When You Least Expect

by Lydia Rowan

  “‘In touch’?” He spat the words and pulled himself to his full intimidating height and crowded close to her, the foyer they hadn’t moved from, feeling smaller with each passing second. He was intense, almost scary, but under her anger, under the weight of this moment, desire, hot as a current ran through her and centered at the apex of her thighs. She should have been thinking of a thousand other things, but as she stood, gaze glued to his, body straining toward his—Matt and his touch were the only things on her mind.

  “In touch?” he said again, his face so close to hers that his lips brushed the corner of her mouth as he spoke.

  “Matt…” she said, hating the needy, low whine that was her voice.

  He nipped at the corner of her lips, and then exhaled, his breath fanning her face.

  She looked into his eyes, which were dark, almost black with intensity.

  “Do you love me?” she whispered.

  The silence that met her question was deafening, but she kept her gaze on his, waiting, hoping. But there was nothing, and the anger that had thrummed in her blood, that had made her heart pound with intensity, was replaced with frigid cold.

  She slithered away and grabbed the doorknob. He reached for her, held her arm in his hand, and she stilled, waiting. But there was only silence. He held her, squeezed a little tighter, an unvoiced question in his hold.

  But when she didn’t look back, he let go.

  Chapter Twelve

  An hour later, Matt stalked around his front room reflecting on how he’d handled that with the typical Poole grace and charm. Ariel’s independent streak was an integral part of who she was, so he wasn’t surprised by her reaction. But he was pissed. So what if he hadn’t bothered with flowery declarations? That wasn’t important; all that mattered was securing the future for Ariel, Dani, and the baby. Getting married was the way to do so.

  He stopped moving on that thought. A baby. Matt hadn’t quite wrapped his brain around that. Intellectually, the idea of being a father terrified him. Sure, he helped people with their problems, tried to give them concrete solutions to handle and manage their lives, but this was different. He was responsible for this future person’s life, responsible for not fucking the kid up. Could he? He had no clue, and that scared the crap out of him.

  But testicle-curdling fear aside, he was ecstatic, felt a surprisingly deep satisfaction at the thought of his and Ariel’s baby. He shrugged and then looked around, laughing at the empty room. The excitement he felt could probably be chalked up to evolutionary drive, but maybe it was something else. But what he felt and what he feared were irrelevant if a baby was involved. He’d do what he needed to take care of his child, and that he’d also get Ariel and Dani only sweetened the pot.

  His keys were in his hand and he was headed toward the front door before he gave it a second thought. Ariel’s house was dark and quiet as was the rest of the street, but this couldn’t wait. She answered the door almost immediately after he knocked and stood aside, silently inviting him in. He entered and didn’t stop until he was in her bedroom. She followed and then softly closed the door behind herself.

  “So have you thought about it?” he asked.

  She gave him a quick smile, and then said on a deep sigh, “I’ve thought of nothing else.”

  “And?”

  “Look, Matt—”

  He cut his eyes at her, not liking the tone of her voice or the direction he suspected this conversation was again headed.

  “Matt, I know what you’re trying to do.”

  “I’m trying to take care of you. Ariel, will you marry me?”

  “No.”

  The single word, the vehemence behind it was like a knife to his heart.

  “When Daniel proposed…”

  The anger that coursed through him must have been reflected in his face because she lifted her hands in a silent plea for patience. He stood tense, ready to protest he was not remotely interested in hearing about her last proposal, but the urgency on her face kept him silent.

  She swallowed and then started again. “When Daniel proposed, it was romantic and amazing, everything I’d dreamed of.”

  “I’m not Daniel,” Matt said, hating the little hint of defensiveness in his voice.

  “I know, and that’s not my point. Look, Matt, I know what you’re trying to do, what you think getting married will do. But I’m not willing to settle.”

  “Settle? We’re talking about a life here. What we want isn’t important anymore, and I’m going to do the right thing,” he said.

