Love You, Baby

by Stacey Joy Netzel

  “You want help?” she whispered against the side of his neck as she moved her hands lower.

  “Didn’t think I had to ask.” His voice came out all rough, his breath shallow.

  She sucked on his neck while sidling around him until she stood between his legs with the chill of his wet jeans against her outer thighs. His hands skimmed up to cup her breasts at the same time she pressed her lips to his. A soft gasp escaped when he tweaked her nipples, and fresh arousal spiked straight to her core.

  “Jeans,” she reminded.

  They both lowered their hands and worked together to get the wet material down to his knees, mouths still melded together. Then she backed up and knelt down to tug first one leg off, then the other. When she flattened her palms on his thighs and looked up, the sight of his erection jutting up tall and thick made her whole body prickle in breathless anticipation.

  He drew her to her feet, and his large hands spanned her waist as he tugged her forward between his legs again. With her standing and him still sitting, he slid his hands up to cup her breasts, lifting them in his palms, squeezing in a gentle massage as he brushed his thumbs back and forth across her tight, tingling nipples.

  “They seem bigger,” he murmured, almost to himself.

  She swallowed hard. He had noticed. And if he noticed that, what about the slight swell to her belly?

  “It’s the pregnancy.”

  “Hmm.” The sound was full of approval, and he bent his head to swirl his tongue around one aching tip.

  Her breath hitched as she raked her nails through his hair while he licked and sucked first one side, then the other. But much as she loved the foreplay, she needed more. The night of the wedding, champagne eased anxiety after seven years of celibacy. Right now, she channeled those memories as she pushed him down onto the bed and held his gaze while she climbed up to straddle him. The hard jerk of his Adam’s apple revealed her affect on him, giving her a heady dose of courage.

  Merit’s hands gripped her hips, and she leaned forward to kiss him as the tip of his erection nudged her entrance. She rocked her hips to take him in bit by bit.

  A low, guttural groan vibrated his chest, and his fingers dug into her flesh with each move she made to take him deeper inside. He only allowed a few more teasing strokes before his grip tightened, and he pulled her down while thrusting up until he was buried to the hilt.

  An involuntary whimper escaped her lips at the feeling of him filling her with nothing between them to minimize the sensation. Not only that, but the fit was so tight it was almost painful, and yet that’s what made it so amazing.

  “Holy fuck, Mae,” he breathed. “You feel so fucking good.”

  She wasn’t much for swearing, but his raw, rough words were a surprising turn on. It had been the same the night of the wedding. Just from that one night together, she knew by the desperate need in his voice he was fighting to hold onto his control. She’d thoroughly enjoyed pushing him to the edge that night and intended to do it again right now.

  “You, too.”

  She began to move, lifting up and then sliding down in a steady, slow rhythm. As his breathing labored in time with hers, she increased her pace and shifted position so his tip hit right where she needed to start the full body buzz that would set her off. He thrust up in perfect cadence with her, his grip almost punishing.

  Mae was getting close when he reached in between their bodies and found her sensitive nerve center. It only took a few strokes before she cried out his name as her body clenched around his. Head thrown back, eyes closed, color burst like fireworks with each wave of pleasure rippling through her.

  Merit drew her down and flipped their positions without breaking their connection. He urged her knees high and wide, driving into her with wild abandon until she felt the build of another orgasm. His rhythm broke, and he gave a hoarse shout with his final thrust as they both went over the edge together.

  When he collapsed on top of her, she held on to him, relishing the weight of his body over hers.

  As reality slowly returned, he turned his head to press his lips to her neck. “That was the best ever,” he breathed.

  “Hmm.”

  All of a sudden he stiffened and lurched off her. “Oh, my God.”

  The horrified fear in his voice spiked her alarm and jammed her heart into her throat. “What?”

  “What about the baby?”

  “What do you mean?”

  On his side next to her, his hand hovered over her belly, as if he was afraid to touch. “Did that…did I…should we have done that?”

