by DL Gallie
Unfortunately for me, neither of those things occur. If anything, my run only made things worse. It gave me time to think, and thinking isn’t good right now because my mind runs wild, really wild, and it’s also playing tricks on me. I feel like I’m being watched.
Taking a seat on a nearby bench, I bend down to fake retie my laces and I covertly look around. Nothing seems out of place, clearly my mind is playing tricks on me. Sitting back up, I realize that I’m hungry, and then I start thinking of a cheeseburger. I eat at least one a day right now.
Standing up, I take one last glance around and when I don’t see anything suspicious, I jog to the closest McDonald’s and order a cheeseburger meal. Sitting down, I devour my meal and then I order two more. Hey, sue me, I’m pregnant.
With my belly full, I make my way home and that feeling of being watched hits me again, but this time when I look around, I see a van that heightens my unease. The driver and I make eye contact, this causes their eyes to widen and they quickly drive off. “That was weird,” I tell myself, and I continue to make my way home.
When I step inside my apartment, I get the feeling that someone has been here. Nothing appears to be out of place but the air has a smell to it that wasn’t here before I left. Walking into my room, I strip off my clothes and climb into the shower. The hot water feels amazing on my muscles. Soaping up my hands, I wash myself. My breasts are very sensitive at the moment and when I brush over them, I moan. My whole body comes alive in a way that only Nic has ever pulled from me.
Closing my eyes, I run my hands over my stomach and I slide down farther, between my thighs. Spreading my legs, I slip my finger between my folds and shudder when I touch my clit. Circling my finger around the sensitive bundle, I massage my breast with my other hand. Pleasure builds down low, my breathing picks up as I continue to twist and rub myself. Sliding my finger down, I press my digit inside of me. Hitting the bundle of joy within. Inserting another finger, I pump my fingers in and out. Twisting my finger, hitting that magic spot each time, I moan Nic’s name as I come. My body trembling at the intensity of my climax.
Pulling my fingers out, I turn around and slide down the wall. Tears stream down my face. “I miss you, Nic,” I blubber. Resting my head on my knees I cry, wishing he was by my side and kicking myself for not answering the door last night.
Deciding I need to speak to him, I hop out and dry off. I pull on a cute sundress and apply a little makeup. Grabbing my purse, I head down to my car and drive over to Nic’s place. Taking a deep breath, I walk up his front stairs and knock.
But I’m met with silence.
Turning around, I walk back to my car, hop in, and dejectedly I drive back home. Stripping off my dress, I pull on my sweatpants and FBI hoodie. Grabbing a pint of Ben and Jerry’s, I collapse onto the sofa and watch more Prison Break.
My phone rings and I look down to see it’s Baylor. “Hey, Bay,” I quietly say.
“Hey hey, sexy lady,” she cheerfully says. “What you doing?”
“Eating ice cream and watching Prison Break.”
“Ohh, Wentworth Miller. Totally sucks that he’s gay.”
“Yep,” I reply, letting the ‘P’ pop.
“Well, since you aren’t doing anything. Come on over for dinner. Corey cooked waaaaay too much and if I eat all of this, I’ll end up fat.”
“Bay, I really don't feel like going out again.”
“Well, that’s too bad. You need to stop moping and get on with life. Get your ass over here now or I will…”
“Will what?”
“I don't know but I will do something that gets you over here.”
“You aren’t going to give up until I agree, are you?”
“You know me too well,” she cheekily says, “See you within the hour.”
“I hate you,” I tell her.
“Love/hate, same-same. See you soon.”
Huffing I stand up. I look at what I’m wearing and consider changing back into my dress from earlier, but Bay is making me go against my wishes so I don’t care that I look like a homeless slob. At least my hair and makeup is still on point.
Once again, I grab my purse and head down to my car and head over to Bay’s place.
Knocking on the door, I wait for Bay to answer. I grab my phone and see that I have no new texts from Nic. The door swings open and Bay looks me up and down. “Glad to see you dressed up for the occasion.”
