Broken Road (Fate's Intent Book 7)

by Bowles, April

  It was morning and breakfast was the first thing I thought about.

  “Hungry?”

  I approached Ruby so we could walk down together but she shook her head in a tired voice. “No. I can’t think of food right now. Excuse me.”

  She rushed out of the room into the bathhouse on our floor and locked herself inside. She must have been sick or something. I thought it was weird since we had Jaylyn for that kind of thing but that was okay. I guess she could eat whenever she was ready.

  I walked down to the dining room by myself and everyone else was already in there eating without us.

  “Where’s Ruby?” Adele asked. “Her breakfast is going to get cold.”

  “She’s still upstairs. I mentioned breakfast and she ran to the bathhouse.”

  “Oh.” Jaylyn said in a sad sigh. “The morning sickness thing is really getting to her, I guess.”

  “What morning sickness thing?”

  Everyone looked up at me and was a little confused about how I asked that question but I seriously didn’t know what they were talking about.

  “You know, morning sickness.” Jaylyn said. “A lot of women get it when they’re pregnant.”

  My whole body froze and I drop my fork. It hit the plate making a loud sound as if the plate cracked but I didn’t look. I had my intense stare right at Jaylyn for being the one to say it.

  “I don’t think she told him.” Troy whispered.

  “Oh. It’s been a week since she told us. I figured she did. Sorry.”

  Was it true? I finally blinked and slowly started to rise. “Please excuse me for a moment.”

  “Darius, wait!” Adele said, standing up right after me. “Don’t be mad at her. You’ll only make it worse if—”

  “Why would I be mad at her?” The question was something of a curious nature and I didn’t know why she would say that.

  She paused there for a moment and looked around the table. Everyone else stayed silent. “Because. It’s the timing. She’s known for a while but couldn’t come to telling any of us until now.”

  I only looked at her for another second before turning away without replying. I needed to see her―now. I left the dining room and walked slowly to the stairs still trying to take it all in but when I reached them, I raced right up to the fifth floor to our room. Ruby was laying on the bed under the covers with her back to me.

  I was worried for her but I slowly walk to her and sat on the edge, leaning over her to see her face. “Hey, you okay?”

  Ruby opened her eyes. They were glazed with tears but none have yet to fall. She didn’t say anything. She just stared up at me.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  She closed her eyes and looked away as a tear left her right eye and she put the blanket up over her head. “How can you even look at me?”

  I laughed a little when I climbed over her and laid on the other side, trying to take off the blanket so I could see her face. “What are you talking about?”

  She was holding the blanket tight so I couldn’t take it off her head then suddenly she did it herself in one quick motion, looking directly at me. “Do you even realize what this is doing to my body? You’re not going to want to look at me so get used to it.”

  She put the blanket up over her head again and I laughed to the foolishness of her thinking so. “It’s not going to be like that. You’re going to look beautiful.”

  “Have you ever seen a pregnant woman? I know for a fact that it’s not close to anything you think is beautiful.”

  “But it’ll be you. I could never see you as anything else but beautiful no matter what.”

  She slowly took off the blanket but just showed her eyes. “Really?”

  “Yes, really but I wish you would have told me yourself. We knew this would happen. We just didn’t know when.”

  “Did they tell you when?”

  “When what?”

  She moved the blanket off her body and slowly lifted her shirt. Her fingers grazed the tight skin over her stomach to show its roundness.

  I just stared. My eyes were completely focused and I brought my hand, able to cup the bump with it. “Is this why you’d wait until the lights were out before you got in bed with me?”

  “I didn’t want you to see and I’m sorry I’ve waited this long to tell you. I didn’t know how I would.”

  “How far a long is this? It seems larger than what I would expect.”

  “I’d say roughly five months almost six.”

  “Really? Are you sure? That’s close to how long we’ve known each other.”

  “I know.”

  I looked right up and met her eyes. They just kept watering, keeping the moisture strong within them and it wasn’t hard for me to understand what she was saying.

  I pulled her right into my arms when she began to cry. “Oh, Babe, it’s okay. I’m not angry even if you did know this whole time.”

  “But I didn’t.” She pulled away but was still crying. “Not completely. It started to sink in my head that maybe I was when we visited Madam Carla and I was being treated differently but it only started to scare me because there was that short time that you were away and I was with Trever but then they said that it happened even before then and—”

  “Wait. They who?”

  “When we got back, that day I spent at Trever’s, he knew my worry and he had Kole and Ryon both come by to do whatever it is they do as well as completely embarrass me. That’s when they said it happened sooner and I just didn’t know what to do. They promised not to breathe a word of it but I kept it to myself anyway because of how you’d always react to talk about children and—”

  “You don’t have to be worried about that, Ruby. I was that way a lot because I don’t like looking ahead that far. It was kind of ridiculous to talk about it without knowing when but now, we seem to have a better idea.”

  Ruby sighed and dropped herself back down on her pillow.

  “What?”

  “I’m sorry. I guess I’m not excited about it so far.”

  “Feeling any better?”

