“He still thinks he’s your age,” I laughed. “I guess I’ll call Mum and tell her the news. And our change of plans.”
Gavin squeezed my hands and gave me a serious look. “Don’t let her bully you. This is our child and our decision. If she doesn’t like it, she can fuck right off.”
“Hah, I’ll tell her you said that.”
My relationship with my mother hadn’t fully rekindled since we came back from New York, but she started coming around once she saw we were engaged.
“I’m serious. She may be my future mother-in-law but you are my future wife.” Gavin took my face in his hands and kissed me deeply. “It’s my job to protect you from any harm, even if it’s your own family.”
“Thanks, babe,” I muttered, feeling the tears well up.
Just when I thought I couldn’t possibly love him any more, he said something like that and made me fall for him all over again.
“I’ll see you this afternoon.” With a final kiss, we parted. He headed off to the taped off wing of the castle still under construction while I went to my favorite place.
Our new home had a courtyard with a private garden area that looked just like the one where I grew up. It needed serious landscaping of course, but with a bit of work it could be even more beautiful and serene than the one Janie and I played in.
I smiled, thinking of chasing butterflies and hiding behind the large oak trees with my children. The happy thought gave me the courage to call my mother without hesitation.
“Hello?” she answered in a clipped tone.
“Hi, Mum! How are you?”
“Just fine, dear. I’m so glad you called, I was just looking over the designs for the wedding invitations and I—,”
“Mum, about that. I have to tell you something.” I took a deep breath and summoned all the strength Gavin inspired in me.
“We’re postponing the wedding.”
“Postponing?!” I heard her fumble with the phone at the other end as if she nearly dropped it.
“Yes, because you see… I’m pregnant.”
“Pregnant! Oh God, Stella…”
She trailed off, saying nothing. I couldn’t tell if her reaction was positive or negative.
“We just got back from the doctor,” I continued. “I’m about seven weeks along. Everything looks normal so far.”
“But I don’t understand,” she finally said. “Why would you postpone your wedding? If anything, you must have a court wedding immediately! I’ll have your father phone a judge right now.”
“Mum, no,” I said, surprised at the sternness in my own voice.
“I don’t want a different wedding, or a rushed one. I just want to wait until after the baby is born and I’ve recovered from giving birth.”
“Stella, don’t be ridiculous! You’re about to be royalty again, you can’t have a child out of wedlock!”
“I’m an adult, mother. I can do whatever I damn well please.”
Already, I could hear Gavin laughing and applauding after telling him about my phone call.
“Stella Lace Lundenberg, how dare you speak to your mother that way!”
“There’s no need to raise your voice,” I said calmly. My heart beat wildly in my chest and I swore I felt a flutter of movement in my belly. Instinctively my hand went there to rest, and my brilliant engagement ring caught the sunlight. Perhaps it was just nerves but I wanted to believe the love from my baby was giving me strength.
“You don’t seem to understand so let me explain this to you,” my mother said in a low voice. “Until you are married, you still belong to our family. Your father and I are the heads of this family and we will not allow our name to be slandered by a bastard again!”
“If you want a relationship with your grandchild, I’ll be open to hearing you out. But I won’t hear you disrespect me, my baby, or my fiancé anymore. Goodbye.”
“Stella!”
I ended the call before she could get another word in. Adrenaline surged through my body as though I’d just ridden on a roller coaster. Never before had I stood up to my mother in that way.
Despite what I said, I wasn’t angry at her and knew where she was coming from. She lived and breathed the traditional customs and high standards for royalty.
However, I wasn’t marrying a traditional man and definitely didn’t have a traditional relationship. My life from that point forward would not fit into the pretty little box she envisioned for me, and she needed a hard boundary to accept that.
The sunlight cast golden beams through the trees and I sat back with a contented sigh. Another flutter tickled my insides and I rubbed my belly affectionately.