“Bite me” I tell her, and the bitch does exactly that. “Did you just bite me?”
“You told me to,” she says with a shrug.
“It’s a figure of speech, you bitch.”
“Whatevs, come on, the food is getting cold.”
We walk inside and when I step into the kitchen my eyes widen when I see who’s standing next to Corey. “Nic, what are you doing here?”
26
Dominic
Leaving Charli’s place just now killed me. Knowing she was inside but not answering really hurt me. Something is going on, I can feel it in my bones. I need her to know that I’m here so I send her a text. I lay it all out for her, telling her she’s it for me via text isn’t the most romantic way to do it, but I need her to know how deeply I care for her. I know it’s only been a few months but when you know you know. It was the same for Mom and Dad, and it seems, well I hope, it's also the case for Charli and me.
Pulling away from her place, I notice a van across the street. Seems a bit late for a delivery but then again, I’m not a delivery worker, I don’t know what hours they keep.
Making my way home, I head inside and collapse onto my sofa. I stare up at the ceiling and think about the last time that Charli and I were here…
…We have just cleaned up the dinner dishes. Charli cooked me an amazing risotto dish and we washed it down with a lovely red. With our wine glasses in hand, we are now snuggling on the sofa watching a movie. It feels very domesticated and I laugh.
“What’s got you giggling?” she asks, looking up at me.
“This feels all domesticated.” I pause. “It’s perfect.”
“It sure is perfect and you know why?”
“Why?”
She sits up, takes my wine from me and places our drinks on the coffee table. She straddles my lap and stares into my eyes. “It’s because you are perfect, Dominic Cruz.”
“I think you have that the wrong way around, YOU are perfect, Charli Davis. You are perfect in every way.”
Gripping her cheeks in my palms I press my lips to hers. She places her hands over mine and kisses me back. Our tongues languidly slide in and out of each other’s mouths. My cock hardens between us, there’s no way she can’t feel how hard I am. She breaks our kiss and shimmies back along my thighs and drops to the floor. She makes quick work of my button and before I can process what’s happening, her lips wrap around my cock and she sucks.
“Fuuuuck,” I moan, and she continues to blow me. “Your mouth feels sooo good but you know what’s better?”
“What?” she huskily asks.
“Your pussy.”
Lifting her back onto my lap, I’m glad she’s wearing a dress because I can’t wait. I shove the material up, pull her panties to the side and thrust my hips upward.
“Nnnnniic,” she moans.
She holds on to my shoulders and rides me. Our eyes are steadfastly locked on one another as she goes to town on my cock. She meets me thrust for thrust and together we reach our peak. Grunting and growling through our release.
She rests for forehead against mine. Our breathing hurried. “I love you, Nic.”
“I love you too, Angel.”
…as that memory fades, I realize my cock is just as hard now as it was then. As much as I want to pleasure myself right now, I want to save my release for Charli. She owns them, just like she owns my heart.
Standing up, I walk into my bedroom and strip off, heading into my bathroom for a cold shower to ease my cock. It doesn’t work though because memories of Charli and I assault me while I’
m in here, and I can’t help myself. I grip my cock and pump vigorously. Sooner than a grown man should, I spray my cum all over the shower wall.
After my self-love, I wash myself and climb out. Drying off, I slip into bed naked, and drift off to sleep where I dream inappropriate sexy things about Charli and me.
When I wake the next morning, I decide to head into the office to see if I can find out anything more about Darren and Dean Chikatilo. Grabbing my helmet, I ride my bike, hoping the freedom of the ride will clear my head, plus it will soon be too icy and dangerous to ride so I’ll take the opportunity while I can.
Parking my bike, I make my way to the elevator, pushing the call button, I wait. The doors open and Baylor and Corey exit.
“Hey,” I offer in greeting.
“Morning,” Corey says.
