CHAPTER328
I sigh as I watch him empty bag after bag onto the bedroom floor, starting to feel more than a little guilty at
my mountain of purchases. Seeing it all now in the
daylight I’m sure I’ve gone and lost my mind … maybe got a little credit card happy. Yesterday it was easy
to keep on buying, as each purchase was swiftly carried
off to the car by Jefferson, and I didn’t see the entirety of it until he laid it all together on the sitting room floor. I cringe and watch Jake’s face for some sort of reaction but there isn’t any. He doesn’t seem to care that I probably maxed out the card he gave to me.
He rifles through some of the tiny things I purchased, holding them up with a happy expression on his face, then eyes a couple of the dresses I bought for myself. I watch him lift the leggings with the weird stretch stomach panel and giggle at the confused look on his face.
“I can’t picture you this way yet.” He says as a matter of fact and stretches out the panel with his hand to simulate a bulge.
“You’ve just been presented with your crazy fiancées credit card happy shopping, probably a rather obscenely large card bill, and all you’re thinking about is me getting a baby bump?” I stare at him completely bewildered. I’m sure any normal husband to be would be hitting the roof right now at the momentous mountain of stuff.
Jake just shrugs and picks up a tiny little pair of fluffy bootees.
“I told you to start abusing my cards, God knows I do it often enough.” He lifts a baby-grow in the tiniest size ever, holding it between us closing one eye, squinting at me and the little suit at the same time. Looking utterly devastating and making my inner thighs clench.
“Are you trying to envision me wearing that?” I raise an eyebrow at him and pull a hand to my hip.
I’m not sure what sorts of kinky run through his brain sometimes.
“I’m trying to figure out how something this size is going to fit inside something your size and to be honest I’m starting to not like myself very much.” He drops it back down and picks up a tiny hat instead, fingers tracing it delicately, getting back that little tugging happy smile.
You’re so cute.
Jake is obviously one of those rare men who like babies, whether he’s aware of it or not, and I can guarantee
he will be a very ‘hands on’ daddy. The thought warms me to my core.
“I’m sure I’ll manage like every other pregnant woman on the planet, baby.” I smile indulgently at his slightly cautious look before he goes back to snooping through my purchases. As soon as he knew I’d bought items for the baby he’d been all over the bags searching for new tiny and cute treasures. He really is odd for a guy. I try not to think of that bitch when I say pregnant women or while watching the mountain of baby things on the floor.
Inner peace … Breathe. She will not ruin this.
“You’re not just another pregnant woman though. You’re my pregnant woman and I must admit baby, now I’m thinking about this whole birth thing … I’m getting pretty fuck … goddamn scared.” Jake glances up suddenly, stopping mid swear to correct himself, completely ashen faced and white. I gulp in surprise praying to God he didn’t get his first flashes of doubt about being a father. I don’t think I could handle it if
he was changing his mind; after all his happiness and being the first one excited about it. I’ve just realized how much I love and want this little bundle and I don’t know how I’d deal with Jake if he didn’t. My heart sinks dramatically.
“You are?” My voice wobbles a little and his eyebrows lower.
“Women still die giving birth.” Jake looks utterly devastated and I relax. He’s so heart destroying sometimes. I get up off the bed and walk to him, sliding down into his waiting arms, finding my comfy place on his lap, and nuzzling close among the sea of pricey things … now eating away at my inner morality.
“You’d never let me die. You’re far too stubborn a man to not grip onto me for dear life.” I joke, but his tense body tells me he’s serious about this. Jake is overthinking, stressing the shit out of himself, while I’m barely two months gone. Yet another level to that quick brain and keen eye of his … he’s just too loveable for words.
“We should see your OB-GYN again. Work out all the birth details and start planning for a C section early and…” It all comes out in a rush and I silence him with a kiss.
“Stop and breathe.” I gaze into his bottomless green eyes and smile, calm about this whole conversation, while he’s the one doing an Emma.
Crazily turned tables.
“Shhhh” I kiss him for a second time, trying to nudge his narrowed frown away. “We are going to be okay, you told me so … Remember?” I give him that ‘you’re never wrong’ face and hope it calms him.
“If I lost you…” His voice is breathy and afraid, his eyes decidedly damp, and I wrap my arms around his neck tightly, bringing us nose to nose so I can inhale his intoxicating smell. His sexy designer aftershave mingled with just Jake that’s devastating to me.
“I’m too stubborn to let that happen,” I smile, catching a tiny glint of a grin hidden in those hazy greens, peeking through the fear. His arms come around my waist and to my back pulling me close, bridging that tiny gap so our noses touch and I’m straddling him on the floor, bodies close … Intimately close; seeing as I’m in a bathrobe that’s now draped open revealing my naked body, and he’s only in a pair of very sexy boxers. It’s hard to stay on topic with so much naked skin on skin contact on the go.
“Maybe you could take my mind off it for the next few months?” He smiles, and I catch his eye flicker down between us; seems being naked has its advantages at distracting him anyway. I can’t help but giggle, with a shift of wariness hitting on a full sexual glint, he swings me around onto the floor on my back, lying over me, elbows and forearms at either side of me, holding his body taut over top. I’m still wrapped around him so add my legs around his waist tightly and suggestively.
“Are you going to let me set a date anytime soon?” His eyes come to mine; fingers tangled in my hair that’s fanned across the carpet.
“If you think I’m getting married with a bump then you can forget it. I’m not having pictures of me hideously lumpy as our forever photos.” I pout at him, but he only smiles at me in a way which screams ‘You’re adorable.’
“I think it would be sexy, marrying you while carrying our baby.” He smirks.
“Not a chance. I want to look and feel gorgeous on that day and seeing as you ooze that already … I can’t have you outshining the bride.” I bring one hand down and poke him in the cheek gently.
“You will always outshine me, you are perfection in every way, not one woman in the world will ever be as beautiful as you. Bump or not, Emma, you’re stunning.” He’s deadly serious as he gazes at me.
My heart aches deeply at what he’s saying.
Could I love you anymore right now?
“I’m still not marrying you with a baby bump.” I point out with a devilish smile; romantic heart-wrenching declarations don’t sway me that easily, Mr. Carrero. I’m not completely under his spell and I know in his head he’s still trying to manipulate me into what he wants. He just can’t help himself.
“Fine we’ll wait until Junior comes, then get married. I’d rather it was the other way around, but I’m not in the mood for a fight over this. In fact, I don’t want to fight about our wedding in any way, so I’m going to let you decide on how it goes and how you want it.” He smiles in that swoon worthy way and I narrow my eyes suspiciously.
“Why are you being so amenable suddenly?” It’s not like him at all. He leans in and starts running a gentle lick up my neck, shivers tingling through my body, and his hot breath is making my inner core clench.
You’re so easy, Emma, it’s pathetic.
His stubble scratches me in a sensual way, before he goes for my exposed throat, planting kisses vertically down my neck, from my ear to my shoulder.
“I have other battles to deal with and I don’t want our happy day to be one of them.” He’s focused on making my body tingle with expert attention to the places he knows affect me most.
Good answer, Carrero.
“So, you’re fine with waiting until baby is here and we’re all set in the Hamptons then?” I tilt my head to catch his eye as he lifts his gaze to mine.
“Sure … Just so you know, that tonight, when we go on your little Leila Operation, I’m bringing you home as soon as things look rosy for the two of them.”
He smirks, and I eye roll."
