She settled baby Jack into his crib before moving back to give her brother a hug. “You better not make me cry or Wyatt will try to kick your ass,” she mumbled into his shirt.
“Nah,” Jack answered. “He’ll forgive me when I tell him his baby boy is about to get his first tooth and doesn’t need to see the doctor tomorrow.”
“What a relief,” Bailey sighed, leaning back and beaming up at him.
“Besides, it’s not like he could kick my ass anyway,” Jack drawled, dropping a kiss on her head. “And we won’t be here when he gets home.”
He crossed the room, pulling me to his side and whispering in my ear. “We need to get home so I can make sure my reminder from this afternoon stuck, and give my swimmers another chance in case they didn’t do their job earlier.”
Jack didn’t get any arguments from me. If I’d been wearing panties under my scrub pants, they would have been drenched.
***
Life with Jack moved lightning fast. One week we’re work colleagues who flirt and the next we’re friends who are practically joined at the hip. In one night, we moved from being firmly in the friend zone to an exclusive relationship. Then, I felt my biological clock ticking and the next week my period was late. It always came every twenty-eight days, like clockwork, and should have started two days ago. There was no sign of it starting anytime soon. I was pretty sure Jack had gotten his wish and knocked me up, which is how I found myself hiding in his bathroom first thing this morning while he was making breakfast. I’d peed on the stick three minutes ago and was trying to get up the nerves to look at the results.
“You can do this,” I murmured softly. “No matter what the test says, you’re a strong woman and you’ll figure out the right thing to do.”
My little pep talk wasn’t doing anything to stop the flutter of butterflies in my belly. Taking a deep breath, I picked up the stick from the bathroom counter and flipped it over.
Not pregnant.
The air left my lungs with a heaving sigh. The emotion I should have felt was relief since I wasn’t sure I was ready for babies, let alone to have them with Jack. Although I’d known him through work for two years, we’d only really been a couple for two weeks. Plus, I still needed to decide what to do about the job offer from Children’s Minneapolis. My brain knew this was probably for the best, but it seemed my heart had a different perspective because I felt like it was breaking.
Logic didn’t factor into what I was feeling. I’d spent the last two days thinking maybe he’d been right and he’d gotten me pregnant. How was I going to tell him I wasn’t? He didn’t even know my period was late because I hadn’t been ready to talk to him about the real possibility of me being pregnant. It seemed like the right decision at the time, but I wished I’d said something because then I wouldn’t be facing this alone. Sitting on the side of the tub, sobbing into my hands, I came to a few realizations.
I loved Jack Halston.
I couldn’t take the job in Minneapolis.
And I wanted to have his babies, all four of them.
My tears shifted into a chuckle snort at the irony. Back in my undergrad years, I’d been a little judgy towards the girls who were there for their “Mrs. Degree,” but I was going to turn down a promotion because of a man. Not just any man, though. I had a feeling my fellow nerd girls would make the same decision if given a chance with Dr. Jack Halston. Too bad for them he was all mine.
Chapter 9
Jack
I placed a bowl of strawberries on a tray along with pancakes, syrup, and orange juice. I wanted to make sure my woman had a good breakfast because I had plans to wear her the fuck out today. It was rare for us to have a day where we were both off and I intended to spend it in bed.
Lifting the tray, I carefully walked to the bedroom and was surprised to see the bed empty. There was light coming from the bathroom door, so I set the tray on the dresser and padded over to the closed door. I turned the knob, and as it opened, I heard soft crying. Alarmed, I raced the rest of the way inside to see Ellison sitting on the edge of the tub, her elbows on her knees, her face buried in her hands.
I scooped her up and took her seat, settling her on my lap, tucking her head under my chin, then rubbing her back in slow circles.
“What’s wrong, baby?”
She sniffled for another minute before lifting her head, her brown eyes watery with tears.
“I didn’t think I wanted it,” she whispered as more tears tracked down her cheeks.
