CHAPTER 11
brIDGER
When I wake up, I’m wrapped around Avery’s back, my hand resting on her belly and her ass nestled against my dick in a way that is dangerous as hell.
It was probably wrong of me, but she fell asleep last night cuddled up against my chest on the couch.
She didn’t even stir when I picked her up to get her to bed.
I should have taken her into the guest room, but when I was standing in front of it, I couldn’t stand the thought of her being so far away.
So, I decided to bring her into my room and put her in my bed.
The moment I did, something settled inside of me, and it felt like she was right where she belonged.
It’s the same feeling I’m having now.
My phone beeps again, letting me know I have a text, but I ignore it, just like I did the first time when it woke me up.
Avery snuggles back against me, and I know the moment she wakes up because she sucks in a breath. “How did I get into bed?”
“Sweetheart,” I rasp and bury my face in her neck, “I carried you to bed.”
“And you didn’t put me in the guest room?” She doesn’t sound angry, more curious.
I’m counting it as a positive thing.
I know we didn’t talk about what is going on between us last night. I’m not ready to get down on a knee and ask her to marry me, but I sure as hell don’t want to pretend there’s nothing between us.
Sure, maybe it’s just wild chemistry, but my gut is telling me it’s more. Since she’s agreed to stay, we’ll get the chance to explore it. Hopefully.
If I can let her in.
If she can do the same.
Only time will tell. As I rub my hand over her baby bump, I realize we have some time.
The idea of a metaphorical clock counting down should make me anxious, but it doesn’t. It gives me a goal, one I need to do some reading about, but that makes it feel possible all the same.
“I tried to take you into the guest room,” I admit, “but I just couldn’t do it. It felt wrong. I have to say that I’ve never slept better than I did last night.”
She peeks over her shoulder at me, her dark blue eyes soft with sleep and something sweeter. “Okay,” she whispers.
My eyes drift down to her lips, but I don’t want to move too fast. I press my lips to her forehead instead. “Good. I’d rather have you close in case you need me. I’ve heard things about midnight cravings.”
Laughter bursts from her, bright and full of joy. My lip twitches and I take in the way the morning light streams in and caresses this gorgeous woman. It’s as if it is reaching for her. I can understand the impulse.
She groans and starts to wiggle away from me, but I just hold her tighter. I don’t want to let her go.
“You have to let me get up, Bridger,” she murmurs.
“No,” I pout like a petulant child, “I don’t want to.”
She giggles softly before letting me know, “I need to use the bathroom.”
I release her immediately because I remember how many times Tenley complained about needing to pee all the time. After I sit up, I scoot to her side of the bed as she moves before helping her to her feet. The grateful smile she shoots my way has my heart pounding in my chest and my dick throbbing.
My morning erection was already extra excited at being nestled against her perfect peach shaped ass and didn’t need any help, but here we are. After she closes the door, my phone goes off again and I move to grab it.
Tenley: Wyatt filled me in on what he knew. It sounded like she showed up at the shop with nothing. I went and grabbed a few things for her to wear and some girl stuff to help her feel at home. I left everything on your porch.
Dallas: I was able to reschedule your appointments for the day. Let us know how things are going with Avery. And, hopefully, I’m the first to say congratulations!
Wyatt: We’ll be bringing dinner for you and Avery tonight. Let us know if we can help you with anything before then. Dallas has already rescheduled your appointments. Don’t worry about the shop, worry about your baby and Avery.
I have to swallow hard past the lump in my throat. I’ve watched our shop family step up for each other, but I’ve never needed them to do so for me. Now that I do, they didn’t hesitate. And they thought of things I didn’t.
I’m up and rushing toward the front door because I want to give the clothes to Avery right away. I should have thought about her comfort and needing something to wear today, but I was distracted by how damn good she looks in my clothes.
If she only wanted to wear my stuff, I’d be more than okay with it.
When I saw her last night, fresh from the shower with my shirt stretching across her baby bump, some primal part of my brain I didn’t realize I had was unlocked. It took everything for me not to beat my chest and roar out my satisfaction.
I settled for feeding her. Which felt damn good as well.
The basket sitting on the porch is perfect and I scoop it up before heading back to the room I now consider ours instead of just mine. I want that.
For this space to be ours.
To be able to wake up with Avery in my arms every morning.
Being able to claim this gorgeous, smart, sweet woman as mine.
Maybe we can get there.
Avery walks out of the bathroom as I stride into the room and place the basket on the bed. Her eyes widen as she looks at it.
“What is that?”
“Wyatt filled Tenley in on you coming by the shop yesterday and figured you wouldn’t have anything with you. She went out and grabbed you some clothes and other things you might need.”
