“Caitlin, what the fuck?” Surprise quickly turned to fear as he realized she was unconscious.
Fuck!
He scooped her up immediately and shouldered his way through the crowd. “Let me through!”
He made it to the entryway of the BDSM room where a bouncer stopped him. “Can’t let you carry her out of here.”
“She’s my wife,” Travis roared. “She fainted.”
“Oh, my God, what happened?” Emily rushed up to them.
“I don’t know,” Travis said tersely.
“I’ll bring the car around,” Ed said and disappeared into the sea of bodies.
“You know this guy?” the bouncer asked Emily.
“Yes. He’s her husband,” Emily replied with a hint of exasperation and worry.
The bouncer nodded, giving Travis permission to leave with an unconscious Caitlin. Not that he would have waited a second longer. At the entrance of the club, the guard was apparently notified of a man coming through with an unconscious woman because the door was opened for him, and he was outside in no time at all.
He saw Beatrice hurrying toward them.
“What happened?”
“Passed out,” Travis clipped. “You and I are going to have words, Bee.”
It was then that Travis noticed the big man who stepped forward and gripped Beatrice’s arm telling the redhead firmly, “I’m not done with you.” The man’s whiskey eyes shifted to Travis. “Hello, Lieutenant.”
“Shit. Gabriel?” Travis said hoarsely.
“You have no right following me here!” Beatrice yelled at the newcomer. “This is stalking.”
“Oh, please, Bee, your scream can wake the dead,” Caitlin croaked from his arms.
“Cat?” Travis whispered in relief.
“You can put me down, Trav. I’m fine. I think.”
“No way. I’m taking you to the hospital. You fainted once during our honeymoon, too. Ed’s bringing the car around.”
As if on cue, the Escalade pulled up in front of the club.
“Gabe, we need to catch up. Man, you just disappeared off the face of the planet,” Travis said, still reeling with the appearance of his former SEAL buddy, but his focus was on Caitlin right now. “I have to take my wife to the hospital.”
Gabe nodded. “I’ll be in touch.”
*****
Pregnant?
Holy shit! Caitlin’s mind screamed in panic as the words of the doctor sank in. Travis was also stunned, but there was a tender look on his face as he glanced at her. The look in his eyes simply melted her into a gooey puddle, although not enough to quell the anxiety threatening to explode from her gut. As if sensing her turmoil, his hand squeezed hers in reassurance as they listened to the doctor.
“It’s still early. It’s around six weeks judging from your last cycle.”
“Wait. How?,” Caitlin asked, dazed. “Six weeks ago, that’s around the time my birth-control shot lapsed.” She looked at Travis. “But we took precautions and used a condom.”
A guilty look crossed Travis’s face. “Ah, it broke twice, remember?”
The doctor’s lips twitched. “There you go.”
“Do you have an obstetrician? I can give you referrals if you want,” the doctor asked when she couldn’t bring herself to say anything else.
“We’ll take care of it,” Travis said abruptly and stood up.
The ER doctor nodded. “Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Blake.”
They walked out to the waiting room where Ed and Emily hung around for news.
“Well?” Emily asked, obviously confused by the differing expressions on their faces. Travis’s was pure triumph and male satisfaction, and Caitlin wanted to kick him in the ass with how well he accepted this life-altering circumstance. He had not mentioned anything about starting a family with her again, and she thought now that the legalities with their marriage status was okay, he might have changed his mind about getting her pregnant to tie her to him. Obviously, she was wrong.
She was still feeling nauseated, but she wasn’t sure if it was from the news or her condition.
“She’s pregnant,” Travis announced, grinning.
“Oh, my God,” Emily squealed. “Congratulations!” The brunette’s eyes landed on Caitlin’s face, which probably looked like she was about to face the executioner. “Um, right?”
“She’s still getting used to the idea,” Travis said.
“Thanks, Travis, for reading my thoughts,” Caitlin grumbled. “And you’re not supposed to tell anyone for twelve weeks.”
“Our lips are sealed,” Em said with an accompanying “zip it” motion to her lips. Ed clapped Travis on his back.
