by Bonni Sansom
Hell no, she wasn't going to erect those walls again. He'd only just gotten her to trust him. "Baby, I'm so sorry about Jeff. I'll have a talk with him, I swear, and he'll never keep us apart again. I'm here to stay." She relaxed a little and snuggled back into him.
He swore under his breath. If she kept wiggling her behind against his cock, he wouldn't be able to leave, but now he had two things he needed to do. Buy her a baby gift and talk to Jeff.
Jeff would be lucky if he didn't end up on the floor, but he had taken care of Kyle throughout his ordeal, so maybe it would spare him some pain.
"Laine, have a nap and I'll be back in a flash. I promise."
"Okay," she replied sleepily. "Take the key from the kitchen drawer and lock the door on your way out."
He knew he'd been in this museum many times before, but with a sketchy memory he hoped he didn't get lost. He certainly didn't want to disturb her, she was already falling asleep. He slipped out of the bed, put his clothes on and headed for the kitchen. He followed the most familiar path, finding the kitchen on the left, off of a long hallway. He skidded to a stop, staring at a whole room full of drawers.
"Sonofabitch!"
He started with the closest drawer to him finding pack after pack of AAA batteries, but no key. If there were ever a battery shortage, she would be prepared. He wondered idly what all those gleaming silver batteries were for, but dismissed it and kept searching. After going through no less than a dozen drawers, he finally found a small gold key with a white tag that said, 'house' on it. He headed for the front door, slipped the key in the lock and turned it. "Alright, it works." He locked the door, pulled the key out and headed for his truck. First things first, he would pick up the baby gift for Laine. Second, he would talk to Jeff and try not to hurt him.
He smiled as he pulled out of her drive, knowing when he returned, she would be there waiting for him with open arms. He recognized the spot where he got hit, the place that changed his life. It was also the place that would go on to give him a new life, a life with Laine and his son.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
The salesman said it was the best they had. It cost enough, so it better be the best they had. Kyle drove over to the station. It was time to talk to Jeff, like it or not. He realized he couldn't be too angry with Jeff; he knew he was only looking out for him when he banned Laine, but still, he shouldn't have done it.
He pulled in, noticing the engine was gone, but climbed out anyway, hoping they would get back soon. He wandered up the stairs to the kitchen and found Steve dipping a doughnut in his coffee. "Those are bad for you."
Steve took an exaggerated bite, then he said around a mouthful of food, "Yum."
"Any idea when Jeff might be back? I need to have a word with him about Laine."
Steve sighed, "You know? What's the point? He isn't going to change his mind. He doesn't want to lose you, especially to Laine. He's jealous of her and he blames her for your injuries. So do most of the guys. I happen to know it was a freak accident. The other medics told me she was with you the entire time, she had to be pulled away and she passed out. She went through hell with you, and then Jeff exploded on her like a crazed lunatic. He had to be held back, but I'll give her this, she stood her ground against him," he chuckled, "I almost think she could've taken him. You have no idea what she went through, but she's a tough cookie."
"This isn't helping Jeff's defense. I'm getting angrier with him, the more I find out. I got the feeling that Laine was afraid of him. She didn't want me to tell Jeff we were back together."
Steve clapped him on the back. "Congratulations man. I knew you two would work it out. And congrats on the baby, Daddy."
"Wait a minute, you knew? Why didn't anybody tell me? Why is it I'm going to be a father and I'm the last to know? Does Jeff know?"
Steve scoffed. "Hell, yeah, he knows and he isn't too happy about it. He thinks she did it to trap you. He calls her the ultimate Minivan." He shook his head in disgust.
"She's not a Minivan. She's anything but. I don't deserve her, but she'll be my wife if she'll have me. I love her, I have since I met her in the crash. There was something about her that triggered something in me, and I just knew."
"I knew when you asked me for her information. There was something different about you. Now with a baby, I think you two should tie the knot. It's only right to make her an honest woman."
"I plan to. I just hope like hell she'll agree to it. You have no idea what it's like to get her to trust a man. She wasn't even going to have the baby." That memory took him by surprise. He remembered the argument they were having just prior to the accident. She wasn't sure if she wanted to have the baby, and she sure as hell didn't want to get married, but maybe since David confessed he was gay, she would change her mind.
