Chapter 14
LORNA
THREE WEEKS LATER
“ I don’t think Brody is at all genuine, he’s leading her into a total showmance,” I explain, touching my hand to my stomach when I feel that tiny flutter in my lower belly. It feels different to the ones Nic gives me, and I’m convinced that they are coming from the baby. “She would be much better off with Hendley. He’s trustworthy.”
“Who are you talking to?” Nic steps into the living area covered in sweat and looking hot-as-hell in just his gym shorts. Damn him .
“I wasn’t talking to anyone,” I shrug him off, suddenly feeling stupid.
“You know, the baby won’t be able to hear you for another two weeks,” he tells me before drinking some water.
“I wasn’t tal…How do you even know these things?” I growl in frustration. Nic is always coming out with pregnancy or baby knowledge and it’s starting to make me feel inadequate.
He doesn’t answer me, just comes to take a seat beside me and pulls down the front of my yoga pants.
“Now you're really popping out,” he tells me, proudly rolling his palm around my neat, little bump and making me feel a little less inadequate. He may know all the facts, but I’m the one doing the practical.
“I know, Madalina has given me a bunch of her maternity clothes,” I confess. She must have noticed my clothes getting tight the last time I visited because she disappeared upstairs and came down with a box full of clothes. Not that I’m complaining, every item inside it was designer, and some still even had tags on.
“Why didn’t you just buy some yourself?” Nic looks at me strangely.
“Because I refuse to waste money on clothes that I’ll only have to wear for a few months,” I state the obvious.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” He leans over the back of the couch and grabs his wallet, then taking out his credit card, he places it on my lap.
“Nic, didn’t you hear me? I said your sister just gave me a whole heap of very decent clothes. I don’t need anymore.”
“Aren’t you going to need some new stuff for the trip? Miami’s going to be hot.” He brings the trip up again and I remind myself to look enthusiastic about it. I still really want to go, but I don’t want there to be any tension between him and the guys.
“Maybe, but we have time to worry about that. What you need to be concerned with is your birthday plans. What will it be this year? A trip to Vegas? A three-day hangover after a crazy night at some poor unsuspecting celebrity's mansion?” Anything’s possible with Nic and the crazy-assed people he hangs around with. Madalina always worries about him when his birthday gets close.
“Not this year.” He smiles, remaining focused on the hand he’s using to stroke my stomach.
“What are you talking about? You always have a wild time on your birthday, I enjoy hearing the stories. Madalina never told me what happened to that marmoset you stole from the zoo, a few years ago,” I smirk at him.
He dismisses my question and clears his throat.
“I was actually wondering if, maybe, you’d come out to dinner with me.” He’s almost looking shy when his eyes raise up to mine.
“Nic Conte, are you asking me on a date?” I try not to look smug about it.
“Well, given that it’s my baby in there, I figure it’s the least I could do, and since it’s my birthday you can’t refuse me.” He stretches his arms back behind his head and acts all cocksure of himself. I guess he’s decided that I’ve seen enough of his vulnerable side, today.
My eyes glance over his bare torso and those muscles that prominently stick out from behind his ribs. Lats …I’m sure that's what Wes called them when he tried to show his off to me, the other day. Though it has to be said, his were nowhere near as impressive as these.
“Lorna.” I hear him say my name and when I look back up at him he’s wearing a huge grin on his face.
“Jeeezz. I’m not a piece of meat, you know.” He rolls his eyes, and I test how hard his abs actually are by punching him in them.
“Fuck.” He folds over and laughs at the same time. “Can I take that as a yes?”
“If that's how you want to spend your birthday then I have no choice.” I make it sound like a chore because I have to keep some dignity, with the exception of the night we went to Serena’s party, it’s always me that initiates sex when we have it. Of course, Nic never refuses me. He’s always more than happy to assist with my needs, and this whole ‘date’ thing is giving me a little hope that things are moving in the right direction.
Kevin made my mom bravely visit the city so she could come and see the apartment last week and I’ll admit, I liked how it felt while he was keeping up the pretense of us being a real couple. I didn’t like how it felt when she and Kevin left, and things went back to normal.
“You think you’ll be okay here on your own while I go for a run?” Nic gets up from the couch and picks up a tee from the back of one of the kitchen chairs.
“I would be, but I think I’d like to come with you.” I take a deep breath and stand up myself.
“You?” His eyes widen as he looks straight down to my poked-out tummy.
“Yeah, me.”
“You can’t go running, Lorna, you’re pregnant,” he laughs.
“Oh, my god, am I?” I slam my hand over my mouth then, rolling my eyes, I barge past him to grab some running shoes and a hoodie.