“I’m going to get fat,” Caitlin informed her husband. “You’re up for that?”
Travis turned her in his arms, leaned in, and said, “You’re pregnant. Pregnant is not fat. Is that what this panic is all about?”
“I’m not panicking.”
“Right . . .” Travis eyed her dubiously. Then he tucked her into his side and kissed the top of her head. “We’ll figure it out, sunshine.”
The comfort of his arms did make her feel better. Her nausea started receding, and the first inkling of excitement at the prospect of motherhood started to tickle her heart.
*****
Travis was exultant, but he tried to reel it in, even if he wanted to lift Caitlin and spin her around in pure exhilaration. His woman was in shock right now; although, it seemed she was less tense than she had originally been at the hospital.
They dropped off Emily and Ed at their home. It was almost 3:30 a.m. when they finally pulled into their garage. Caitlin had dozed off and was just rousing when Travis exited the car to go around her side to open her door. The skirt she was wearing was bunched up around her hips exposing the mound between her thighs. His cock predictably stirred. Well, her being pregnant certainly earned her a reprieve from his ire. He’d forgive her any transgression right now. However, her being pregnant also reminded him of the infinitely pleasurable activity of how she got that way. He grew harder. It was that mating instinct. It had to be.
“Want me to carry you, babe?” Travis whispered.
“I’m pregnant, Travis, not an invalid,” Caitlin’s lips curved in a sleepy smile.
Watching Caitlin walk into their kitchen, into their house, which she had spent weeks turning into a home, and knowing she was carrying their baby, he couldn’t hold back his feelings any longer.
“Sunshine?” Caitlin turned and looked at him questioningly. “Come here.”
She took too long in getting to him because of those damned heels, so he held out his hand and when she took it, he yanked her into him. She stumbled into his chest with a gasp.
“I’m so fucking happy I’ve knocked you up, so you’re going to get over any uncertainty you’re having about this baby,” Travis growled at her, their lips a breath apart. “Are we clear?”
“Yes, Travis,” Caitlin sighed against his lips, and there was contentment in her voice.
“You sound happy,” Travis asked warily, not trusting her sudden acquiescence.
“I am happy. I’ve got the man; now I’m getting the family.”
“Damn right you are,” Travis muttered.
“Just took me an hour to wrap my head around it.”
“That’s not too bad.”
“I’m just wondering why my first reaction was panic,” Caitlin whispered. “And I spoiled the news for you.”
“Caitlin, don’t. Nothing could put a dampener on how happy I am right now,” Travis said firmly. “Come on, let’s go upstairs. There’s something I need to tell you.”
After taking a quick shower together, Travis had Caitlin snuggled close to him in bed. They were both too wired to fall asleep, and he felt he had to tell her why she was feeling the way she was about the whole pregnancy.
“You didn’t want to have children before,” Travis admitted. He felt Caitlin stiffen. “When we first got married, it was with my ful
l understanding that it would simply be the two of us.”
“I’m surprised you were okay with it.”
“Babe, I love you more than anything. Was I bummed at the prospect of not having kids? Hell yeah, but that wasn’t a deal breaker for me. I wasn’t giving you any reason to walk away. You didn’t even want to get married, saying you were okay with just living in sin. Fucking. Drove. Me. Nuts. I never understood why because there was no question that we were crazy about each other. It was only when the truth came out about Project Infinity that everything made sense.”
He glanced down at her. “Still awake, Cat?”
“Hmm . . . just thinking. So why didn’t I want kids?”
“Being abandoned as a child and enduring the foster care system didn’t exactly give you the warm fuzzies about motherhood,” Travis said. “I was hopeful if you got to experience the love and support of my family, I could change your mind. It took almost two damned years, but it worked.”
“Sneaky.”
“Cat, I still would have been fine if you never came around. I was completely happy with just the two of us. Also, I was away with the SEALs so much at that time, I didn’t want to leave a pregnant wife at home. But when we made plans of me quitting, that’s when we had the talk.”
