Filthy Uncle To Go: A Forbidden Romance

by S. C. Adams

  I smile beatifically. “Thank you,” I say.

  And with that, a new chapter begins. Drake kisses my forehead, causing a swarm of butterflies to flutter around inside of my belly, and I smile as we lock lips again. I guess my fortune was right because I’ve never been so happy in my entire life, and being with this man brings me peace and light.

  13

  Drake

  “A rum and Coke,” I say to the blonde bartender standing behind the bar. “Thanks.”

  “Sure, no problem,” she says as she reaches for a bottle of rum. “And for you, sir?” she asks, glancing at Liam.

  “I’ll have the same…and your phone number,” my buddy says with a flirtatious grin.

  “Sorry,” she says, smiling back at him. “I have a boyfriend.”

  “That’s too bad,” Liam says, still flirting with her. She smiles politely as she makes our drinks and then heads to the other end of the bar to help two patrons who just walked in.

  “She’s smoking hot,” my buddy mutters as he watches her walk away. “Like a Barbie-doll on triple-A batteries.” I glance at the skinny blonde and take a sip of my drink.

  “Mmm, not my type,” I respond.

  “Really? What’s your type then?” he asks. I think for a bit.

  “Curvy brunettes,” I say.

  Liam catches on immediately.

  “Like the one you met at the Millers, right?” he asks.

  “Yup,” I say. Of course, I haven’t told him the complete truth about Jenna yet. In fact, Liam doesn’t know anything about Jenna, except what I revealed on Thanksgiving. After all, my new relationship is taboo and I’m not sure the world should know yet.

  But it feels right. Jenna and I have been dating on the sly for a few weeks now, and things are getting pretty intense between us. Every day, I find myself in awe of who this woman is. I didn’t think it was possible to feel this way about a woman, to be honest. She’s giving and loving, and hearing her laugh makes me happy. But how can this relationship move forward if we aren’t even supposed to be dating? There’s no way her parents would ever willingly consent to our liaison.

  “Yeah, I like her,” I say, taking another sip. “A lot.”

  “You’ve gotta tell me more about this chick,” Liam presses. “Why are you being so fucking mysterious?”

  “No reason, really,” I say casually. “Except that she’s a college student,” I begin.

  “She’s in college?” he asks, expression incredulous. I nod, still staring into my glass. Then he claps me on the back. “Way to go, Drake! My man, the young ones are the best. Their bodies are still firm, and everything on them is where it’s supposed to be. Plus, in college means she’s old enough for you to fuck her hard, so that’s a plus too.”

  I shake my head. My friend is such a dirty asshole, but it’s not that simple – her age isn’t the only factor in this problematic equation. The rest of it all is on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t bring myself to say it. Who wants to admit that they’re sleeping with their niece? It’s much more complicated than that, but I need a drink first to help me say what I need to say.

  “Why the long face, bro?” Liam asks. “Shit, does your girl have any friends? I love them young ones,” he adds, already rubbing his hands with glee. “Come on, man. Tell me. You’re starting to worry me.”

  I sigh heavily. This guy is such a dick. “There’s something else about her,” I hedge.

  Immediately he goes serious.

  “What is it?” he asks, staring intensely at me. “Does she have herpes?”

  I scowl.

  “No, she doesn’t have herpes. She’s...” I pause. “She’s actually my niece,” I finish.

  “Come on, bro,” he chuckles. “Tell me the truth.”

  “That is the truth,” I say. “I’m not joking.” His eyes grow wide, making me feel like the biggest douchebag on the planet.

  “Dude, are you serious? Your fucking niece? You’re fucking your niece?” he exclaims.

  “It’s not as bad as it sounds,” I say, but my friend won’t hear it.

  “You better have a damn good explanation because it sounds rancid,” he says. He motions toward the bartender.

  “Yes?” she asks as she walks over to us.

  “We’re going to need another round of drinks, ASAP,” he announces.

  “Right away,” she says as she pours rum into our glasses, followed by soda.

