Catch it I did, but I quickly wished I hadn’t when my stomach promptly turned. I bit my bottom lip as saliva started to pool in my mouth. “Please, no,” I whispered softly. I hadn’t vomited again since the day we’d flown in, but I’d been queasy more often than I liked to admit. I figured it was due to me being exhausted and didn’t mention the issue to Owen. If I had, he wouldn’t have let me lift a finger the whole time we’d been here and probably would have forced me to see a doctor. Not that I had a problem with medical professionals; I just preferred to use ones I knew. I also didn’t like going to them for every little thing, and if I didn’t keep some of what ails me to myself, that’s exactly what Owen would have me doing.
Liz’s smile bloomed at my obvious distress, but it was wiped from her face when Owen spotted me, took stock of the look on my face, and rushed towards me. “What’s wrong, baby?”
“I don’t feel so good,” I admitted softly. The quiche smell wafted my way again, and I slapped a hand over my mouth.
Owen swept me off my feet and carried me back to his dressing room. He headed straight for the bathroom, and it was a good thing because as soon as we got there I dropped to my knees and dry heaved. “Poor baby,” he murmured, rubbing my back with one hand while he held my hair up with the other.
One advantage to having not eaten anything yet today was that it didn’t take long for the nausea to pass. Then mortification crept in while I washed my face with the towel Owen handed me before brushing my teeth.
“I can’t believe I almost made a fool of myself in front of that woman,” I grumbled around my toothbrush. “Can you imagine how superior she would have felt if I’d puked in front of everyone?”
“Woman? What woman?”
Damn. I hadn’t said anything to Owen about how much Liz was getting on my nerves, and now I’d blown it.
“Miss Cooking USA, Liz.”
He tilted my chin up with one long finger. “Has she been messing with you, baby?” His brow was furrowed and his eyes sparked with irritation.
I shrugged. “It’s just been little stuff. Nothing to really worry about.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about it?”
“I didn’t want to put you in a difficult position since we’re here for you to work.”
He dropped a quick kiss on my lips and rubbed his finger over the ring I was wearing. “As much as I meant it when I told you how sexy it is when the green-eyed monster gets hold of you, I don’t like the idea of anyone hurting you in any way. Especially if she’s crossing the line while you’ve got this on your finger. It takes a set of brass balls to pull that kind of shit when a man like me holds your fate in his hands.”
I was torn between wanting to point out the ring was there but I wasn’t really engaged to him and jumping him in gratitude for the thread of fury in his tone as he talked about the contestant from hell. He didn’t give me the chance to decide between the two, though.
“Have you been nauseous any of the other mornings?”
I grimaced, nodding. “It hasn’t been this bad, except for that first day when it was probably just from traveling. I’m not sure why it’s lasting this long, especially not today when I’m finally feeling rested.”
“I can think of another reason you’d be sick in the mornings.” His hand slid down to my belly and a soft smile graced his face. After a moment, his implication hit me.
“A baby?” I gasped. Closing my eyes, I pictured the calendar in my head. When realization dawned, they popped back open. “Oh my goodness, my period is late. Like later than late. How did I not notice?”
He grinned down at me. “I have been keeping you pretty busy.”
“Yeah, but—” I couldn’t quite wrap my head around the idea of me being pregnant. With Owen’s baby. Owen—the man that I loved. With the way my heart filled at the idea, there was no denying that I loved him. But I was also scared to death about how he was going to react to this situation.
“I’ve been super tired, nauseous, emotional, and I skipped a period,” I rattled off, searching his face for any sign of what he was thinking. “Odds are good that I’m pregnant.”
“Hell yeah, they are,” he agreed, flashing a beaming smile at me. “Considering how often my cock’s deep inside your pussy, they’re more than good.”
A startled giggle bubbled out of me. “You sound almost... proud of the idea.”
“That’s because I am, baby. I can’t wait for you to take a test tomorrow morning to confirm it for both of us.”