“Hmm . . . so this could be some residual doubt trapped in my subconscious or something?”
He stroked her hair. He wanted to fill in all the blanks in her lost memory. “Very likely. First thing we’re going to do, well, in a couple of hours, is get you an appointment with your woman doctor.”
“Obstetrician. And it’s a Saturday.”
“I’ll call Dr. Ryan for a referral anyway. We’re getting you the best, sunshine.”
“I can’t believe I got pregnant from those two times the condom broke.” Caitlin stifled some laughter.
“I’ve got determined swimmers, babe.”
“Yes, we nearly tore up your office that day. You were insatiable.”
“If I remember right, you were the one who was impatient for me to come home,” Travis said smugly. He had been working late that Thursday and had been the lone occupant in the office when Caitlin showed up in a trench coat with nothing underneath but a lace bra and panties. “I nailed you right against the office door that first time.”
“Yes, then you pulled out and spread me over your office table.”
“I fucked you with my mouth.” He heard her breath hitch; his dick responded. He shifted and had her under him. “I licked every crevice of that sweet little cunt of yours.” He pulled off her nightie and started raining kisses on her body. He rolled her nipple on his tongue, loving the feel of her arching against him, pushing her body into his. Then he moved lower, taking his time pressing his mouth against the sensitive skin between the junction of her thigh and hip. Her legs opened in response. He inhaled her arousal and grew harder. He’d never get enough of her, and this was affirmed when he dipped his tongue right into that ambrosia.
*****
Six years later
“Give me one more, babe.”
“I can’t. I can’t, just . . .”
“Cat, you don’t give me one more, you’re not getting my cock.”
Whimper.
Travis had been alternately fucking her with his tongue and fingers. He wore her out late last night, and she dozed off right away. She sucked the ever loving hell out of his cock both with her mouth and pussy so he zonked out as well. Early this morning, she snuck out of bed and took a shower. Without him. It was a Sunday morning. They always showered together.
So now he was giving her endless orgasms. Without his cock. And she was writhing for the ultimate release, which was him moving inside her.
He withdrew his fingers and pushed her thighs apart and resumed feasting on her. He had since laved off every trace of her floral citrus soap. What was left was a heady musk of pure Caitlin. Even now after six years, her feminine scent drove him insane. He could eat her forever, except his dick wouldn’t be happy. And right now the fucker wanted some action. Caitlin spasmed against him and moaned, her release spurring him to growl against her pussy. He held a palm on her lower belly and pressed down on that point he knew drew out the intensity of her orgasm.
“Travis, oh, God, oh, God . . .”
He crawled up her body, hooked her legs under his elbows and plunged inside her, pounding her into the mattress with each powerful stroke. Her hands gripped his shoulders as she continued to whimper and moan in pain or pleasure, he was beyond control now. He briefly kissed her. “Come on, sunshine. Suck me inside you. Suck me dry, babe.” He watched her tilt her head back as she cried out again. “Fuck . . . come around me, babe . . . Fuuuuck!” Her inner muscles clamped down on him, pulling him into the tempest of her own climax. He wanted to roar, but he kept his voice low and growled into the curve of her shoulder instead. He shivered, his release running the length of his spine in diminishing spasms.
He pushed up on his elbows, his breathing still heavy as he framed Caitlin’s face tenderly. “I love you, sunshine.”
“Love you, too, Travis,” she whispered back.
After all these years, he was just as crazy for her. His slowing heart rate picked up a beat as strong emotions overwhelmed him. “I didn’t think it was possible to love you more each day, but I do. You fucking own me, babe.”
Her fingers reached up to trace his jaw. “As I belong to you.”
Travis turned his head to kiss her hand. “You’re damn right you do.”
Her brows furrowed. “I’m so sorry about the past few months—”
His fingers traced her lips to stop her from talking further. “Shh . . . what are you sorry about? Marriage isn’t all about sex, babe—though I’m thrilled we’re back on track. You didn’t freeze me out or anything. You were still you; you just had to stop being a superwoman. You were exhausted and—”
There was a soft knock on their door. They both froze, eyes locking with each other, before they burst into muffled laughter.
