by Lane Hart
Abby smiles like I just told her a joke. “She moves when you talk.”
“Does she really?” I ask.
“Uh-huh. She’s getting stronger, too. You might be able to feel her soon.” The smile slips off her face. “She’s almost twenty weeks.”
“That’s good, right?”
“We lost Thomas at twenty weeks.”
“But they’ve tested her for everything, and she’s healthy.”
“Yeah, but I still can’t help worrying,” she says with a sigh.
“Then let me help take your mind off everything,” I offer. Standing up, I reach for her hand to pull her to her feet so I can peel her dress off and lay her down on the bed.
“You don’t have to…” she half protests when I kiss her belly and my mouth moves lower.
“I want to,” I tell her before tonguing her clit.
“Yes, yes, yes,” she chants, lifting her hips and thrashing around on the bed while I lick her pussy. When her legs tense and she goes silent, I know it’s the calm before the storm. “Oh God!” she exclaims when she erupts like a geyser all over my tongue. Her body doesn’t even stop trembling before she falls asleep.
I undress and then take a shower since my balls feel like they might explode if I don’t give them some relief soon. Fisting my cock, it doesn’t take long to get myself off, especially after I picture Abby on her knees in the backseat of the cab, sucking my cock the first night we fucked.
I dry off quickly and wet a warm washcloth to take it to clean Abby between her legs. Then I tuck her under the covers and climb in with her. It’s early, maybe only nine-thirty, but I could use the rest. Instead of turning on the television, I watch Abby. Running my palm over her bump, I feel for movement underneath the surface. She said the baby moves when she hears me talk, so maybe she recognizes me already.
…
Sometime in the middle of the night, I wake up because the bed is shaking. Abby’s back is to me, and she’s curled up in the fetal position, her entire body trembling. Shit.
I get up and turn off the air conditioner and look around on the floor for the white t-shirt I had on earlier underneath my dress shirt.
“Abby,” I whisper with a shake to her shoulder. Her skin is scorching hot. She’s got a fever. “Abby,” I say again, and this time she blinks her eyes open. “Can you sit up, so I can put some clothes on you? I think you’ve got a fever.”
“Y-y-yeah,” she stutters with her teeth chattering.
“Do you have some sweats in your bag?” I ask. “What about Tylenol?”
“In-in-in my bag. Black yoga p-p-pants and Tylenol in-in-in the front z-z-zipper.”
I turn on the overhead light to find both, get her dressed, and offer her the white pills with a bottle of water.
“You okay?” I ask, brushing the sweaty hair from her face. “Should I take you to the emergency room?”
“N-n-no. Just h-h-hold me.”
Climbing back in bed, I pull her to me and stroke my hands up and down her back until her body relaxes and she finally falls back asleep.
The next morning, Abby’s still exhausted after sleeping for twelve hours. I woke her up long enough to feed her cereal for breakfast, and then she fell back into bed, instantly sound asleep.
I have to leave for the official weigh-in and media interviews, but I don’t want to leave Abby alone. So, I do the unthinkable and send Luke a text message asking if he’ll stay with her. He knocks on the door ten minutes later. There’s not even the usual smug look on his face.
“How’s she doing?” he asks quietly when he steps into the dark room.
“I don’t know. She’s been asleep forever, and I have to wake her up to get her to eat or drink. Should we take her to the doctor?”
“Nah. She probably just needs to rest. Go. I’ll get her some lunch and call you if she gets worse.”
“Okay,” I agree with a nod, knowing I have to leave. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
…
Abby
I wake up with a stiff neck and tense shoulders. Stretching my arms over my head, I look around to try and figure out what time it is. The clock says eight-thirty, but I’m not sure if that’s a.m. or p.m. From the gap between the drawn curtains in the hotel room, the sun is up but it’s dim. It could be morning or afternoon.
“Hey, sleepyhead,” Luke says from the other side of the bed. I roll over and am surprised to find him and not Senn sitting against the headboard, fully dressed with his ankles crossed, watching television. The volume is muted and closed caption flashes words along the bottom of the screen. It’s an IFC fight. When Senn’s picture comes up on the screen, my heart starts racing in my chest.
