by Sam Crescent
“I know, right? I can’t believe it. She kicked.”
“And she keeps on kicking. Hey, sweet girl. Do you know we’re making you an amazing bedroom?”
He got another kick, and Robin laughed.
“That’s right. Daddy is making your bedroom amazing, and I’m making him.” She giggled, and he loved the sound.
After a few minutes, she stopped kicking.
“I think she tired herself out.”
“It seems like it to me.” He leaned back against the sofa.
“I’m sorry I didn’t come up straight away. I was worried if I moved, she’d stop. I was hoping you’d come downstairs and feel it. Did you ever feel Bishop kick?”
“No. I never got too close when Flora was pregnant.”
“Do you miss her?”
“No. I hated her guts, and she hated mine.” He ran his hand across her stomach. “How are you feeling?”
“Okay. It’s weird being pregnant, but I’m getting used to it.”
“It’s a good look on you.”
“It is?”
“You’re glowing.” He cupped her cheek, running his thumb across her rosy skin. In the past few weeks, he’d seen her smiling more, and she looked ready for motherhood.
He couldn’t miss the plump, kissable lips, and they’d been capturing his attention for some time now and he’d been imagining kissing them, tasting her.
He didn’t dare do it, but he wanted to.
They were so close. How did they get so close?
The smile on Robin’s face vanished, but she didn’t pull away.
He didn’t know who moved first, only that her lips were on his, and the hand he had on her cheek sank into her hair, holding her in place as he kissed her back.
She let out a little gasp as he traced her lip with his tongue, and he plundered inside, drawing her closer.
Robin moved to straddle his lap.
Her pregnant stomach pressed against his, but he loved feeling her as she pressed her pussy next to his cock. It was an odd angle, but he deepened the kiss, sliding one hand down her back to cup her ass.
It had been so long. His cock was rock-hard as it pressed against her core.
Both of them pulled apart at the sound of the door opening.
“I’m home,” Bishop called.
Robin climbed off his lap, running fingers through her hair and smiling as he adjusted himself to cover his aching erection.
“What’s going on?” Bishop asked as he walked into the room.
“We just felt the baby kick. I’m going to go and check out the nursery. It’s good to see you home.” Robin spoke really fast, and within a matter of seconds, she was gone.
Preacher smiled. Damn, that was some kiss.
He hadn’t taken the time to kiss a woman in forever. He didn’t care about kissing. It was all about the fucking that mattered to him.
“What’s up with her?” Bishop asked.
“She doesn’t want to bore you with the details of preparing the nursery, especially as you’ve been so strict as to not want to be part of it, or the baby’s life.”
“She told you about that?” Bishop asked.
He hadn’t spoken to his son about seeing Robin on the night he found her upset. “She did. I’ve got club business to attend to next week, and I need to know I can trust you to take care of her.”
“Of course you can.”
“Can I? You’re rarely around. I’ve got it on good authority you don’t even hang out with her at the high school. You avoid her like the plague. Tell me again why I should trust you to take care of her?” He put his hands on his hips as he stood up to confront his son.
“I know I haven’t been the best … friend right now, but I’ll get better at it.”
“Son, the time you had to be pissed about this has passed. You need to get over whatever kind of shit you’re dealing with and see that this is not Robin’s fault. It’s not anyone’s that is alive.”
“I know. I know. You tell me how you’d handle it if your best friend came home pregnant with another guy’s kid and you had to marry her.”
“Bishop, you didn’t have to marry her. You volunteered. All of this could go away. I will make sure the marriage is annulled, and handle the rest. If you really want to call it a day and you can’t get over your petty shit, then tell me now.”
“I don’t want to stop being married to her, but I want her back.”
“She hasn’t gone anywhere, son. She’s right here, but you’re going to lose her if you’re not careful, which would be a real shame because you’ve got a keeper.” He’d wanted to hit his son, hurt him.
Bishop didn’t deserve to be with Robin. He spent way too much time blaming her for what fucking happened. He was done accommodating the little shit.
“This is your last chance, Bishop. If you don’t do as I ask, take care of her, when I get back, you’re out.”
“You’d kick me out of my own home?”
“You’re eighteen. This is not your house. Be lucky I don’t charge you fucking rent.”
He left Bishop to deal with his parting words. He meant every single one of them.
Robin was in the nursery, staring at his artwork. She chewed on her thumb and immediately pulled it out of her mouth when she saw him.
“That can’t happen,” she said.
“I know.”
“I … don’t … I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize. We will both forget it ever happened. Like the night we made our little girl. It didn’t happen.”
“Okay, fine. It didn’t happen.”
“Unless…”
“Unless what?” she asked.
“You want it to have happened?”
They heard Bishop moving around, and he truly believed if his son hadn’t made more noise, she’d have given him an honest answer.
“No, we should forget it ever happened. We’re … it’s the paint fumes and everything else. You know, we need to keep our heads on straight and not let this get to us. It was the fumes. There’s Bishop to consider, and I don’t know what happened. It was the spur of the moment.”
