But then Amelia stepped into it, and it suddenly felt like nothing in the whole of my life had ever been right until she was in it.
Discovering her — discovering us — has felt like a series of revelations. Our careers seem to mesh well, both the hours and our shared nose-to-the-grindstone, get-‘er-done, team-based work ethics. When I learned that she’s a teacher, it came as no surprise. She’s equal parts nurturing and no-nonsense, and she’s smart as hell to boot. Combine that with her sense of humor and the fact that she’s joy to look at, and it makes complete sense why I fell for her.
She told me all about Randall too, that dickwad. I’ve never been the fighting type, so it’s a new and shocking sensation to find myself wanting to go out and deck a man I’ve never met.
She keeps telling me that if it wasn’t for him leaving her at the altar, we’d never have found each other. And while that’s true and we’re both so damn grateful, I can see the anger and hurt smoldering in her eyes whenever she speaks of her ex.
I wish I could fix it, heal her, make her forget the drain on her that he was for so long. But life has taught me enough to know that this is something that only time can mend. So instead I hold her close whenever she has the need to share some part of her life with him, and I whisper in her ear that she’s safe and I’m here and that she doesn’t have to face the pain of his betrayal alone.
When I’m feeling generous, I pity Randall. Amelia is a rare woman, and he was dumb enough to walk away from her extraordinary light. What a fool.
I’ll never let myself take Amelia for granted like that. She’s been gifted to me, and I intend to treat her as such. I’ll cherish her, respect her, work with and for her, and be hers for the rest of our days — not to mention give her all the orgasms I can.
I hear a little gasp come from the bathroom. Lifting my head, I call, “Are you okay?”
A moment passes, and then Amelia says, “I’ll be out in a minute.” Her voice is wound tight. I frown, noting that she didn’t answer my question.
Next comes the sound of the toilet flushing and her washing her hands, and then she emerges. One hand is behind her back, and even though she’s a fresh vision, her eyes are wide and worried.
I sit up, opening my arms to her. “What is it? Are you okay?”
She curls up next to me, sliding beneath the covers, but she doesn’t relax. “I have something to tell you.”
My skin turns hot and then very, very cold. Judging by the burrow between her brows, she’s about to say something serious. All I can think is that she’s about to break up with me.
My heart is galloping as I steel myself and say, “Okay. I’m listening.”
She traces my bare chest with trembling fingers as she speaks. “I didn’t notice at first. With everything that’s been going on between trying to get Randall to cover some of the wedding costs and having such a lovely time with you, I wasn’t paying very good attention, you know?”
I shake my head. “No, I’m not sure I do.” It doesn’t sound like she’s about to ditch me, but I’m completely lost. I comb my fingers through her sleep-tangled curls. “What didn’t you notice, love?”
She meets my eyes, her own two blue sauces. “That I’m late.”
I knit my brows, confused. “Late for what?”
“My period.”
My jaw drops.
She lays a palm over my heart. I wonder, absently, if she can feel its thunderous pounding. “Tatum, I’m — I’m pregnant.”
“Pregnant?” My voice is a rasping whisper. My mind whirls, but my heart is suddenly steady, beating along in its usual fashion as if Amelia hasn’t just changed the trajectory of my life for the second time in just a handful of weeks.
She nods. Her face twists with worry as she starts to talk very quickly. “It must have been that first time, at Desperado’s. I was so caught up in the heat of the moment that I didn’t even think about the fact that we didn’t use a condom. I mean, we talked about how we were both clean, but it never crossed my mind to worry about contraception. Which is so dumb, and I’m so sorry and —“
I take her face in my hands, interrupting her flow of words. I brush the glistening tears from her cheeks with my thumbs. “Why are you apologizing?”
“Because I’ve ruined everything.”
“First of all, you weren’t the only one not thinking straight about pregnancy prevention that night. So if we’re going to be pointing fingers, I get an equal share of that.”
“But —“
“Secondly,” I continue, a smile spreading across my face, “while a baby certainly is unexpected, the thought of making a family with you brings me nothing but joy.”
Now it’s her turn to have her mouth dangling wide. “You’re serious?”
“Absolutely.” I rub my hands down the soft skin of her arms, squeezing. “I love you. So much. And if you want this baby — and me — I’ll be with you every step of the way.”
She shakes her head. “It’s a lot to take in. But I . . . I think I do want it.” I’m not sure she realizes that she’s cradling her low belly with graceful fingers, maternal instincts already kicking in. “And I’ll always want you, Tatum Reid.”
“You say that now,” I tease. “Just wait until you see my diaper changing and two o’clock in the morning baby feeding skills. I’ve never done either, but I have a feeling that I’m going to get really, really good at both. You won’t be able to keep your hands off me after that.”
Amelia groans, but her eyes are laughing. “Can we please not talk about poopy diapers and all the no-sleep we’ll be getting? We’ve only just found out I’m pregnant. I’d like to keep the romance going a little while longer.”
“If romance is what my love wants, then romance is what my love shall get.” I take her in both hands and flip her over so her back is against the mattress and I’m laying my body over hers, cock already getting hard. I nuzzle her neck until she’s breathless, then growl, “How’s this for romance?”
She kisses me, tugging and nipping at my lower lip before she pulls away. “Perfect.”
“Just you wait. I’m only getting started.” My hand slips between us and I find her slit beneath her nightgown. She arches into my touch, already wet.
“I’ll hold you to that, Mr. Reid.” She’s teasing, but her heart’s not in it — her attention is focused on how I’m diving into her with my fingers.
I’m no fool. I know that a baby is work. A lot of it.
But I also know something else — I’m wholly in love with Amelia Ward. It has nothing to do with having a baby, although the fact that I get a chance to make a family with this woman is truly a dream come to life.
This is the woman for me, full stop.
I’m hers, and she is mine.
Her fingers reach and curl around my cock as I swirl a thumb over her clit. Our mouths crash together in a kiss that’s heated and gasping, and her insides tighten around my fingers as she shatters into her first orgasm as both the love of my life and the mother of my child.