“Today’s Saturday?” I exclaim as I jump out of bed. “What happened to Friday?” I ask Luke in a panic.
“You slept through it. Don’t worry, you needed the rest.”
“The fight…it’s tonight? Like in half an hour?” I ask, running around the room, looking for my luggage.
“Yeah, but if you don’t feel up to it–”
“Of course I feel up to it!” I interrupt him with a shout. “That’s why we’re here!”
“Senn would understand if you wanted to stay in,” Luke says, unmoving from the bed.
“He would understand, but I would feel like an enormous pile of dog shit. I want to be there! I need to be there!”
“Okay, calm down and get dressed. I’ve got our passes to sit with the team.”
“I need a shower. Shit! Did I really sleep for two days?” I ask, but don’t wait for his response before turning on the shower and stripping off a white tee and my yoga pants that I don’t remember putting on. Usually Senn and I sleep naked together.
There’s no time to dry my hair, so I put on a one shoulder, stretchy black dress that hits right above my knees with a pair of heels, and then I braid my hair while we take the elevator downstairs.
“You look great,” Luke says while we weave our way through the fans standing around the entrance of the hotel’s arena.
“Thanks. I don’t feel great,” I reply, a little out of breath when we make it to the front of the cage where the rest of the Havoc team is milling about. “Did we miss it?” I ask Hailey. Her arms are wrapped around her man Mace’s waist, and he’s holding on to her possessively like he’s daring someone to even try to look at her.
“No, they’re on an intermission, and then he’s up next,” she tells me. “How are you feelin’?”
I plop down into a seat, exhausted now that we’ve made it. “Like a sumo wrestler trying to run track. How are you doing?” Linc had told me she spent some time in a treatment facility for eating disorders. Looking at her…well, you would have no idea that she’s self-conscience about her perfect figure.
“I’m feelin’ great. And you don’t look anything like a sumo wrestler. You’ve got the pregnant woman glow goin’ on. Guys are seriously checkin’ you out.”
“Whatever,” I scoff.
Hailey and I chat for a few minutes about Senn’s opponent tonight, a really great fighter named Chad Hollandsworth. Both fighters are about the same age, height, and of course, weight. Chad’s ranked tenth in the world and Senn’s ranked thirteen, so Chad is favored to win.
The bright lights in the area dim and are replaced with colorful ones when loud, rap music starts to play. I laugh out loud when I realize that “Mama Said Knock You Out” by LL Cool J is Senn’s intro. The crowd suddenly erupts into cheers and clapping, making the baby go wild. It feels like she’s doing backflips while I stand there on my tippy toes trying to see Senn over the much taller heads in the crowd. Since I can’t see him at the tunnel, I watch on the big screen that’s hanging on the wall.
Wow.
He looks big and dangerous with his black Havoc hoodie pulled up over his head. His snug red and black shorts stretched tightly over his powerful legs match the gloves on his hands. I can’t see his face, but if I had to guess based on his powerful swagger, I would bet he looks ser
ious, in the zone. Ready to kick another guy’s ass.
When Senn gets to the team, he lowers the hood from his head and starts to unzip his hoodie when he looks up and sees me. He flashes me a smile that would’ve ignited my panties, if I was wearing any.
Strolling over, he stops inches in front of me before cupping my jaw to kiss me slowly and thoroughly. My hands grip his broad shoulders, knowing the cameras and everyone in the arena is watching, but not caring one little bit.
“How are you feeling? You sure you’re up for this?” he asks when he pulls away.
“Oh yeah,” I assure him. “I feel great. And you are definitely getting laid tonight.”
“We’ll see how you feel,” he says. “I’m really glad you came.”
Grabbing my hands from his shoulders, he slides them to his chest and the opening of his hoodie. Taking his hint, I drag the zipper down slowly, revealing his amazing body one inch at a time. Once that’s done, I reach up to the tops of his shoulders and peel the fabric down his bulging biceps until he can shrug all the way out of it. The fact that he’s letting me undress him so intimately in front of this many people, all these female fans who want to fuck him, has me practically dripping wet.
