by Natalie Ann
All talks of weddings and baby daddies went out the window when he set her on her feet though. He turned her and unzipped her dress, then parted the back and pulled it off of her.
“Are you in a hurry for something?” she asked.
“You teased me with what you’ve got on under this dress, so now I’ve got to know.”
She turned around and showed that she had a strapless bodice on that was cinching her waist and keeping everything trim and firm. With the bodice, she’d paired matching silk panties that did little in the way of concealing anything.
“What do you think?” she asked, lifting her arms in the air and twirling for him. She really hadn’t bought anything sexy to wear for him yet.
“I think you are squeezing my child in there, and now you need a bit of relief. I’ll be happy to take care of that for you,” he said, his blue eyes twinkling like a star on top of a Christmas tree.
“You don’t want to keep it on for now? I thought maybe it was sexy enough for that.”
“It is. And I’d like you to keep it on if it’s comfortable.”
Wasn’t that just sweet? “It’s fine for now. But you can slip the bottoms off if you’d like?”
“I would like that very much,” he said.
She was left standing there in the white silk bodice barely covering her breasts while she watched him tackle the buttons on his shirt. To help him out, she reached for his pants and quickly had everything off of him.
“I want to try something new,” she said.
“What’s that?”
“Well, I was reading that toward the end of my pregnancy we might have to change up positions for comfort factors since my belly might be in the way.”
She wasn’t sure if bringing this up right now would have been a mood killer, but all he did was look at her waist, then grin at her. “I’m not too worried about it.”
“Anyway. I was thinking, if we tried them now, then maybe we can find something we both like for when the time comes.”
He laughed. “Rene, darling. I’m going to like every and all positions with you. I’m a guy. We like sex. We like it any way we can get it.”
She giggled, glad it wasn’t affecting the mood at all. “Good. Then I want to get it from behind.” His jaw dropped, and she laughed again, then climbed on the bed on her hands and knees. “Well, do you want to?”
“That’s a stupid question,” he said, kneeling behind her.
“I wasn’t sure with the way you were standing there gaping at me.”
“Just admiring the view, baby.”
That was two endearments he’d called her so far, and she felt tingles deep in her stomach.
It seemed he didn’t want to waste any time and she was just fine with that.
He reached around her waist and pulled the top of her bodice down, exposing her breasts, which he quickly cupped and started to massage.
She dropped her head down and let out a moan. He had the most wonderful hands.
“You like that even more now, don’t you?” he whispered in her ear.
“Yes. They’re so sensitive, but in a good way. I’m glad, too. I read that they could get so sensitive as to be painful and that would be such a bummer.”
He laughed a little. “We wouldn’t want you to be bummed over anything, now would we?”
“Not when it comes to this, no,” she said.
He brought his thumb and finger up, pinched her nipples, and she started to squirm. Everything he did made her want to dissolve in a puddle at his feet.
“Cole, I’m really close. I mean really close.”
“Do you think you can come just like this? With me just touching you here?”
She always thought she’d blush when he used that word, but instead it just sent more sensations to her core. “I don’t know, but I want to.”
He didn’t let up, not one bit. Then he pulled his hands away, and walked to the other side of the bed, positioning himself on his back, then his elbow. One hand went to one breast, just like before, his mouth to the other.
He started to suck, and pinch, then bite and pinch harder, and her hands were shaking trying to support herself now. Her muscles were quivering and she knew she was closer than ever before. So close. Just a bit more.
He must have realized that, because he moved his mouth and switched sides, attacking her other nipple with his mouth and that was all it took, sending her spiraling out of control, screeching out his name.
She never thought that could happen. Ever. But now she needed a breather. She was throbbing down below, needing more than she just got, but her arms were shaking at the moment. Along with her heart.
He turned on his elbow and looked at her as she lay on her stomach, her head turned to him. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” she said. “My arms need a break, but the rest of me wants more.”
“Then let’s give your arms a break,” he said, standing up and moving behind her again.
She wasn’t sure what he had planned, but he must have known what he was doing. She stayed on her stomach for the moment but felt his chest against her and saw his palms go down on each on side of her.
“Stay like this, just spread your legs apart for me a little.”
She did, hypnotized by his voice and the feel of him against her. “This won’t work when I’m bigger.”
“We’ll try it your way a little later,” he said. “But stay on your belly for now.”
“Okay,” she said, sighing as he easily slid inside of her. “It feels so snug. So good. Should it feel this way? Will it always?”
“Yes to everything. You like this, don’t you?” he asked seductively in her ear.
“Oh God, yes. We should have done this sooner.” He moved his hips out and back and she felt her body start to crest fast. “Don’t stop doing that,” she said.
“I won’t.” His breath sounded labored to her ears. “How close are you? Tell me you’re close, because I’m not sure how long I can go.”
“I’m close. I’m right there. Just a few more strokes, Cole. That’s it.”