  Maybe I shouldn’t have sprung this on my friend in a public place because usually, Liam’s a cool, laid back guy, but I think my confession just shook his entire foundation. He chugs half of his drink before the bartender makes it to the other side of the bar. Once she’s far enough away from us, I resume the conversation.

  “Jenna isn’t really my niece. We aren’t biologically related, actually,” I explain.

  “Who the hell is this girl again?” he asks.

  “She’s Naomi’s niece. Naomi’s younger brother adopted Jenna when she was a baby,” I say.

  “Wait a minute. So she’s your late wife’s younger brother’s adopted daughter?” he asks.

  “It’s a mouthful, but yes,” I admit.

  “Have you slept with her yet?” he immediately asks. I hesitate. I don’t want to admit that I took the innocent girl’s virginity. “Well?” he demands.

  “Yeah,” I admit.

  “And how old is she again?” he asks.

  “She’s twenty, a grown woman now. A beautiful, intelligent, and incredible woman. She’s not like the women I’m used to. Jenna’s perfect in every way, and she blows me away with her intellect and goodness. Not to mention the mind-blowing sex we’ve been having every night.”

  Liam is still shaking his head in wonder.

  “Fuck me,” he says.

  I sigh.

  “Really? That’s all you have to say?”

  He merely shakes his head again.

  “Well, I guess I’m happy for you, man,” he says. “Like you said, you’re not really related. But what about the rest of the Miller family? Have you told any of them yet?”

  “No,” I confess, a knot forming in the pit of my stomach. “That’s where things get tricky.”

  After all, Christmas is just around the corner, and the Millers are expecting me to be there per usual. But what will Jenna and I do? It would be hard to pretend.

  “So, are you going to tell Naomi’s family?” he asks.

  I shrug.

  “I don’t know.”

  Liam whistles.

  “Bro, you’ve got to tell them. If you’re really serious about this woman, you can’t keep this relationship a secret.”

  “I know, and I will eventually, but not yet. I just want to enjoy things a bit longer,” I say.

  “Understandable, but just know that when you do tell them, you’re basically fucked. No more invites to family events, and her parents are going to despise you,” he warns. “Hell, they might even report you to the police.”

  “I know.” I sigh heavily. “But nothing would come of it because Jenna’s legal, and we’re not related.”

  Liam claps my back again.

  “Yeah. But it’s not kosher either, and you know that. You need another drink, my brother,” he says as he motions toward the blonde bartender again.

  I sigh because Liam’s right. The love the Miller family has for me will go out the window the second they find out about me and Jenna. Not that I would blame them. Hell, if Jenna were my daughter, I’d probably assault the man who took her virginity. Yet at the same time, she isn’t a little girl anymore; she can make her own decisions. Her family can’t control her life, and what we do in the bedroom is our business.

  The bartender refills my tumbler and I stare at the amber liquid morosely. Fuck, what’s happened to my life? What I’ve found with Jenna is precious and rare, and I would never do anything to jeopardize what we have. Yet we have to, if we ultimately want to be together long-term.

  “Let’s make a toast,” my friend announces. “
You’re a crazy bastard, but I’m glad you’ve finally found love,” he says as he raises his glass. “Cheers.”

  “Cheers,” I grunt as I lift my glass in the air and tap his.

  Yet, what am I really celebrating here? My newfound relationship with Jenna, which could take a nosedive at any time? The fact that I’m creating secrets that are too big to be kept?

  I take another sip of the rum and Coke, utterly depressed. This fucking sucks. Then, glancing at my watch, I check the time. Jenna should be getting out of class in twenty minutes, and we have plans for dinner tonight. My heart lifts, and I dig into my pocket and toss a fifty dollar bill onto the bar. It always makes me happy to see my girlfriend, even if Liam’s words are a harsh dose of reality.

  “I’ve got to run,” I say.

  “Okay, bro. It was good seeing you,” he responds, his eyes on the pretty bartender again.

  With that, I head out onto the streets of New York. The wind whips around my board shoulders, and I pull my coat closed. I’m not sure what’s going to happen next, but one thing is definite: I’m not letting the curvy girl go.

