Chapter 9
Natalie
My eyes stray to the woman across the room again, and my shoulders tense.
What the fuck is she staring at? Does she know who we are? If she doesn’t, then why won’t she look away? Does she think Henry is attractive? What kind of woman tries to hit on a man sitting next to another pregnant woman?
A hand drops on my thigh, squeezing tightly. “Calm down, killer. You’re nearly vibrating out of the seat.”
My head snaps to him. “Why is she just staring?”
He smirks before his hand glides to my belly, and he leans down to whisper in my ear. “Probably thinking of the ways I knocked you up. Want to practice when we get home?”
A shiver works down my back, and I suppress my smile to flash a heated look at him. I wish I could kiss him, but we can’t chance it until the estate is settled. My eyes roam over his face as he smiles at me, and his own attention dips to my lips, as if we are thinking the same thing.
“We’ll see,” I whisper back.
His chuckle is low. “I’ll have you bent over before you know it.”
“Mrs. Dansworth?” the nurse calls out, and I swat away his hand to stand. Henry snickers, placing his hand on my lower back as we walk to the back.
She hands me the pee cup for the bathroom and directs Henry to the room next door while I finish that up. He’s posted in the chair when I make my way back in and walk over to the exam table.
“She said they’re running a bit behind, but the tech will come in soon for the ultrasound.”
I nod, climbing onto the bed and getting comfortable. My hands rub over my belly, and I can feel his eyes on me, so I tilt my head to face him.
“What?” I ask.
His eyebrows raise. “I can’t stare at you?”
Shrugging, I fidget with my fingers. “Not like that. I’m used to the looks of disgust, not as if you’re gearing up to devour me.”
He gives me a wicked grin, his tongue pressing against his teeth in a sensual way. “I am, Mommy. I can’t wait to devour you.”
My cheeks heat with a growing blush. “You’re a very naughty boy.”
“Hmm. You going to punish me, Mommy?”
I cup my cheeks with my hands to keep them cool. “Stop it, Henry.”
His mouth opens with what I can only assume will be a “yes, Mommy” when the door swings open. The tech smiles in greeting, walking over to my side.
“Hi, my name is Faith. We have the anatomy scan today, so it’s going to take a little longer to measure everything out.”
I nod, giving her a nervous smile.
Henry leans forward. “What’s that mean?”
The tech beats me to it, and I have to squash my impulse to explain everything.
“Just a routine scan to ensure the baby is growing normally,” she says.
He blows out a breath before slumping back into the chair. I wiggle my hand out for him to grab, and he pulls the chair closer.
The tech smiles at us. “I know it’s always nerve-racking in these types of appointments, but we’re here to support you two through it all.”
I nod, following her instructions as I pull up my shirt and she slathers the gel on.
She flips on the large screen hanging on the wall across from us, allowing us to watch as she moves it around.
Henry and I are silent as she goes through the motions of getting the baby’s measurements.
Both of us nearly break out in tears when we listen to the heartbeat and see the tiny miracle moving all about.
“Okay, do you guys want to know the gender yet or still keep it a surprise?” the tech asks with a bright smile.
I’m still in awe, staring at the large TV screen in front of us that shows our baby moving around inside me.
Since Henry hadn’t been with me for the last appointment, I opted to keep the gender a surprise.
Perhaps the hopeless romantic that lingers in my heart figured he’d change his mind one day about being in the baby’s life.
Henry clears his throat, holding my hand tightly. “We’d love to know.”
The tech nods, moving the Doppler around before moving her mouse to show us on the screen. “You two have a daughter.”
My heart bursts with excitement, and I turn to look at Henry, whose eyes are glistening with tears. “A girl,” I whisper.
He leans over, kissing my forehead. “I didn’t care either way, but somehow I’m relieved it’s a girl.”
I’m speechless at the gesture, nerves making my heart race because we’re supposed to be discreet.
I silently nod, understanding what he’s saying.
His father always had unfair expectations of what he expected from his son, his heir.
And while I would never allow Henry to treat our child like that, I think it gives him some reassurance that he won’t turn out like his father.
No matter how many times you tell someone they’re different, sometimes it doesn’t stick until they believe it themselves.
“Okay, here are the photos, you two. And I’ll lead you to the room for the doctor to go over everything.”
I wipe up the gel, tugging my shirt back down.
My attention is strained by the time the doctor meets us in the separate room.
I can’t look away from the photos of my daughter.
All I know is that she’s measuring perfectly, and everything is amazing.