“I love it when you tell me what to do. Tell me again,” he said.
So she did. “Fill me again. All the way. Completely. Make me yours,” she said, almost shouting.
It was all she needed to say. He moved a few more times and everything exploded inside of her, causing her to bury her face in the comforter and Cole to bite her shoulder. She didn’t feel the pain, not really, because it actually made everything else even more powerful.
“Sorry about the bite mark,” he said a minute later.
“Nothing to be sorry about,” she said. “If the end results are anything like that, you can bite me all you want.”
He rolled them both over, him on his back, her on his chest. “Only if you bite me back.”
“It’s a promise.”
Move On
“My parents are coming on Saturday,” Rene said a few days later.
“Last minute? They were just here for the wedding,” Cole said.
“They said they wanted to spend some time here for the Fourth like they used to when we were kids. There was too much going on with my mom at work to do more than fly in for the weekend last week.”
“That’s nice.”
“I guess.”
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Nothing. I think my grandmother had something to do with them coming back,” she admitted. She hated that her grandmother might have interfered, but was positive she had.
“Why do you say that?”
She took a deep breath. “Because we both think Mallory is pregnant. My grandmother thinks having my parents in town for a week will cause them to slip up and make the announcement so no one is walking on eggshells.”
Cole just looked at her funny, paused, then said, “What makes you think she’s pregnant?”
“She’s exhibiting the same symptoms as me.”
“Does your grandmother think you are?” he asked, smiling
. She had a feeling he was joking, but she wasn’t.
Here goes. “She knows I am.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that?” he asked, not looking real pleased with the confession.
“Because then you’d want to tell everyone and we agreed to wait until after the wedding.”
“How long has she known?”
“A while.”
She could see he was struggling with this knowledge. “What does she think about it?”
“She’s happy. All excited that she will be getting two great-grandchildren at once, and they will both be close by.”
“Let me guess. Now you don’t want to tell your parents about our baby just yet because you don’t want to take anything away from Mallory’s announcement.”
The thought had crossed her mind, but she knew how frustrated it would make Cole. Besides, it was getting harder and harder to hide things from people, she was finding.
Part of her just wanted to say it and get it over with so she could stop trying to keep this secret. She’d never been good with secrets as it was. Now the secret seemed to be this big wall between her and Cole, too.
“I just don’t think it’s fair to take away from their happy news.”
He started to pace. “First it’s Celeste’s wedding and taking away from them, now it’s Mallory and her happy news. What about us? Why can’t we be happy about this? Why can’t it be happy news for us, too?”
She didn’t expect him to have this reaction. Sure, she knew he hated not telling anyone and they did agree to do it when Celeste returned, which happened to be the same day her parents were coming to town.
Walking up to him, she wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tight. “It is happy news for me now. Is it for you?”
He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Yeah. I want to tell people. I never thought I’d feel this way, but I want to tell people I’m going to be a father.”
“Are you afraid what they’ll think about our situation?”
“It is what it is, Rene. The only thing we could do to change this situation, I agreed to not talk about just yet. Other than that, I don’t care what people think.”
“Then I don’t care either,” she said, only she knew she was lying to him and herself.
***
Saturday afternoon, Cole and Rene made their way to her grandmother’s house. She was trying not to be nervous, but there was no hiding it from Cole.
“Relax,” he said to her in his truck. “It’s just your parents.”
“Easy for you to say.”
“I don’t know how many times I need to say this, but it is what it is. All we do is go forward. If you act like you’re upset over this, then they’ll follow suit. I thought we said we were happy about it. Or were you just saying that to make me feel better?”
She didn’t want him to think that. She was happy over it now. That still didn’t take away from her anxiety in telling her parents, though.
“No, it was the truth. I’m happy. I really am. I’m even starting to get excited. Once it’s out in the open, we can move on and past the looks and questions.”
“I think you’re reading way too much into this. Most people don’t care that much about our lives,” he said, jokingly.
“It’s not most people I’m worried about. Let’s get this show on the road,” she said, opening the door and hopping down, trying to show more confidence than she was feeling.
After an hour of sitting on the deck and chatting with her parents and Nick and Mallory, Mallory finally looked over at Nick, blushed a bit, and just blurted it out. “We’re having a baby.”
Her parents were thrilled, both of them jumping up and running over to hug Mallory, then Nick. Questions were thrown around—how far along she was, why she’d waited to say something, and what names had they picked out.
Rene was right: Mallory was just in her second trimester, too. Not even a month ahead of Rene.
After all the excitement died down, Rene felt her heart racing. She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t get the words past her mouth to say it.
“Go on, Rene,” Mallory said to her.
“What?” she asked, looking at Cole nervously.
“Tell everyone.”
Rene turned to her grandmother. “You told Mallory?”
“No, dear, I didn’t. My guess is she figured it out the same way you and I did with her.”