“What?” She blinks a few times as she looks at the basket. Her voice is barely above a whisper, “She brought me a basket with some clothes and things I might need?”
“Yes?” It comes out as more of a question than a statement because I’m not sure if she’s offended or touched.
The moment she looks up at me with tears in her eyes, I know which it is. And she’s not just touched, but this has hit her deeply. Her steps are slow and measured as she approaches the basket.
The moment she starts pulling things out, including some lotion for baby bellies and stretch marks, a candle, a toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, some dry shampoo, and prenatal vitamins, her face lights up.
Then she pulls out some panties and she blushes so prettily before holding up some fabric and letting it unfurl. The long dress is a navy blue with bright flowers along the bottom hem which look like they’ve been painted on.
“Wow,” she breathes.
The other three dresses are just as pretty. As she rubs the material, I wonder how soft it is. I already know that I’ll be rubbing my hand along it after it settles over her bump.
When the tears start falling, I rush toward her. My hands hover over her shoulders and arms, unsure if I should touch her or not. “I’m okay,” she sobs. “I think this is the nicest gift I’ve ever gotten. And it’s from someone I’ve never even met.”
My heart fucking shatters with her words.
I hope I can keep my mouth shut when we go to her house to get her stuff. The people she calls parents should be put in their place. I’m probably not the ideal person to do it, but I’m sure as fuck not going to stand on the sidelines and allow her to be mistreated.
Never fucking again.
She deserves so much more than what she’s been given.
“Please tell her thank you for me,” she pleads with me. She swallows hard and brushes a tear from her cheek before clutching the dresses to her chest. “It feels strange to wear something made for my bump instead of wearing things to hide it.”
I’m no longer unsure if I should touch her.
My arms wrap around her and pull her against my chest. She sighs against me like she’s been waiting for me to hold her.
We don’t fit together quite the way we did before, but having her bump between us while knowing it’s only going to grow bigger makes me want her even more.
As if I needed any help in that department.
“You should never hide your bump. It’s beautiful,” my voice is gruff.
When she shoots me a look like I’m being ridiculous, I turn her in my arms, grip her hips, and pull her back against me so she can feel exactly what she does to me. I lean in and run the tip of my nose along the column of her neck before nipping at her earlobe.
“You were sexy as fuck the night I met you, Sweetheart, but seeing you like this,” I reach around her and rest my hand on the bump, “is a whole new level of tempting.”
She mewls and presses her perfect fucking ass back against the hard ridge of my cock. I groan, the sound low and long, against her neck. I have to press my forehead against her shoulder and take a few breaths to keep my shit together.
I don’t want to rush this, but with her ass pressed against me as my cock begs to be buried deep inside her tight, wet heat, it’s not easy to stop myself.
“I’ve heard pregnancy hormones can make a woman super horny,” I murmur against her neck loving the way she shivers in my arms.
“You heard right,” she moans.
I chuckle, the sound coming from deep in my chest. “I, uh, haven’t been with anyone since you,” I admit and feel my face heat. “I’m not sure why I’m telling you, but I feel like you should know.”
She turns in my arms and looks up at me with her disarming dark blue eyes.
“I haven’t been with anyone since you either,” she whispers.
“I kind of surprised myself that night. While I had been with people before, one-night stands aren’t really something I do.
Somehow,” she eyes me like she’s trying to figure out one of the universe’s biggest mysteries, “with you, I couldn’t help myself. ”
My mouth twitches and I kiss her forehead even though I desperately want to devour her mouth. “You should get dressed so we can go and get your stuff. There’s no reason to wait.”
She nods but doesn’t step away immediately. Instead, she presses her face against my chest and takes a deep breath. “When is your first appointment today?”
“I don’t have any,” I tell her. Her eyebrows are pulled together in question as she props her chin on my chest and looks up at me.
“Dallas texted me and let me know she rescheduled everything I had on my calendar for today. Wyatt said he’ll be bringing by some dinner for us tonight and told me not to worry about the shop and worry about you and the baby. ”
Avery’s eyes go soft. “You’re a lucky man to have people who care about you like that, Bridger,” there’s a longing in her voice and my chest feels tighter than it should.
I motion toward the bed where the basket of goodies is still sitting, now disheveled after she went through it. “It’s not just me, Sweetheart.”
“Yeah,” her voice is thick with emotion, “it’s starting to sink in.”
Good.
She deserves to have people who have her back. Even though I’m not looking forward to taking her back to her parent’s house, I can only hope no one is there to give her any shit. I’m not sure I’ll be able to keep myself in check if anyone fucks with her.
There’s a light in Avery that should be cherished and I’m starting to think I’m just the man to do it; maybe. She deserves it. Hell, she deserves so much more too. Hopefully, I can rise to the challenge.
I’ve never really had to before.