Losing my virginity, a non-proposal with a gorgeous ring, a possible baby, and a proud maybe-daddy who I was madly in love with. One thing was for sure, my life had drastically changed since I met Owen.
11
Owen
“Baby,” I whispered before dusting a kiss over Sienna’s nose. Next, I kissed her lips and said her name.
She stirred and her lids fluttered open, her mocha eyes adorably sleepy. She smiled and turned to face me, slipping her arms around my torso and burrowing into my chest. Her naked body was so tempting, and my cock was begging to slide into her wet heat. But, I was too anxious to wait.
“You need to take the test, baby.” I kissed the top of her head, then released her and hopped out of bed. She moaned and flopped onto her stomach.
“I’m on break, Owen,” she grumbled, snuggling back into her pillow. “I don’t have tests until the end of the semester. Now, let me sleep.”
I laughed and threw the covers off of her, then smacked her sweet little ass. She yelped and lifted onto her elbows to glare at me. The slow burn in her eyes almost swayed me to return to bed with her. Almost. We’d have plenty of time for that later.
“A pregnancy test, Sienna.” I kept grinning widely—I felt as though I’d slept with a hanger in my mouth. I had no doubt I’d planted my baby inside my woman, but I still needed to see the proof.
At my words, she stiffened and her mouth formed a cute little O. Proffering my hand, I wiggled my fingers until she grasped them and I helped her off the bed. I led her to the bathroom, snatching the drug store bag off the dresser on the way.
I pulled out the first of multiple boxes—I wasn’t sure which one was the most accurate, so I got one of each. After reading the directions, I took out the test, ripped off the plastic packaging, and handed it to Sienna. She grabbed it and stared at me, unmoving.
“Well?” I huffed and gestured to the toilet.
She raised an eyebrow and planted a hand on one cocked out hip. Damn, she was sexy. “There is no way I’m going to pee in front of you, so you can just turn around and march your sexy ass right on out of here.”
I started to argue but she pushed against my chest, and the stubborn glint I’d become familiar with entered her eyes. It was cute that she thought she could move me. Still, pick your battles, I reminded myself.
Sighing, I backed up until I was on the other side of the door frame. “Open the door as soon as you’re finished,” I demanded.
She nodded, then shut the door in my face. I listened closely, my ear practically on the door until a loud bang startled me and I reared back. “No listening to me pee either, Owen Walker!”
I bust out laughing at the little minx. I seriously loved the fuck out of her. I waited impatiently and when I heard the faucet running, I quickly twisted the door knob and entered the bathroom. Sienna was standing at the sink washing her hands and rolled her eyes as she watched me in the mirror.
“You said you’d open it as soon as you were done,” I accused.
“I was just about to when you barged in here.”
I shrugged and walked up behind her, sliding my arms around her waist and staring at the small, white stick on the counter. “Hasn’t it been three minutes already?” I groused.
She laughed and patted my hand. “It’s been about thirsty seconds, babe.”
I smiled at her in the mirror and leaned my head down to kiss her cheek. “I love you,” I said softly.
Sienna gasped and her eyes wide
ned to the size of saucers, blinking at me owlishly. “You what?”
My eyebrows dropped in confusion at her reaction. Why was she shocked—oh, fuck. I couldn’t believe it. I’d never told her I loved her. My expression softened, and I turned her in my arms so I could look directly at her face. “I love you, Sienna. You’re my whole world.”
Her big brown eyes filled with tears, and she beamed at me. “I love you too, Owen.”
Even though they were happy tears, I hated seeing my girl cry. I smirked at her and nodded smugly. “Damn straight you do.” I winked, and she threw her head back while she laughed heartily. I much preferred her musical laughter to her tears.
I kissed her deeply, once again murmuring how much I loved her before lifting my head and glancing at the test on the counter. The word PREGNANT flashed clearly in the tiny oval window. My breath caught in my throat, and my chest filled with so much happiness I felt like I would burst.