  14

  Jenna

  My hands tremble as I grip the positive pregnancy test between numb fingers. Feeling faint from the shock, I take a seat on the toilet, still staring at the result. I pinch myself to see if I’m dreaming, but I’m wide awake. Oh my gosh! How could this have happened? I mean, I know exactly how it happened, but what am I going to do now? I’m carrying Drake’s baby inside of me. What am I going to do?

  Suddenly, a knock at the penthouse’s bathroom door startles me, and quickly, I hide the positive pregnancy test behind my back.

  “Yes?” I call out in a normal voice.

  “Jenna, are you okay in there?” my lover growls from the other side. “Food’s getting cold.”

  “Yes, I’m fine,” I stammer.

  “Are you sure? You’ve been in here for a while,” he says.

  “Um, sorry! I’m coming out now,” I reply with a faint tremor to my voice. “Go ahead and start without me. I’m not that hungry.”

  He pauses for a moment.

  “Sweetheart, are you sure? You love Italian.”

  I smile weakly.

  “Yes, I’m fine. I’ll be right out!”

  “Okay.”

  I hold my breath as his footsteps fade down the long hallway. Finally, Drake’s gone and I shove the test into the bottom of the trash can and cover it with toilet paper. I doubt Drake is the type to go fishing around in his bathroom garbage, but I don’t want him to accidentally find this thing. What was I even thinking, taking the test here? I should have done it in my dorm room.

  But I did it, and now I know the answer. Staring in the mirror at myself, I take a deep breath, but it doesn’t calm me down. My hands are still shaking, and I have a burning feeling in the pit of my stomach. Drake and I are madly in love and have been for the last six months, but we still haven’t told my family about us yet. We’ve been waiting for the “right time” to break the news to them, but to be honest, I’m chicken. I keep putting it off because I’m such a coward.

  But now, a baby changes everything. I have no choice other than to tell my family, but how? I place my hands on my stomach and stare down at it. I know we should have used protection, but some nights, we were so hot for each other that we forgot. Okay, that seems to keep happening, and in my heart of hearts, I know that it’s not entirely true. I wanted it bare. I love having Drake hard and raw inside, pulsing deep as he fills my sweetness, but now there are consequences. OMG, what do I do?

  After all, Drake said he wants a family, but we’ve only been dating for six months. What if he isn’t ready to be a father yet? What if he was just saying that as something to happen in the future, but not now? Yet I can’t raise this baby on my own. I’m still a college student, after all, and I can’t imagine juggling studies with a newborn. Will I have to drop out?

  I take another deep breath and with one last look in the mirror, turn the doorknob. I pull the heavy slab open, but the scent of the lasagna baking in the oven makes me gag. Retching painfully, I hold my stomach as I run back into the bathroom and vomit in the toilet. This must be morning sickness. I’ve heard that it can happen any time during the day, and not just in the morning.

  “Jenna?” Drake calls out in a worried tone. “What’s going on?” While I’m heaving, I feel his big form fill the doorway. “What’s wrong?”

  Oh gosh, I wasn’t expecting to have to tell him while my head is in a toilet. He gently rubs my back as he hands me a tissue. I wipe my mouth off, then lean against the bathroom wall with tears in my eyes. There’s no easy way to reveal the news, and I wish I had more time, but it’s now or never.

  “Baby, are you sick? Do you need to go to the hospital?” he asks.

  “No,” I say as I stand up. I grab a bottle of mouthwash that’s sitting on the sink and rinse my mouth out. The big man’s eyes are locked on me as he waits for me to explain my sudden bout of illness, and I sigh heavily as I stare into his eyes. “There’s something that I have to tell you.”

  “Shoot, honey. What is it?” he asks.

  “Maybe we should sit?” I suggest weakly.

  “Sure,” he agrees as he takes my hand in his, gently pulling me out of the bathroom. His touch gives me comfort and settles my nerves, and we both take seats on the mattress. “Maybe you should lie down?”

  “No, I’m okay,” I say, smiling weakly.

  “Okay,” he replies. “Now, tell me what’s going on, sweetheart. How can I help?”