  Relief washed over her, and she sagged back against the mattress. “Geez, yes. It’s fine, Merit.”

  His guilt-filled gaze rose. “Are you sure?”

  She nodded and reached up to lay a hand on his cheek as her chest tightened at his concern. “Yes, I’m sure. I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize the baby.”

  Tension slowly seeped from his body. He lowered his palm to cover her navel. She shifted his hand a couple inches lower to where the baby actually was.

  “People have sex up until birth. It’s perfectly normal and fine.”

  He blew out a breath, his smile shaky as he lifted his gaze. “I wasn’t sure if it could hurt the baby. A little late, I know, but…”

  Witnessing firsthand how much he seemed to care already, she felt that familiar prick of tears. “It will not hurt the baby,” she reassured him.

  “Thank God.” He nuzzled in at the base of her throat, the scruff of his stubble scraping sensually against her skin. “Not only because the baby’s okay, but I swear to God, I don’t know if I could handle not doing that again for seven more months.”

  Her pulse skipped at the assumption he’d made. Not because she disagreed, but it was equally heartwarming to know he was thinking of them being together up until and after the baby was born.

  Careful. One day doesn’t change who he is.

  Or was?

  She wanted to trust what he’d said earlier, that the coffee store chick had been a mistake, that he would’ve sent her away even if Mae hadn’t shown up. In the heat of the moment, she had trusted him, but what if she’d just been so crazy with need she’d have believed anything that fell from his gorgeous, talented lips?

  Stop.

  Stop thinking and just enjoy the moment.

  “Six and a half months,” she corrected.

  “Six and a half,” he murmured. He looked at her belly again, then shifted down to place his lips where his hand had been. His warm breath tickled her skin as he whispered, “Stay safe in there. Love you, Baby.”

  Suddenly, Mae couldn’t breathe. Talk about instant tears. And for all her self-incrimination about being careful and protecting her heart and not trusting him too easily, the possibilities of all they might have together opened up wide before her.

  Merit shot her a sheepish glance. “I heard they can hear people talk to them, and music, and stuff. Is that true, or do I just sound like an idiot?”

  The baby was too small to hear anything for a few weeks, but she kept that to herself. “You don’t sound like an idiot at all.”

  He moved back up beside her to swipe his thumb under the tear trembling at the edge of her lashes. “Is this something I said, or the pregnancy stuff again?”

  “Both.”

  He dipped down, and she closed her eyes as his warm lips moved over hers, gentle and languid. Yet another thread of warmth wove into the fabric of her tangled emotions. The guy was making serious headway.

  When he bit and sucked her bottom lip, the slow build of heat rose from simmer to slow boil. But seeing as she was running on low sleep and getting hungry, she needed to eat before she became faint.

  Mae rose up and pushed Merit onto his back, absently registering the storm had faded off into the distance. Her breasts crushed against his chest as she leaned over him, and she reached to brush his hair off his forehead as his hands splayed over her back.

  “I’m going to take a quick showe
r and then figure out something for dinner. You want to stay?”

  “Hell yes.” When she arched her brows with a slight tilt of her head, he amended, “Heck yes?”

  She grinned and smothered his cute, sexy smirk with a kiss before scooting off the bed to duck into the closet for her barely used robe. Usually, she slept in a tank top and fitted cotton shorts, but she’d tossed them in the laundry with her dirty sheets.

  “I’m not sure what I have in the fridge, but we can always order out, too.”

  “I’m good with whatever.”

  “Okay. Grab your jeans for the dryer, too.”

  As she crossed from the closet to the hall, the bed creaked behind her when he moved to get dressed. Two steps into the bathroom, she reached out to shut the door, but Merit’s hand grabbed the edge a split second before hers.

  She whirled around with a startled gasp. “Oh.” She saw he hadn’t gotten dressed at all. He stood there in his naked glory, hard and ready again. Her pulse raced as she jerked her gaze back up. “I didn’t hear you behind me.”