I’m guessing Senn’s turned on, too, based on the way his chest is heaving and how his eyes have grown hooded. He leans down and kisses me again, this time using his tongue as a promise of what’s to come later when he slips his cock inside me. Pulling back, he kisses down the side of my neck in the way he knows makes me crazy and even dips his tongue in between my breasts before he kneels down. His amber eyes lock with mine when he palms my belly and places a kiss over it. By the time I suck in a shaky breath, he’s up and headed over to the official for his final inspection.
“Whoa,” Hailey says from beside me. “That was so…sweet,” she says at the same time Luke says, “Hot”, from the other side of me.
“Yeah,” I sigh, agreeing with both of them. There’s noticeable whispers in the stands, people probably wondering what the hell just happened or who I am. I ignore them all, too nervous as Chad, Senn’s toughest opponent yet, comes into the stadium to an angry rock song. The crowd cheers for him, just as loudly, if not more so than they did for Senn.
As soon as the ref gives the final rules, the two men touch gloves and the bell rings. They trade a few kicks and punches, but none do much damage. When Chad barrels into Senn, pushing him against the cage wall and then yanking him by his waist down to the canvas, Luke curses beside me. It takes a few tries, but Senn finally gets back to his feet, and everyone blows out a breath in relief. Mace, Linc and one of the Havoc coaches yell out moves to Senn as the fighters dance around each other. The two end up in a clinch, both standing against the cage, neither getting the upper hand. Chad nails Senn in the head with his elbow and his eyebrow splits open, oozing blood right before the buzzer signals the end of the first round.
“Oh my God,” I mutter as I watch the coach dab at Senn’s cut with Vaseline, trying to get the bleeding to stop.
“That’s nothing. It probably looks worse than it feels,” Luke assures me.
During the second round, the two men keep swinging at each other, narrowly missing each other’s heavy fists. When they’re in a clench again with Senn trapping Chad against the cage, he pulls the other man’s head forward at the same time he lifts his knee and rams it into his face. There’s a loud crunch that makes the audience gasp. With what has to be a broken nose, Chad crumbles to the ground and the ref jumps in to stop the fight. Thank goodness.
“Woo-hoo!” The whole team jumps to their feet and cheers as Senn’s arm is raised as the winner.
One of the announcers shoves a microphone into Senn’s face and starts asking him questions.
Senn doesn’t thank God or his parents like most people. He gives a shout out to everyone at Havoc for supporting him and helping him train hard to get the win.
When the announcer asks if it was a tough fight, Senn hesitates before answering.
“Chad’s a tough opponent, but this fight is nothing compared to the one my girlfriend is battling. She’s the strongest person I know because she’s up against unfavorable odds and her life is on the line. She’s risking it all to save my daughter, which is incredibly brave but scares the shit out of me. If I could fight cancer for her, I would. There’s nothing I can do except promise to stay in her corner and be there for her, loving her with everything I’ve got to give no matter what.”
I stare dumbfounded at Senn in the center of the cage as he continues to answer questions. Did I just imagine his words? It feels like I’m floating. Maybe this is just some dream because Senn isn’t the type of guy to make such a romantic statement in front of thousands of people in the stands and millions watching on television.
He walks out of the cage and is directed out of the arena by a circle of security guards. Fans grab for him in excitement.
“Abby!” He yells my name and crooks his finger, indicating I should follow him.
“Come on. I’ll help you get through security,” Luke says, grabbing my hand. I follow along behind him, wiping the moisture from my face. We have to show our team passes three times to finally get to the changing room door.
“I’ll find you later,” Luke says with a wink before he disappears.
The door is unlocked, so I turn the knob and step inside. My heart stops beating when I find Senn alone, already taking off his shorts. His skin is slick with sweat and there’s still blood on his face from the cut above his eye, but I’ve never wanted him more than I do right this second.
