Wicked threw a pillow at him, almost knocking him off the bed. “Get out!” she hissed as her stomach pitched violently. “If you make me puke again, I will kill you.”
Closing the door behind a cranky mumbling Bruce, Thorne turned back toward Wicked with the same expression on his face. It was an expression she couldn’t read, one she’d never seen on his face before.
“What?” Wicked tilted her head, staring at him as she rolled to her side to curl up.
“When was your last period?” Thorne asked point-blank, and that’s when the room began to spin.
Chapter 10
The room immediately spun when she sat up too fast. Dizzy, she winced. Trying to figure out the date of her last period wasn’t easy; she was too focused on trying to figure out what his expression meant.
Shaking her head, she focused and frowned. She was late. At least a week, give or take a few days. No, that was wrong. She was two weeks late. Holy shit! Her hand went to her stomach as her eyes rose to meet Thorne’s. “Two weeks.”
His hand shifted to his hair as his fingers ran through it. She noticed he did that when faced with something complex, and he was trying to figure it out. “I’ll go get a pregnancy test.” Thorne turned to leave, then stopped and walked toward her, giving her a kiss on the forehead. “I’ll be right back.”
“Thorne.” She stopped him before he walked out the door. He turned to look at her over his shoulder. “I don’t expect anything from you if I am.”
“What?” He turned completely toward her.
Wicked ignored the growl in his voice. “I just wanted to let you know that.” She wanted to add, since you don’t look too happy about the thought, but kept that to herself.
“Let’s see what’s going on before we get too far into this conversation.” Thorne gave her a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes, and she saw that clearly.
Nodding, she watched him walk out of the room and continued to stare at the closed door long after he left. Finally, her eyes blurred and watered. She blinked rapidly and glanced down at her stomach. What if she were pregnant? That would explain why she hadn’t been feeling herself the past few weeks and her sudden aversion to food.
Slowly, she stood and moved in front of her mirror. Lifting her hoodie, she stared at her stomach. It wasn’t flat, never had been. She had a little bit of a tummy, and it looked the same to her as it always did. Watching her hand run lovingly over her stomach, she smiled. Right this minute she could be pregnant with Thorne’s child.
The thrill and excitement were dimmed slightly by his confusing reaction, but if she were pregnant, she would love this child like no other.
With a twirl of her finger, a pregnancy test appeared on her dresser. She knew before he left that she could get one just like that, but because of the way he was acting, she felt he needed a minute and in all honesty, so did she.
After staring at it for a long minute, she made it disappear, knowing she couldn’t do that. He should be here when they both found out. It was important they did this together. The door opening made her jump. Thorne stared at her through the mirror, his eyes lowering to her bare stomach, then back to her eyes.
“I don’t need to go to the store, do I?” he knowingly asked as he stepped inside, shutting the door.
She shook her head as she lowered her hoodie. “No.” With a twirl of her finger, the test reappeared in the same spot. They both stared at it as if it were going to stand up and shout she was pregnant. Rolling her eyes, she grabbed the box, opened it and read the instructions. Thorne leaned against the door watching her. Tossing the instructions, Wicked turned and headed toward the door, but Thorne remained where he was.
“This changes nothing,” he said, staring down at her. “Whatever this test says, it changes nothing.”
Giving him a small smile, she tilted her head. “It changes everything, Thorne.” Wicked decided to be totally upfront with him. “Your reaction clearly states that.”
“You’re human, Wicked.” Thorne frowned down at her. “I’m not.”
“That’s not a shocker. Kinda knew that already.” Wicked sighed, anxious to take the test. “Now move so I can pee on this thing.”
“You don’t understand,” he continued without moving.
“Actually, I do.” Wicked stopped him with a sigh, shifting impatiently from foot to foot. “We haven’t really talked about this part of our relationship. We are still learning about each other. It’s moving a little too soon. Now again, move so I can pee.”
“Wicked, nothing would make me prouder than for you to carry my child within that beautiful body of yours.” Thorne didn’t budge. “I want to have little boys who cherish you as I do and little girls who look and act exactly like you. Nothing would make me happier.”
