by K. S. Ruff
Rafael removed my dress while I forced the shirt down his arms. His trousers quickly followed. He was gloriously naked while I remained in my heels, silk stockings, ivory garter, and demi lace bra. He forced the bra beneath my breasts before circling the nipples with his tongue. “How have I failed to notice this?”
My breasts had doubled in size, a change I failed to notice until purchasing lingerie yesterday. I moaned wantonly as he thoroughly consumed each breast. Pleasure pulsed between my legs. My fingers clenched the duvet. “Rafael,” I panted. I reached for his hips so I could position him between my legs.
Rafael lifted my knees until they were well above his waist. I writhed in the most exquisite pain while he thoroughly ravished my neck. His hands kneaded my breasts. “I’m sorry,” he murmured before plunging deep inside my mouth. The world tilted as Rafael buried himself to the hilt.
We lost ourselves in another intoxicating kiss while he waited for my body to adjust. Slowly, he began to thrust.
“Husband,” I whispered.
“Wife,” he replied. His eyes sought mine. “Mrs. Garcia.” His eyes closed against the emotions that evoked. “You’re finally mine.” He buried his face in my neck as he began to cry.
I gently caressed his back. “I fear I was intended for you long before I was born.”
He lifted his head.
I grasped his face in my hands. “I love you more than you could possibly know.”
“We’re a family now.”
I nodded.
“I love you.” He clasped my hands in his as he forced them above my head.
I arched against him. My desire had grown as unbearable as his.
Rafael pulled back and thrust. In long, demanding strokes he erased the boundaries between his body and mine. He drove us higher and higher, knit us tighter and tighter, until there was no him… no me… only us.
* * * * *
I sighed contentedly as I curled against Rafael’s side. He’d flung the windows open at some point during the night. The waves eventually coaxed us to sleep. I’d lost count of the amount of orgasms he’d wrung from me.
My heart stalled. I didn’t want to leave.
“What’s wrong?” Grudgingly, Rafael opened his eyes.
I stretched deliciously sore limbs while untangling myself from him. “How am I supposed to pick up where I left off when so much has changed? I’m supposed to return to Virginia today, where no one will know we’re pregnant and married except Brady and Jase.”
Rafael linked his hand with mine. “Do you want to tell people?”
I forced myself to think. “I don’t want to tell anyone about the baby until we’re further along.”
He nodded.
I ran my fingers along the whiskers that darkened his jaw. “But I want to scream the fact that we’re married from the rooftops.”
Rafael laughed. His hand dipped beneath the sheet so he could feel my belly which was ridiculously flat. “I feel the same way, but I don’t want Maxim to know. I don’t know how he’ll react when he discovers we’ve been married. I’d prefer to be present when he does.”
I admired the braided diamond band gracing my left hand. “I should return this to you before I leave, but I’ll still picture it there.”
His fingers skimmed my hip. “Do you mind if I wear my ring? I’ll remove it when I travel to Virginia and when our friends arrive just before the wedding.”
I grasped his hand so I could see how the ring looked on his finger. “Sure. I would prefer you wear my ring. Did you read the inscription?”
Rafael bolted upright. He removed the ring so he could read the inscription. “Broken together?”
I admired the beautiful script before sliding the ring back onto his finger. “I couldn’t stop thinking of all the tragedies, the heartache, and pain that life has thrown our way. We ended up together, despite all the obstacles and frankly dismal odds. But what if God intended it that way? Man has been broken since the Garden of Eden, but we were never meant to be broken apart. We were meant to be broken together until He comes for us.”
His lips brushed against my knuckles. “The inscription couldn’t be more perfect.” He tugged the sheets toward my hips so he could rest his head on my tummy. It was some time before he spoke again. “You’re so thin, I’m having a difficult time picturing our baby in there.”
I combed my fingers through his hair. “I’ll look like a beached whale by the time October rolls around.”
