by Tess Summers
“Keep those fucking legs spread,” Luke snarled as he yanked them apart again, then pushed his jeans all the way off. He slid inside her pussy with one thrust, her desire helping his cock find its way deep inside despite how tight she was. They moaned in unison as he began to move his hips.
What was happening between them was carnal, and as much as he hated their reunion sex was lust-fueled instead of loving and passionate, it might be exactly what they needed.
He plunged inside her cunt, manipulating her clit as he did. Cassie bent off the counter while he strummed her jewel faster.
“You’re so tight. Your pussy has missed me.”
“Yes! Oh, fuck yes, it’s missed you so much,” she panted, moving her hips in rhythm with his.
“Are you going to come all over your baby daddy’s cock?”
“Mmm hmm,” she whimpered.
“Take my cock, doll,” he growled. “Take it all.”
Luke started to fuck her faster while rubbing her clit with a frenzy.
Her pussy gripped his dick, and she bowed off the counter, her mouth in the shape of a silent ‘O.’ Suddenly, she let out a long moan. “Ohhh, fuuuuck, yes!” and her body began to shudder.
As her orgasm racked through her, he held her hips tight and seated himself deep inside her, grunting his release.
With his cock still buried inside her, he stared in wonderment as she laid before him—rounded, pregnant body, sex hair, and flushed skin. Luke leaned down and kissed her mouth, looking into her eyes while murmuring against her lips, “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
She gazed back with a smile, her fingers entwined in his hair. “You’re the sexiest man I’ve ever seen. I’ve missed you so much, Luke.”
His softening cock slid out of her, and he grabbed a towel to clean her gently before scooping her up and carrying her pliant body to her bedroom. There, he pulled back the covers and laid her carefully on the bed. She moved to the middle, beckoning him to lie down next to her.
Instead, he knelt on the floor and brushed the hair from her face. “I wish I could, doll, but I have to get home.”
She sat up like a shot.
“You mean you’re not staying?”
“I can’t, Cass. You know that.”
“Are you kidding me? You’re still going home to her? You’re going to leave me here alone, again?”
He didn’t want to leave her. There was nothing he wanted more than to hold her in his arms all night, talking about nothing and everything, then wake her up with his face between her legs. But he couldn’t—not yet.
She started to sob. “I am so fucking stupid. Nothing has changed, has it? This was you, getting your rocks off, nothing more.” Her bottom lip quivered, and he tried to put his arm around her, but she pushed him away. His little mama bear lifted her chin defiantly even though her lip still trembled.
“Get out.” He was reluctant to move, and she shouted, her outstretched arm gesturing toward the front door. “I said, Get out!”
“Cass….”
“Get the fuck out of here, Luke. I can’t even stand to look at you. This isn’t good for the baby.”
He couldn’t argue with the not good for the baby card she played, so he had no choice but to head toward the door. She followed behind, tying her robe closed as she carefully kept her distance.
As he stepped out the front door, she pulled off one last parting shot.
“I don’t want you at my appointment. I’ll let you know how it goes.”
Spinning around to look at her standing in the doorway, he implored, “Cassie, no. Please.”
“Fuck you. Go home to your wife.” She closed the door in his face and immediately threw the lock.
He willed himself not to pound on the door again and demand she talk to him. He’d give her time to cool down.
And he was going to that appointment.
Chapter Forty-Three
Luke
“I’m sorry, Mister Rivas. Ms. Sullivan rescheduled her appointment.”
“For when?”
The lady behind the desk who was the spitting image of his grandma looked sympathetically at him. “I’m sorry, sir, that’s confidential. You’re not approved to share that information with.”
“That’s my baby.” Luke was seething. “I have a right to—”
“Mister Rivas, please. I would tell you if I could, but I could very well lose my job if I did. I’m sorry, there’s nothing I can do. Maybe get in touch with Ms. Sullivan?”
He nodded with a gruff, “Yeah, I’ll do that.”