I smiled and looked all around me, at my new home and what the future would hold. And I knew, despite ups and downs, that everything would be okay.
CHAPTER 34
GAVIN
If someone told me that I would marry and have babies with the shy, posh girl who taught me how to dance and march like a penguin, I'd laugh in their face. My life flipped completely on its head when I met Stella and I wouldn't have it any other way.
At nearly eight months pregnant, she looked even more beautiful than when I first met her. Her skin glowed, she smiled constantly, and to my delight, her gorgeous tits grew at least two cup sizes. Aside from that, her slim figure stayed mostly the same as her belly grew.
But most of all, I fell more in love each day as she nourished and cared for our child. Her body was a beautiful miracle just for that alone.
We chose to keep the gender of our baby a surprise, much to the chagrin of her mother. But Mrs. Lundenberg finally came around after Stella put her foot down and knew to keep her mouth shut with her archaic bullshit. Boy or girl, our baby would inherit our land, fortune, and royal title when it came of age.
Life, in general, was amazing, but despite Stella's efforts to get enough iron in her body, she still had issues with anemia throughout the pregnancy. Sometimes she felt too tired to do more than take a short walk and spent the rest of the day in bed. A couple times, she became dizzy and nearly fainted.
I felt awful for not being there for her more often. Between restoring the castle and driving up to the palace for Cabinet meetings, I was constantly busy and hated being away from her.
"I wish I could come to the palace with you," she moaned into her pillowcase. "I'm so bored being stuck in bed all the time."
I chuckled and pressed up behind her in bed, spooning her luscious ass with my semi-erect cock.
"I don't want all those old shits putting their hands all over my wife," I growled into her ear and nipped it. "Lady Rivers is just barely showing and they're constantly touching her belly. I'd be ripping heads off if that was you."
"I'm not your wife yet, silly," she teased while grinding her ass against me, sending my cock to full mast instantly. "I'd just like to see Scarlett. I miss her."
"Have her come out here."
I directed my cock to the slit between her legs and found her soaked through her panties.
"Fuck, baby," I moaned and pushed aside the thin fabric to slide into her waiting pussy. She seemed to be constantly wet and horny since entering her third trimester, but due to her anemia we didn't fuck as often or as vigorously.
"Mm, what were we talking about?" she groaned with a wicked smile and pressed back against me.
I couldn't resist spanking her soft, supple ass cheek as it bounced lusciously off my hip.
"You are my wife," I corrected her. "You're carrying my baby. You’re mine in every way that matters."
"Yes, my Lord," she whimpered. "I'm yours. We're yours."
Fucking hell, ever since she started calling me Lord in bed I've came so much harder and faster, I knew it wouldn't be long before she got pregnant again.
"Stay on your side. Keep your legs closed, baby. Let me feel that sweet pussy squeeze my cock," I snarled into her ear, delirious like a madman as I pumped into her, keeping a firm hold on her hip.
I held her still, trying not to roc
k her too much while still giving her a good fucking. It had been three days since the last time and we were both insatiable.
"Oh god I'm coming, my Lord," she gasped.
I felt the telltale rhythmic clenching of her pussy around the length of my rigid shaft and couldn't hold back any longer.
With a final deep thrust, my balls emptied into her and stars dotted my vision. Her contractions milked the remaining come from my cock until it softened.
I rolled onto my back to catch my breath but kept my hand on Stella's hip.
"You okay, baby?" I asked between ragged breaths.
"Yes, dear. I'm fine." She rolled over and laid her head on my chest, just above my jackhammering heart. "You don't need to worry so much about me."
"I just want both of my babies to be safe," I said as I kissed the top of her head.
"I just can't wait until this kid is out," she sighed. "I can function like a normal person again instead of a beached whale."
"You're the most beautiful beached whale that ever graced the earth," I told her with a small tweak of her nipple.
"Thanks," she answered with a sarcastic eye roll.