Senn’s on me a second later, grabbing my hips when he kisses me and plastering his hard, damp body against the length of mine. My back hits the door, making it feel even better when he grinds himself on me. He jerks the one-sided shoulder of my dress down my arm and pushes the rest of the material to my ankles. Lifting one of my legs and holding it against his hip, his fingers quickly stroke through my wetness before he penetrates me with two of them, making me moan into his mouth.
“I need you,” I tell him against his frantic lips. “Now.”
Growling his agreement, his hands lift my ass higher on the door, so he can enter me.
“Is the door locked?” I ask as an afterthought, feeling around for a lock.
“No lock. But no one’s gonna get this door open,” he tells me before he slams home.
“God, yes!” I exclaim, wrapping my arms around his neck to hold on tight when he’s filling me up.
“Tell me if I’m too rough,” he says, his mouth lowering to my neck because he knows that’s my most erogenous zone.
“Feels good,” I assure him.
“A little different from last time,” he says against my skin, and I know he’s referring to the night of conception. The one time we had sex with a condom against the wall and he somehow knocked me up.
“Just a little different,” I sarcastically agree since so much has changed now. “You love me?” I ask as he drives me farther up the door with his deep thrusts.
“I love you. So fucking much,” he says against my ear. “You scared me this weekend.”
“I’m sorry,” I say with a sniffle. “I love you, too.”
“I can’t share you anymore,” he says, resting his forehead against mine, his amber eyes revealing all of his insecurities.
“You never had to,” I tell him. “I’ve just been waiting for you to say you wanted to be with me.”
“Thank fuck,” he says on my lips before kissing me softly while we grab and pull each other, trying to get closer even if it’s impossible as our releases rock through our bodies.
“Are you okay?” Senn asks when we start to come down from our high.
“Oh yeah,” I assure him. “I forgot to tell you congrats on your win.”
“Thanks,” he says with a chuckle. “I forgot I had a fight.”
“How’s the cut over your eye?”
“Don’t even feel it,” he replies. “All I feel is you.”
&
nbsp; Looking down at our still connected bodies, seeing my big, round belly against his rows of perfect abs is quite the contradiction.
“She’s getting big,” Senn says, noticing the same thing.
“Yeah, she is.”
“I’m glad we’re having a girl,” he tells me, brushing his fingertips over my side.
“Really?” I ask with a grin. “I thought you’d want a boy like Linc, one to follow in your footsteps.”
“I wanted a girl so she wouldn’t have to follow in my footsteps,” he replies with a shake of his head. “Fighting was never my choice. It’s just the only thing I’m good at. A son might’ve felt obligated to try…”
“You would rather buy dresses than a pair of gloves?” I tease.
“I’ll buy her both if that’s what she wants,” he says with a smile that warms my heart because I know he means that. He’s gonna spoil this little girl, give her anything and everything to make her happy. While he doesn’t have any experience with babies or kids, his love for her is all she’ll need.
“You’re gonna be a really good father,” I tell him, biting my lip to hold back the tears at the thought of never seeing the two of them together.
“I promise you I’ll try my best, mama bear,” he says before going completely still. “What was that?”
“Ah, what?” I ask.
“Felt like a finger poking my stomach.”
“You felt that?” I ask him with a smile, looking down at where my belly’s pressed into his abs. “That was the baby.”
“She poked me!” he exclaims, and she does it again. “That’s her?”
“Yeah. She’s getting stronger.”
“Holy shit! That’s amazing…to know she’s in there and touching me…”
“Maybe she’s retaliating for you poking her,” I tease him. His forehead scrunches up while he thinks that over, and then his eyes widen before he steps back until his semi-hard cock slips out of me.
“You think I…when we were…and she felt it?”
Laughter bursts from me, seeing him look so concerned about poking the baby with his dick. “No, Senn. I’m fucking with you.”
“That’s just wrong,” he says with a grin, pressing his body back along the length of mine. “But now you’ll never get me off of you because I want to feel her poke me again.”