“It was.”
She pressed her lips together. “Did you … like it?”
“Like what?”
“What we did, the kiss?”
“Robin, we’re supposed to be forgetting about it.”
“You’re right. Totally right, I’m sorry.”
He moved up close, and she didn’t step back. She tilted her head, and he stared into her eyes. “I loved the kiss, but it won’t ever happen again and I won’t ever think about it.”
****
Bishop stopped outside Robin’s room. It had been a long time since he’d gone to see her at night.
He didn’t stink of another woman. He’d already showered, but the idea of going to his own room, to sleep in his lonely bed, didn’t appeal.
You’ve fucked three different women this day alone, and not once did you think about her.
Let her go.
He knocked on the door and waited for her invitation. She was sitting in bed, reading another pregnancy book.
“Hey,” she said.
“Hey. I … erm … I don’t want to sleep alone. I know I have no right to ask you to let me hold you, but I really want to.”
“Bishop, I don’t want to argue with you, but I’m still pregnant and you’ve hated being near me.”
“I know.”
“Are you sure you can handle it?”
“I can handle it. This baby, it’s part of you, and whatever is part of you, I can handle.”
“Are you sure?” she asked.
There she goes, always caring about you. Always being considerate to your delicate sensibilities. What do you say in return? Oh, that’s right, you screw other women.
“I’m sure.” He stepped into the bedroom, closing the door behind him.
He knew his father had been spending a great deal of time with her, and not for the first ti
me, he wondered if there was something going on.
Maybe there had been something going on from the very beginning and this whole Milly drugging thing was a smokescreen.
He shook his head.
No, he didn’t believe that.
Robin would never do anything like that.
He climbed into the bed, and she stayed perfectly still.
“I’m not going to hurt you.”
“I’m not worried about me or my baby, Bishop. I don’t want you to be upset.”
He rolled closer and lifted his hand. He hesitated to touch her stomach, but knew he had to do this. Putting his palm flat against her stomach, he smiled at her.
“See, no big deal.”
“No big deal,” she said.
“Do you like it?” he asked.
“Being pregnant?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s new. It’s scary. Exciting. I’ve missed you though. I know this has been hard for you to deal with.”
“But you’re my best friend. I promised to be there for you, and I’ve been doing my own thing.”
“I don’t mind, Bishop, really, I don’t.”
“I mind. I want to be there for you, always, and I messed up.”
She touched his cheek. “You will always be my best friend.”
“It’s not too late for us?” He leaned in close and brushed his lips across hers.
She didn’t kiss him back, and when he pulled away, he saw there were tears in her eyes. “Have I missed my chance?”
“What? No, of course not. I’m just … I missed you, and I’m not wanting to ruin the moment.”
“You can’t ruin anything, Robin. I love you, and I vow to you, I will be different. I promise.”
Chapter Thirteen
With Preacher gone, Bishop was way more attentive than Robin could ever remember him being.
She nibbled her lip as she walked down the long street heading toward the library. Bishop had to make a quick run back to the clubhouse. Preacher had wanted him to drop off some money at the bank, and Bishop had forgotten to do it. Instead of being trapped in a car all day, she’d opted to go to the library to get more studying in.
Just as she entered the library, her cell phone went off.
Preacher: How’s your day?
She smiled. He always asked her about her day.
Thinking about Bishop, she felt a little guilt swirl its way inside her. She hadn’t told him about the conversations she had with Preacher daily.
Bishop had been there for her more than ever before and he was really trying, but she … couldn’t bring herself to open up to him. She kept expecting him to yell at her, or scream.
Robin: Good. You?
Preacher: It could be better.
Robin: How?
Preacher: I could be seeing you in the morning rather than a bunch of ugly ass bikers.
Robin: Is my dad with you?
Preacher: Why do you think I said ugly ass?
She laughed, putting her bag on the table. She waved at one of the women, who smiled at her but quickly turned her back. She was used to the lack of warmth coming from people. Ever since she’d gotten pregnant, she’d noticed people often avoided her, or crossed the street so as not to be near her.
Preacher: What are you doing now? Watching some lame ass romantic comedy?
Robin: Without you? Nah, I wouldn’t dream of doing that.
Preacher: Don’t keep me in suspense, what are you doing? Are you taking it easy? Randall told me you need to take it easy.
This made her pause.
Had Randall told him everything about her trip with him? The wet dreams were getting more frequent, not to mention her fantasies. She’d not told Randall who starred in them, only that they were becoming a bit of a problem to her. Not for any other reason than she wasn’t used to feeling this way about anyone, least of all, Preacher.
She jumped as her cell phone started to ring.
Quickly accepting the call, she placed the phone to her ear. “What?”
“What? I thought you had manners?” Preacher asked.
“I’m sorry. Why are you calling?”
“You didn’t respond, and I got suspicious.”
“I’m resting.”
“Where’s Bishop?”
“He’s … running an errand.”