"No, I'm serious." I cupped her face in my hands and stared into her eyes. I hoped our child would inherit her eyes.
"I haven't told you yet today. You're so beautiful, it hurts, Stella. I still can't believe you took me back and you're carrying our beautiful baby."
"I couldn't imagine a better husband and father," she replied smiling. "I'd be so lost and unhappy without you, Gavin."
"Fuck, I don't want to leave," I groaned, glancing at the clock. I was already late for today's Cabinet meeting, but Stella's gorgeous body was my kryptonite.
"Go on. I'll be right here." Stella gave me a gentle shove and naughtily bit her bottom lip. "Maybe we can go for another round tonight."
"Now I really don't want to go." I pulled her close and parted her mouth with my tongue. She tasted so fucking sweet.
Unable to resist, I pinned her down on the bed and thrust against her, already needing more.
She laughed and shoved me off. "Go already or they'll be pissed!"
Reluctantly I climbed off her and began putting my suit on. "Are you sure you'll be okay, baby?"
"Yes, fine!"
"Call me if you feel anything, okay? I'll run straight home."
"I will, but I guarantee you won't miss anything," she assured as she settled back in the covers.
I gave her a sheepish look and a kiss before I left the bedroom. "I love you, Stella."
“I love you too. And I’m telling you, don’t worry about a thing! Except for my sanity, maybe.”
***
After two hours into the Cabinet meeting, I wanted to gouge my eyes out from boredom.
I hadn't been drinking much since we found out about Stella's pregnancy but I would've killed for a glass of whiskey to get me through that meeting.
“Are you loving this job yet?” Alex leaned over and whispered.
“What? I can’t hear you over my wild excitement and joy,” I answered with a huge eye roll.
He chuckled then noticed the Chairman eyeballing him, so he leaned away from me and sat up straight, pretending to be rapt at attention.
I sighed, sat back, and rubbed at my temples. Only four more hours of this bullshit before I could go back home to my gorgeous, naked, waiting wife.
A sudden vibration from my phone made me jump in my seat. I hurriedly peeked at the screen and was surprised to see Oliver's name on the screen.
As silently as I could, I excused myself from the meeting and called him right back.
"Gavin!" he yelled into the receiver. "It's Stella!"
My heart froze in panic, but my instinct to protect sent my legs running immediately in the direction of the car lot. "What happened, Oliver?"
"She fainted! She came into the kitchen for a snack and just collapsed on the floor. I'm with her right now."
Oh fuck, no.
Please God, no. Don't rip my only source of happiness away from me.
"Did you call the emergency line? Is she breathing?" My voice echoed ominously in the car garage as I dug out my keys with shaking hands. In a flash, I got in my car and turned the engine on. Everything seemed to move around me in a blur and I still couldn't move fast enough.
"Yes, yes, I called them. They're on their way. She's breathing, but very softly. They told me to not move her head in case she has a neck injury so I'm holding it still."
Oliver's voice cracked and he sobbed into the phone. "I'm so sorry, Gavin! I shouldn't have let her get out of bed!"
"It's not your fault, mate. Good thing you were there." Somehow I was able to focus on the road while talking to Oliver and still think clearly.
"Look, they're going to take her to the hospital as soon as they arrive so I'll meet you there in an hour."
"Okay, son. I won't let her out of my sight. I'll call you if anything happens."
"She'll be alright," I said and wondered who I was trying to convince more, me or him. "She's a tough girl. She'll be fine."
I tossed the phone in the passenger seat and pushed the gas pedal to the floor.
Ignoring traffic lights and honking horns, I zipped in and out of traffic in the direction of the newly founded Telleshire County hospital. It was the first city planning project I oversaw with my new position and I was beyond glad I did. Stella would have all her medical needs taken care of two minutes away from home.
That didn't stop the panicked questions plaguing my mind. Could Stella have a brain or spinal cord injury? Did the baby get hurt?