His words made her heart sing, but confusion clouded her happiness. “Then why the gloom and doom face?”
“I had planned on talking to Zelda to see how safe it was for you, being human to have a child by me, a Shifter. Not just any Shifter, but a panther Shifter.” Thorne finally admitted to his fear. Relief rushed through Wicked at such a speed her knees weakened, making her stumble into him.
“I know that there are human women who have carried Shifters’ babies.” Wicked placed her hand on his chest.
“But those women aren’t you,” Thorne replied, his face still expressionless, but she did see a hint of fear in his eyes.
“So you think those women are stronger than me?” she asked, a little offended. “Let me tell you, Thorne, I’m tougher than I look.”
He pulled her into his arms and held her tightly. “I can’t lose you, Wicked,” he whispered into her hair. “When you were shot and I thought I lost you, the fear is nothing like I’ve ever experienced before in my life. And if something happens to you because of my carelessness, I couldn’t live with that.”
“Our carelessness,” Wicked reminded him. They had used protection, even though as a Shifter, Thorne couldn’t give her any STDs, and she couldn’t give him anything. But Thorne had insisted on birth control, and she now knew why. He wanted to make sure she could carry his child safely. Except there was one night when things got so carried away that the deed was over before he realized what they had both forgotten.
“I’m the man. It’s my responsibility.” Thorne frowned.
“Oh, okay, caveman.” Wicked rolled her eyes, not even giving that statement a greater response. “But I’m going to tell you this right now. If I am pregnant, nothing will get in my way of the happiness I’m going to feel. Not your grumpiness, fear, or whatever. I’m not dismissing what you’re feeling, but without apology, I’m going to be ecstatic, so don’t rain your doom and gloom over my happiness, or I’ll zap you back home.”
Thorne actually chuckled as he kissed the top of her head. “Our home as soon as you decide to leave this tiny box.”
“Okay.” She nodded against his chest.
“What?” Thorne asked, surprised as he gently pushed her away to see her face.
“I said, okay.” Wicked grinned. “And no, this isn’t because of me possibly being pregnant, which we may never confirm because you won’t move. I was coming to your house the day I misunderstood that Monica was your sister to tell you I wanted to move in with you if you’d still have me.”
“Then why in the hell are you still here and not moving in with me today?” Thorne growled, his eyes narrowing.
“Because you only just now asked again.” Wicked laughed at the look on his face. “I know I’m complicated. Maybe you better rethink all this.”
“Never.” Thorne winked at her. “I do complicated well.”
“Okay, now move.” She poked him in the ribs. “I really have to pee.”
He followed her to the bathroom then started to go in with her, but she stopped him. “I may have violently puked in front of you, but I’m not peeing in front of you.”
“Seriously?” Thorne frowned, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Seriously.” Sh
e closed the door in his face. As she rushed to the toilet, her stomach remained queasy, but her mind was too occupied with the possibility of being pregnant.
Quickly, she pulled off the cap, shimmied down her sweats and poised herself over the stick, hoping she was doing it right. Once finished, she set it on the sink, cleaned herself up and washed her hands, all without looking at the stick that held her and Thorne’s fate.
Within just a few seconds, they would know. Nerves bubbled in her gut, mixing with an abundance of emotions vying for a place—excitement, terror, happiness. And then there was genuine sadness that it might be negative. Okay, she had to get the hell out of the bathroom.
Opening the door, she walked out and stood next to Thorne as they both stared into the bathroom at the pink stick on the sink. Bruce walked up and sat in front of them, staring into the bathroom also.
“What the hell are we looking at?” Bruce said, still staring inside as Thorne reached over and took Wicked’s hand into his.
Chapter 11
Wicked knew it was time to check, but she couldn’t make herself move. What shocked her the most was the feeling of deep disappointment if the test was negative.
“You look,” she whispered, still staring into the bathroom.
Thorne was silent for a second. Then he squeezed her hand. “We both look.”