  The gorgeous man holds both of my hands as he stares into my eyes, and suddenly tears pool in my gaze. I want to tell him, but I’m terrified. The last six months we’ve spent together have been amazing. Sure, we don’t go out much because we don’t want my family to find out, but I don’t mind hanging out at his penthouse because every moment I spend with him is magical. Telling him that I’m pregnant could shift the dynamics of our relationship forever.

  “I don’t know how to say this,” I whisper as I stare down at the ground.

  “Jenna,” Drake says as he places his hand underneath my chin and lifts my head. “Whatever it is, we can get through it together. I love you, and nothing will ever change that.” His reassuring words help me, and I take a deep breath.

  “Well, I’m pregnant,” I announce, my voice trembling. “I’m having your baby. I just took a test in the bathroom.”

  “What?” he growls, eyes widening. “Are you serious?”

  I nod as my heart races. He grows quiet, and his silence makes my heart shudder. Oh God, he hates me. He’s going to tell me to get rid of the baby, and my heart will break. Suddenly, I wish I could take it all back.

  “You’re pregnant?” he asks.

  “Yes,” I confirm in a soft voice.

  “Oh, honey,” he says. To my surprise, he pulls me in close and wraps his arms around me. “You’ve just made me the happiest man on the planet.”

  I pause, going still.

  “Really?” I question, feeling shocked.

  “Yes. I’ve wanted to be a dad for so long,” he says in an emotional tone. “And now it’s coming true.”

  Holy shit, this is taking me by surprise.

  “You’re not upset?” I ask him in a wavering voice.

  “Of course not,” he says as he stares into my eyes. “I love you, and I want to start a family with you.” He places his hand on my stomach, and my heart fills with joy. “I can’t wait to meet our child, and I hope she looks just like you, sweetheart.”

  The breath exits my body in a deep exhale.

  “I’m glad you’re okay with this. I was so afraid to tell you,” I say in a small voice.

  “Okay with it? This is the happiest moment of my life!” he exclaims.

  “Yes, but I thought you were going to be angry at me,” I confess.

  He fixes me with a look.

  “Why? It’s not your fault. I was the one who didn’t use a condom a lot of the time, a
nd I’m a grown man. I knows what happens when you don’t use protection when you’re inside a curvy, fertile girl. Honestly, I was kind of hoping it would happen.”

  I stare at him.

  “Really?”

  He shrugs, smiling and a little shamefaced.

  “Yes, honey. I love you, and while I know you’re still in school, I’ve been wanting a child for a while now. You’d make an incredible mommy, and while I didn’t plan for this, in the back of my mind, it was always a possibility. How far are you, do you know?”

  I shake my head.

  “No, because I’ve got to go to the doctor’s first. Maybe two months? I haven’t been tracking my period,” I apologize.

  He pulls me into his arms and nuzzles my hair. “No, it’s fine sweetheart. I’ll go with you. This is exciting news, honey, and I want to be there.”

  But then, I glance down at his hand on my belly and sigh heavily. I don’t want to ruin this special moment, but I can’t stop thinking about how my parents are going to react when they find out.

  “What’s wrong?” he asks.

  “I’m just worried about what Mom and Dad are going to say,” I confess.

  My gorgeous boyfriend gathers me in his lap and holds me in his embrace. He kisses my shoulder, making me feel warm all over. Then, he gently strokes my tummy with his hand, undoing the knot that has formed inside of my stomach.

  “We’ll tell them together, and we’ll get through this together. It’s my job to protect you now, and I don’t want you worrying because it could put the baby in danger. But I think things are going to be fine, sweetheart. No matter what, your parents will always love you, and they’re going to adore our child too,” he reminds me. “This is their grandkid after all.”

  I know he’s right, but I still feel worried. Leanne and Michael will be horrified at first, but maybe over time, they’ll accept it. After all, I’m a grown woman, and I’m allowed to love whomever I want. Besides, again, Drake isn’t my real uncle, so we didn’t do anything wrong. In fact, he’s more like a family friend, and not a relative.