“We’re having a baby,” I breathed at last. Sienna looked a little shell shocked, but she was smiling brightly. My mouth crashed down over hers and I boosted her up so her ass was perched on the counter. Her legs encircled my waist, and my somewhat stiff cock jumped to full attention. The heat from her pussy cradled my dick and when I shifted closer, I felt it slide easily through her drenched folds. She was so fucking wet, I had to taste all that sweetness.
She mewled in protest when I took her legs from around me, and cried out lustily when I dropped to my knees and sucked her nether lips into my mouth. I ran my tongue up her slit, lapping at her nectar, then plunged it into her opening. She leaned back on her elbows, her head against the mirror, and opened her legs even wider. I teased her with licks and nibbles, my tongue thrusting in and out of her, circling her clit but never touching it. Her hips began to buck, practically fucking my face as I devoured her.
“Owen! Please!” she begged.
Giving in to her plea, I replaced my tongue with two fingers while I sucked hard on her bundle of nerves. “Yes! Oh yes, Owen!” she screamed as the walls of her pussy convulsed, squeezing my fingers. I worked her through her orgasm, trying desperately not to come. I was feeling greedy, so I pushed her up and over the edge once more. Before she could finish coming, I dragged my fingers from her pussy, fighting the incredible suction that had my cock leaking with precome.
Gripping her hips, I drove inside her until I was balls-deep. She immediately clenched down on my cock, and I couldn’t hold back the rush of need that consumed me. I didn’t want her to hit her head against the mirror, so I picked her up and stumbled to the bed, falling down over her. Throwing her legs over my shoulders, I watched as my cock disappeared inside her then reappeared, shiny with her come. My hands gripped her taut ass, dragging her up to meet my every thrust as I pounded inside her.
“Fuck, yes! You’re so fucking perfect, Sienna! Yes!” I shouted, my hips pumping wildly. “Squeeze that pussy, baby. Yeah, fuck! Just like that—oh fuuuuuuuck!” I came so damn hard that my legs lost their strength and I tumbled down, burying myself deep as I exploded inside her. “If you weren’t already knocked up,” I panted, “you sure as fuck would be now.”
I couldn’t talk Sienna into staying at the hotel and resting, but I put my foot down at the studio and cajoled her into laying on the couch in my dressing room. I needed to take care of something, and I didn’t want her to have to deal with it. After kissing her forehead and whispering how much I loved her, I strode from the room purposefully.
“Jude,” I called to the producer as I reached his office. He looked up and immediately glanced behind me, his face falling when he realized I was alone. As soon as I wasn’t under contract any more, I was going to castrate this motherfucker. But, for the moment, I needed his help. “What do you know about Liz?” I asked as I smoothly sank onto the grey couch along the wall across from his desk.
“The contestant?” he clarified. Something in his tone put me on alert, but I kept my stance and tone casual.
“What’s her story?”
He went through a stack of folders on his desk and then opened one to read from it. It was Liz’s basic bio and resume. It was all pretty standard until he got to her experience. She didn’t have any. It was rare, but not impossible for shows like this to get an inexperienced, but naturally talented new chef. However, Liz didn’t strike me as anything but average. Her dishes had skated by, barely keeping her on the show.
I watched Jude closely, and he shrunk under my scrutiny. A hunch started to form and if I was right, it would make this whole process much easier for me. “She’s been hassling my fiancée. I’d like you and studio council to accompany me while I have a chat with her.”
Jude swallowed hard as relief flitted over his expression before he smoothed it into its usual Botoxed perfection. “Of course.” He stood and led the way from his office, stopping a few doors down to recruit a lawyer to accompany us. The contestants were setting up in the kitchen but scurried off when I told them we needed to speak to Liz alone.
She flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder and smiled at me, turning my stomach. Her eyes strayed to Jude for a moment, flashing with something I didn’t recognize, before returning to me and my suspicions grew.
“Liz, I understand there has been some contention between you and my fiancée,” I started in a reasonable tone. I was livid inside but knew this would have to be handled delicately.