“I’ll worship you even more when your belly is round. That’s my child in there.” His fingers curled possessively around my side. “I’m having a really hard time letting you go. I don’t want to miss a second of this pregnancy, and I feel this gut wrenching need to keep you and the baby close.”
My heart clenched. “I feel the same way, but I’m so close to graduating. I need to return to Virginia so I can finish my degree.”
He linked our hands together once more. “I want you to earn your degree, but I don’t want you to leave.”
“I’ll take good care of our baby while we’re apart. We’ll be together before you know it,” I promised.
Rafael glanced at the clock before climbing up my body. He pushed just inside of me when our bodies aligned. “I have four hours to change your mind.”
Chapter 8 – The Proof of Your Love
I pushed off the toilet. My reprieve ended as morning sickness reared its ugly head again.
“You can’t go to work,” Jase growled from the doorway. We’d been home less than a day.
I splashed water on my face. “I’m going to work. I’ve already missed a week, and I’m pretty much out of leave.”
He watched me brush my teeth. “Why are you returning to work? You’re leaving in seven weeks.”
“I’m not entirely sure I am leaving,” I argued unreasonably.
Jase laughed.
I stomped downstairs.
“What’s wrong?” Brady asked.
Jase folded his arms across his chest. “She’s being hard headed again. We should tie her up in bed.”
Brady’s eyes widened.
“Morning sickness,” I rebutted. “It won’t be pretty if you tie me to the bed.”
Jase growled. “The toilet then.”
“It wouldn’t be the first time,” I grumbled. “Let’s go.”
Jase grabbed a bottled water, soda crackers, and a large plastic bowl. “Just in case.”
Brady followed me into the garage. “How are you going to hide this from Shae?”
“My stomach will settle once there’s food in there.” I hoped the baby was listening.
They eyed me skeptically.
We climbed into the Jeep. “The baby is demanding food. He doesn’t like waking up to an empty stomach,” I recalled from my previous pregnancy.
Jase stopped by Starbucks so they could feed me a bacon, egg, and Gouda breakfast sandwich.
“This works,” I purred happily.
I made it through the first day without giving the baby away. I called Rafael the second I got home so I could play the Doppler over the phone. Brady and Jase snuck into my bedroom when they heard the sound. They stood mesmerized while Rafael sang the baby a Portuguese lullaby.
The rest of the week progressed in much the same way. I crawled into bed thoroughly exhausted after my classes on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Still, I played the Doppler every night so Rafael could hear the baby’s heartbeat. Brady and Jase popped their heads inside the room more often than not. They nodded, reassured, each time they heard that steady swooshing sound. They doted on me like a couple of midwives and plied me with food.
Kadyn invited himself over for dinner Friday night. I thought he might reveal something juicy about Shae since she was behaving oddly at work.
“I got it!” Jase yelled when the doorbell rang.
I glanced at Brady, worriedly. “He doesn’t know about the baby or the wedding.”
“We’re fully capable of keeping your secrets.” He gave me a h
ug.
I wondered how many secrets the Templar kept.
Kadyn deposited three paper bags on top of the counter. “I hope you’re in the mood for Chinese food.”
Jase eyed me uncertainly.
“Chinese food sounds great.” I gave Kadyn a hug. “Would you like a Sprite?”
He shot me a curious look. “Yes, please.” He shook hands with Brady and Jase. “You’re welcome to join us. There’s plenty of food.”
I set four Sprites on the counter while Brady retrieved the plates. We loaded our plates with steamed dumplings, Crab Rangoon, shrimp fried rice, General Tso’s Chicken, and beef with broccoli before traipsing into the family room.
Kadyn set his plate on the coffee table. “Where’s your laptop?”
I set my plate next to his. “In the office. Do you want me to get it?”
He started flipping through the channels on my television. “Please. There’s something you should see.”
I grabbed my laptop and plopped next to him on the couch.
Kadyn typed a URL into my browser before handing me the computer. “Check this out.”