“I’ll fucking look if you tell me what we’re looking at.” Bruce huffed, looking around at them both.
Nodding, Wicked, with her hand still in Thorne’s, walked past Bruce into her small bathroom. Slowly, she reached out and picked up the test and closed her eyes.
“I think you can see it better with your eyes open.” Thorne chuckled, but she could tell he was a little nervous himself by the shake in his voice.
She did open them but looked up at him instead of the test. “This changes nothing between us.”
Bruce had jumped up on the sink, and he gasped at what was in her hand. “No!” Bruce hopped up on the sink. “Wicked?”
Both Thorne and Wicked ignored Bruce. Glancing down, she gasped as her eyes and brain tried to process what she was seeing. Her hand went to her mouth as a tear slipped down her cheek.
She was going to have a baby.
Peeking up at Thorne, she studied his face as he also stared down at the test in her hand. Some of her excitement dimmed when she saw his emotionless stare, but his eyes went to hers, and a small smile appeared on his lips. “Looks like we’re going to be parents, Momma.”
She tried to keep her emotions in check. “And how do you feel about that?” Wicked asked, watching him closely.
He pulled her into his arms. “Ecstatic.” He squeezed her gently. “And will be more so as soon as I know you won’t be harmed carrying my child.”
“Why, is it going to eat her?” Bruce questioned, still on the sink as both Wicked and Thorne glanced his way. “Yeah. Hello. I got something to say about this.”
“Actually, you don’t.” Wicked sighed, snuggling up to Thorne.
Bruce snorted. “Actually, I do,” Bruce hissed, throwing his paw up in the air. “You’re going to have a panther, Wicked. Duh! It could eat me. Yes, that’s a concern. And it’s going to be crying all night and day.”
Wicked listened to Bruce blab and complain, but she was used to it since he blabbed and complained about everything. She was happy. Unfortunately, she was the only one truly happy it seemed, and that concerned her.
“I mean come on, man?” Bruce jumped off the sink and paced back and forth, glaring at Thorne. “Didn’t you cover your stump before you humped?”
“What?” Thorne pulled away to glare at Bruce.
Wicked was obviously used to the rants Bruce went on from time to time, but Thorne wasn’t. This should be interesting.
“Cover your joker before you poked her,” Bruce continued, staring at Thorne as if he was an idiot. “Jesus, man, 101 on how not to have a rug rat or in your case a panther rat with sharp-ass teeth that could shred me into a bloody mess.”
“The bloody mess part may come sooner than you think,” Thorne growled then pointed toward the door. “Get the fuck out.”
“But—” Bruce started, but scattered out of the room when Thorne roared.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen him move that fast.” Wicked chuckled as Thorne closed them into the bathroom.
“Marry me.” Thorne’s voice filled the small room.
“Um, I think I already said yes.” She grinned up at him.
Thorne didn’t grin back. “I’m serious, Wicked.” Thorne did sound serious, very serious. “I can find someone to marry us first thing in the morning and—”
“Whoa!” Wicked pulled away. “Tomorrow morning? Thorne, I don’t expect you to marry me so quickly just because I’m pregnant. This isn’t the old days where I’ll be an outcast for being with child out of wedlock. I know you’ll marry me, but tomorrow? That’s not important to me right now.”
“It is to me.” Thorne frowned down at her. “I don’t want little Thorne born a—”
“Don’t even say it!” She glared at him. “And he won’t be, but I’m not marrying you tomorrow morning by someone you drag in to do the job. I don’t need a fancy wedding, but I want it special because this is it for me. I only get married once.”
“You better believe this is it for you.” He growled then shook his head, running his hand through his hair again. She noticed this was at least the fifth time he’d done it since they’d found out she was pregnant. Wicked actually wanted to run outside and scream in bliss to the sky, but it seemed to her like he wasn’t feeling as blissful as she was.
“Why aren’t you as happy about this as I am?” She figured honesty was the best in this situation. Wicked refused to let it go and wanted to know exactly what was bothering him. “And please don’t lie to me, Thorne.”