  “I know that we’re talking about a life, Mathias. And I also know that we’ll both do what we need to give this baby the best life possible. But tying each other down to one another is not the way. I never thought I’d have a chance again, that I even had it in me to open up to another man. You showed me that it’s possible, and knowing that, and knowing what it’s like to be with someone who loves you that you love back, I can’t accept less.”

  The stubborn tilt of her chin and her posture told him she wouldn’t relent. But that didn’t mean he would either.

  “I don’t ever want to hear that word in relation to us again, Ariel,” Matt said as he crossed to stand in front of her. He towered over her, crowding close to her.

  Her eyes widened as she stared up at him, her face bright with confusion and the slightest bit of fear.

  Good.

  Moments ago, she’d been certain, stern, so confusion was progress, progress he planned to further.

  He trailed his fingers across her cheek, her skin soft against the pads of his fingertips. Her breathing deepened, and she pursed her lips ever so slightly. But it was enough. He swooped down and covered her mouth with his and swept his tongue between her lips.

  The brush of her lush mouth against his, the explosion of her unique flavor against his tongue, how his body reacted to it was a reminder, not that one was needed, of how connected he and Ariel were.

  Settle.

  The word rang in his mind like a Klaxon, spurred him to show her that this thing between them could never be that. As he moved them toward her bed, he cupped the full mounds of her breasts, the hard little buds of her nipples prominent against his hands. Ariel shifted and panted out a little moan, which only convinced him of his path. Her mind was throwing up roadblocks, whispering about stories of love. What did that mean, anyway? “Love” was an idea, something that could dissipate as quickly as it appeared. But this, the physical connection between them, the tie that pulled him to her and her to him was real, could sustain them as they created their family.

  All he needed to do was show Ariel that.

  He dropped his hands to her waist and turned her. Arm wrapped around her waist, he bent and pushed forward until she lay with her face pressed against the bed, rounded ass high. He quickly lowered her cotton pants and then used his free hand to open his.

  In one sure thrust, he entered her. And like always, she was ready for him, so wet that his entry was nearly effortless. For a moment, the world around him ceased, the only thing of import was the feel of Ariel’s warm, tight pussy gripping him, the soft pillows of her ass against his thighs.

  Then he moved, thrusting into her with deep, rhythmic motions, his arm around her waist keeping her pinned to him.

  “Is this settling, Ariel?” he asked, his voice and the dull slap of her ass against him with each thrust the only sounds in the room.

  “Is it?” he asked again, punctuating his words with another hard stroke.

  Ariel huffed a moan and gripped the bedcovers tight. He saw the pleasure on her face, felt it in how wet her cunt was, how she clenched around him, how she arched against him, trying to pull him deeper, trying to keep him there.

  “Tell me this isn’t right. Tell me that this is settling,” he said as he surged into her. And suddenly he stopped, pulled out of her, and then flipped her, his hands cradling her face as he stared down into her eyes and again buried himself to the hilt.

  It was a feat to even spe
ak, the sensation of being inside her, skin against skin, taking most of his focus. But this was too important, they were too important, and he wouldn’t give in.

  “Tell me,” he said, his voice ragged now.

  Her only response was a low moan and a full-body shudder that signaled her climax. The sight of her, feel of her around him so tight and wet, triggered the release he fought to hold at bay. Yet he continued, thrusting as he spilled his seed inside her.

  “Tell me,” he repeated, cock still buried as deep as it could be.

  “It’s not,” she said, voice faint, husky. “It’s not settling.”

  “Will you marry me, Ariel?”

  “Do you love me?” she replied.

  Silence, deep and heavy reigned, but Matt said nothing.

  “No,” she finally whispered.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “It’s not the steering wheel’s fault, Matt.”

  He remained silent, but Ariel stared as his huge hands, which had been gripping the wheel, relaxed in increments.

  “Sorry,” he said gruffly. And then he went silent again.