I read the headline aloud. “NATO ships enter the Black Sea.” I read the first paragraph to myself before jumping to my feet. “Oh my God! NATO exercises. In the Black Sea! The defense shield is being installed!” Relief collided with fear as I burst into tears.
Jase beat Kadyn to my side. “Are you okay?” He eased me onto the couch.
Kadyn looked stunned. “What’s going on?”
“Hormones,” Brady muttered. He quickly realized his mistake. “You know, that time of the month. She’s completely exhausted between work and school and… uh… Aunt Flo.”
“Aunt Flo?” Jase mouthed.
Kadyn stilled. “You’re pregnant.”
My tears stopped as abruptly as they’d begun. “How could you possibly know that?”
He looked thoroughly embarrassed. “Well, I’ve been hugging you for three years now.”
“I’m not even showing,” I objected.
All three men eyed my chest.
I covered my breasts. “Stop that!” I glared at Brady. “Aunt Flo? Seriously? What kind of cover up is that?”
Kadyn tried not to laugh. “Does Rafael know?”
“Yes. We discovered I was pregnant when I was in the hospital. I don’t want to tell anyone until I’m further along. I’m worried I might have another miscarriage.” My voice grew panicked. “Kadyn, I’m serious. I don’t want anyone else to know.”
The smile slid from his face. “What about Shae?”
I shook my head. “You, Rafael, Brady, and Jase are the only ones who know. Although, Shae might figure it out if I start vomiting at work.”
He sank next to me on the couch. “Why were you so upset about the military exercise?”
“I’m just worried. They’re expanding the pipeline. Maxim needs to get the defense shield in place before Putin discovers that construction. As if that’s not pressing enough, this is a very tight race. Maxim would like to take credit for these accomplishments so he can win the election, but he can’t do that until the defense shield is in place. He’s worried Putin will retaliate.”
Jase looked up from his plate. “When’s the election?”
I sighed. “April tenth, and Maxim and Yulia are still neck and neck.”
“That’s only seven days away,” Brady objected.
“I know.” I shoved my plate aside.
Kadyn looked at my computer screen. “They’ve created a diversion. I bet they’re moving munitions from Poland as we speak.”
Jase stood. “When did Maxim first meet with Secretary Gates?” He strode into the kitchen, where he piled more food onto his plate.
Kadyn thought back. “January sixteenth.”
Brady did the math. “That was two and a half months ago. Those launch pads may already be in place.”
“What about Russia’s satellites?” I persisted. Kadyn warned me that type of activity could be detected by satellite.
Jase shrugged. “We’re not above tampering with satellite feeds when the situation warrants.”
I found that oddly reassuring. “Would this situation warrant such a thing?”
“We’re trying to prevent World War III,” Kadyn answered evenly. “When did Maxim receive funding for his pipeline?”
“USAID issued the check on March thirteenth.” My knee bounced nervously.
“Three weeks ago,” Brady murmured.
“Maxim is determined to move quickly. They don’t have far to go and the terrain is relatively flat,” I added.
Kadyn bit into a spring roll. “You know… he just might pull this off.”
I wondered how it was possible to want and dread the same thing. “I’m going to hang out at the Ukrainian Embassy on Election Day with Oni, Konstantin, and Shae. Would you like to join me?”
“What time?” Kadyn reached for his Sprite.
“Voting ends at two o’clock eastern time. They should have a preliminary count by five or six o’clock.”
Kadyn glanced at the calendar on his phone. “Sure. I can join you.” He frowned at my plate. “I don’t know much about pregnancy, but aren’t you supposed to eat?”
Jase growled. “If you don’t eat, I’m shoving a feeding tube up your nose.”
I couldn’t resist the eye roll. “Great. Now I have three midwives chasing me with food.”
“I’m drawing the line at delivering the baby,” Brady warned. “Hey, where’s the heartbeat machine?”
Kadyn raised a single eyebrow.