  “Sorry.” His eyebrows rose. “Did your offer to stay not include joining you in the shower?”

  Her cheeks burned as she realized how it had sounded to him. “Um…no?” When he took a step back, she reached out her hand. “But this is new for me. Do you want to?”

  A corner of his mouth crooked up while he threaded his fingers with hers. “Do you really need me to answer that?”

  She glanced down again and smiled as her nerves gave way for desire. “No. But I meant it when I said quick. I need to eat something for the baby.”

  “In that case, let’s eat first. I want to take my time with dessert.”

  Chapter 15

  She threw his clothes in the dryer before they made a simple dinner of hash browns and eggs, then Merit led her back to the bathroom to wash every inch of her addicting curves in the shower. She dropped to her knees and nearly brought him to his before he took her against the tiles, slow and easy, until she convinced him she and the baby were fine, and her whispered demands for harder and faster made him lose control. She came apart in his arms, and he fell right with her.

  After they dressed again, she checked in with Ian—who was having a blast at the water park—made a huge bowl of popcorn, and they watched Eagle Eye—her pick—then moved on to Fallen Skies—his pick.

  Merit was on the edge of his seat with her action-packed suspense thriller, but during his sci-fi horror selection, her backside spooned against his front became a distraction he couldn’t resist. Because, like the night of the wedding, he couldn’t get enough of her. He suspected he never would, and marveled at the lack of panic that realization caused.

  He started out tracing his finger along the neckline of her snug tank top. When he noticed her breathing go from rested to shallow, he dipped his finger in lower, easing his way under the material to the tight little buds just begging for his touch. His first light pinch made her breath hitch, and the second drew a soft moan from her parted lips.

  “Aren’t you going to watch your movie?” she asked breathlessly.

  “I’ve seen it already.”

  “Then why’d you pick it?”

  “I wanted you scared enough to stay close.”

  She wiggled her backside against him, teasing his hard length pressed against the firm curves. “This close enough for you?”

  He gave her breast a light squeeze. “Almost.”

  Merit spent a few more minutes playing with her breasts, and when he pulled his hand from her top, her husky sound of protest made his erection throb in agreement. But he wasn’t done yet. Flattening his palm against her ribs, he slid his hand down to slip under the waistband of her form-fitting shorts. His pulse skipped when he felt how wet she was for him, and he groaned at the thought of stripping her bare to bury himself in her heat again.

  He shifted position to pull her shorts down her silky thighs, but this time, he wanted a taste of her sweetness, and he didn’t stop until she’d screamed his name with her fingers clenched in his hair. Then he shut off the TV and the lights, and carried her back to her bedroom.

  Two steps from the bed, he slowed when he realized she’d fallen asleep in his arms. He stood there for a moment, staring at her lashes fanned against her still flushed cheeks as her head rested against his shoulder.

  His chest tightened and emotion swelled a lump in his throat.

  The day had turned into something so much better than he ever expected, he kind of hated that it was over. But she was clearly exhausted, and she definitely needed her rest, so he pulled the covers back and laid her down. He tugged the sheet and blanket up to her shoulder, smoothed her wavy blond hair back to press a kiss to her temple, then reluctantly straightened to leave.

  He’d send her a text and write her a note so she—

  “Stay.” Mae’s lashes lifted, and her sleepy gaze met his. “If you want…”

  The only time he slept at a woman’s house was when he was too drunk to remember to leave after sex—and it had been a couple years since that had last happened. The thought of choosing to stay so he could see her beautiful face and those blue eyes in the morning sunlight should scare the shit out of him.

  Then again, finding out she was pregnant should’ve scared the shit out of him for longer than an hour or two, and right now, his tripping pulse had absolutely nothing to do with fear.

  She shifted toward the middle of the bed to make room for him, and he didn’t give it another thought before stripping off his T-shirt and jeans to slip in behind her in his briefs. Her slow, even breathing told him she was out again, and despite the ever-present desire strumming in his veins, he was asleep shortly after.