Her overly made up eyes widened, and she adopted a look of surprise and hurt. “I didn’t want to upset you, Owen. But, she has been rather mean to me.”
I frowned and checked the impulse to roll my eyes. “Chef or Mr. Walker,” I corrected before continuing with my warning. “I’m telling you now to stay away from her and me.” A slight edge of panic flitted over her face and once again, her eyes darted to Jude. “I can’t get you kicked off of the show for your attitude, and I would never let it affect the way I judge you as a contestant.”
She started to smile in a way that I’m sure she considered seductive. Jude cleared his throat and shuffled on his feet. I was confident my instincts were correct and decided to act on them. “However, your relationship with the producer is a conflict of interest and a breach of contract. For that, I can get you kicked off the show.”
Liz gasped and whirled to face Jude. “You said no one would ever find out!” she snapped. “I can’t believe you told him I slept with you to get on the show!”
“He was guessing, you dumb bitch!” Jude shouted as he took a menacing step in her direction. “You were the one who just fucking confirmed it!”
My hands clenched into fists at Jude’s words. I didn’t give a fuck what she’d done, no man should talk to a woman that way. Keeping myself reined in, I pivoted to face the dark-haired, female lawyer who accompanied us. Her face was filled with disgust as she watched the two assholes argue. “They both better be gone before I return for taping or I’m out of here,” I growled. “I don’t give a fuck about my contract.”
She met my gaze and nodded. “Don’t worry, Mr. Walker. They’ll be taken care of.”
I lifted my chin in response and strode from the room. Sienna was curled up on the couch, reading a book, when I arrived back at my dressing room. “Hey, baby,” I greeted her softly as I dropped down beside her and pulled her into my lap. She laid her head on my shoulder and I picked up her left hand, toying with the ring I’d given her.
“Where have you been?” she asked. “You seem really upset.”
I smiled and kissed her forehead. I loved that she knew me so well. “Taking out the trash.” She looked at me with confusion and I just shrugged. “Jude and Liz were screwing, making it very easy to have them both removed from the show.” My mood darkened and I hugged her a little closer. “No one messes with the woman I’m going to marry.”
She sighed and slumped into me, taking me by surprise. Was she upset that I’d taken it so far?
“There’s no one else here, Owen. You don’t have to pretend when we’re alone.”
What
the fuck? “Pretend what, baby?” I asked, genuinely perplexed.
“That we’re engaged.”
I reared back in shock and growled, “This is not pretend. We are fucking engaged, Sienna. This is not up for discussion. I love you, you love me, you’re having my baby, and we are getting married as soon as we get home.”
“You really want to marry me?” she asked hopefully.
“Baby, what in the hell ever made you think that I didn’t? I gave you a damn engagement ring and have told everyone I’ve come into contact with that you’re my fiancée.”
“You never asked me.”
Well fuck. “You’re right, baby,” I sighed. “I just assumed that you would know I was serious since I already had a ring for you. It was a spur of the moment decision. I know you deserve more than that, and I had every intention of doing it right once we got home. I promise, I’ll make it up to you.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “You’re going to do it right?” I nodded. “Flowers, candles, romance, down on one knee?” She ticked off her fingers as she went down the list.
I chuckled and shook my head—so damn adorable. “Anything you want, baby. As long as it ends with me fucking you in nothing but heels and my engagement ring.”
Her eyes heated, but she pursed her lips as though she were deeply contemplating. I raised an eyebrow and leaned in to place my lips over hers. I kissed the fuck out of her, only stopping when I was about ten seconds away from ripping off her clothes and fucking her right there on the couch. Not that we hadn’t christened the couch already, but I had to be on set in about five minutes.
She shook her head, trying to clear away the lust fog I’d induced. “Ring, heels, fucking.” She canted her head and winked at me with a sexy smile. “I can make that happen.” She wiggled her ass on my lap, making the erection I was already sporting, harder than steel.
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