Baby I'm Yours

by Rosie Praks

  “Wait! What? With you? Where?”

  “To my apartment.”

  “To do what?” she asked, astonished.

  “To live there, of course. So we can look after our baby together,” Hunter explained.

  Clarice was shocked silent for a full minute. Then she shook her head when she realized Hunter was still holding her hand. “Let my hand go.”

  She swatted away his hand. Just touching Hunter already caused her hands to heat up. She couldn’t imagine what would happen if she were to stay with him like he proposed. She wiped her warm hands uneasily and looked directly at him. “What are you proposing?”

  “I’m proposing we cohabitate so our baby can benefit from having both parents together.”

  “No, I will not be moving out of my house. You have no right to interfere in my life. Plus, we will not cohabitate. I am no animal. Now leave.”

  No way, no way in hell could she cohabitate with Hunter. Just staring at him standing in her house made her go all gooey inside. How was she to handle herself if she moved in with Hunter too? Wouldn’t she just want to tie him up and kiss him silly? Now she felt like a dominatrix and this just shocked her.

  “If you don’t leave with me, then there’s no way around it,” Hunter declared.

  Clarice smiled in victory. Thank heavens, he gives—

  “I’m moving in.” Hunter burst her bubble.

  What… what… whaaat?

  Clarice was shaking like a leaf. If her body were a washing machine, she would be on the spin cycle by now. But she composed herself, and with a firm determined stride, she walked to him and poked him in the chest. “Did you hit your head so hard last night that you’ve got a concussion? You are not moving into my house.”

  “But I am moving in,” Hunter repeated firmly.

  “No. No, you are not. You can’t,” Clarice repeated. She was starting to get irritated with him. Why won’t he listen? “Listen, Hunter. I will not allow some man I don’t know to live with me. I will not be paying extra money feeding another person.”

  “But you do know me. We slept together that night in Queenstown.”

  Why did Hunter have to remind her of that accident? If she hadn’t slept with him, they wouldn’t be having this conversation in the first place.

  “So what? It was an accident,” she said through gritted teeth.

  “So then I’ll pay for board. Since you’re so concerned with money. I have plenty.”

  The mention of money caught her off guard. Not that she was greedy or anything, but she wasn’t an extravagantly rich person like he was, born with a silver spoon in his mouth. No way would she allow someone to live in her house for free. She had to think about the hot water she had to pay for.

  “How much will you be paying?”

  “Two hundred?”

  “That much? Why don’t you go back to live in your own apartment?”

  “Okay, four hundred, then.”

  “And food?”

  “And food too, then. I’ll put in an extra two hundred for food each week. How’s that sound?”

  “Well, it is very tempting…” Wait, what am I thinking? She almost let him lure her into accepting his offer for the sake of an extra six hundred dollars in her bank account every week. “No, no. That’s not it. You’re not getting the point. I can raise my child by myself. There’s no need for your help.”

  Hunter had enough. Here he’d come all the way to her house to propose this deal to her for the sake of their baby. He’d even offered to pay for boarding. What else did she want? He knew all too well what it was like not to have a complete family. He didn’t want his child to grow up like him. Living with a single parent was very heart-wrenching for any child. He didn’t want his child to experience that too. Plus, there was also the fact that he had come to like Clarice. He didn’t know when that feeling had started, but after their mistaken night together in Queenstown, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. Even in his dreams, he couldn’t escape her clutches. And despite not knowing she was his mysterious goddess, he still yearned for her.

  The idea of cohabiting with Clarice emerged as he was looking through Winton’s tablet. No matter how many times he told himself it was a ridiculous idea and there were other means to solve this particular problem, his heart and brain wouldn’t let the idea drop. Inside, he felt a sudden burst of happiness at the thought of living with her, to share the same food, the same living space, and maybe the same bed. And so here he was, proposing to her that they live together.