“The Doppler is upstairs.” I cracked open my chopsticks.
Brady rose from his chair. “Do you want to hear the baby’s heartbeat?”
“Sure,” Kadyn agreed.
Brady bolted up the stairs. “Hey! Can I look for the baby this time?” Thus far, I’d been the only one rubbing the Doppler over my tummy. Apparently, that was about to change.
Jase’s chopsticks stopped short of his mouth.
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you get a turn.” Secretly, I loved how invested they were in this pregnancy.
* * * * *
I popped my head inside Shae’s office. “Maxim just called.”
Shae smacked her head on the desk. She flopped onto her chair as she tossed a paperclip on the desk. “Stupid paperclip.”
I bit my lip, trying not to laugh. “They’ve been working day and night on the pipeline. Maxim said they’re about halfway done.” I sank onto the chair across from her desk. “The mobile launch pads and the missiles are in place. Their missileers have been trained. They’re still building the more permanent launch pads, but he feels they have enough coverage to insulate against an attack while they complete the remaining work.”
Shae shook her head in disbelief. “How did he manage to accomplish all that?”
“I think his relationship with Prime Minister Azarov and his appointment to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs helps. They’ve moved quickly because they must. Failure to do so could compromise their national security. There’s not a lot of transparency there anyway. You know how it is.”
Shae unraveled the paperclip. “Ukraine doesn’t have an EPA or special interest groups getting in the way. They have a huge unemployment problem, so I’m sure plenty of people were begging to work on that pipeline regardless of the hours or other unreasonable demands.”
I nodded. “What does Konstantin think about all this?”
“He’s a mess,” she confessed. “He’s worried Putin will retaliate when he discovers what they’re doing. He’s still amassing troops along the eastern border. Everyone’s afraid Russia will invade if the election doesn’t go the right way.”
“Right way,” I scoffed. “In other words, Putin is threatening to invade unless the Ukrainian people vote a pro-Russian candidate into office.”
“Putin has planted people inside Ukraine who are delivering that very message.” Shae huffed out a breath.
My heart sank. “Well
then, things are about to turn very ugly.”
Her brow furrowed.
I rubbed my forehead. Sadly, that failed to drive my fears away. “Maxim was hoping to avoid this, but he hasn’t been able to gain a respectable lead in the polls. He’s going to announce these accomplishments today. Their security forces are on high alert in case Putin retaliates. A number of international organizations have arrived to observe the election. He’s hoping that will help keep Putin in check, at least until after the election.”
Shae dropped the mangled paperclip.
* * * * *
“I think you should go into hiding,” Rafael argued determinedly.
I rolled my eyes at the phone. “I’m not going into hiding. I’m staying here so I can finish my coursework. Graduation is only a month away.”
Silence.
I pulled a pair of yoga pants out of the drawer and tugged them on. “Rafael?”
“Are Brady and Jase in the room?”
I glanced toward my bedroom door. “No.” Thank God. I was half naked after all.
“Go get them and put me on speaker phone,” he growled.
The hair on the back of my neck prickled. “Okay. I just… I need to finish changing.” I wiggled into a loose fitting shirt before scurrying downstairs.
Brady and Jase were huddled inside the kitchen. They stopped talking when I walked into the room.
“Rafael is on the phone.” I switched over to speaker phone.
“Jase,” Rafael gritted. “You’re aware of Maxim’s announcement?”
His eyes slid toward mine. “Yes. The story has yet to break in the United States, but it’s been all over the news in Ukraine. We’re monitoring Russia’s media outlets. Putin hasn’t responded… yet.”
“I want the links to every news story you’ve seen. You do realize what this means?”
Brady edged closer to me. “Yes. We’ve recruited additional men to guard the perimeter. Ethan is gathering Intel, and he’s instituted a number of other countermeasures to safeguard her at work and school.”
My eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?”
Rafael blew out a breath. “Is she sitting down?”
Brady helped me onto one of the high back stools. “She is now.”