  He’d been this way all morning, and as they got closer to their destination, his distance and agitation had only increased. And Ariel was feeling surly as well. He’d insisted on accompanying her, but now, she almost wished he’d stayed home, especially if this was what she had to look forward to.

  “Why did you pick a doctor in Charlotte?” he asked.

  “I love Doc Thomas as much as everyone else, but I know him too well.”

  “He’s delivered half the babies born in town for nearly forty years,” Matt said.

  “Yeah, which is exactly why I don’t want him delivering mine.”

  “There are folks near base,” he said casually.

  This was his way of reminding her as he had so often in the last ten days that marrying him was a good idea. But she didn’t take the bait.

  “I like Dr. Smith. She delivered Dani, and I’ve been going to her for years,” Ariel said instead.

  Matt murmured indecipherably and then gripped the wheel tight again. Ariel huffed out a breath and then looked out the window. Engaging him in conversation was getting her nowhere, and she was too tired to argue anyway.

  The remainder of the ride passed in stony silence, which continued after he parked and as they walked into the five-story medical office. He still didn’t speak when they entered the lobby and she checked in, and as she sat next to him, she watched him check out the other couples and their babies, looking so uncomfortable she thought he might leave, and her mood sank even further. She got it, she really did—but it wasn’t like she was twisting his arm.

  Then she got indignant. They were equals in this, but she wouldn’t let him make her miserable either, especially not today when she should be excited.

  “Ariel Mallick,” the nurse called.

  She stood, and Matt followed, now radiating pure pissed-offedness. So she was surprised when, before she took a step, he gripped her hand. His grasp was firm but not tight and her annoyance lessened as she appreciated the strong, soothing touch.

  The nurse led them down the hall and stopped in front of the scale.

  “Go ahead, Matt. This is private business,” Ariel said.

  That earned her the faintest uptick of his lips, but the expression definitely didn’t count as a smile.

  “Room three. We’ll be right behind you,” the nurse said.

  Matt nodded and disappeared around the corner as the nurse weighed Ariel and took her vitals. Then a few minutes later, the nurse led her to room three with instructions to undress and wait.

  She glanced over at Matt, who stood against the wall, his bulk seeming to take up most of the space in the room, and she suddenly felt shy, which was ridiculous. They hadn’t made love since that night, but being naked in front of him was no big deal.

  It felt different somehow though, uncomfortable, and Matt standing there glowering at her wasn’t helping.

  “Could you…?” She tilted her head toward the door.

  “No,” he said, flat and completely uncompromising.

  Anger scratched at her spine, and Ariel was glad that she’d had her blood pressure taken already.

  “Okay,” she gritted out between clenched teeth. Then she undressed, moving in jerky movements she didn’t doubt revealed her annoyance. And yet, nothing in his demeanor changed. He was just as distant and cold as he’d been all morning.

  When she had the gown on, she sat on the examination table and didn’t look in Matt’s direction. She heard him move though, then felt his hand on her shoulder, not the warm touch that she’d come to love and crave, but she didn’t feel the distance that had been growing all morning either.

  There was a knock on the door, and then Dr. Smith, her middle-aged OB, came in.

  “Ariel, great to see you again,” Dr. Smith said. Then she turned toward Matt expectantly, but before Ariel could speak, Matt interjected.

  “Mathias Poole, the baby’s father,” he said.

  “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Poole,” Dr. Smith said and then she turned back to Ariel and glanced over the chart she held. “So you’re about seven weeks, due in thirty-three.”

  “How firm is that timeline?” Matt asked.

  “Not set in stone, but close. Could be up to three weeks sooner, or as much as a week later. It’s up to the little one mostly. Is there a specific concern?” Dr. Smith asked.

  “No, not with the dates, but what about her job?” Matt said.

  “What about it?”

  “She does heavy labor and works with dangerous chemicals.”