  But why was she being so stubborn? He was a hot guy, a rich, hot guy, who every girl on the planet wanted a piece of. And news like this, if he were to propose to another girl, would spread like wildfire. All the girls would pretend to be pregnant with him just so they could live with him.

  Clarice was running through basically the same train of thought. Why did Hunter deliver this proposition? No matter how many times she asked herself this, she couldn’t find the answer. The only answer she got when she lifted her eyes from the carpet was the intense electric charge running through her being. And of course, the sudden desire to jump on him and kiss him senseless.

  “You can’t,” she said, looking everywhere but his eyes. If she allowed him to live with her, she might as well declare herself insane and check herself into the mental institution. Hunter was a complete threat to her wellbeing and her sanity.

  “Shouldn’t you be happy that I’m taking responsibility?” Hunter asked. “And for God’s sake, look at me when I’m talking.” He held her face between his palms.

  “I don’t need you to take responsibility. I’m capable of looking after my own baby.”

  “Well, too bad. The baby is half mine.”

  Hunter had his eyes locked with hers, and then like magic he was pulled into that string of desire again, watching her tongue poked out to wet those lush ruby lips. Without realizing, his face moved ever so closer towards her, until…

  “Let go of my face.” Clarice yanked Hunter’s hands off her cheeks, allowing her heart to beat normally again.

  That was close, too close for her liking. It was like she was being pulled by an unknown force and was leaning into him unintentionally. Turning her back to him, she spoke. “Haven’t I told you already? The baby is mine. I didn’t want your sperm. I wanted your cousin’s sperm. But somehow my rascal cousin got you mixed up. So there.”

  Hunter stomped to her and twirled her around to face him. He invaded her private space until his nose was only an inch from hers and then he hissed into her face, “Too bad. You’ve gotten me.”

  “Argh, get out.” Clarice plastered her palm in his face and shoved him away. There was no point in arguing with him anymore. If she allowed him to continue with this useless conversation, her temper would surely explode. “It’s impolite to stay in someone’s house without their permission. So go. I’m relieving you of your responsibility.”

  “I don’t—”

  Flash!

  Hunter was suddenly blinded by white flashes reflected from the window.

  “Wait, what was that?” He immediately pulled Clarice into his arms, holding her protectively, while his eyes scanned from left to right in search of the perpetrator lurking in the shadows.

  Damn, he knew for sure it must be one of those annoying paparazzi hoping to get some sweet photos of him and Clarice for their next big feature.

  “What?” Clarice asked, wide-eyed, gripping Hunter’s sleeve.

  “Someone is taking pictures of us. I bet it’s one of those paparazzi again.” He cursed.

  “Then get out quickly.” Clarice pushed him away when she realized she was using his body as her shield. “I don’t want to be on the front page again.”

  “Then you have to let me stay. If they see me leave your house now, they’ll assumed we’re lovers, and when they find out you’re pregnant with my baby too…”

  Hunter left it at that. He hadn’t a clue as to what the paparazzi would do. But when he saw Clarice’s stark-whit
e face and big, round frightened eyes, his face stretched in a big fat grin. He knew she was stuck in his trap. He had to thank that stalker later, but right now, he used this situation to his advantage. He decided to blackmail her, conning her into letting him stay, even if it was just for the night.

  “So you better let me stay tonight. Otherwise—”

  “Fine!” Clarice finally gave in. One night with Hunter should be okay. She could control herself. She could even lock herself in her room. That way she could prevent herself form attacking Hunter in his sleep. “You can stay. For one night only. And under one condition.” She smiled like a sly cat.

  “What is it?”

  “You sleep on the couch.”

  “On the couch? But?”

  “Take it or leave.”

  “Fine by me,” Hunter said, agreeing on the spot. Tonight he’d sleep on the couch; tomorrow night he’d sleep in her bed. All he had to do was con her again. He smiled slyly at his intended plan. And then he kissed her, smack on her lips.

  Did… did that Casanova just kiss me?