"She wasn't? Huh, she seemed so attached to it at the hospital." Steve scratched his head and then dipped another doughnut in his coffee.
"I just think she was scared. You remember Doctor Gross?"
"Yeah, he was your neurosurgeon."
"Well, he is Laine's ex-fiancée, and he left her standing at the altar, so she's not exactly the most trusting when it comes to men."
"Damn. Why would any sane man leave a woman like her standing at the altar? What is he, gay?" He chuckled.
"How'd you know?"
Steve spewed his coffee. "Seriously? I didn't know. I was just guessing. Why in the hell did he ask her to marry him in the first place then?"
"It probably had something to do with a cover. I'm pretty sure he's not out, so don't say anything about this to anybody." Kyle ran his hand through his hair and then took one of Steve's doughnuts.
Steve snatched the package away. "Hey, get your own. I used my hard earned eighty-five cents to buy these."
Kyle pulled out his wallet. "Here's a dollar. Get you some more."
Steve pushed the dollar back to him. "No, you keep this. You're going to need it with a baby on the way. You two thought about a name yet?"
"She says she wants to name him Kyle, after me." He smiled.
"Oh, God help us, another Kyle in the world could be disastrous."
Kyle bumped him with his shoulder. "Hey, there's nothing wrong with me. It's Jeff that shouldn't procreate."
"Damn right, I shouldn't," Jeff said from the doorway." He walked toward them and sat down, propping his elbows on the table.
"I didn't even notice you guys were back."
"The engine isn't in the building yet, it needs to be washed. I guess whoever is washing it should keep his shirt on. We don't want any more wrecks out front to take another one of us down."
Kyle huffed out a breath, frustrated. "She didn't take me down. I wish you would get it through your thick skull that I love her and I want to marry her. We're going to have a baby, did you know that?"
"Yup, I know she did it to trap you. Condoms, for the most part, are safe and sturdy. How is it hers just so happened to break?" He stared at Kyle, challenging him.
Kyle's face heated, but to shut Jeff up, he would tell all. "We had to use a small glow-in-the-dark condom, and it just broke. It wasn't her fault. It was just a piece of shit condom, alright?"
Both Steve and Jeff cracked up laughing. "Glow-in-the-fucking-dark, are you shittin' me?" Jeff said through a fit of laughter.
"Shut up, asshole. We had to use something. It was that, or plastic wrap and a twisty tie."
"Well it's a bit late to worry about it now," Steve said and finished off his coffee. "My rig needs cleaning, so I'll leave you two to it." He gave Kyle a sympathetic smile and left.
Jeff sighed. "What is it about her that has you so fuckin' crazy?"
"Dammit Jeff, I'm not crazy, I'm in love. You remember what Pops used to tell us? He told us that you would know her when you met her. Well, I knew when she crashed out front. She was everything I wanted in a woman, everything I needed. I wish you could understand."
"Believe it or not, I do." Jeff conceded.
"You do?" Kyle looked at him
incredulously. "Then why the hell have you been giving me so much shit about it then?"
"Because I didn't want you to leave me behind. We had a good thing going with just the two of us, like always." He hung his head.
"Man, I ain't leavin' you. You're just gaining a sister and a nephew. Why can't you just be happy for me?"
"I'm happy for you. There, I said it, but what about me? I'm gonna be livin' alone, right? I mean, you and Laine aren't planning on moving into our tiny little house with a baby are you?" He shuddered.
"No, we aren't moving into that dinky house with a baby. I'm gonna be livin' in that museum with her."
"Museum?"
"Yup, her house is probably five-thousand square feet if it's an inch."
"Well, maybe I can ... "
"No." Kyle cut him off.
"Shit. I'm gonna need a roommate that knows how to do laundry." Jeff grumbled.
"You seem awfully good with this now. Why is that?"
Jeff pointed at himself. "Melanie."
Kyle laughed. "Dude, you're fucked."
Jeff smiled back. "No, you mean, we're fucked."
