car, and we drive toward home. He stretches his long arm over and holds my leg, his fingers curling around my inner thigh. I’m always in some kind of possessive hold while we ride in a car.

  “Now that we’re having a baby, I’m going to need to rethink what I say to your father when I ask for his permission to marry you.”

  Just thinking about that conversation makes me want to puke. “I don’t know what he’s going to say about my being pregnant.”

  “You’re twenty-two. What can he say?”

  “He isn’t going to care that I’m twenty-two. I’m his little girl.”

  Tristan shakes his head. “Not anymore. You’re my girl.”

  “Try telling him that.”

  “Things are different between your father and me now. I think he’ll be okay with this.”

  “I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”

  I’ve been very surprised by the turnaround of my father’s attitude toward Tristan. Every problem he had with him was based solely upon his being the son of Joseph Broussard. But now, my dad has taken on an almost father-figure-type role with Tristan. Which is great, considering that Tristan feels fatherless now.

  “I would like to go see Conrad tomorrow.”

  “That soon?”

  “You aren’t ready to tell your family about the baby?”

  “It’s not really that I don’t want to tell them.” I pause before I continue to choose my words. “This is about us, and it’s a special time for us. I want to have a selfish moment and let it be our little secret for a little while before everyone else is privy. Is that crazy?”

  “No, I like it being our secret for a little while. But not for too long. I’m ready to give you my name, Emma Lia Broussard.”

  That’s the first time that he’s ever said it in full like that.

  “Emma Lia Broussard,” I repeat.

  “Sounds good, do
esn’t it?”

  I love it. “It sounds perfect.”

  “We’ll need to choose something just as perfect for our little one.” I adore hearing him say ‘our little one.’

  “I’d like to choose something Acadian to keep his or her roots alive. And I love your middle name. It would be nice to have a son named Romaric Broussard after you.”

  “I don’t know why my mother named me Tristan. It’s Celtic.”

  “It’s sort of funny. You’re a Creole with a Celtic first name, and I’m Irish with a name adopted by the Acadians from the Germans.”

  “I hadn’t thought of that, but Emma is a popular Acadian name. That’s why it sounds so good with Broussard. So, see? Fate decided long ago that this is our destiny.”

  “I’m not sure that destiny ever stood a chance when you decided that you wanted me. And this baby.”

  “You love my obsession with you. Admit it.”

  “I do.”

  It’s true. I’ve always wanted to be with a man who wanted me and only me. One who would pamper me because he loved me so dearly. One that looked at me as though I was the only woman in the world. And Tristan does that.

  Sure, some women are more concerned with maintaining their voices and being equals in a relationship, but I don’t feel as though I’ve given up anything. I’m half of this relationship. Tristan isn’t a Dom without a submissive, and I am not a submissive without him. We need one another or we’re both incomplete.

  41

  Tristan Broussard

  My relationship with Conrad has changed. It isn’t as it was when he came to my home months ago, desperate for me to release Emma Lia from her debt. I’m lucky that he doesn’t still hold that against me. I believe that he would if Emma Lia hadn’t made it perfectly clear that I treat her like my queen.

  Conrad isn’t well. I don’t see him as often as Emma Lia, but his condition seems to have progressed a little more each time I visit. I believe that he will find comfort in knowing that a man with my kind of money and power is pledging his life to Emma Lia. Wouldn’t every father want a son-in-law who will protect and love his daughter?

  I didn’t tell Emma Lia that I was coming to see Conrad today. And she doesn’t know that after I have his blessing, I will be properly proposing to her with a ring. No more talking about it casually as though it isn’t one of the most special moments in our lives. She deserves a romantic proposal that she’ll never forget.

  I ring the bell and stand at Conrad’s front door, catching my breath. I’m tense as fuck. Nerves aren’t something I experience often, and I’m a little surprised by my own anxiety. But I’m confident about what I plan to say to Conrad. I practiced my speech in my head all night.

  Nana answers the door. I wasn’t counting on her being here, but I guess I need her blessing as well since she has been the only mother that Emma Lia has ever had. “Tristan… you don’t have to ring the bell like a stranger.”

  My relationship with Conrad isn’t the only one that has changed. Nana treats me like family, even insisting that I call her Nana instead of Emma or Mrs. Grant.

  “Get yourself in here, young man.” Nana kisses the side of my face as I come through the door. “Emma Lia isn’t with you?”

  “No, ma’am. She’s at home. And that’s one reason that I’m here. I need to speak with Conrad without her being here.”

  “I hope that everything is all right.”

  “No worries. All is well.”

  Nana leads me to the living room where Conrad is lying on the couch. He strains to sit up when he sees me, and I can tell that it’s a struggle. “Well, this is a surprise.”

  “You don’t have to get up.”

  “Ah hell. I’ve been lying down long enough.”

  “I should have called before showing up unannounced.” I hate when people do that to me. And Conrad is ill. He has good days and bad days. Today could be a bad one for him. I should have been more thoughtful, but I allowed my excitement to get the better of me.

  “It’s fine. I was just being lazy today.” He points to the chair next to him. “Come around and have a seat.”