  “I will. It usually goes away throughout the day. So, you’re really not disappointed about this?”

  “Of course not. Why would you think that?”

  “Well—”

  “Ruby. You’re my wife. That makes you my life now and our son will be too. I want this as long as it’s with you.” I would have liked to tell her about seeing him and how much he was a part of each of us but I honestly don’t like to think about that day. We were putting it behind us.

  A smile slowly started to appear on her face after listening to me and she replied with a joking tone. “Good because I don’t think I can take it back.”

  I laughed and kissed her forehead. “I’d never want that but what I do want is for you to rest as much as you need. I’ll do everything.”

  “That’s not necessary, Darius. I’m fine.”

  “Just to be safe. Now, is there anything you need right now? Hungry yet?”

  “Maybe a little but I don’t know what I can handle.”

  “I’ll go find something for you then.” I got up off the bed and started walking towards the door. “I’ll be right back.”

  I left and walked all the way back downstairs to the dining room where the others were still finishing their breakfast. I was unusually feeling very optimistic about this. I guess I just couldn’t wait to see her reaction when she would finally get to see him.

  It suddenly got quiet when I walked back to the table for my plate and reaching for Ruby’s. “What?”

  Adele and Jaylyn looked at each other and started to smile.

  “So?” Jaylyn said. “That was quick. We expected a good celebration ravishing from you to take longer.”

  I scowled. Usually that would be something I would say but not during a time like this. “Is there something wrong with you? She’s sick and don’t use the word ravishing. It insinuates a form of rape which is something I would never have to do. She’s a
lways willing.”

  I left it at that and just walked out. I didn’t care to stick around and hear any replies. I just wanted to get back to Ruby but she had fallen asleep the way I left her. I smiled as I walked closer and set our plates down on the stand beside the bed. She looked so peaceful with her rose red hair placed around her face that I just wanted to sit here forever and watch her.

  She let out a groaning sigh as she started to move and her hand came off her stomach, touching me beside her. She rubbed me for a moment and I took her hand, bringing it up to my lips.

  Her eyes started to open with a smile. “You’re back. How long was I asleep?”

  “Just a few minutes actually. I brought your food. I didn’t mean to wake you if I did.”

  “It’s okay. I’m feeling a bit better.”

  “Well, here.” I reached for her plate and brought it over in front of her. “Think you can eat? You should. You both need it.”

  “It’s sweet, Darius but you don’t have to worry about me or the baby. We’re going to be fine.”

  “Because I’ll make sure of it. Now eat.”

  Ruby started picking at her food with a smile as I got up off the bed and brought my plate around to the other side.

  “You’re a little late to feel like you need to take care of me. It’s more than half over. He’ll be with us in just a few months from now.”

  “I know. All the more reason to care for you now. This is the time you’ll need it the most.”

  Ruby laughed. “I’m going to get so huge in a month from now. I just know it. It’s been going steady but I’ve seen how it can make a rapid change.”

  “You’ll be beautiful.”

  “We’ll see. So, what’s your plan for today?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe a quick workout with Zayden and Troy later when we’re more awake but other than that, I’ll do whatever you want.”

  She leaned into me with a smile, giving me a little nudge in the arm. “How about a workout with me?”

  “I’m not so sure that’d be safe.”

  “What?”

  “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “Darius.” She made me look at her. “Please tell me that you’re not serious? You can’t go a day without sex let alone months.”

  “It’s for a good cause.”

  “So, you’re going to make me suffer and that’s okay?”

  “You won’t suffer. You’ll have a bigger job to worry about.”

  “You’re really serious about this, aren’t you? How can you be? Don’t you love me?”

  “Of course I do and it’s because I love you that feel I must protect you.”

  “From what?”

  “From me.”

  Ruby sighed and put her plate down in front of her on the bed. “I suddenly don’t feel like eating.”

  “Ruby, you know you need it.”

  She looked away from me and started to get out of bed, speaking softly. “Maybe I don’t want it anymore.”

  I sighed when she walked right out of the room. She couldn’t have meant that and I didn’t want to think that she did. I set my plate down on the bed to go after her. “Ruby.”

  I walked out into the hall and heard footsteps going upstairs. I followed after them and it led me all the way outside to the back balcony and up the outside stairs to one of the five towers. Ruby was sitting on the stone windowsill with her back up against one side and looking out. I stood in the doorway as the steady breeze from outside was the only sound.

  She hadn’t looked over at all but I knew she was aware of my presence. “Ruby, I’m sorry, okay? I just couldn’t bear the thought of what would happen if I ever hurt you.”

  She finally looked over and her eyes were wet from tears. “But you never would. You haven’t so far.”

  “But there’s always that chance for me to lose control and I don’t want to risk that while you’re carrying our child.”

  “You won’t.” She was eager to assure me of that and came over, her hands eager to touch me. “I’m really going to need you, Muscles.”

  I became more relax when I looked down into her eyes. She used the nickname she’d call me before she could come to using my name and at that point, I couldn’t say no. It was my weakness. “All right but you have to promise me that you’ll keep it slow. That means hold the aggression.”