Henry seems to be more absorbed in the information before he leads me out the building and into the SUV.
“She’s so cute. Look at her,” I say.
He barely glances at it, focused on driving us home. We left the personal driver at the estate so we could talk freely. “I’m sure she is, but it looks like a black blob with a scary skull.”
I swat at him. “Don’t call our daughter scary.”
He rolls his eyes. “You can’t tell me those things don’t look like those old horror documentaries where they make it all black and white.”
Pinching my lips shut, I refuse to acknowledge his semi-accurate statement. I huff out a breath, crossing my arms until we get home and find a car waiting for us.
“You expecting company?” he asks darkly.
My eyebrows furrow. “No, I—wait, yes. The DNA test for the inheritance.”
We exchange a knowing glance, my nerves kicking into overdrive.
I climb out of the car and smile warmly at the doctor.
“Hello. Sorry we’re late. The appointment ran longer than I expected.”
Jenn nods. “I understand. I’m sorry Kelly wasn’t available to provide a sonogram again.”
Henry watches her cautiously. I’d told him that I asked her to fake the gestation age to two weeks prior, and she did so happily with the amount we paid her. I’m sure that technician took it and ran, no longer available if called into question.
“Let’s get this over with so I can feed her,” Henry says, resting his hand on my belly.
We lead Jenn inside to the living room where she drew my blood last time. Henry follows close behind, as if afraid she’ll harm me. She clears her throat, waving me to sit.
“We’re doing a DNA sample to test paternity?” she asks, pulling out the vials she needs.
“Just a familial match. To ensure it’s a Dansworth heir.”
She frowns. “That will make it a little harder given how DNA—”
“Whatever it costs, we will pay for it,” Henry presses.
Her eyes flicker to me, and she swallows before nodding. “I understand. I’ll draw Mrs. Dansworth’s blood, and then I’ll need a swab from you.”
I brace my hands on the kitchen counter, my eyes rolling back as Henry pumps into me from behind. He bends me forward more, his chest pressing against my back as his hands cup my breasts and his fingers twist my nipples.
“Fuck. You feel so good,” he groans in my ear.
I pant, my pussy tightening on his cock. Never in a million years did I think I’d become addicted to fucking my stepson when we started this.
His teeth nip at my lobe, his shaky breaths fanning over my cheeks. “You want my cum, Mommy? You want me to fill you up again?” His hand slides down, cupping my stomach. “You like carrying my baby? You want me to give you another after?”
My head tilts back, resting on his shoulder as I shudder at his words.
My release is immediate and surprising because I never thought I would get off on the idea of being knocked up while wishing for this baby to come out already.
But the way Henry says it, it’s as if he’s desperate for it.
As if he wants nothing more than to keep me barefoot and pregnant. That gets me off.
He grunts, pounding into my fluttering pussy.
His hands fall to the counter, our fingers tangling together as his body is pressed tight, his hips rolling with each drag of his cock inside me.
His erratic pants blow into my ear before he tilts my head to kiss along my neck, and he buries himself deep before I feel it.
I feel the swell and throb of his cock as his cum jerks into me.
There’s so much of it that it starts to drip onto the floor, and I let out a cry.
“Henry!”
He chuckles lowly before pulling out of me.
“I’ll clean it up.” He catches my wrist as I move to grab something before lifting me up.
Henry sets me on the counter, grabbing a towel to clean between my legs.
He tosses it into the trash after wiping the floor and then moves to the fridge. “You want a BLT?”
I grin. “Yes! That’s my—”
“Favorite, I know. I’ve noticed how much bacon we keep stocked.”
A blush builds on my chest, and I can’t believe he even noticed that. I know he expressed how he felt a couple weeks ago, but half of me is hesitant to believe it. His cruel words from before still flash in my mind every now and then.
“Oh.” It’s all I can get out, unsure what else to say.
He winks at me. “Bet you can’t tell me what my favorite is.”
I scoff. “I don’t cook often, so if you’re expecting that kind of wife, you’re sadly mistaken.”
Henry’s grin grows wider and then he laughs, shaking his head. “Wife, eh?”
“Well, we already share the same last name,” I quip.
His smile drops, and he scowls. “Don’t remind me.”
I giggle. “Why? It’s so convenient. Don’t you think?”
He shakes his head, moving to the stove to start up the bacon. “Sure, sure. Convenient.”
This time I can’t hold back my laugh, and his own lips quirk. My heart feels so full, and while it’s unfortunate that his father died, I believe this is the way life is meant to be.