And the darkest question of all: How could I live if I lost either one of them?
CHAPTER 35
GAVIN
I brought the car to a screeching halt in front of the emergency room and jumped out while it was still running. Even if my car did get stolen in my own county, it was the least of my worries in that moment.
"Where is she?" I demanded the moment I pushed open the emergency room doors.
"Your fiancee is fine, my Lord," said the calm voice of a nurse from behind the reception counter. She quickly came around and began walking alongside me down the hallway. "Her anemia did become worse and caused her to faint. But we gave her a blood transfusion and she perked up immediately."
"So she's okay? How's the baby?" I demanded.
The nurse smiled and opened a door. "See for yourself, my Lord."
I looked inside the room to see my beautiful Stella, breathing heavily and sweat clinging the hair to her forehead as she sat up in a hospital bed.
Relief washed over me and made my knees buckle as I stumbled toward her like the night she took me home from the bar.
"Stella!" Burning hot tears stabbed at my eyes as I wrapped her in my arms and smothered her mouth with kisses.
She had to be exhausted but I was so relieved to see her, I couldn't help myself.
"Ahh!" She broke away as she cried out in pain, squeezing her eyes shut tightly.
"What's wrong? Baby, what is it?" I demanded, my panic returning.
"She's in labor," said a familiar male voice on the other side of the bed. I didn't even see Dr. Ellison there when I walked in. My whole focus had been entirely on my woman.
"In labor?!" I looked back and forth between Stella and the doctor. "But how? You're only at 33 weeks!"
"Sometimes anemia during pregnancy can cause preterm labor," the doctor explained. "But the baby looks healthy, even big for development at this stage." He chuckled cheerfully. "And mama just got fresh blood to keep her strong so everything looks good! The party is just a little early."
"This little vampire has just been sucking all the blood from me," Stella said breathlessly but with a smile. She held onto my hand with a tight grip. "I'm sorry I worried you, my love."
"Don't be," I told her as I brushed the hair from her forehead. "I'm just so glad you're okay. That you're both okay."
She gazed up at me adoringly for only a second before crying o
ut again.
I held her tightly and kissed her, trying to be as strong as I could for her as another contraction wracked through her body.
Dr. Ellison calmly positioned himself between her legs to examine the situation. "Looks like this baby is ready to come out!" he announced happily. "It shouldn't take too long since it's smaller than full term. When I say so, you can start pushing."
She nodded and began sucking in deep breaths. My heart broke at seeing the pain and discomfort on her face so I rubbed her back and squeezed her hand in mine.
"You got this, baby," I told her with my lips pressed to her temple. "You're amazing."
"Alright, Stella, this is it. Give me a good, strong push," the doctor instructed.
She clamped down so hard on my hand as she pushed I thought some bones would break.
Her face twisted in a mask of grimace as she pushed with all her might and I never loved or admired her more than in that moment.
"Go ahead and stop. Take a rest, Stella," said the doctor. "The contraction has passed so save your energy for the next one. This may be a few more hours."
"Hours?" she wailed. "You just said it wouldn't take long!"
"A few hours is a very speedy birth, my dear. I had a patient who's labor took 44 hours. But I'm sure your baby will be out before the sun goes down."
Stella leaned back against the hospital bed, breathing as deeply as she could. "I'm so tired already."
"Rest, baby. Try to relax." I felt utterly helpless standing next to her and wished so badly I could do more than just hold her hand.
"I'm going to put this mirror here," said the doctor as he stood to adjust it. "Because I think the baby will start crowning with the next contraction."
"Oh God, I can feel it coming!" she cried out and reclamped down on my hand. "I need to push!"
"Go ahead, dear. Do what your body is telling you to do," Dr. Ellison said encouragingly. "Just be calm. No frantic, fast pushes."
"Easy for you to say," she groaned through gritted teeth.
Beauty and the Bastard: A Royal Bad Boy Romance Page 16