  “I’ll take slow over nothing. See? We compromised on something. Thank you. I feel better.”

  I laughed to her sudden change in behavior and brought up my hand to graze the side of her face. “And that’s all I wanted.”

  She got up on her tiptoes and kissed me so passionately that I wrapped my arms around her and picked her up so she was at my height. I held on to her gently as her arms were wrapped around my neck and our lips never left each other’s.

  She wrapped her legs around my waist and we were both getting heavily into it. Our breaths were coming out hard through our noses until I pulled back. “We should take this inside.”

  Ruby’s breaths were rapid and she shook her head while still being in my arms. “No. Take me right here.”

  “That couldn’t possibly be comfortable for you.” I said, glancing down at the stone floor.

  She hopped down off me and turned us around. “Then I’ll take you. You can handle it, right?”

  “Of course I can.”

  “Good.” She pushed me down to the floor and pulled off one of my shirts that she wore to bed the night before and it was the only thing she had on.

  I smiled as I reached up to her and pulled her down, locking our lips. She ran her hands down my already bare chest and just barely tucked her fingers into the waist of my pants. I brought down my left hand while holding myself up with my right and helped as best I could to take them off with her. They were off enough and Ruby pushed me all the way down to my back, bouncing my head off the floor.

  “Ah, shit!”

  She laughed with a little sympathy. “Sorry.”

  “It’s okay. What I said about the aggression was more towards you. I’m still allowed to take it.”

  “Oh, you will.” She leaned down and brushed her lips against mine. “I’ll make sure of it.”

  I smiled and made our lips touch and Ruby started rubbing her hands down my body. I was hanging on to her thighs tight and tried to stay focused not to do it too tight as she force me to penetrate her body with a guidance from her hand. That’s when I realized the concentration not to be too rough was much harder to do.

  Ruby had her hands gripping my chest while she moved her hips over mine and held her head back, breathing loudly. I slid my hands up her thighs to her hips and helped her move them, insinuating I wanted it harder. She looked down with a smile and leaned down, moving her hips harder and forcing her tongue inside my mouth. She kept it like that until I slid one of my hands to her back and used the other to lift myself up, holding her to me.

  “What happened to being able to handle it?”

  “I still can. I just want more.”

  Ruby smiled as she got off me and pulled me right up into her lips. I slowly moved us towards the windowsill and turned her around when we got there, rejoining our bodies from behind. Ruby let out a loud moan as she gripped the stone sill and I began pulling her into me hard.

  I was in the moment so deeply that I was able to make it end before I noticed her behavior. “Ruby?” I was breathing heavily but she was more so as she was leaned over the window sill to hold herself up. “Are you okay?” She was shrinking lower to the floor as her knees were giving way. “Ruby?”

  “Yeah. I’m fine.” She said in a low voice. “It’s just my stomach.”

  I reached for my shirt she was wearing on the floor and handed it to her. “Did I hurt you?”

  “No. Of course not. It just felt different.”

  She started putting the shirt on as best she could but I was a little confused. “What does that mean?”

  “Oh, it was a good different. Believe me. You think it’s possib
le that you’re still growing?”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, if that’s the case, we definitely need to cut sex out for safety reasons.”

  “Never mind!” Ruby jumped right up to her feet full of energy. “It wasn’t that bad. See? I’m completely fine.”

  I got to my feet with her and she put her hand on her stomach, taking a slow breath.

  “Were you just lying to me?”

  “No. It was just the quick movement. I think I’m going to be sick.”

  I stepped to her and picked her up in my arms. “I’ll get you inside.” I wanted to at least help in any way that I could and carried her all the way back in to our bathhouse on the fifth floor.

  “Thanks. Now get out.”

  “But I’m here to help you.”

  “How are you going to help me? I don’t want you to see me like this. Now get out before I throw up all over you!”

  I took a breath and backed towards the door. “Okay but meet up with me when you’re done and after you get dressed. I’ll be downstairs.”

  Ruby nodded as she had her lips pressed together and led me out the door. It closed and I stood there for a moment. I didn’t want to leave her. I wanted her to know that I was here for her but I didn’t like seeing her sick either. I turned and walked down the stairs to the first floor where the others were gathered in the lounge as usual.

  “How is she now?” Adele asked.

  “Throwing up again.”

  “Did she try eating something?” Zayden asked.

  “Yeah, she ate and then I think I’m the one that made her throw up.”

  Jaylyn laughed. “Do something disgusting?”

  I sighed, a little annoyed that I had to explain it. “No. We fucked on her request. It surprises me that you weren’t watching. Shall I tell you about it?”

  “That’s all right.” Troy said, glancing at Meg’s odd expression. “We’ll pass. Sounds like it ended badly.”

  “No way. It ended perfect as always. It wasn’t immediately after that. She said she’d come down afterwards.”

  “Think she’ll even be able to?” Jaylyn asked.

  “She said she would. She seems to feel better after she throws up which makes me ask you, why haven’t you healed her?”

  Adele and Jaylyn shared a look that made me very suspicious until the healer started to explain.