“You're joking, right?” He quickly follows me down the hall and then stands at my bedroom door, watching as I grab my running shoes from the bottom of the wardrobe.
“Do I look like I’m trying to be funny?” I pick out my favorite hoodie, which I figure I only have a few more weeks of wear for a while, then drag it over my body. “Exercise is good for pregnant women,” I remind Mr Get Your-Facts-Right as I tie my hair up high on my head.
“Yes, in moderation and if your body is used to it,” he tells me, still looking stunned.
“My body is used to it. Before I moved in here I used to go running at least three times a week. I actually hold a track record at my old high school.” I reach behind me and grab my ankle, stretching while I smile at him.
“I really don’t thi–”
“We could call Dr Walsh and check if you want, or we could stop by the club and consult one of the books from the library you’ve made of the office.” I smile cleverly as I walk past him toward the refrigerator.
“What are you talking abo… I don’t have a… how did you—” I see the frustration on his face as I grab myself a bottle of water to go.
“Dario told Madalina who, of course, told me and I think it’s cute.” I lick my lips when he pulls on the tee he’s been carrying around then growls as he passes me to open the door. I step through it and call for the elevator, and once we’re inside and he presses the button that will take us to the parking lot, it confuses me.
“I think taking the car kind of defeats the object,” I point out.
“I run to clear my head, you can’t do that in the city. I have a spot where I go, somewhere quieter,” he explains, still looking irritated.
I decide not to question him again. I’m happy to just go with it, I figure time away from the city, and some fresh air will do me and the baby some good.
“So, how often do you come out here?” I ask when we’ve made it out of the city traffic.
“Not often enough, I don't have time. It’s easier to just use the gym at home,” he mumbles.
“But you already did that, today,” I point out.
“Yes, I did.” Nic makes it clear he doesn’t want to elaborate on that so I move on.
“Well, how far away from home is this place?” I’m starting to realize why he finds it too time-consuming, we’ve been in the car for nearly forty minutes.
“Another few miles.” He stays focused on the road, and when he eventually pulls over in a rest area by the woods, I get out of the car and use the door to help me do more stretching.
“It’s pretty.” I stare up at the trees and listen to the birds. I can’t remember the last time I heard them.
“We’ll have to take a different track to what I usually run, the terrain will be too rough for you.” He sounds irritable as he slams the car door.
“Don’t be silly I can–”
“You wanting to run with my baby inside you is bad enough, I’m not risking you falling,” he cuts me off and grabs my hand, crossing the road and moving us onto a narrow but steady foot trail.
“Keep a steady pace and if you start getting tired or out of breath, we stop straight away.” He sets off, leaving me to follow after him. We get a little deeper into the forest and I can tell he’s holding back on his own pace to keep me controlled. So, I pick up some speed and overtake him, that deep growly noise comes from behind me and makes me smile to myself. I’m even starting to like this guy when he’s grumpy, it has to be the hormones.
“Do you ever do as you're told?” He shakes his head when he catches up to me.
“Up to now, I think I’ve been doing quite well. Especially since you seem adamant on controlling every aspect of my life.” I smile at him politely, knowing that it will piss him off even more.
“I don’t want to contr… I just want to make sure you're okay, and I don’t think running when you're sixteen weeks pregnant is a good idea,” he explains.
“Well, since I’m the one who is pregnant, maybe I should be the judge of that.” I ignore the fact that my lungs are already starting to burn and it’s feeling very hot beneath this hoodie as I carry on.
“Lorna, there are other ways to exercise. You could do yoga, Madalina, swore by it when she was pregnant with Max.”
“Yeah, well, Madalina wasn’t eating everything in fucking sight when she was pregnant, was she?” I snap, hating that I have to stop and rest my hands on my knees so I can catch my breath.
“Is this what this is all about?” Nic throws his head back and laughs.
“You asshole.” I automatically stomp on his foot, before fighting against my body’s refusal to move and managing to power walk myself away from him.
Insensitive, spiteful bas–
“Wait up.” Nic is still chuckling under his breath as he catches up with me for a second time, but I ignore him and pick up my speed. I know it’s been a few months since I last put my running shoes on, but I wasn’t expecting to be this unfit.
“Lorna!” he shouts louder and when I give up and turn around, he’s smiling. The grumpy asshole that didn’t like me calling him out on his books, and stropped all the way out here because he doesn’t like the idea of me running, is fucking smiling.
“Yes, Nic.,” I answer him sarcastically.
“Are you out here trying to run because you're worried about what you're eating?” he questions me, stepping closer and taking both my hands.
“No…Kind of.” I look up through the trees so I can avoid the satisfaction on his face and prepare for him to give the ‘ I love your cute, little belly’ speech. If that's the case, then why is it always me asking him for sex?