"Yup," Kyle said.
"Yup," Jeff agreed.
"I gotta get goin,' Laine is at home taking a nap, apparently this pregnancy is really hard on her."
Jeff scrubbed his face with his hands. "Kyle, can you tell her I'm sorry and I really do want to make things right?"
Kyle clapped him on the arm. "Will do and the one you need to make it right with is Melanie. If she's the one, don't let her get away."
"Fuck. I know, but I don't know how."
"Well, figure it out. Sometimes you just have to swallow your pride and just lay it all on the line."
"That's easy for you to say. You have your woman and a kid in the oven. Melanie won't even talk to me."
"You'll figure it out. Just get her on the phone, apologize like there's no tomorrow and hope like hell she won't hang up." Kyle stood up and turned to leave.
"Hey, Kyle, I really am happy for you. I'm sorry I messed things up for you and Laine and I'm really sorry about how I treated her. I hope she'll forgive me."
"I know you were looking out for me, but there was no excuse for treating her like that. I forgive you, but I don't know if she will. Look, I gotta go, but maybe we could get together and have dinner. I'll ask her, it's the best I can do."
"Good enough. You better get back in case she needs you. You said this pregnancy is hard on her. How bad is it?"
"Bad enough she's still having morning sickness."
"Gross. That's more info than I needed brother."
"You asked. I was just answering your question."
"Go take her a pack of crackers and a ginger soda."
Kyle gave a mock salute. "Will do, but I have another couple of surprises for her. You want to see?"
"What is it?"
"It's downstairs. Come on."
Jeff got up from the table and headed down stairs with Kyle. They crossed the engine bay and went out the side door to the parking lot. Jeff immediately cringed. He was staring at a brand spanking new, champagne colored Minivan. "Oh shit, you didn't trade the truck for this did you?"
"You bet your ass I did. Hey man, don't knock it. It's like a super spy vehicle. There are so many places you can put stuff, it ain't real. It's got doors that open automatically and the back one does too. I love this thing. Plus, it's got a built in baby seat for Kyle Jr."
"You're having a boy?" He clapped Kyle on the back. "Congratulations, man."
Kyle climbed in the Minivan, pushed the button, and rolled down the window. "I'll catch you later. I've got to get home before she wakes up." Jeff nodded and he rolled up the window and drove off.
* * * *
"I swear there's nothing left to puke." This was the third time her nap had been interrupted by morning sickness. Laine flushed the toilet and went to the sink to wash her mouth out, again. She headed back into her bedroom, checked the clock by the bed and wondered what was taking Kyle so long. He'd been gone for a couple of hours.
She thought that maybe he'd changed his mind about her and a baby. It flitted through her mind, but she dismissed it. Kyle had seemed so serious about moving in, he was probably at his house packing. That thought made her deliriously happy. Finally, she and Kyle would be together. She got back in her bed, hugged up to her body pillow and tried getting comfortable.
She was almost back to sleep when her phone rang.
"Hello."
"Hey, Laine, it's Mel. I have some baby stuff I want to bring over and don't forget we have birthing classes tonight at nine."
"Oh, damn, I completely forgot. Look, something's come up and I don't think I'll make it tonight."
"What do you mean? We have to learn the breathing exercises tonight."
She should just tell her. "Mel, Kyle's back." There she said it. It still felt foreign to her. Kyle is back. She still couldn't believe it. It was her dream coming true. Not that she still wasn't terrified, but she had dreamed of the day she and Kyle would be back together.
There was a silence on the other end and then, "Oh ,really?"
Laine sighed. Melanie had been so excited about the baby and had done everything she could to help Laine get ready, including being her birthing coach. Everything was such a mess, again. "Mel, we can still do this together, I just need to take tonight off. I've been sick all day and I just need to rest. Kyle isn't even here right now."
Melanie gave a nervous laugh. "Well, why didn't you say that to begin with? I've been here the entire time and I want to be there for the birth of my nephew."
"Mel, I promise you will be there for the birth, but don't you think Kyle has a right to be there too?"
"Yes, as long as he's going to be there for you after. I mean, why hasn't he called you or done anything to let you know he was still interested, and what about the girlfriend?"
