“Why didn’t you ever say anything?”
“Why didn’t you? After we made love in your flat in Melbourne and you pretended nothing happened, I didn’t understand or know what to think. You acted as though you were ashamed to have slept with me.”
“What? Are you insane? Why would I ever be ashamed to make love with you?”
“Oh I don’t know,” he said flippantly. “Maybe it had something to do with me being a white blond guy. And I quote ‘I’ve never been into white guys, especially blonds.’ You said that to me the very next morning.” His voice rose with each word he uttered. It was clear that he was still hurt by her comment.
“I said that because I was hurt!” She curled her fingers into the material of his shirt, trying to make him understand those hateful words. “We had just made love and you were too drunk to remember!”
“I’ve never been drunk in my life. I had a few beers, but I was never drunk, Duchess.”
“Were you pretending?”
“I didn’t know you thought I was drunk, but I also didn’t want you to stop what was happening. So I ignored your attempts to get my attention.”
“So you didn’t say anything because you thought I wasn’t into white guys, and I didn’t say anything because I thought you didn’t remember. We’re a sorry lot, Sean.”
“I agree. Don’t think I’ve forgotten that you haven’t answered my question.”
“Why would the doctor tell you about my results or that I was pregnant? Isn’t that a violation of my privacy?”
“The doctor is a friend, and he knows that you’re my fiancée.”
Malika rolled her eyes. “Of course. Good to know that you’re not above lying.”
“I didn’t lie. You’re being stubborn as usual.”
She raised her hand and forgot about telling him off when she saw the IV plugged into her hand. “Am I okay?”
“You and the baby are fine. Now answer my damn question, Duchess.”
“I forgot, did you ask me a question? All I’ve heard so far are dictates.”
“Admit that the baby is mine.”
“See, a demand and not question.”
“Good morning!” a nurse with auburn hair, delicate freckles on her nose, and twinkling jade eyes said cheerfully as she entered the room. She was beautiful. “How are you feeling this morning?”
Malika didn’t bother answering her because the nurse had eyes for only Sean and directed her question to him. In her present condition, Malika knew that her practiced “bitch” face wasn’t going to scare this one off.
Sean didn’t move from his perch over her. “When can I take my wife home?”
Malika frowned up at him. “Two seconds ago I was your fiancée, but now I’m your wife?” she whispered, keeping their conversation intimate.
“Fiancée or wife? Which one do you think missy over there will respect more?”
Malika had no comeback for that. This was one of those times when she was quite willing to let Sean do his thing. Damn heifer didn’t even care that he’d brought a pregnant woman into the clinic.
“Nurse? Is the doctor around to release my wife?” Sean asked her again.
The nurse smiled tightly and moved farther into the room. “The doctor will be along shortly. Can I get you anything before I check the patient?”
“No, take care of my wife and baby first.” Sean moved to give the nurse better access but stayed next to Malika and held her hand.
Not wanting to give the nurse any reason to continue flirting with Sean, Malika allowed him that small liberty. She cringed every time he called her his wife because she had accepted a long time ago that that would never be true. Should I believe him when he also keeps insisting that I’m pregnant? Of course it’s possible, but I would think that I would’ve known. Nothing makes sense anymore.
“Mrs. Anderson, can you answer a few questions please? Sean wasn’t able to answer everything.” The nurse held a clipboard in her hand and stared at her defiantly.
So I’m Mrs. Anderson, and he’s Sean? “Sean, can you get me out of here please? I’m fully capable of making my own doctor’s appointment.”
“There’s no need for that. The nurse will bring Ray in here right now,” Sean said icily. “And if she does anything else to piss you off, she’d better start looking for another damn job.” He glared at the nurse, causing her to scramble out of the room.
Malika almost felt sorry for the woman. Sean could be brutal whenever he got angry.
“Thanks,” she murmured.
“Did you expect me to do anything differently? You and our baby are my family.”
“Would you please stop saying that?” Malika yelled at him. “I don’t remember you ever asking me to marry you, and for the last damn time, I’m not pregnant!”
“I would have to dispute that statement, young lady,” a Japanese man in a white jacket said good-naturedly. “Hi, I’m Dr. Yoshi, Ray to my friends. I examined you, and in the absence of getting some pertinent specifics from you, I would guess you’re at about three months along.”
Malika’s breath caught in her throat. She felt as though she’d been hit in the chest, knocking the wind out of her.
Chapter Eighteen
In his flat in Kensington, Sean paced in front of his home office desk, having long given up any attempt to work. His concentration had been shot to hell hours ago as he anxiously awaited the arrival of his father. This visit from his father was his desperate attempt to convince Malika of his sincerity in wanting to marry her. After a frustrating debate with Malika, he hadn’t been able to get her to move into his flat. She stubbornly insisted that he didn’t respect her, as he’d so adequately displayed by excluding her from his mission.
Of course she was being ridiculous, and he had told her so. “I didn’t take you because I knew you could be pregnant with my kid.” The complication with the extended mission was unfortunate, but I’ll be damned if I let the mother of my unborn child be placed in danger when I can do something to prevent it.
