Pregnant
"Girl relax," Celine's calm and soothing voice speaking through the phone made me feel anything but calm.
I refreshed the period tracker app on my phone for the hundredth time in the last few hours. "How could I have been so forgetful." I cried, ignoring my best friend's voice, "two months, C. Two damn months."
"Christine..."
"What am I supposed to do now? Oh God, Oh God, Oh God."
"Christine Elizabeth Channing!" Celine's stern voice boomed through the phone. No longer soothing, but clearly pissed this time.
"What? My name is not Elizabeth." I reminded her, "that's your name."
"I know," she giggled, actually fucking giggled, "but it sounded good like that and it got your attention. Now back to the topic at hand, would you fucking relax?"
"How the hell am I supposed to do that? I should have listened to you, I can't believe I'm pregnant!" I whispered the last part harshly, knowing Lucas could walk in at any moment.
"Or there could be another reasonable explanation to it," she said, resuming her calm streak, "pregnancy is not the only explanation to a missed period."
"Two actually," I reminded her. Turning on the speaker, I tossed the phone on the bed and held my head in my hands. "The signs were there, the vomiting, the tiredness, the nausea, and now the cranky mood."
"I have been in this situation before and..."
"Oh, now you're ready to talk about that?" I snapped, cutting her short.
"Okay, I know you're going through something right now, but that does not mean you get to be bitchy to me bess," Celine warned. "Also yes. thanks to Alexander, I'm almost over it."
"I know, I'm sorry. Just these hormones flying everywhere."
She sighed in her acceptance of my apology, "tell me what's wrong."
"I don't know, just general pregnancy fears"
"You don't want a child?" she sounded surprised.
"Of course I do, I do with every fiber of my being..."
"But?"
"What if Lucas doesn't"
She chuckled, "that does not even make any sense. The same man that would do anything for his twins, who in your words asked about having kids with you?"
"I know, I know," I said, feeling stupid for even thinking that way.
"Besides, we both know Lucas is not some jerk who would just leave you to face this by yourself. After Alex, he's the most responsible man I know. That man loves you, so would you stop making these silly assumptions?"
"I just don't know. I'm supposed to be happy, but the uncertainty of this is even real is killing me. What if what you said is true, there could be another rational reason for this."
"That might be true but you wouldn't know if you don't take a test."
"Ha, right," I scoffed, "a test." That would only be possible if Lucas would even do so much as let me out of his sight for an hour.
It didn't matter that the house was now bombarded with at least three times as much security, Lucas had everyone locked in.
And if there was a cause for going out, it had to be with awkward security trailing along.
It was infuriating and at this point, I could not wait to go back home. Only one more day left.
"Maybe I should sneak out and get a test done."
"You will do no such thing," 'Celine said. Did I forget to mention she was just as strict after finding out Sarah was released too? "That bitch is free and I'm not taking chances."
"She is not allowed to travel internationally," I reminded her.
"Doesn't mean she cannot do you any harm still. Promise me you won't do anything rash, wait till you get back here and I promise I'll go to the doctor with you."
"Like I was actually giving you a choice," I chuckled.
"So no sneaking out like a teenager."
"Yeah, if I don't die of curiosity before tomorrow."
"No one ever actually dies of curiosity." she laughed.
"I just might be the first,"
She snorted, "Shut up,"
Lucas strolled in, looking tired after a long day of speaking to lawyers and trying to reverse Sarah's bail. I mouthed a "hey." to him before speaking back into the phone. "C, I have to go."
"Is he there?"
"Yes, and he can hear you," I chuckled, picking my phone back up.
"Oh, in that case, I'll talk to you soon."
"Actually, you'll be seeing her soon." Lucas chipped in, undoing the button on his dress shirt.
"Can't wait. I love you bess."
"I love you more." I blew her a kiss before the phone trilled.
"Hey," I got to my feet and hugged Lucas, breathing in his smooth and spicy scent.
"I missed your muffin," he murmured, wrapping his arms around me and kissing my shoulder.