A new tactic was needed. If ever there was a time to play dirty, this would be it. He looked at the older woman, flashing his most charming smile at her, the one that usually had a woman taking off her clothes, and glanced at the name placard on her desk.
“Phyllis, please,” he beseeched her.
He could see her conflict, but she stood strong. “Mr. Rivas, I can’t.”
“I’m begging you. I would never disclose you told me.”
He turned his head, his hand pretending to pinch the top of his nose between his eyes as he sneakily yanked an eyebrow hair so tears were filling his eyes when he met her gaze again. He could see her resolve weakening.
“I’m sorry, sir. I wish I could help you. You seem like a nice man.”
“I really do love her, ya know? I just want to be a part of her life.” That part was true. He nodded his head sadly, then turned on his heel and headed toward the door.
The gray-haired woman called after him, “Mister Rivas! I think you dropped something,” and pushed an appointment card off the desk to the floor.
He bent over and picked it up, glancing at the date and time of Cassie’s new appointment and gave the receptionist a smile. “Thanks. Wouldn’t want to lose that.”
“Good luck, Mister Rivas.”
His hands were shaking, he was still so angry with Cassie. He sat in his Jeep in the parking lot and fired off a text to her.
Luke: I was just informed you rescheduled the sonogram.
He was surprised she responded before he even put the vehicle in drive.
HBD Sullivan: I told you not to come. I’ll let you know what we’re having.
Luke: This is bullshit, Cassie. I have a right to be there.
HBD Sullivan: Nah, you’re needed at home.
Luke punched the steering wheel. Damn that woman for being so hardheaded.
He’d fucked up by sleeping with her. He shouldn’t have done it, he knew that now, but at the time, all he could think about was her silky skin on his, her delicious lips on, well, everything of his, and getting his cock deep inside her heavenly pussy. It was fucking glorious even if it was short-lived.
Now, she thought he’d used her. Which, if he was being honest with himself, maybe he had. He’d wanted her so badly, he hadn’t cared about the consequences.
Well, he was caring now.
Somehow, he’d make this right and give her the pound of flesh she was demanding, all before her sonogram appointment. He had to, there was no other way around it. He needed to be with her like he needed air. So help him, he’d find a way to have both Lucas and Cassie in his life.
Chapter Forty-Four
Cassie
She felt guilty finding out the sex of the baby without Luke there. Brenna’s silent disapproval as they sat in the waiting room didn’t help matters. Cassie almost rescheduled in order to give Luke the opportunity to attend but in the end, decided not to. She was still angry with him and wasn’t willing to play nice yet.
He texted every day, sometimes two or three times—always in the morning to ask how she was feeling and ask her forgiveness, and often later to tell her something about his day or that he was thinking about her.
Damn him. He was making it hard for her to stay pissed. She needed to hang on to her anger. Sometimes, it was the only thing that got her through the day without breaking down.
Other than the text about the sonogram, she hadn’t r
esponded to him since their fight after they’d slept together. She didn’t know why she thought sex was going to make him stay with her—at least for the night—but she did and was crushed when she realized nothing had changed.
“Do you want to have a gender reveal party?” Brenna’s question brought Cassie back to the present.
“What? God, no! I don’t want to do anything like that. I don’t even want a baby shower.”
“Too bad,” her older sister said emphatically. “You’re not denying me that.’
Cassie leaned back with a sigh in her uncomfortable tan, fake leather seat. There was no point in arguing with Brenna—she could be as stubborn as Cassie when she wanted something.
“And you’re doing a housewarming party, too. Separate from the baby shower.”
“Now, that you cannot make me do.”
“Oh, yes I can. I’ll have everyone at my house first, then we’ll go traipsing over to your place.”
“Ya know, if I had known you were going to act like this, I would have moved further away.”
“You love me,” Brenna grinned as she flipped through a complimentary magazine.
Cassie couldn’t deny that and grabbed her sister’s hand. “I do. Thanks for coming with me today. I really appreciate it.”