I gently wiped them away with my thumb. “Wanted what?”
“The life you were planning for us, the one with four kids, two surgeons, one house, and a partridge in a pear tree.”
Her words sounded wistful and I took it as a good sign. “Baby, I’d really prefer a dog, but if this is your way of telling me you’re pregnant, we can have whatever fucking pets you want.”
She began to cry in earnest, burying her face into my chest. I started to panic and wonder if I’d gotten it wrong. If she was trying to tell me she had decided to take the job in Minneapolis, I’d chain her to my bed until I convinced her she didn’t belong anywhere but here with me. I knew her, though. No matter the amount of time we’d been together, she was a part of me and I had no doubt that we wanted the same future. It was up to me to make her see it.
My eyes suddenly caught sight of a white, plastic stick sitting on the counter. Still holding Ellie close, I reached out one long arm and picked up the pregnancy test. I stared at it from the back for a moment, a little nervous. Are you sure you aren’t the one with the vagina, dude?
Holding my breath, I flipped it over and the air came whooshing out in a rush.
Not Pregnant.
Chained to the bed it is.
I stood with her cradled in my arms and tossed the test into the garbage. Taking her to the bed, I lay her down and covered her body with mine.
“I told you before, Ellie. You’re mine. I won’t let you leave me. If you want to wait to start a family, I’ll give you whatever you ask, except let you go. I love you and I know you love me. We were meant to be together and I’m going to keep you right here until I’ve convinced you it’s true.”
Her chocolate brown eyes widened as she stared into my face. “You—you love me?” she stuttered.
It dawned on me that I’ve laid myself bare to her, opened up my chest and gave her the ammunition to rip my heart out. Not for one second did I regret it, though. She was worth it. She was everything.
I brushed my lips over hers then leaned back to gaze at her beautiful face. “Yeah, Ellie. I love you. I’m sure I’ve loved you since the moment I first met you. It took me a while to realize you were everything I never knew I always wanted. Once I understood my feelings, I decided there was no other recourse but to make you mine. I know you love me, Ellie.” I took a shuddering breath and made the last step into complete vulnerability. “Right?”
She glided her hands up my chest and neck until she was cupping my face. “I love you more than anything in this world, Jack. You’re right, you own me. And, I don’t want to wait. I want to have a family with you, now.”
The relief I felt was overwhelmingly acute. Obviously I’d been more nervous than I’d thought. I grinned at her and melded our mouths together, pouring all of my love into the kiss.
I pulled back and stared at the gorgeous woman beneath me and noticed the dried tears on her face. After another quick kiss, I caressed her cheek, tracing the salty tracks. “No need to cry, baby. I’ll fuck you as many times as I need to until you’re swollen with my baby in your belly,” I promised and was rewarded with the sweet sound of her laughter.
A thought crashed into me and I jumped from the bed and started for the door, halting after a few steps and whirling around. I pointed at her. “You. Stay.”
She scrunched her cute little nose in distaste. “You better be practicing for when we have a dog, Dr. Halston.”
I groaned helplessly. Whenever she called me Dr. Halston, it turned me the fuck on. I poin
ted to her once again and raced from the room, determined to get back as fast as possible. I practically flew down the back set of stairs to my office and snatched a small blue box from the drawer of my desk. Just as swiftly, I returned to our room and climbed back over her.
Satisfied she’d stayed where I put her, I kissed her forehead. “Good girl.” She glared at me.
I put the most innocent expression on my face that I could manage. “I guess you don’t want your treat for being obedient then?” I held up the petite box and her jaw dropped, an excited sparkle in her eye. “Did you think I was fucking around when I told the pussy I was your fiancé?” I grinned, remembering how I’d staked my fucking claim on my woman.
“You never said anything, I assumed—”
I cut her off, “Well, you were wrong. I was trying to think of a romantic way to propose, something incredibly romantic. But, I can’t wait any longer. I need everyone to know you’re not available. I own you.”