"We both had a busy day."
"How is the preparation coming along?" he asked, stepping back to continue undoing his shirt.
"Well, there's not much left to do, but to wait for tomorrow." I shrugged.
"You don't seem too excited," he raised a brow.
"I am, I'm just tired," I said, tagging a little enthusiasm in my voice.
"Do you want to take a bath together?" he gave a charming grin, leaving a trail of soft kisses down my neck that made me feel bad for turning down his offer.
"As tempting as that may be, I should check on the kids," I said, twisting out of his arms.
He pushed his slacks down, taking his briefs along, and revealing the tempting bulge of his cock.
Reaching for me, he hauled me back into his hold.
The light fabric of my nightdress did nothing to hide the swell of my hardened nipples poking against his sturdy chest. "Are you sure that's what you want to do? "
"N-no..." I muttered, giving my desires front seat.
With a knowing smile, he trailed two fingers down my cheeks, before pressing his lips on mine. "That's what I thought," taking my hand he led the way to the well-flourished bathroom, "now come."
And hell yeah I did, in more ways than one.
An hour later my limbs were too weak to move as Lucas set me on the bathroom countertop.
After reaching for a towel, he dried my body with precise carefulness, asking at every turn if I was okay.
I was better than okay. I not only had the after-sex glow radiating from my body and making me tingle from head to toe, but I was also getting the special treatment of being taken care of by him without having to lift a hand.
Throwing my arms around his neck, I pressed my body into his and kissed him. "Even though you nearly screwed me into a coma," I giggled, "I'm absolutely fine."
"Good," he grinned, turning his attention to drying my hair, "because next time I am screwing you into a coma."
"Perv," I giggled again, taking the towel from him, "my turn."
Something in my mind snapped as I trailed the towel over his glistening body, drying off the drops of water trailing down his strong biceps. My mood was now like a flowing tap without control, sometimes warm and at the press of an invisible button cold.
"What is it?" Lucas held my chin up. noticing my change in demeanor in two seconds flat.
"Nothing," I snapped, biting my tongue to hold back from spilling any thoughtless words.
"That is not nothing." he said firmly, "did I say something wrong?"
I shook my head as my lips curled in a pout.
The worry on his face deepened, "you were fine a second ago, tell me what's wrong Muffin."
"What if I'm pregnant?" I blurted before the rational part of my brain reminded me that was a question intended for my inner voice.
Of all the reactions I expected, a sheepish grin was the very last. There was no second thought, no pause, no hesitancy in his smile, pure unrestrained love flowing as he held my cheeks, eyes boring into mine. "Are you?"
But of course, a rushed-out 'no' was all I could give. "I'm just asking. What if I'm pregnant."
Something flash in his eyes for a brief second. Sadness, disappointment? It passed too quickly for me to tell. His smile remained unwavering as he spoke. "Then that would be my anchor in the middle of this storm we're facing now."
"So you would not be mad."
He looked physically hurt by my stupid question. "Why would you think I would be mad muffin? A child with you Chris would be the best gift I would receive in a while. And we will have one, a million if you want, but only when you're ready."
The message was clear, No pressure.
Relief swirled in my heart, and love and gratitude. What exactly did I do to deserve this beautiful man? Beautiful in and out and all around.
I did not have the answer to that, but as I hugged him, placing my head on his chest and listening to the light thump of his heart beating with love for me, I knew I was right where I had to be. There could not be anywhere else in the universe more right for me.
We stayed that way for a few seconds until a shiver reminded me that I still needed to put some clothes on. Pushing myself from his hold, I slid down the counter. "I'll throw something on and check on the kids."
With his hand still on my arm, he pulled me back into him, "You're forgetting something."
"I am?" I gave a confused smile.
"Yup," he held my head in his large palm and kissed my forehead first, "For Aiden," then his lips grazed my cheek, "for Abby," and finally a long, lingering kiss on my lips that stole my breath for a moment, "and for you."