“That… and the fresh air, it’s good for the baby. Didn’t one of your books tell you that?” I make a dig and pull a smug face back at him, but he’s clearly unaffected by my attempt to get under his skin.
“That’s true,” he tells me calmly, his thumbs stroking at my wrists delicately, making me want to kiss him and knee him in the testicles at the same time.
“But you're pregnant, what did you expect would happen? Of course, you're going to be hungrier than usual, and you need to eat. You have a whole life-forming situation going on in there.” He waves both his hands in front of my tummy and pulls a face that makes my lips lift into a smile. How the fuck does he always manage to do that?
“You may not think it, but you look amazing,” he tells me, pulling me closer.
“You have to say that, the guy always has to say that to the girl he knocked up, but your words don’t match your actions, Nic.” I hate that I’m needy enough to admit that.
Damn pregnancy and it’s stupid emotions.
“What the hell are you talking about?” He stares back at me as if I’m crazy. Right now, who knows, maybe I am.
I turn my head away from him and he takes hold of my chin, forcing me to look back at him.
“Tell me what's going on in that head, crazy girl.” His smile is boyish and so handsome that I want to punch it off his face.
“Call me crazy girl, again and I’ll bury you in these woods,” I warn him.
“I’m sorry.” He shocks me when he holds his hands up in defeat. “Just tell me what’s going on in that head of yours. Please.” He’s looking serious now, and maybe even a little sympathetic.
“It’s always me. Haven’t you noticed that? I’m always the one who…you know…gets things started.” God, I feel like an idiot and I wish I’d never put this damn hoodie on because not only is it hot out here, but I’m burning with shame beneath it.
“Yes, I’ve noticed,” he nods his head.
“Well, that's exactly my point, Nic. You say you like this,” I stroke my hand over my tummy. “You say that it turns you on, yet you only ever pity-fuck me.”
“I’m sorry, what? ” He almost chokes.
“You fuck me, because you know the baby makes me hot for it, and because you don’t want me fucking anyone else while I’m pregnant with your child,” I tell him what he already knows.
“You’re damn right I don’t want anyone else fucking you.” He jumps straight onto the defensive, his eyes looking savage as they stare back at me. “And, yes, I do make sure that you are always the one who gets things started. ” I get the impression that he’s mocking me when he says that last part but given the grand scheme of things, I let it slide. “And do you know why?” Now he’s looking really angry and when I shake my head he scrubs his hands over his face like he doesn’t want to give me his answer.
“Because, if it was up to me things wouldn’t have to get started, they’d never fucking stop.” I take a step back in shock when his words come out through frustration.
“I’d have you to myself, all day, every day. I’d touch that fine-ass, fucking body any time I wanted to, and not have to use the fact it’s carrying my child as an excuse. Lorna, the more pregnant you get, the more insane you're driving me. Why do you think I take three cold showers a day? Why do you think I spent the whole afternoon in the gym and still needed to come on this stupid run? It’s because of this.” Grabbing my hand and pressing my palm against his shorts, he forces me to feel how hard he is beneath them. “I’m trying to keep things good between us. I don’t want to push you into anything. You're the one controlling the pace. You're the one in control!” he yells at me. “And I keep telling you how hot you are, and how beautiful you look because it’s the fucking truth. What will it take for that to sink in?” He stops to take a breath, looking tired and deflated. I leave it a few seconds for him to calm himself down.
“Well, you could start by putting that hard dick to good use.” I stare back at him, trying not to laugh, Nic just laid all his feelings right out on the table and I couldn’t be happier with what I’ve heard.
“Put my… Lorna are you… I just…” He can’t get his words past his frustration and when I start to giggle, his head shakes and his tongue does that hot ‘rolling in his cheek’ thing that makes me want to climb his body.
“I’ll show you putting it to use.” He reaches out to grab me and I quickly take off, giggling as I run further down the path and deeper into the woods.
“Not too fast,” I hear him call out as he chases after me, and when I feel his strong hands grab my waist and tug me back, I scream as he spins me around and backs me up against the nearest tree.
“Remember, you asked for this,” he tells me darkly, ripping my pants and panties down over my hips and spinning me around so I’m facing the trunk.
His knees spread my legs apart and that hard dick presses against my ass. Feeling the way he guides it through my cheeks makes me start to panic.
“Relax, we’re saving that one,” he whispers, taking my wrists and holding them above my head against the trunk.
His cock rests, thick and throbbing against my opening and as he kisses the back of my neck and slides his hands up under my hoodie to massage my tits, I feel myself soak the tip of it.