She rolled her eyes, but there was a smile playing around the corners of her mouth. I untied the silky, white bow and removed the lid. Taking out a black, velvet box, I flipped it open to reveal a five-carat, cushion cut diamond, set in a diamond encrusted, platinum band. Ellie gasped, her face filled with awe as she touched the ring with the tips of her fingers, tracing it in the velvet display.
“It’s stunning, Jack. I love it.”
“You love who?” I asked gruffly, jealous of a stupid ring.
She winked at me. “I love you.” Then I heard her mutter under her breath, “Almost as much.”
“You’re going to pay for that, baby,” I grumbled. Taking the ring from the box, I slid it onto her trembling finger. “You know what this mean, right?” I asked warily, and then it occurred to me we hadn’t discussed her ridiculous job offer. “No moving, no new job, no Declan,” I spat his name, still fighting the urge to rearrange his face for trying to steal my girl.
Ellison huffed, “Do you have to steamroll everything?”
I frowned, offended at her accusation and a tad unsure what she meant. “No,” I said with conviction. “But when my fiancée is considering moving out of state and”—I glared fiercely at her—“lets other men take her to lunch, I’m sure as fuck going to steamroll anything or anyone who gets in my way.”
Her lips turned down into a pout, adorable and utterly irresistible. I drank from her lips until she bit my lip a little harder than usual.
“Fuck! What the hell, Ellie?”
“You distracted me.”
“And?” I asked with a single raised eyebrow.
She scowled and it grew when I couldn’t keep myself from grinning. I fucking loved her to pieces.
“I was going to tell you I’d decided not to take the job. I want to stay here, to be with you. But your damn caveman tactics stole my thunder. I wanted to tell you I was devastated not to be pregnant. I love you, Neanderthal and all.”
I winked at her and smiled. “I’ll make it up to you,” I vowed before kissing her until she was breathless and quaking with need.
There was only one thing left to do before I could spend the rest of the day making her scream my name. Tearing my mouth from hers (no easy feat, I might add), I stretched over to grab her cell phone off of the nightstand.
“Call him, now,” I demanded, handing her the phone.
She was watching me with amusement. “Call who?”
“Don’t mess with me, baby. You’ve already guaranteed I’m going to punish you by making you orgasm as hard and as often as possible until you pass out. If you want to keep it up, you’ll earn a round two.”
She winked. “Promise?”
I laughed, but grabbed the phone away from her and looked for his contact info, pressing send before putting it on speaker. She made a grab for it, but I caught her wrists and held them locked in one hand above her head.
“Ellie!” Douche bag’s voice came over the line and my hand tightened at the use of her nickname. My nickname. I opened my mouth to tell him off, but Ellison started talking.
“Declan,” she replied.
“I hope you’re calling to accept the job, and give me a chance.”
This guy was pissing me off more and more. I could feel the flush of anger and knew my face had to be turning red.
“Um,” Ellie was giving me a warning in her eyes, telling me to back off and let her handle it. I nodded jerkily, willing to acquiesce to her request, for the moment.
“No, I am incredibly flattered and it’s certainly a very tempting offer.” I growled at the idea she might find it tempting to leave me.
She hissed at me to shut up, quiet enough so it wouldn’t carry into the phone.
“Please, Ellie. Give us a chanc—“
I’d had it. “Her name is Dr. Reed or soon to be Dr. Halston, whichever of those you prefer to call her,” I snapped. “Actually, you won’t be calling her anything. So back the fuck off and leave my woman alone.”
I hit the disconnect button and dropped the phone onto the plush, carpeted floor. I didn’t give her an opportunity to lash out at me. I busied myself with giving her six screaming orgasms until she passed out.
If possible, I was even more determined to knock my woman up. Alright boys, we’re going to war.
Chapter 10
Ellison
Jack had been doing his best to turn that negative pregnancy test positive over the last few days, waking me up at least once every night to give it an extra try. He’d turned me into a walking zombie with all his attempts. I hadn’t been this tired since my residency years. I used to be able to go for several days on very little sleep, but it looked like hitting my thirties meant I was too old to pull all-nighters anymore, even for sex.