That way of thinking and his statement didn’t progress his argument. He was called a Neanderthal. And now she was convinced that he was only offering to marry her because of the baby. Afraid to upset her further, especially after the warning the doctor gave to both of them, he drove her back to her flat. For the past two weeks, he had basically spent every waking moment with her, making sure she ate, assisting her into the bathroom to vomit after eating or drinking anything, yelling at Ray to fix her illness, and going out grocery shopping whenever she needed provisions. He had been the consummate boyfriend, taking care of her and buying her trinkets to show his appreciation. Stubborn woman threw them all back at me, especially the fortune in jewelry I gave her. I need to be that Neanderthal she keeps accusing me of being and simply knock her over the head and drag her ass into my flat. Yesterday, for the first time, she stopped vomiting and started eating normally, thank God. Maybe now I can use other skills of convincing her to listen to me.
He had called his father to bring his grandmother’s emerald and diamond wedding rings. His mother, Sophia, had always wanted those rings. Grandma Eleanor, his mother’s mother, had gifted the rings to Sean instead. After all these years, Sophia was still pissed at that.
Sean had kept the rings in Melbourne anticipating that he would ask Malika to marry him there. Dammit I shouldn’t need a piece of jewelry to convince the woman I love that my love is true. It seems that I’ve been waiting forever to put my rings on her finger. Now it was early evening, and he hoped to have the rings in his pocket soon, take Malika to dinner, and have things settled between them once and for all.
This morning Sean had taken her back to Ray for an ultrasound. Nothing could describe the euphoria he’d felt on hearing their child’s strong heartbeat for the first time. Overcome with emotion, he kissed Malika right then and there. Her immediate response told him all he needed to know about his ability to seduce her into moving in with him. She had melted against him, and if it hadn’
t been for Ray grinning at them like a proud papa, he would’ve climbed on that narrow cot and reminded her how she’d gotten pregnant in the first place.
He stopped pacing when he heard voices in the flat. His butler, Owen, was conversing with what appeared to the owners of several voices. “What now?” Sean mumbled in annoyance. He was anxious to see his father, but the voices out there sounded suspiciously like women.
“Sean!” Amanda squealed as he entered the living room. She threw herself into his arms and wrapped herself around him as though he were her lifeline.
Sean frowned at his mother over Amanda’s head. “What the hell are you doing here? And why did you bring her?” He barely evaded Amanda’s lips as she tried to kiss him on his lips. Her kiss landed on his neck.
“Is that any way to greet your mother and future wife?”
“Mother, I’m not in the mood for your bullshit today.” He pushed Amanda off him as she tried to kiss him again.
His mother gasped. “You’ve obviously been keeping the wrong company. Your language is atrocious!”
Amanda wrapped her arms around his waist. She was like an octopus. Every time Sean removed one of her arms, she wrapped the other around him.
Sean congratulated himself on not strangling both women. He snapped his head up as another more familiar gasp reached his ear. His gaze was held captive by a pair of hurt light-hazel eyes. Damn! Just what I don’t need!
“Should I have called before coming over?” Malika asked.
“Don’t even start that.” Sean pushed his fingers through his hair in agitation. “Come here.”
She stared steadily back at him while ignoring his demand.
“Don’t even think of leaving,”
“I didn’t give it a thought,” she muttered drily.
“You’re like a bad penny,” Sophia screeched, “always showing up where you’re not wanted.”
Malika slowly turned her head and smiled at his mother. “You know, Ms. Sophia, I was taught to always respect my elders, but you make Satan look like a damn saint.” Malika moved farther into the room and stopped a few inches from Sean and Amanda. “Do you need some help removing her from your body?” she asked him mildly.
Sean wasn’t in the least bit fooled by her soft tone. He pushed Amanda off of him again.
She protested and reached for him.
“Give it a rest, Amanda!” Malika ordered. “Touch him again, and you will be missing some of those pretty little fingers.”
Sean wanted to grin as Amanda took a hasty step back at Malika’s icy threat.
“I’m not afraid of you.”
“Girl, I don’t care if your skanky ass is afraid of me or not.” Malika moved to stand in front of Amanda, crowding her space. “Now back the hell up.”
“You don’t have the authority to order anyone around in my son’s flat!”
“Mother, stay out of this,” Sean said gleefully. He was thoroughly enjoying Malika’s display of possessiveness toward him.
“How dare you take her side over mine? Amanda shouldn’t have to take orders from a damn mongrel.”
“Enough!” Sean turned toward his mother. All trace of humor gone. “You’ve interfered in my life for the last time. Don’t think I don’t know about you blackmailing Duchess into faking her death. I won’t ever forgive you for that shit. Say one more derogatory thing to my fiancée and you’ll regret it.”
“Stop saying that,” Malika whispered fiercely.
Sean grinned as she continued to look at him uncertainly. He could help grinning when she spoke. He was so damn happy that she had come to him. He closed the distance between them.
“You can’t marry this bitch! I won’t allow it!” Sophia’s eyes bugged out of her head, and her lips were twisted in distaste.
Sean wrapped his arm around Malika’s shoulders and pulled her against him. He bent his head and brushed her lips lightly with his. “I’ll marry her whenever she’s ready to have me,” he said softly. “And, Mother, not you or anybody will ever come between us. So watch what you say to my future wife.”