“Fuck me, that feels good,” he speaks into my ear as he inches himself inside me. “You drive me crazy, Lorna James.” His voice is low and growly as he takes his time, gradually filling me. “I’m making an executive decision for us,” he tells me. “From now on, if I want to touch you, I’m not holding back. If I want to feel this sweet, little cunt, I’m going to take it.” One of his hands moves lower down my body and strums my clit as he thrusts into me from behind. “You’re mine, and I’m going to start treating you that way.” He brings those fingers up to my mouth and slips them into my mouth. Stroking my tongue with them so I can taste myself.
I suck on them hard, keeping my hands in place and feeling more of those tiny flutters come from inside me, though I keep them to myself, in case it freaks Nic out and he stops.
“No more runs for you, I’ve got the perfect way for us to exercise together.” I feel his cock push deeper inside me as he rolls my nipple between his fingers. There are days when they feel too sensitive for me to even touch, luckily, today isn’t one of them because I like how his hands feel as they explore me.
“Fuck, this pussy’s so good,” he groans, resting both his hands on my belly and holding it firm as he pumps himself into me. “This little bump is fucking adorable.” His teeth graze my earlobe and having his breath in my ear, his hands on my body and his cock buried inside me all at the same time, suddenly becomes too much. My nails scrape against the bark as the orgasm hits me hard, right in the middle of the woods, with my yoga pants and panties around my ankles.
“That’s a good girl, you feeling better, baby?” Nic ups his tempo, fucking into me harder. “I’m going to come. I’m going to come, right here, in this tight, little pussy.” His fingers grope the skin on my belly, desperately as his breaths get heavier, and with one last thrust, he fills me with his seed. My hands automatically reach back and anchor around his neck as we catch our breath, and when it makes my tummy stick out even more, I like the way his hands feel as they stroke over it.
“Look how pretty it looks on you. How could you ever doubt that I wouldn’t think otherwise? I can’t wait until you get bigger.” He kisses my cheek as we both catch our breath.
“I guess that's inevitable,” I sigh, starting to come around to the idea. I definitely like the way his hands look when they’re touching it.
“Well, twins run in the family, and that's what I’m aiming for next time, so you better get used to seeing yourself big and round.” He smacks another kiss on my cheek before pulling himself out of me and crouching down to lift up my yoga pants.
“Next time?” I look over my shoulder at him in shock. “Nic, trust me, I never make the same mistake twice,” I assure him, straightening myself out and readjusting my hair.
“ Trust me. ” Nic pushes my back up against the tree, keeping his lips just a breath away from mine. “Next time I put a baby inside you, it won’t be a mistake, it’ll be very intentional.” He kisses me slow and deep.
“In fact, you’ll be begging me for it.” He pulls away and starts walking back toward the car.
“Begging you…” I follow after him, laughing despite the discomfort I’m feeling in my feet. “You must have hit your head, or maybe you still have a head rush from shooting your load.”
“Baby, I’ll bet you the price of that banged-out car that’s sitting on Dario’s drive, that you’ll be asking me to knock you up again before this little one’s first birthday.” He sounds so sure of himself.
“What the hell makes you think that?” I look him over as if he’s crazy.
“Because you're an only child and you know how lonely it can be. You're caring by nature so you won’t want our child to suffer.” I guess I can give him that. “Also, you love being pregnant. You will eventually learn to love the way your body’s changing. You’ll realize, over the next few months, that what you're capable of is miraculous and you’ll want to experience it all over again. And you’ll miss feeling those little flickers in your tummy that make you pull the face you're pulling now.”
“How do you know about the flutt–”
“Please.” He shakes his head and folds his arms over his chest. “Did you not hear that I’ve got a whole library of pregnancy books? I could write my own damn book about this shit.”
“You're infuriating,” I moan.
“I know, but you still wouldn't want anyone else to have knocked you up.” He shrugs.
“And how do you know that I’ll love the way my body changes, how can you be so sure?” I wish I could get inside this man's head for just a second to see how his mind works.
“Because I’m going to spend each day telling you. I’m going to worship this pregnant body so hard that you are going to want to drive your own rusty car to the scrap yard. Which, of course, I would never let you do because you're far too precious.” He kisses the top of my head and pats my tummy, before turning his back to me and crouching on his knees.
“What are you doing?” I stare down at him.
“I’m waiting for you to climb on my back so I can carry you to the car. Your feet are aching.”
“No, they aren’t. And even if they were, which they’re not, how would you know?”
“You're trying to hide the fact you're limping, and I’d say it was because those trainers have gotten a little too tight. Feet don’t just swell in the third trimester, princess.” I want to kick him, But I don’t. Instead, I leap onto his back and let him carry me back to the car because this asshole never seems to be wrong… about anything.