Brenna squeezed her hand. “I’m honored you let me be here.” The unspoken admonishment of not including Luke hung heavy in the air, and Cassie looked at the ground trying to keep from tearing up.
Her sister tried to lighten the mood. “Let me take you to lunch after this, then we can go to my place and video chat with Dee and tell her the good news.”
“I’m so tired, Bren...”
“You gotta eat, honey. I promised Lu…” Brenna shook her head. “I promised mom and dad I would make sure you were taking care of yourself.”
“Let’s see how I feel after this, okay?” She’d let her sister’s collusion with Luke slide—for now.
Brenna patted her hand. “Okay.” Her placating smile turned genuine as she looked past Cassie. “I thought you said you didn’t tell him the day.”
Confused, Cassie turned toward her sister’s focus. Luke was striding toward them, holding Lucas’ hand, a masculine-looking, black diaper bag draped over his broad shoulder. She was pretty sure every woman in the waiting room was swooning.
“I didn’t,” she responded. She felt a combination of happy, mad, and relieved to see him.
He sat down next to her with a sheepish smile, drawing Lucas into his lap.
“That’s a dirty trick, bringing your son with you, Mister Rivas,” she murmured while looking at his beautiful little boy.
He handed Lucas a book he’d pulled from the black bag. “I know, but I’m done playing fair. Desperate times call for desperate measures,” he replied softly, then louder, and in Spanish, introduced his son to Cassie and Brenna.
Luke’s mini-me turned charmingly shy and burrowed his head into his dad’s shoulder, occasionally peeking over at the women with a small grin, then quickly hiding his head again when they’d return his smile.
“Cassie va a ser tu madrastra algún dia.” Cassie is going to be your stepmother someday.
She was shocked he was telling Lucas that.
Luke softly patted Cassie’s belly and continued, “Ella tiene a tu hermito o hermana en su barriguita.” She has your little brother or sister in her tummy.
The little boy’s eyes went wide in wonderment as he stared at Cassie’s round belly.
“Luke, should you be telling him this?” Cassie asked, barely moving her lips as she smiled at mini-Luke.
The gorgeous man grabbed her hand and kissed it, not letting go once he brought it away from his lips. “Yes. I should have done it the first night he arrived.”
Cassie had no idea where all this was coming from or what it meant as far as Adriana was concerned, but obviously, questioning him in front of Lucas was not the appropriate time to find out.
Brenna’s Spanish was rusty, but judging by her blue eyes as wide as Lucas’ brown ones, she understood the gist of what Luke had said.
“You’ve got a lot of explaining to do, Rivas,” Cassie quietly warned then started talking to Lucas in Spanish. The little boy’s face lit up when he realized Cassie spoke his native language, and he started to warm up to her even going so far as to tentatively touch her stomach and ask how his little brother or sister was in there.
“Cassie Sullivan,” a woman in teal scrubs holding a clipboard called from the side of the lobby.
The younger Sullivan sister took a deep breath, then stood, motioning for her entourage to follow. The ultrasound tech smiled at the brood behind Cassie and said, “You’ve got some backup today.”
“I hope that’s okay?”
“Of course. It’s a big day for your family.”
Cassie surveyed the group. Her family. “Yeah, it is. More than you know.”
Chapter Forty-Five
Luke
He couldn’t stop smiling. He’d just heard his baby’s heartbeat and was waiting for the doctor to get a look if they were having a boy or girl.
Pointing to the monitor screen, he tried explaining to his almost-three-year-old what he was seeing. Luke knew Lucas didn’t understand but could still sense the excitement and happiness in the room. That was what Luke wanted, his son to understand the love flowing between them. He hoped Lucas felt included in that dynamic.
Cassie was fucking amazing with his son. To ease Lucas’ concern, she held his hand and told him the doctor was tickling her with the ultrasound wand. That elicited a giggle from the boy.
“You were in your mommy’s tummy once, too,” she explained.
“Like his little sister is in yours now,” the doctor added.