"He doesn't have a girlfriend, she's his physical therapist. She just answered his phone while he worked out." She readjusted her pillow to support her back, and sat up. This could be a long call.
"What about Jeff? You can't handle the stress if he goes all ballistic on you again. I'm glad I smacked him silly. He certainly deserved it, no matter how cute he is."
"I told Kyle not to say anything to Jeff. I'm sure he will, but I don't think he'll let him treat me with anything other than respect now." She needed a distraction to get Melanie onto a different topic. "So, what did you buy little Kyle this time?"
"Oh, I bought him another teddy bear, but this one has a cute little hat and plays a song when you squeeze the tummy. Also, I picked up something for you."
"Is it chocolate and creamy?"
"No."
"Then I don't want it."
"It's a baby monitor with a camera on it, so you can watch the baby from anywhere in the house. You can clip it to your pocket and walk around with it. It's so neat."
"Fine, I'll take it, but I really would have preferred the chocolate." She laughed without much humor. Her chocolate cravings were at an all-time high and the fake stuff just wasn't cutting it.
"I'll bring you some more muffins tomorrow."
"I still have muffins, but it's a chocolate bar or ice cream I want. If I don't get some real chocolate soon, the teddy bear gets it."
"You wouldn't dare?"
"I would and I will. Now bring me some chocolate, or I'll get Kyle to bring me some."
"He doesn't know you shouldn't have it. Fine, I'll bring you a candy bar, but only one and I'm filling Kyle in on your diet. I can't have him showering you with chocolates and other treats."
"You would wouldn't you. I just can't win between the two of you."
"Between the two of whom?" Kyle, asked entering the bedroom. He walked over to her and kissed her on her head. He held a small vase of pink carnations in his hand. He looked around and put them on her dresser so she could admire them.
"Between you and Melanie. You both want me to eat healthy and I want chocolate."
She put her hand over the mouthpiece and kissed Kyle, just a sweet peck. The hunger in his ice-blue eyes suggested he wanted to do a lot more than kiss and so did she.
"Alright, Laine, I can hear you two smooching, so I'll let you go and bring you this stuff tomorrow."
"Okay, see you tomorrow." She hung up the phone and kissed him so deeply she was almost lost in him.
He broke the kiss. "So why do you need to eat so healthy, other than you're pregnant?"
She folded her hands in her lap and sighed, "Because I have gestational diabetes." Spoken like a sullen child.
Kyle tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, and tilted her chin up with his finger. "And you will eat healthy too, but I think I have something to remedy that chocolate craving. It goes something like this." He cupped her heavy breast in his palm, gently kneading it, until her nipple beaded into a taut point.
"Yeah, that might get my mind off of chocolate," she said through a breathy moan.
"I thought so." His low baritone voice vibrated against her ear, making her shiver. He bent his head down and took the taut nipple into his mouth through her gown. She grabbed the back of his head holding him to her. He gave a breathy laugh and kept sucking.
"Mmm, don't stop. Please, don't stop. And Kyle, don't you dare take it easy on me. I've waited too long for this. I want you like you took me the first night we were together." Her hand drifted down her body, pulling her gown up. She needed to be completely naked, skin to skin. She wanted all of him.
As her gown rose above her thighs, his hand skimmed up her bare thigh to her slick folds. He swirled his fingers in her liquid heat and entered her tiny hole with two fingers, fucking her in and out. She arched her back, giving tiny whimpers. With his other hand, he raised her gown up and over her head, exposing her swollen breasts. He gently rolled each rose colored nipple between his fingers.
"You're so damn beautiful, baby. I can't believe you're mine." He kissed a path from her mouth, stopping to nibble on her bottom lip, to her swollen belly. He gave a gentle kiss to his son, loving him and his mother. "Daddy's here little Kyle and I'll never leave you."
The tender moment was so beautiful it almost made her cry. If she hadn't been so turned on she would have. His sensual assault was stealing her sanity. She needed him inside her now. She was completely exposed and he had yet to take off one article of clothing. "Kyle, you're a bit over dressed. Take your clothes off and make love to me."