“Hey,” Baylor enthusiastically says. “How did it go last night?”
“It didn’t.”
“What do you mean it didn’t?” she snaps at me, her voice laced with anger. If looks could kill, I’d be six feet under right now.
“Calm down, Kitten,” Corey placates her.
“I went to her place but she wasn’t there, or she was ignoring me. I really don’t think she wants to see me.”
“She does,” Bay assures me, “she just needs to pull her head out of her ass.” She pauses. “Do you trust me?”
I eye her, I don’t know this woman from a bar of soap, but for some reason I do trust her when it comes to Charli. “Can’t believe I’m saying this, but yes, I do trust you.”
“Then be at our place tonight and leave the rest to me.”
“What are you planning?” Corey asks her.
“I’m planning on getting my best friend and this dude back together again.”
“We didn’t break up,” I tell her.
“Semantics. Just be at our place tonight and I will make sure she’s there so you guys can clear the air and get back on the same page ‘cause right now, you are in two different chapters and I need you guys to get your HEA.”
“What’s a HEA?”
“Duh, it's a Happily Ever After. If anyone deserves it, it’s my girl Charli and she just so happens to deserve her HEA with you. Now, our place tonight.” She smiles at me and walks off, leaving Corey and me alone.
“Should I be worried?” I ask him.
“When it comes to her,” he nods his head toward her, “definitely.”
“Thanks, I think.”
He slaps me on the shoulder and walks over to Baylor. He scoops her over his shoulder and she squeals. She slaps him on the ass and he returns the favor. I smile watching them. I want that for Charli and me…and maybe after tonight I will get it.
After reaching several dead ends, I look up and realize it’s 4:00 p.m. already. Shutting down my computer, I make my way over to Baylor and Corey’s place. She smiles when she sees me. “You need to hide you bike.”
“Does Charli not know I’m coming?”
“Ummm.”
“Please tell me she knows.”
“Ummm, she knows.” I go to tell her I’m leaving when she grabs my arm, digging her nails in. “Please stay. I know deep down she wants to see you but she’s, well, she needs to see you, and this is the only way I can think to get her here. Now that you’re here, I can get her here without it looking suspicious.”
“Fine,” I relent. “But if she’s pissed, I’m leaving after I tell her this was all your idea. I don’t want to cause her any anguish.”
“Trust me, you won’t. Now move the bike and I’ll message Charli.”
“Are you sure this is going to be okay, Baylor? I really don't think she wants to see me,” I question Baylor again, still not comfortable about being here.
“She needs to see you.” She keeps saying that, but why?
“Can’t you just tell me why she needs to see me?”
“Nope, not my place, just trust me.”
Again, she keeps saying that but before I can wonder any more, there’s a knock at the front door. She’s here. Nerves rack through my body as I wait for Baylor to answer the door and let my Angel in.
27
Charli
I’m going to kill my ex-best friend, I think to myself as I stare at Nic standing before me. Why is she meddling? Why is he here? And why is he so fucking sexy? If we weren’t currently standing in Corey and Bay’s living room, I’d totally mount him like the stallion that he is. Damn pregnancy hormones.
“Hi, Angel,” he says, even his voice is divine.
“Hi,” I hesitantly say, “what are you doing here?”
“I’ve missed seeing your beautiful face.”
“You have?”
“Yes.”
That one word shoots straight to my heart. My eyes water and then Baylor says a sentence that causes my eyes to pop wide open.
“Wow, those pregnancy hormones have turned you soft, you’re crying again.”
“Pregnancy hormones?” Nic questions.
“Oops,” Bay says, and for the first time since knowing her, she seems shocked at what just came out of her mouth.
“You’re pregnant?” he asks, and my head nods on its own. I wait for him to tell me to go to hell and it’s not his blah blah blah, but he doesn’t. “You’re pregnant? With my baby?” Words once again elude me and I nod.