  The words that I had prepared for Conrad are all of a sudden a blur. “I had this planned out—everything I wanted to say to you—but I’m suddenly at a loss.”

  This doesn’t happen to me. I don’t lose control. Ever.

  I get up to walk the living room. Standing over others always seems to calm me.

  “As you know, my relationship with Emma Lia began because I felt that she owed me a debt. After having her as my companion for a while, I fell in love with her. I wanted to clear her debt, but she insisted upon continuing the deal that we made. She now has no debt with me and hasn’t for some time. Emma Lia has chosen to remain with me in New Orleans because she loves me too.”

  Conrad nods. “She hasn’t said so, but I figured as much.”

  “I didn’t want to love Emma Lia, but I do. I love her with all my heart. I’m here because I’ve already pledged my life to her, and I’d like to marry her with your blessing. And with yours, Nana.”

  “This is what my girl wants? To be married to you?”

  “Yes. Your approval is the only reason that we aren’t already engaged.”

  Conrad looks at his mother and she nods. “He loves her. Give the boy your blessing.”

  He looks at me, I think stretching out the moment for as long as possible just to make me shit my pants. “You have my blessing.”

  I hope that we still have his blessing after we give him the news about the baby.

  “Thank you, Conrad. I promise to always treat your princess like my queen.”

  “I know that you will. When do you plan to ask her?”

  “Soon.”

  “Do you have a special plan?” Nana asks.

  “I have the ring, but I haven’t decided how I’ll do it just yet.”

  “I know that you’ll come up with something special.”

  “I don’t have family, my close friends are limited, and your family isn’t big. For that reason, we’ve discussed having a destination wedding. Would that be something that both of you feel like you could do?”

  “Depends on how far in the future we’re talking.”

  “It won’t be far.” I’m ready to make her my wife.

  “I can make it,” Conrad says.

  “And you, Nana?”

  “I wouldn’t miss my girl’s wedding for anything in the world.”

  “And you don’t foresee a problem with Adam, Michaela, and Avery being able to make it?”

  “Not that we’re aware of,” Conrad says.

  “Would you think that it was completely nuts for me to take her on a quote-unquote business trip, which would actually be a surprise wedding with all of you there? Of course, I would arrange everything. You’d just need to show up.”

  Nana brings her hand to her chest. “Oh my God. That would be amazing. And so romantic.”

  “I think that it would be wonderful as long as you’re positive that she’ll say yes.”

  I’ve never been surer of anything in my life. “Are there any dates that wouldn’t work for you or the family?”

  “We’re open.”

  “Okay. Then I say that we do this as soon as possible.”

  42

  Emma Lia Grant

  “Why in the world would I go wedding-dress shopping when Tristan hasn’t proposed yet?’

  “You go because you know that he’s going to ask,” Avery fires back.

  “But he hasn’t asked.” And I’m starting to wonder why.

  Tristan was all gung ho about getting married, but the topic hasn’t come up lately. I’m almost two months pregnant. We’ve known about the baby for over two weeks. I expected to have a ring on my finger by now, based upon the way he was acting when we found out.

  “I don’t feel like trying on dresses.” I’m bloated. And nauseated.

  I don’t know how big I’ll be when we actually get married. If it’s months down
the road, I’m going to need something that my bump will fit into. There’s no use in looking at dresses until I know how far along I’ll be. Some silhouettes just won’t work if my stomach is really poking out.

  “Then let’s just do it so you can be getting ideas on color and silhouette and embellishment.”

  “You’re really excited about this, aren’t you?”

  “I am. It’s not every day that my best friend gets married.”

  “I guess we can.”

  Avery insists that we go to the most expensive boutique in New Orleans. She says that I need to be pampered.

  She’s being weird.

  We’re greeted by a woman dressed all in black. “Hello. My name is Maryse, and I’m going to help you with your appointment today.”

  I don’t have a ring. I don’t have a venue. I don’t have a wedding date.

  I look at Avery and mouth, “Appointment?”

  She shrugs and we both follow the woman to the fitting room. “Tell me what you’re looking for in your wedding dress.”

  I feel horrible for wasting this woman’s time because Avery wants to play wedding today. But it’s too late to back out now. “I’m short and I think that a ball gown will overwhelm my frame.” And Tristan loves my booty. I don’t want it to disappear until layers of poofy fabric.

  “I agree. No ball gown for your body type. What about an airy sheath or a thin crepe with a deep neckline to elongate your frame?”

  Honestly, I haven’t even looked at dresses. I have no idea what I want. “I could try those on, I guess.”

  “What kind of budget do you have?” the salesclerk asks.

  “She doesn’t have a budget. She can afford any dress in this shop,” Avery says.

  I can’t believe her. “Avery… everyone has a budget.”

  “Well, you know that Tristan will buy you any dress that you want.”

  “It’s my dad’s place to buy my wedding dress.”

  “Okay, then. You know that your dad will buy you any dress that you want.”

  “Tristan who?” the salesclerk asks.

  Oh shit. “Tristan Broussard.”

  “You’re marrying Tristan Broussard?”

  Fuck.

  Fuck.

  Fuck.

  She knows him.