“Figured what out?” Nick asked, looking at her closely, narrowing his eyes, then turning those eyes on Cole.
“That I’m pregnant, too,” Rene said. There. It was out. A big black hole didn’t materialize out of nowhere and suck her and Cole into a vortex. That was positive, at least.
“What?!” Nick yelled.
Mallory reached over and covered his hand with her own. “Relax, Nick.”
“You knew and never said anything to me about it?” Nick asked Mallory.
“No, I just guessed. Stop and let your sister talk.”
“Mom?” Rene said, looking over. Both of her parents had stunned looks on their faces.
“Is it true? Are you pregnant, too?” her mother asked.
“Yes,” she said, her lip quivering and tears filling her eyes. This wasn’t going well at all. Her father was glaring at Cole on top of it.
“Rene and I are very happy about the news. It wasn’t planned, but the best things in life don’t always get planned,” Cole said.
He reached his hand over and threaded their fingers together, and that was when she felt the tear slip down her cheek. “Cole is right. We are happy about it. We were shocked at first. It wasn’t planned, like he said, but we are still very happy. I’m only a few weeks behind Mallory. Maybe there is something in the water here,” she said, trying to get her parents to laugh. To do something other than just stare at her. “I’m sorry,” she said finally, bursting out in tears. So much for holding it together.
She felt Cole stand up while holding her hand, but before he could do anything, her mother walked over to her then pulled her up into her arms. “Don’t be sorry, sweetie. It’s a good thing. It really is. Just give us time to adjust to this. Come over here, John, and give your daughter a hug. Don’t let her think we’re mad at her.”
“I’m not mad,” her father said. “It’s just, well, you’re my baby, and well, I don’t know you. Seriously? You’re having your own baby?”
“I am, Dad. I’m sorry if you’re disappointed in me.”
“No, no,” her mother said. “Just surprised. Let it sink in.” Her mother was smiling now, then turned and hugged her father. “We’re going to have two grandkids at once. Wow. Could it be twins?”
Her mother was looking at Cole now, so he answered. “The last ultrasound showed one, so I think we are safe this time.”
“This time,” Nick said, finally finding his voice. “So you’re planning on more? Are you planning on marrying my sister too, or just continuing to knock her up?”
“Enough,” Trixie said. “Nick, that is completely uncalled for and you know it.”
“No, it’s not,” Cole said. “I’d react the same way if it were my sister. Then I’d remember she was a responsible adult that could take care of herself. Not that Rene needs to worry, because I’m not going anywhere.”
***
Cole was standing down by the water an hour later. It went about as well as it could have, if he was honest with himself. Susan and Mallory had pulled Rene aside with Trixie and were currently talking about baby showers and comparing notes on how they each felt.
He didn’t really want to hear those details, though. Part of him was still frustrated over the way things were, the other part jealous that he couldn’t experience it with Rene more.
“Want to explain what is going on?”
Cole turned to see John and Nick standing there. He’d left to get some air, but knew they’d follow him down eventually. He would have done the same thing in their shoes.
“What’s there to explain? Rene is pregnant.”
“What we want to know,” Nick said, “is what your intentions are once this child is born?”
Cole held his frustration and anger in. It was hard to explain something he didn’t know the answer to himself. “I’m not going anywhere, if that is what you want to know.”
“I didn’t think you would. Or I hoped you wouldn’t,” John said. “If my daughter looked like she was upset over this whole situation I might have to go get my shotgun, but since she seems happy now, you’re off the hook there.”
“No, he isn’t off the hook,” Nick said. “She cried.”
“She cried because you overreacted,” Cole said. “She cried because she was worried how you would respond to the news. She cried because she didn’t want to disappoint you guys. She didn’t cry because I wasn’t standing beside her.”
He knew his tone was harsh, but he didn’t care. He’d take all the blame on his shoulders if he had to, but he wasn’t going to let them say he wasn’t making Rene happy. He didn’t need someone telling him he wasn’t good enough, or wasn’t doing enough. He was doing everything he could and more. It just didn’t seem to be enough for Rene. Why else hadn’t she moved in with him yet?
“Nick,” John said, placing his hand on his son’s shoulder. “Listen, Cole. This is a shock to us all. I know you’re a good person; otherwise Rene would have never gotten involved with you. I know you’ll do the right thing by your child, too. I guess what I want to know is what you’re going to do in regards to my daughter.”
Cole snorted. “Maybe you should take your shotgun and go talk to her. It’s all in her hands right now. I’ve asked, I’ve suggested, and I’ve bugged her enough about our living situation and relationship. I don’t want to push her away now.”
“What does that mean?” Nick asked.
“Go talk to your sister.” Cole turned and walked away, sick of explaining himself and his actions.
Wouldn’t Understand
The next morning, Cole was out mowing his lawn when his mother’s car pulled into his driveway. He wasn’t expecting her and didn’t know why she was here.