“My period.”
My jaw drops.
She lays a palm over my heart. I wonder, absently, if she can feel its thunderous pounding. “Tatum, I’m — I’m pregnant.”
“Pregnant?” My voice is a rasping whisper. My mind whirls, but my heart is suddenly steady, beating along in its usual fashion as if Amelia hasn’t just changed the trajectory of my life for the second time in just a handful of weeks.
She nods. Her face twists with worry as she starts to talk very quickly. “It must have been that first time, at Desperado’s. I was so caught up in the heat of the moment that I didn’t even think about the fact that we didn’t use a condom. I mean, we talked about how we were both clean, but it never crossed my mind to worry about contraception. Which is so dumb, and I’m so sorry and —“
I take her face in my hands, interrupting her flow of words. I brush the glistening tears from her cheeks with my thumbs. “Why are you apologizing?”
“Because I’ve ruined everything.”
“First of all, you weren’t the only one not thinking straight about pregnancy prevention that night. So if we’re going to be pointing fingers, I get an equal share of that.”
“But —“
“Secondly,” I continue, a smile spreading across my face, “while a baby certainly is unexpected, the thought of making a family with you brings me nothing but joy.”
Now it’s her turn to have her mouth dangling wide. “You’re serious?”
“Absolutely.” I rub my hands down the soft skin of her arms, squeezing. “I love you. So much. And if you want this baby — and me — I’ll be with you every step of the way.”
She shakes her head. “It’s a lot to take in. But I . . . I think I do want it.” I’m not sure she realizes that she’s cradling her low belly with graceful fingers, maternal instincts already kicking in. “And I’ll always want you, Tatum Reid.”
“You say that now,” I tease. “Just wait until you see my diaper changing and two o’clock in the morning baby feeding skills. I’ve never done either, but I have a feeling that I’m going to get really, really good at both. You won’t be able to keep your hands off me after that.”
Amelia groans, but her eyes are laughing. “Can we please not talk about poopy diapers and all the no-sleep we’ll be getting? We’ve only just found out I’m pregnant. I’d like to keep the romance going a little while longer.”
“If romance is what my love wants, then romance is what my love shall get.” I take her in both hands and flip her over so her back is against the mattress and I’m laying my body over hers, cock already getting hard. I nuzzle her neck until she’s breathless, then growl, “How’s this for romance?”
She kisses me, tugging and nipping at my lower lip before she pulls away. “Perfect.”
“Just you wait. I’m only getting started.” My hand slips between us and I find her slit beneath her nightgown. She arches into my touch, already wet.
“I’ll hold you to that, Mr. Reid.” She’s teasing, but her heart’s not in it — her attention is focused on how I’m diving into her with my fingers.
I’m no fool. I know that a baby is work. A lot of it.
But I also know something else — I’m wholly in love with Amelia Ward. It has nothing to do with having a baby, although the fact that I get a chance to make a family with this woman is truly a dream come to life.
This is the woman for me, full stop.
I’m hers, and she is mine.
Her fingers reach and curl around my cock as I swirl a thumb over her clit. Our mouths crash together in a kiss that’s heated and gasping, and her insides tighten around my fingers as she shatters into her first orgasm as both the love of my life and the mother of my child.
Love at First Sight
Watch for the next books in
the Love at First Sight series,
coming soon!
A Love Note For You
Dear wonderful reader,
Thank you so much for reading Meant to be Yours! I hope you enjoyed Amelia and Tatum’s HEA as much as they did. ;)
If you’d like to stay in touch and be the first to know about fresh releases and sizzling deals — including the next book in the Love at First Sight series — I invite you to sign up for my mailing list.
If you have a few moments, I’d be so grateful if you considered leaving a review for Meant to be Yours here on Amazon. This helps your fellow readers know if it’s the right book for them.
Thanks again for reading! It means the world to me.
Love, Poppy
Also by Poppy Parkes
Standalone Stories:
Accidental Valentine
Cowboy’s Pride
Falling Into You
First Time Player
Giddy Up, Cowgirl
Her Declaration of Independence
Her Winter Cowboy
Hot for the Holidays
Mister Cowboy
Our Happy Holiday
The Light Between Us Series:
The Light Between Us
Finding Me and You
Wedding Jitters
Acknowledgments
Thank you to Katherine and my amazing ARC readers for reading my smut and helping catch my typos. You are the best.
About the Author
Poppy Parkes is the author of sweet and hot love stories. Poppy writes, paints, and dreams in the mountains, where she raises her two boys. She is in love with luscious color, moon-gazing, and dancing wild. And coffee. And wine. And chocolate. You know how it is.
www.poppyparkes.com
Meant to be Yours: Love at First Sight: Book One Page 5