“Looks like someone’s awake,” Caitlin said as she grabbed her discarded nightie and made her way to the bathroom.
Travis pulled on his pajama bottoms, threw on his shirt, and made his way to the door. He opened it to reveal a miniature replica of Caitlin—their five-year old daughter, Abby. Long blonde locks and amazing hazel eyes just like her mother, she was wearing sweet pink pajamas with her ratty teddy bear, Fred, in tow.
“Was Mommy having a nightmare again?” Abby asked with concern.
Travis struggled to keep a straight face. “She was, princess.”
“Did Daddy make it better?”
Fuck, kill me now. “I sure did. Are you hungry, Abby?” Desperate to change the subject, Travis wondered if it was a good idea to soundproof their room. He always remembered to keep it quiet, but his wife was a different matter.
“Yes. You promised pancakes.”
Caitlin walked out from the bathroom. “Hey sweetie, you’re ready for breakfast?”
“I am, Mommy. Are you okay?”
Caitlin looked at Travis for direction, so he said, “Your nightmare.”
“Ah, yup, Daddy took care of me.”
“Okay, I brought Fred if you’re still scared,” Abby said, holding out her teddy bear.
Just then, another cry came crackling from the baby monitor.
“Looks like we made it just in time,” Caitlin muttered with a wry smile.
Travis bent down and leaned on his thighs, gazing into his daughter’s eyes. “Mommy’s fine, princess. She needs to take care of Connor. Why don’t you help Daddy prepare breakfast for Mommy, okay?”
Abby nodded vigorously. Travis stepped out of their room and let his daughter hang on his arm before he swung her up onto his shoulders. That never failed to elicit an excited squeal from his little girl.
He looked back at Caitlin, smiled, and winked.
*****
Caitlin rocked her four-month old son Connor as he suckled on her breast. Her children neve
r ceased to amaze her. That intensity of fulfillment and selfless love was so all-consuming, that all doubts of motherhood had long been permanently banished from her consciousness. She wouldn’t change a thing. Her perfect family of four.
If Abby was cut from an image of her, Connor was all Travis. Dark hair, blue eyes, this little boy would grow up as heartbreakingly handsome as his father. Caitlin’s heart swelled. Travis. Oh, how she loved him. Their love was as strong as ever; their bond unbreakable. With how hard Travis fought for them to finally be together, Caitlin had surrendered to him completely. They never took each other for granted. Ever.
Sure, they fought. What couple didn’t? Most of it still stemmed from Travis’s controlling nature and caveman ways. He was a bit better with his jealousy. Actually, she would be worried if he didn’t get jealous at all. Wonderful father, perfect husband, passionate lover—what more could a woman ask for? And he could be so sweet; Caitlin saw another side of him these past few months.
Unlike her first pregnancy where Caitlin couldn’t wait to have sex with Travis after the doctor gave the all clear, the weeks following Connor’s birth sent her into a period of zero sexual desire. It was also in stark contrast to her crazy libido during her two pregnancies where she couldn’t get enough of her husband. Travis happily informed her he was “her cock to command.” Six weeks was the norm when sexual relations could be resumed, but she found herself turning down advances from Travis. And Travis did notice and he stopped pushing her. Caitlin was afraid he would close in on himself and drown himself in work, but instead, he stepped up the non-sexual advances. He would text her sweet little notes throughout the day, come home with flowers, or massage her feet in a non-leading-to-sex kind of way. He’d make an effort to come home early to help out with the kids, especially with Abby, because Connor in the early months demanded plenty of attention. Her little boy still did.
Travis waited her out with all the patience of a saint. She never felt pressured and she showed her appreciation in return in small ways like a sweet kiss on the lips, a squeeze of the hand. She was just so exhausted because Connor seemed to be having endless growth spurts, feeding like crazy, and having unpredictable sleeping hours. After her son’s latest growing frenzy at three months, Travis insisted they get a nanny to help her out during the day, and she finally relented. What a big difference that made, and she was slowly feeling like herself once again.
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