  The digital clock on the nightstand read six thirty-three a.m. Merit slowly lowered his head back to the pillow. Tracing his gaze over Mae’s face, he’d give anything for a paint brush right now. That, and a clear canvas so he could immortalize the view in front of him. He quelled the urge to brush aside the wild, wavy strands of blond hair spilled across her cheek and settled for committing the vision to memory. Maybe he could do it justice later.

  His eyes drifted shut in the peaceful silence, and next time he woke, he was alone in the bed. This time, the clock read seven forty-nine, the washing machine hummed from somewhere down the hall, and he could hear the faint sound of the TV in the living room.

  As he stretched, a deep inhale had the faint combination of Mae and coffee teasing his senses.

  Thought she wasn’t supposed to have caffeine?

  He brushed aside the covers and grabbed his clothes for a quick trip to the bathroom. Mae had left a clean wash cloth, new toothbrush, and toothpaste on the counter. After he donned his pants and brushed his teeth, he pulled his T-shirt on as he ventured into the kitchen. With each step, his pulse picked up pace.

  It settled back down when he saw Mae in front of the coffee pot, back to him, swaying her slim hips to the music playing on a commercial in the living room. She still wore those sexy little form-fitting cotton shorts and tank top from last night, her wavy blond locks barely dusting her bare shoulders.

  He grinned as he moved forward to stand beside her. “Morning.”

  She startled, the teaspoon in her hand clinking against the mug in front of her. As her gaze met his, a smile spread across her face—along with a blush. “Hi.”

  Before he could dip down to give her a kiss, she turned back to the mug and started stirring again. As her arm brushed against his, he took note of the empty hot chocolate packet next to a gallon of milk, and a jar of caramel sauce with a bowl of ice cream on the label.

  Leaning forward to brace his forearms on the counter, he asked, “Whatcha making there?”

  “A caramel mocha latte. Well, my amateur version of one, anyway.” She removed the spoon and slid the drink toward him.

  “For me?”

  “Who else?”

  He shifted his weight to the left so he could lift it for a sip. Caramel and chocolate swirled togethe
r to delight his taste buds. The fact she’d made it just for him made it that much sweeter.

  As he lowered his hand, she said, “If it tastes like crap, you don’t have to drink it.”

  “No, it’s good,” he assured her. “Really good. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” She reached for a mug off to the side with a tea bag tag hanging over the edge. Her blue gaze met his over the rim as she sipped. “Are you hungry?”

  She probably meant for food. He chose to answer by setting his cup aside, taking hers to set it aside, and then reaching up to thread his fingers through her hair at the nape of her neck to draw her in for a proper good morning kiss.

  She hmmed softly, and when he eased closer, her lips parted beneath his in open invitation. Merit angled his head to deepen the kiss, meeting her halfway, then delving deep with slow, sensual strokes. Mae melted against him, her hand pressed against his chest, right over his heart, which was quickly picking up pace again, sending a rush of blood straight below the waistband of his jeans.

  He was about to hoist her up and carry her back to the bedroom when she broke the kiss by tipping up her chin as she turned her head aside. He buried his face against her neck, his lips moving against her soft skin as he inhaled her addicting scent.

  Her breath came in soft pants as she said, “I was going to make pancakes for breakfast.”

  “I would love pancakes for breakfast after I have you.”

  Her fingers flexed against his chest, her short nails digging in the tiniest bit. “Unfortunately, the baby is hungry now, and this is one of the rare days I don’t feel like throwing up.”

  He stilled and then chuckled. “You definitely don’t sugar coat things, do you?”

  “Nope. My life doesn’t allow me the luxury of beating around the bush.”

  Because as a single mother and CEO, she likely didn’t have much free time. He, on the other hand, had all the time in the world. He stepped back and reached for his homemade latte while she gathered dishes, utensils, and ingredients.

  “Any chance I’m the reason for your lack of morning sickness?”