“You can’t mean to marry this thing!” Amanda screeched.
“Not only do I intend to marry her and make her my Duchess, I pray she will continue to have children with me.”
“Sean?” Malika’s voice hitched in her throat. She seemed surprised by his declaration.
“Never doubt that I love you, baby,” he told her gently.
“You’re not thinking clearly, Sean. God, what have these women done to you Anderson men? First your father and now you! I won’t allow this to happen!” Sophia’s skin glistened with feverish desperation.
“What about my work, Sean?” Malika took his cue and ignored his mother as well.
“As long as you’re not endangering our child when you’re doing it, you’ll get no argument from me.”
“What child?” Sophia rounded on Sean. “Oh God, I can’t breathe.”
“Oldest trick in the book,” Amanda said scornfully.
“Yes, it was the best and most pleasurable trick I ever played,” Sean boasted. “I enjoyed every moment of tying you to me for life.”
Malika’s eyes widened. “You did this deliberately?”
Sean grinned. “Damn straight I did. I took no precaution against it happening ever. You’re the first woman I ever trusted to make love to without protection.”
“I’m not having it!” Sophia ranted. “I won’t accept a dingy grandchild!”
“I’ve been trying to tie you to me from that first night we were together years ago. I wanted you permanently in my life, and I knew a baby would do that.”
“You should’ve just come clean with me. It shouldn’t have taken you that long to man up,” Malika scolded.
“I needed to make sure that you wanted me and loved me as much as I wanted and loved you.” Sean pulled her closer and kissed her gently. “I’ve had no other woman in my bed since.” He placed his lips close to her ear to deliver that message.
He lifted his head and watched Malika’s eyes moisten with emotion.
“I haven’t been with anyone else either,” she whispered tearfully.
“I knew I had that on lock,” Sean teased.
Malika punched him lightly in the stomach.
“Sean, enough of this! Get rid of this woman and take us out to dinner so we can talk.” Sophia gripped Sean’s bicep to gain his attention.
Sean refused to let anyone distract him from getting what was finally within his reach. Malika was gazing up at him with the adoration she hadn’t shown in year. He tightened his arms around her. “Will you marry me?” Sean murmured, his lips inches from hers.
“Will your mother be living with us at any point in our marriage?”
Sophia gasped in outrage.
“Hell no!” Sean muttered.
“Sean, don’t fall for this witch’s tricks. Come out with us and we can talk about it,” Amanda coaxed. “Please don’t make hasty decisions. You know how great we were together.”
“Sean, I don’t think—” Sophia started, and her grip tightened on Sean’s arm.
Sean turned and glared at his mother. “Mother, what the fuck are you still doing here? If you ever want to be a part of my life again, I suggest you get out of here and leave me the hell alone.”
“Urgh!” Sophia hissed, released his arm, and stepped away from him.
“Promise never to exclude me again from a mission. I thought I was losing my mind when I had no clue what you guys were doing or how I could help.”
“I’m not going to apologize for that. You were putting yourself into a situation with emotion and not logic. That’s a recipe for things to go bad very quickly.”
“I’m a trained agent, and I knew what I was doing.”
“And I know our world of violence even better. The decision to include you or not will always depend on the situation,” Sean insisted.
“But—”
“No but about it. You’re mine, and I will always protect a
nd love you. Do you love me?”
“You know that I do.”
“Are you going to say it?”
She closed her eyes briefly, and a single tear leaked from a closed lid to slide down her cheek. His heart stopped when she opened her eyes and stared directly into his. He was overwhelmed by the emotion blazing in their depths.
“I’ve loved you all my life, Sean. From the day my mother brought us to live in Melbourne, I may have been a toddler, but I was instantly fascinated by this amazingly beautiful golden boy.”
“Yeah, you were always into my body.” Sean grinned down at her.
Malika rolled her eyes. “That’s not what I said. Let me say this without interruption please.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Sean teasingly saluted her.
“As I was saying, I’ve loved you all my life, even before I understood what that meant. Everything I’ve learned about you over the years has only made that love stronger. Yes, you have tested my patience at times, but being with you has always made sense, given my life meaning. I love you, and I suspect that I always will.”
Sean lifted her off her feet and spun her around, forcing giggles from her. “Does this mean you’ll have me?”
Malika laughed at his antics. “Yes, you crazy man!”
“I love you, baby, and you’ve made me the happiest man alive.” Sean settled his lips on hers and kissed her tenderly.
When he lifted his head, she gazed up at him with a sexy grin. “Seeing as how my morning sickness is now restricted to the morning”—Malika wound her arms around his neck—“Dr. Ray says I’m good for some exercise. Exercise is good for me and the baby.”
“Is that right?” Sean lowered his hands and settled his palms over her bottom.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” Sophia wailed.
Sean turned and looked at his mother in annoyance. She swayed dramatically and fell to the carpeted floor in careful choreography.
Sean returned his attention to Malika, pulled her closer, and captured her lips in a slow probing kiss.
Waiting For You (The Guardians: Book 3) Page 19