I buried my face in my pillow when I felt the slide of the sheet on the bare skin of my back. “Must sleep.”
My words were muffled but apparently clear enough for Jack to understand based on his deep chuckle. “Up and at ‘em, baby. You’ve got things to do before I leave for my shift at the hospital.”
“No,” I moaned. “I really don’t have anything I need to do.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Yeah,” I confirmed. “I’m pretty sure we did all the things already last night. And super early this morning. As much as I love you and as hot as you are, I don’t think I can handle any more orgasms until I get some sleep.”
“I’m not talking about sex, Ellie.”
He wasn’t? That was certainly a surprise. I raised up on an elbow to look at him and practically fell over at the sight of what he was holding in his hand. “You know you’re crazy, right?”
He waived the little white stick in my face. “You love my brand of crazy.”
“I just took one three days ago, and it was negative,” I grumbled, slumping back down on the mattress.
He shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe you peed on it wrong.”
“I did no such thing!” I huffed. “I’m a board certified pediatric surgeon. Peeing on a stick isn’t past my skill set.”
“And yet your period is almost a week late, you’re exhausted, and you shoved me off the bed last night when I tried to play with your tits,” he quipped. “Something which would usually make you cream your panties.”
“But the test was negative,” I repeated.
He gripped my hands and tugged me from the bed, nudging me towards the bathroom. “As you so kindly pointed out already, you’re a board certified surgeon. You should be familiar with the notion of false negatives.”
“Do you really think that’s what it was?” I whispered as I crossed through the doorway. As odd as it sounded, the possibility hadn’t even crossed my mind. I’d been too upset to consider it.
“Only one way to find out,” he replied.
I hiked up his shirt, the one I’d tugged on when he’d finally let me fall back asleep last night, and squatted down to sit on the toilet. “Out!” I ordered him.
“C’mon,” he groused. “I want to be here every step of the
way with you. We’re in this together.”
“The only way you’re going to be in the bathroom during the peeing on the stick step is if the day ever comes when you’re the one doing the peeing.”
“Fine,” he huffed before stepping out and closing the door behind him. He didn’t give me long, though. As soon as I’d finished peeing and flushed, the door swung open again. He gave me just enough time to wash my hands, while he was busy wrapping the test in a washcloth, before he picked me up and carried me back to bed. Laying me gently down on the mattress, he quickly followed and looked at me with boyish delight in his eyes. “Is it time yet?”
“Not yet,” I giggled. “You have to wait a couple more minutes.”
“I guess I’d better find a way to pass the time,” he murmured against my mouth, claiming them in a quick but deep kiss before trailing his lips lower. Along my jaw, down my neck, teasing the sides of my tits. He made it to my belly before he spoke again, whispering softly, “I think it’s time to prove to your mommy that you’re in there.”
My breath caught in my throat at the sight of his dark head against my pale skin. “Please, please, please,” I chanted as he reached for the washcloth and carefully lifted a corner to peek inside. The blinding smile which spread across his face gave me my answer before he could show me the test. It was positive. It had to be. I leaned over, bumping his shoulder to make room for me, and looked down at the digital screen.
Pregnant.
“We’re pregnant.”
“Damn straight you are,” he confirmed, tossing the stick and washcloth to the floor and diving on top of me. “And now we need to celebrate.”
If I’d been wearing them, my panties would have melted at his happiness. “How exactly do you plan to celebrate this news when you need to be at the hospital soon?”
His smile turned into a sly grin. “I’ve got an hour.”
My head swiveled so I could peer at the clock on the bedside table. “No, you don’t. You need to leave in like ten minutes.”
“I set the clock ahead before I woke you up,” he informed me, tugging my shirt over my head. “I wanted to make sure we had enough time to celebrate before I had to go.”
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