There was a long pause. She nibbled her lip waiting for him to answer her.
“You’re alone right now?”
“Yes, I am, but I was the one who told him to do what you asked. He’s only following your orders.”
“I gave him strict instructions to be by your side, and he’s currently off doing shit I’ve not told him to do.”
“Don’t be angry. I wanted to be at the library. Honestly, Bishop hasn’t left my side once. He’s been very attentive.”
“I gave him a direct order.”
“And he’s been following them. Don’t take out my need for space on him. Please.”
There was another silence.
“If you’re sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine. Honestly, more than fine. You’ve got nothing to worry about, I promise.” She smiled, but he wouldn’t be able to see it.
“How is our girl?”
“She’s doing okay. She likes to have a kick around a few times but nothing I can’t handle.” She put her hand on her stomach. “How’s work?”
This is so odd.
“Productive. Promise me you’ll call the moment Bishop is back with you and you’re safe.”
“I’m at the library, Preacher. Believe me, I’m safe.”
“O’Klaren went to the library.”
“O’Klaren hasn’t been around me, and I’m guessing I’ve got you to thank for that. Please, stop worrying. I’ll be fine. Everything will be fine. I promise.”
“It better be. I’ve got to go.”
“Stay safe.”
“Bye.”
She ended the call, putting the phone on the table in front of her.
I do not have feelings for Preacher.
I do not have feelings for Preacher.
It’s the hormones, and he’s been one of the nicest guys around.
It means nothing.
She was startled as someone took a seat beside her.
She recognized the man instantly as the one whom Preacher saw outside the diner.
He was large, imposing, and possessed more ink than Preacher. Some of them crawled up his neck. He had a shaved head, and she saw more ink there. His beard was short, and his eyes dark and deadly.
“Well, well, well, look what we have here?”
She looked around the library but didn’t see the librarian who’d been behind her desk. The place looked empty as if no one was around.
She didn’t like this.
“You shouldn’t be here,” she said, recognizing the patch for the rival club.
“Now, I know you. We’ve never been formally introduced.” He held his hand out. “I’m Reaper of the Slaves of the Beast MC, and you are Robin Rose Keats, formerly known as Robin Rose Riley. Nice name.”
He held his hand out, but she didn’t take it. For all she knew, this could be a trap, one she didn’t want to be set up in.
“I’m not surprised you didn’t take my hand. It wouldn’t look good on you to do such a thing. Talking with the enemy.”
“You’re clearly here for a reason. Tell me what message you want to give and get the hell out.”
She cried out as he gripped the back of her neck, pulling her forward.
“Listen to me, little girl. I don’t take lip from anyone, especially not a little snot like you.”
He pushed her back, hard.
She feared for her baby’s life. It was hard not to put a protective hand over her stomach. She kept her gaze on his, not backing down.
Her father had told her to never back down. She was club, and they weren’t weak. Every single part of her being screamed at her to run, but she stayed seated.
R
eaper grabbed her cell phone.
He tutted. “Password protected. Clever girl.”
“You need to leave or it’s going to be a bloodbath.”
“I was just curious about the girl who has Preacher riding around all over town. You’re the first woman since his slut that he’s been connected to. There have been other women, but they’re a dime a dozen. None of them stand out.”
“I’m not with Preacher.”
“Really? You see, I don’t think that little lie is true. I think you and Preacher have another little secret. That baby inside you, that’s not Bishop’s.”
How did he know so much?
She cried out as he suddenly grabbed her arm, dragging her close.
“You mean a hell of a lot more than people want you to believe, but I wanted to get a sense of you, Robin. I can see you know jack shit, but that’s okay. You’re going to be just fine for what I want.”
She cried out as he grabbed her hair and pulled her head back.
Whatever he wanted, it wasn’t going to end well for her.
****
Preacher ended the call and smiled.
“Who’s the lucky lady?” Bear asked, lighting a cigarette as he made his way toward him.
He pocketed his cell phone and frowned. “Lucky lady?”
“You’ve got the look on your face of a guy soon going to get laid.”
Preacher’s brows rose. “That was Robin. She’s at the library on her own. I was checking to make sure she was okay. Randall called me. She needs to relax more, and between worrying about studying and being a first time mother, she is more prone to certain illnesses and concerns. He doesn’t want to alarm her, but he thinks it’s important she’s got someone close to her.”
“Oh, fuck, you’re not thinking of screwing my girl, are you?” Bear asked.
He rolled his eyes. “I don’t want to fuck, believe me.” He looked past Bear’s shoulder to where Milner hung upside down. Blood dripped from his body, and the sight alone, it made him really happy.
Between O’Klaren and Robin, he hadn’t been able to put all of his focus on this son of a bitch, and it annoyed him he’d nearly gotten away with shit.
“You know, a couple of the girls have been talking. You haven’t been near any of them, and they’ve been worried about you.”
“You need to stop listening to gossip.”
“Does this have to do with Robin?” Bear asked.