He had opened his mouth until she pleaded for him not to lie to her. Then he closed it and sighed.
“I know something is wrong because when you get stressed, you run your hand through your hair.” He was doing just that as she had begun to speak. “This is the sixth time, and yes, I’ve counted.”
A haunted look came over his face as he stared at her, lowering his hand from his hair. “I’m a twin, Wicked.” Thorne looked down at her stomach and then back up to her face. “Chances of you carrying twins is very high.”
Her hand went to her mouth in surprise as a large smile played across her lips. “Twins?” Excitement almost had her hopping up and down. “Seriously?”
Thorne’s frown deepened. “This may not be a good thing, Wicked.”
“He’s right,” Bruce said from the other side of the door. “You’re human, Wicked. He’s a Shifter, a panther Shifter at that, so his babies—”
“Our babies,” Wicked corrected Bruce.
“—are going to be big,” Bruce finished, ignoring Wicked’s interruption. “Your body may not be able to handle this.”
Despite seeing the truth of Bruce’s words reflected in Thorne’s eyes, she didn’t even feel worried. “I’ll be fine.” Wicked brushed off their concerns. “I’m tougher than I look and you guys are really putting one of the happiest moments of my life down the toilet.”
Thorne continued to stare at her with that damn worried look on his face, and Bruce’s silence said a whole lot.
“It’s too late now anyway,” Wicked whispered to Thorne as she took his hand in hers. “We’ll just take it one day at a time, find the best doctor, and prepare for our baby or babies to come. Please, Thorne. I’ll be fine.”
His only response was to squeeze her hand, then lift it up to kiss her knuckles.
“If you smile, I’ll marry you tomorrow,” she said in a pleading voice and cocked her eyebrow.
Finally, his radiant smile started slowly but soon spread across his face. “We’re going to be parents.” The smile disappeared quickly. “Holy shit! We’re going to be parents.”
“You can say that again.” Bruce snorted, still on the other s
ide of the door.
Chapter 12
Wicked sat with Monica at the Assjacket Diner waiting for Zelda to join them. It had been three days since she’d discovered she was pregnant and with each new day, Thorne seemed to be coming out of his worried state, thank the Goddess, and becoming a little more excited. She appreciated his concern, but if she wasn’t worried, then neither should he.
“I can’t believe my brother is going to be a dad.” Monica chuckled with a shake of her head.
“Why do you say that?” Wicked sipped on her ice tea, careful not to drink it too fast. So far she hadn’t had any more sickness, and she wanted to keep it that way. “I think he will make an excellent father.”
“Oh, he will.” Monica nodded in agreement. “But Thorne likes things, let’s see, how should I say this?”
“Orderly?” Wicked knew exactly what Monica was getting at.
“Exactly.” A sneaky grin snuck up on her face. “And his world is about to be turned upside down. I just hope I’m here to see it.”
Before Wicked could ask what she meant by that, Zelda walked in and headed their way. “Sorry I’m late.” Zelda frowned as she slid into a seat with a sigh. “Two Shifter porcupines decided to have a little fight just as I was ready to leave. Mac tried to break it up and got spiked for his efforts.”
“Oh, I bet that hurt.” Wicked winced with a chuckle.
“Heard some very colorful words come out of that man’s mouth.” Zelda snorted, then looked at Monica. “You must be Thorne’s sister. I’m Zelda, and it’s so good to meet you. Seriously, I’m never late.”
“You’re beautiful,” Monica said, then rolled her eyes. “Sorry, things just seem to shoot out of my mouth.”
“Hey, as long as they’re compliments about me, shoot away.” Zelda gave her a friendly smile then turned her attention back to Wicked. “So how are you feeling?”
“Better.” Wicked had called Zelda after Thorne had of course to tell her the news which she already knew because of Thorne being a worried ass. “The crackers in the morning seem to settle my stomach, and as long as I stay away from strong smells and salmon, I’m good.”
Sinfully Wicked: Magic and Mayhem Universe Page 5
