by Jaye McCloud
“Yes, Antonio, the test came back one hundred percent conclusive that she is pregnant.” The doctor says with absolute confidence.
“How far along is she?” Antonio asks in awe and growing jubilation.
“I examined her myself, Antonio, she’s in the beginning of her second trimester, about thirteen weeks. The baby’s firmly settled in the womb.”
“And you’re sure the baby’s okay?” Antonio asks, needing to hear it again.
“Yes.” The doctor replies with a big grin, nodding his head. “Your baby is just fine. I gave your wife instructions to rest for the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours.” Antonio breathes a sigh of relief. “Where is she? Where is Tiressa?” Antonio asks anxiously looking around the examining room.
“The young lady she was with wasn’t so lucky, she’s been admitted. Your wife insisted on going up to the fifth floor to check on her friend.”
As soon as Antonio gets that information, he starts walking out of the room. “Antonio, your wife has been discharged. You can take her home anytime. And again congratulations.”
“Thanks Chase, we’ll catch up some other time.” They shake hands again and Antonio heads to the fifth floor in search of his fiancée and his baby.
***
“No one blames you for the accident, Tiressa. We all know that the other driver crashed into you.”
Antonio waits for me to respond, but I keep my head turned away. “You aren’t at fault. You’re not the reason Katherine is in the hospital.”
I know that logically, but logic has nothing to do with guilt. “How long are you going to give me the silent treatment, Ti?” Antonio demands.
“Antonio, you dragged me away from my friend! I want to be there for her when she wakes up.”
“I know how you feel, Ti, but you can’t be there for her if you fall ill yourself. For gawd’s sake, if you’re not going to think about yourself, then think about the –think about how worried I must be! There isn’t anything anyone can do for Katherine that the doctors aren’t already doing. Her parents are there and so is William. He’s going to stay all night if need be. We can go back to check on her in the morning. I’m under doctor’s orders to get you home and into bed, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do, whether you like it or not.”
Glancing over at Ti, I’m struggling not to show my frustration. Yes, I’m worried about Katherine—we all are—but, I want Ti to tell me she’s carrying my baby…I want to talk about the baby…I want to hold her close. Oh gawd, I could have lost her…I could have lost my baby. I grip the steering wheel tighter until the trembling in my hands subsides.
“I’m sorry Antonio. You’re right, but it doesn’t change how awful I feel. I was driving the car. We were heading to that café near B&S to have a late lunch. I was telling Kathy that I’m rather surprised at how well Gabby and Mya are working together on the engagement party. We haven’t spent much time together since I’ve been back; we were catching up. She told me that she and William are getting back together…I was so happy for her.” I look over at Antonio smiling with tears in my eyes. “I’ll never forgive myself if Kathy isn’t okay.”
“Ti, calm down. You heard what the doctor said; she may wake up within the next twenty-four hours. Sweetheart trust me, we have some of the finest doctors taking care of her. You know William will settle for nothing less. Kathy will be just fine, you’ll see. Now please slide over here, I need to hold you.”
Snuggling up to Antonio, I instantly feel safe, protected, loved. I want to tell him about the baby, but I guess I’m still trying to come to terms with the fact that I’m actually pregnant. How ironic that I got pregnant that very first time we made love. It turns out that for whatever reason, my efforts at birth control didn’t work. I guess it was just meant to be. Oh gawd, I’m pregnant! I’m really pregnant! I’m going to have a swollen belly when I walk down the aisle. Damn, what lousy timing. Mrs. Bentini will definitely believe that I trapped Antonio for sure.
~~~~
“Welcome home Ms. Hawkins.” The housekeeper and the cook greet me with concerned expressions. “Thank you Ms. Graye, Garrett.”
“Is there anything you need…anything I can do for you?” The housekeeper ask.
“No, thank you Ms. Graye.” I reply turning in the direction of the stairs.
“What time will you be expecting dinner?” Although Garrett directs the question to both of us, Antonio answers. “Have a light meal sent up in about an hour.”
“I’m not hungry Antonio; I just want to lie down.”
“Send the tray up Garrett; I’ll make sure she eats something.”
“Yes, sir.” Garrett says heading back into the kitchen.
“Here, let me help you.” That’s all the warning I get before he sweeps me into his arms and carries me up the stairs. I’m so tired that I don’t even make a fuss. Antonio puts me down in one of the cozy chairs in the bathroom. “You sit right here, I’ll run your bath.” Antonio starts the water running and then quickly return to help me undress. He’s being so gentle, so caring…he must be more shaken up than I thought.
After leaving me to soak in the ginormous tub for about twenty minutes, Antonio comes back into the bathroom and I notice that he’s had a shower. He insists on drying me off, carrying me into the bedroom and tucking me under the covers. “Antonio, I need my nightgown.”
“No you don’t, Baby, not tonight. I don’t want anything between us.” He says, disrobing and sliding into bed next to me.
“Antonio, I really appreciate how attentive you’re being, but I don’t have the energy tonight. I really do just want to go to sleep.”
“I know Baby, the doctor told me that you need to rest for the next forty-eight hours and I’m going to make sure that’s exactly what you do…you’re not leaving this bed for the next two days.” He vows, planting light feathery kisses from the top of my head down to my breast. Leveraging himself on his elbow, he places his big warm hand on my belly, spreading his fingers wide. He stares at my stomach for a long minute. “The doctor also told me that you’re pregnant.” He admits quietly.
“Antonio, I was going to tell you, I swear…I was waiting for the right moment.” I insist, looking up into his bright, intense eyes. He scoots down on the bed, until his mouth is hovering over my stomach. “I love you Ti.” He declares, kissing my flat belly. “I love this baby.” He says planting more kisses all over my belly. “Hell, I even love those two ill-mannered bits of fluff in the other room.” He chuckles, looking at me as he slides back up on the bed. I know he wants to talk about the baby, but I’m so sleepy I can barely keep my eyes open. “I love you, Antonio…I love you so much, and I’m proud to be having your baby.”
“Ti, I need to be inside you.”
“Antonio.”
“Wait. Listen. I know you’re exhausted. We won’t make love, I promise. I just need to be inside you, joined to you and our baby.” He says, positioning our bodies spoon-style. Snuggling close behind me, with nothing between us but heat, Antonio whispers, “Open up Baby, let me in.” Letting out a sleepy moan, I rub my ass against his groin and lift my leg on top of his, sliding my foot up and down his calf. I love the feel of his body hair. “That’s it Baby, that’s all you have to do.” Antonio groans as he slowly slides his shaft between my ass and into my softly pulsing core. He pushes himself deeper as he wraps his arms around me, resting his chin gently on top of my head, one big hand cradling my breast and the other lovingly caressing our baby.
Just as I’m dozing off, I hear Antonio ask, “Tiressa, when are you going to make an honest man of me?” I lovingly caress the hand caressing our baby. “Soon, Tony. Very Soon.”
THE END
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I really hope you enjoyed the sequel to Antonio and Tiressa’s story. Although this is the end of this book, you will read about Antonio and Tiressa and other Bentinis in future stories to come.
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HER MAN: Antonio & Tiressa, The Sequel
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Jaye McCloud
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jaye McCloud lives in Florida with her husband, four children, and their two dogs, Rocco and Champ. She loves and adores her husband and their kids. Jaye really enjoys being with family, hanging out with her girlz, and working. She’s a staunch supporter of civil and human rights. Jaye has been an avid reader of romance books since the day her mother-in-law gifted her with a box of them as a wedding present.
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