He’s silent, his eyes keep darting from my belly to my face and then the biggest smile graces his face. “We’re having a baby.” It's not a question, it's a statement and I realize he’s happy.
“You’re okay with this?” I question.
“Absolutely. We’re having a baby,” he says again. He steps to me and takes my hands in his. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I heard you with Bianca the other day and—”
He cups my cheek in his palm and shakes his head, “Her baby isn’t mine.”
“It isn’t?”
“Nope. It's Lawrence’s.” My eyes widen.
“Ohh shit, I’ve made such a mess of things.”
“How so?”
“I thought you didn’t want to have anything to do with her baby, and I freaked out thinking you’d react the same way when I told you. So I pushed you away because I couldn’t deal with heartache like that.”
“You weren't going to tell me about the baby?”
“I was, eventually. I was just trying to deal with the prospect of doing this solo.” I stare up into his chocolate brown orbs. “I should have known there was more to it. I know you. I know you wouldn't turn your back on your baby. Please forgive me for doubting you.”
“There’s nothing to forgive. Given what you heard, I understand why you thought what you did. Does it hurt that you thought that? Yes, but I’ve heard pregnancy hormones are crazy so no apology is necessary. Just know, Charli Davis, I will be by your side every step of the way.” He places emphasis on the last five words.
“Really?” I question again.
“Really, really.” Not giving me a chance to question or protest, he presses his lips to mine, reaffirming his love for me…and our baby.
“Fuck me,” Baylor says from beside us, “I think I just got pregnant from that kiss.”
“Watch your mouth, Kitten,” Corey says, “Let’s give these two some privacy.”
“Piss off, I want to watch the Charli and Nic show.”
“Dominic,” Nic growls at Bay.
“How come she gets to call you Nic?”
“Because she’s the mother of my child.”
“That’s pregnancy prejudice and one-hundred-percent not fair.”
Corey shakes his head, takes Bay’s hand in his, and drags her protesting from the room.
“Are you sure?” I ask him again, still amazed he wants me and the baby.
He nods his head at me. “You are everything I need and more, Angel.”
“You have that the wrong way around, Nic. I need you. We need you. This baby needs you.”
“And you have me. I’m sorry that you misunderstood what I
said to Bianca. I would never turn my back on my child. Momma would have my ass if I did.”
A laugh escapes me. “Your momma sounds amazing.”
“She is and she’s going to be stoked to become a γιαγιά.”
“Yeay whata?”
“Yιαγιά. It’s Greek for grandma.”
“Yιαγιά, I like it. What’s grandad?”
“Pappoús but my dad will go by Papa, just like his and so on.”
“I love that.”
“What will your parents want to be called?”
“Granny and Grumpy.” He laughs and it's a deep belly laugh.
“Grumpy, really?”
“It’s totally an affectionate term.”
“Well, I love that too. Sounds like this little one will be spoiled by his or her grandparents.”
“And her aunty,” Baylor says, handing me a gift bag.
“What’s this?” I ask.
“Open it and find out.”
Pulling out the tissue paper I find three items. I pull them out and lay them on the back of the sofa since it’s the closest surface. There are three shirts with Daddy Agent, Mommy Agent, and Baby Agent printed on them.
“Turn them over,” Bay says.
On the back is #TeamCruz with the number three.
“Bay,” I cry, “this is amazing.” Throwing my arms around her, I hug her to me and whisper, “Thank you.”
“You are welcome. Just remember that Baylor is a great girl’s name.” I laugh. “I’m serious. At least gimme the middle name since I sorted this all out for you.”
We all laugh at Baylor but from the look on her face, she’s deadly serious. “How about Nic and I have a name chat first.”
“Fine,” she huffs. “Let’s pop some bubbly to celebrate.”
“Mean much?” I tease her.
“Name her Baylor and we will all have grape juice with you.”
Again, we all laugh and head into the kitchen to get drinks. The guys have beer, Bay has bubbly, and I have grape juice. “To baby Cruz,” Corey says.
