CHAPTER FIFTEEN
WARD
I STAND THE MOMENT Penelope walks back into the room and I notice her gray, ashen face.
Shit.
It didn’t go well.
They must have told her she is infertile. I can’t even imagine how devastating it must be. My heart breaks for her.
I lift the corner of my lips into some type of dorky compassionate smile, unsure it hits the spot. She swallows and hugs her purse to her chest.
Fuck.
I hate seeing her in pain like this.
I cross the room and wrap my arm around her waist as she turns to the receptionist.
Tossing my American Express Black Card on the counter, I say, “Please use that.”
“Ward.” Penelope shakes her head, but her voice is a whisper.
“Let me.” I rub her back.
She’s stiff and in shock.
I’m not going to tell her I understand, I don’t. I was blessed with three beautiful children and Bella. Not to mention Jamie and Daxon.
“That’s gone through.” The woman slides my card across the counter as if surprised the man in front of her wearing a Rolex Daytona watch and Armani suit can afford a simple medical appointment.
“Thank goodness.” I smirk, unable to help myself despite the situation, and steer Penelope out the door.
“Do you want to go somewhere?” I ask when the elevators open, keeping my hand on the small of her back.
“No.”
“Hey.” I turn, pulling her against my chest. “You’re in shock. It’s okay.”
It’s like hugging a lamppost.
“Penelope, sweetheart.” I pull back and she looks up at me. “It’s going to be okay; I promise.”
She’s not even crying. I thought she’d at least be crying. Shock does crazy things to people and, clearly, she goes numb.
I will do whatever she needs.
“I’ll take you home. Can I ring your office?” I lead her across the lobby and outside onto the sidewalk. “What about your parents? Do you want me to take you to see your mom?”
That snaps her out of it.
“No. Shit no. I can’t tell her about this!”
I guide her into the back of the Bentley. “Shh, she doesn’t need to know. You don’t need to be ashamed. I think it’s great you met with the doctor. I’m sorry it’s not the answer y—”
“I’m pregnant.”
Luke has just shut the door, and it’s just us in the car. Her eyes meet mine and I smile at her. I clearly misjudged her shock. That’s great news. Perhaps she is fertile after all.
Clearly, she’s just overwhelmed.
How and with whose sperm, I will deal with another day. Today I am just going to support her.
I brush her hair from her forehead. “One day, sweetheart. It doesn’t happen quite that quickly.”
Luke climbs in as I smile into her eyes, and he pulls out into traffic.
Penelope bites her bottom lip.
I am happy for her.
Once we have a minute to gather our thoughts and take a breath, we can discuss this in more detail. First, I’m going to take her out for dinner somewhere special.
A date. Like I planned.
We can go on romantic walks through the park in the spring once this snow has gone, and I might even surprise her with a trip to Paris.
I know she’d love France.
I wonder if she skis and has been to Switzerland.
“Ward,” Penelope says, interrupting my thoughts, and I glance down. “I’m. Pregnant.”
I blink as she places her hand on my arm.
What?
Time. Slows. Right. Down.
My smile fades as I roam her beautiful face looking to understand what is happening as my own shock settles heavily inside my chest.
I’m pregnant.
“Now?” I rasp.
Penelope nods and then swallows noisily.
She’s pregnant.
In her belly now?
Today?
My eyes drop to her tummy, then lift once more, stunned into silence.
I don’t disrespect her by asking who the father is. I already know it’s mine because there is no other answer I will accept.
The world around me becomes a dull blur as I count the weeks since she was in my bed.
Two.
And the number of orgasms.
At least five.
Number of condoms: zero
“Please say something,” Penelope pleads and takes my hand.
Holy fucking shit is on the tip of my tongue, but I draw in a breath, squeeze her fingers, and stare at the woman I just created a life with.
A baby.
For the fourth time in my life.
I wouldn’t call myself a religious man. I don’t not believe either.
But what I do believe is that when you’re being a fucking idiot and not seeing what’s in front of you, life, the universe, or God—whatever—will shove you back on track.
Or into her arms.
I pull Penelope against me, gripping her face, and my voice comes out husky. “What do you want to hear first? That you better fucking marry me or that I’m scared as fucking hell to become a father again?”
She lets out a cry. Tears finally start falling, and I slam my mouth down on hers.
“Where are we going, boss?” Luke asks, and I hear the smile in his voice.
He’s happy for us.
“To Penelope’s.”
The moment we step inside her apartment, I take her in my arms and kiss her the way I’ve been wanting to for weeks. She melts into me as my hands thread through her long, dark hair. Her own claw at my jacket and the next minute clothing is flying around us.
“Pregnancy hormones?” I ask, smirking.
I remember this part, and it’s not horrible.
“Yes. No. I don’t know. I only found out five seconds ago. Just fuck me. I need you to fuck me, Ward,” Penelope pleads, emotionally overwhelmed and needy.
I get it.
I feel the same.
The need to get inside her is desperate.
When we’re both naked, I lift her up and she wraps her legs around my body. My cock presses an inch inside her warm sex.
Christ.
I swear it’s not just women who are affected. Knowing she’s carrying my child has me feeling like I need to slam inside her and stake my claim.
Plant a damn flag.
“Please. Now.” She grips my hair painfully.
I place her down on the bed and my dick slips out. Not for long. I lie over Penelope and slide my eager swollen head through her pink folds.
“You’re soaked,” I growl.
“Now. I need you deep.” She begs.
I cup her breast and pinch the nipple with my thumb and finger, taking a moment to enjoy this.
I glance at her stomach, knowing the beginning of life is in there, and my cock lurches. My head presses in, and we both groan loudly.
Yes.
“Fuck me.” Placing my hands on the bed linen, on either side of her head, I thrust.
Once.
Hard.
Deep.
“Yes.” Penelope arches off the bed, taking me in deeper, her nails scraping down my back.
I do it again.
And again.
Until we both lose control, and my body is slapping against hers as my come rushes out of me into her hot tight pussy.
I collapse down on top of her, gasping, as my brain catches up with what has just happened.
“Holy hell,” she says under me.
Lifting my head, I wipe Penelope’s soaking forehead and stare right into her soul. “I don’t know how this has happened so fast, but I do love you. I think I loved you the moment I first saw you.”
“You don’t have to say that, Ward.” She smiles lovingly at me.
I nudge my cock inside her. “Feel that?”
She lifts a brow as if it’s a stupid question.
“That’s my cock. I’m the only man you will ever feel inside you again. You are marrying me.”
The raw need to possess this woman has taken away the charming gentleman who would be doing this differently.
I don’t care.
I need to know she is mine, and that Penelope knows I will protect her and our child.
“You’re not proposing to me while your cock is inside me, Ward Montgomery,” Penelope says as my lips press to hers, silencing her complaint.
“Who said I’m asking?” I shift us both farther up the bed and lay beside her, letting our juices pour from both our bodies.
I don’t care.
This is what marriage is.
Messy and real.
Lucky me, I’m about to do it all over again with the blessing of another child.
Tina and I raised Bella, Knox, Atlas, and Levi to be strong people and know they’re loved. They will accept Penelope and this new baby into their lives.
It will take some adjusting, for all of us, but families come in all different shapes and sizes these days.
“I really hope we have a girl.” Penelope gives me a cheesy grin and my heart opens even more.
“Don’t count on it, sweetheart.” I laugh and kiss her forehead