  “That’s not good for baby, but I understood Ariel had made arrangements.”

  “I’m right here, you know,” Ariel said, not bothering to hide her annoyance.

  “We’ll talk about it later,” Matt replied, sounding like he was two seconds from exploding. Ariel was about one.

  Dr. Smith raised a brow but turned back to Ariel. “Lie back so I can examine you.”

  Ariel did, and when Dr. Smith pulled her gown open to expose her stomach, she felt weirdly vulnerable. Her stomach was leagues away from flat, but there was no hint of the pregnancy yet. Still, she knew that Matt was watching her intently, and she couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking.

  Dr. Smith examined her. “Everything looks good. Do you want to hear the baby’s heartbeat?”

  She nodded and then waited, breath bated as Dr. Smith put the small sensor on her lower stomach. The strong, galloping heartbeat filled the room, and Ariel’s chest clenched. She was almost afraid to look at Matt, but couldn’t stop herself. He still stood tense, muscles bunched and tight, but his eyes had a softness that she’d never seen, and she understood what he was feeling. That heartbeat, the little life that they’d created, was a humbling and marvelous thing—no matter the circumstances.

  The rest of the visit passed in a blur, and as she stood at the nurses’ station and scheduled her future appointments, Matt stood behind, silent and having retreated back into himself after hearing the baby’s heartbeat. She reached into her purse for her wallet to pay her co-pay, but he moved more quickly than she’d seen in a while and slapped his credit card down instead.

  Ariel didn’t know what to make of that, but she held her tongue.

  A task that became increasingly hard as they drove back to Thornehill. By the time they reached her house, Ariel had completely had it with his attitude.

  “Have a nice day, Matt,” she said.

  She got out of the car without waiting for his response.

  ••••

  Matt watched Ariel storm into the house, but he stayed in the car. He was feeling so many emotions, ones he rarely if ever felt, and ones he didn’t know what to do with. He’d have to deal with those later, though, because he and Ariel needed to talk.

  He got out and followed her after she went to the house, relieved that she hadn’t locked the door.

  “Ariel?” he called and then hearing t
he harshness of his tone, he repeated it softer this time, “Ariel?”

  She didn’t respond, so he moved deeper into the house, and found her in her bedroom. He watched for a moment as she paced angrily, breathing deeply. Then she turned on him, eyes blazing with fury.

  “Look, you don’t have to be a part of this if you don’t want to be,” Ariel said.

  His heart leaped into his throat and in three long strides, he stood in front of her.

  “What the fuck does that mean?” he asked.

  “It means this is already hard enough, but I’m not going to let you make it any harder,” she said.

  “Are you saying you’re going to keep my child from me?” he asked, voice icy.

  “Don’t be ridiculous, Matt. Or any more ridiculous than you’re already being. But I won’t deal with your bullshit,” Ariel said.

  “What bullshit?”

  “You’ve been pissed off all day. And I know you think I trapped you, think that marrying me is the right thing to do even though—”

  “Trapped me? Why would you say that?”

  “It’s obvious. Like I said, you’ve been pissed off all day, and you’re taking it out on me. I know you’re upset, but—”

  He was stunned. She thought he was angry with her?

  He reached for her, felt the jab of disappointment when she flinched, but that faded when she didn’t pull away from his touch. He stepped closer, bringing her body to his, feeling the relief that had eluded him for so long—since the last time he’d touched her, in fact.

  “I don’t know where you got that ridiculous idea, but toss it right out of your head. I’m a man, I made my choices and I’m as responsible for this as you are. You got that?”

  When she said nothing, he repeated himself. “You got it, Ariel?”

  She nodded grudgingly, and he caught her gaze with his. “I have been a little…terse, but it’s not you, or the proposal.”

  He was displeased about that and was still convinced that they needed to get married, but even that wasn’t the source of the preoccupation that had been building since Ariel had told him about today’s appointment.

  “What is it, then?”