He and Cassie froze, staring at each other while they processed the news they were having a little girl. The doctor gestured to the screen where their little girl—now bigger than a raspberry—was displayed.
The woman in the white coat drew an imaginary circle on the monitor and said, “No little boy parts. Congratulations, Mom and Dad. You’re having a girl.”
Luke leaned down, cupping one side of Cassie’s face in his hand while he pressed his cheek against hers, tearfully whispering. “We’re going to have a little princess.”
Her eyes were wet when she murmured, “A little girl.”
Brenna stood on the other side of the table, tears streaming down her cheeks when she leaned over and hugged them both. “Congratulations you guys. This is so exciting! I’m really happy for you.”
“Everything looks great, so far, Cassie,” the doctor interjected as she threw her disposable blue gloves in the stainless-steel trash can. “Call my office to schedule your next visit in two weeks,” she instructed, then excused herself. Luke lifted Lucas up, setting the boy on his hip while explaining he was going to have a little sister.
“You’re going to be a great big brother,” Brenna told him in stilted Spanish as she stroked his arm.
“¿La Madrastra Cassie, mi hermana y la tía Brenna van a vivir con nosotros y mamá?” Are stepmother Cassie, my sister, and Aunt Brenna going to live with us and mama?
Cassie shot Luke a look of worry. Of course, his son didn’t understand the dynamic. He had never seen his father and mother interact as a couple, but he was witnessing his papa and Cassie holding hands and whispering words of comfort to each other. Obviously, he thought that would translate to include his mother.
“Tia Brenna lives with her husband in their own house,” Luke explained in Spanish, then looked at Cassie sheepishly before saying, “And someday you, me, Cassie, and your little sister will live in a different house.” I probably should have talked to her about that first.
To his amazement, she didn’t balk.
“What about mama?” his son asked in a small voice.
“Mama will have her own house where you will visit her. We’ll be in a new house by the water.”
Lucas did not like that idea and started to cry. “I
want mama to live in the new house with us! She’ll be sad by herself.”
“You’ll go visit her all the time,” Luke assured his son as he hugged the boy tight to his chest, calming him down. Looking over Lucas’ head, he addressed Cassie who was sitting up and pulling her blouse down after wiping the goo from her stomach. “Um, I need to talk to you about this, later. But it’s very possible Lucas and I, uh, might be homeless shortly.”
She looked at him with a sly smile as she hopped off the table. “As long as you don’t mind sharing a room with Lucas, you’re welcome to stay in the guest room at the condo if you need to.”
“Any way I can upgrade to the master bedroom?” Luke asked hopefully with a grin.
“Don’t push it or you’ll be staying in Brenna’s guest room.”
“Hey! Don’t I get a say in this?” her sister asked in mock indignation, then in a stage whisper added, “You two are welcome anytime, Luke.”
He didn’t take his eyes off Cassie. “Maybe Lucas can have a sleepover with Tia Brenna very soon so his papa can show Madrastra Cassie how sorry he is.”
Brenna smirked, but Cassie remained unaffected, nonchalantly responding as she walked out the exam room door, “Lucas’ papa needs to get out of the doghouse first, then he can worry about sleepovers.”
Luke picked up the diaper bag in one arm, shifting Lucas to his alternate hip before following, loudly calling after her, “I’ll gladly serve my penance, doll. Whatever it takes, however long it takes. As long as I’m serving it under the same roof as you and my kids, I don’t care.”
She slowed her stride and turned around to look at them. “You mean, our kids, right?”
Luke was pretty sure this was what it meant when people said someone was beaming. He was on fucking Cloud Nine.
“Yes, of course.”
Chapter Forty-Six
Cassie
“If you’re going to fall asleep, at least wait until after lunch,” her sister teased.
Cassie knew Brenna was dying to talk about Luke. Cassie purposefully didn’t invite him and Lucas to lunch so the two sisters could dissect what the hell just happened. But once she got situated in Brenna’s warm car, it became harder and harder to stay awake