  Clarice was so shocked she neglected to notice Hunter walking outside to retrieve his suitcase from the car.

  Oh, heaven help me. What am I going to do with Hunter living under the same roof as me? And then the startling conclusion dawned on her. The definition of cohabitation was “to live together in a sexual relationship, especially when not legally married.”

  She smacked herself on the forehead. Did I just agree to have sexual relations with Hunter for the sake of our baby? Even for one night?

  Hell no! Lock the door now and throw the key out the window.

  Chapter 4

  Cohabiting with Clarice wasn’t supposed to be this uncomfortable, Hunter thought as he smashed the lumpy, rock-hard pillow with his fist a few times when it still refused to give him the comfort he craved. And the couch was the same, hard as a piece of wood.

  “Argh,” he growled, frustrated with his sleeping arrangement. God, he was so damn uncomfortable. He was sure to have a crick in his neck in the morning. Then he hit the pillow with his fist again before tossing and trying to sleep in a different position.

  It was no use, absolutely no use. His body was made only for the luxury a soft, feathery bed could provide.

  Shit! He should have brought his custom-made pillow with him. At least that would be soft enough to sleep on, not this lump of rock. Then he smiled as he remembered a certain soft pillow he could get access to at this time of night.

  Hunter took out his cell phone and checked the time—1:30 a.m. Perfect. Clarice would be asleep by now. He could maybe tiptoe into her room and sleep with her for maybe a good six hours before coming back downstairs to pretend to sleep on the couch. Wasn’t that what his intention was in the beginning, so he could sleep with her again?

  Yes. He smiled. So with that thought in mind, he tiptoed to her bedroom upstairs and turned the doorknob.

  Shit, she locked the door.

  He tried the knob a few more times just to make sure it wasn’t just his eagerness to sleep with her and he’d misjudged the locked door, but no, the damn door was still locked.

  Fantastic, Hunter! Just bloody fantastic! Now he was condemned to sleeping on that rock for the rest of the night. The thought wasn’t tempting at all.

  Feeling defeated, he hung his head low and, with his shoulders sagged, headed back downstairs to the stiff plank-like couch, hoping to get in some sleep while waiting for dawn to arrive.

  “Ahem…” Clarice pretended to cough to wake Hunter up. The damn man sleeps like a log, she thought. No, he looked more like a dog, a shaggy blond dog that sleeps like a log. Even when she came downstairs early this morning to make breakfast, all the while banging and turning her whole kitchen upside down in hopes he would wake up and leave her house, he still didn’t stir.

  Coughing louder, she still couldn’t rouse him.

  This called for drastic measures.

  “Hunter, wake up!” she shouted into his ear.

  “What? How? Who? When?” Hunter jolted upright, then slumped back on the couch and fell promptly back to sleep.

  My God, what was this man made of? It was already 7:30 a.m. What was he doing? Sleeping the day away? Even though she didn’t have work today, she still needed to go grocery shopping. So the sooner Hunter left, the sooner she could get the shopping done.

  “Hunter!” Clarice shouted loud enough to wake the dead.

  “No, Betty. Wake me at noon,” Hunter moaned in his sleep. “Want to sleep a bit more.”

  “Betty?” she exclaimed. “Who’s Betty?”

  Clarice straightened herself, coughing again.

  “Dori, not yet. I want to sleep a bit more. Too sleepy.”

  My God! This man! She gasped as she came to the startling conclusion.

  She just couldn’t believe her ears. How could she sleep with him back in Queenstown? He had his own harem of women to cater to all his needs. First it was Betty and now it’s Dori. His women were countless.

  Clarice was all riled up at this knowledge and was about to bonk Hunter on the head when a wave of lust hit her like a speeding train.

  My gosh, heaven help me.

  Clarice moved back a bit and bit her lip. This wasn’t good. She was just like one of his women, affected by his male pheromone.

  No, it’s not. She debated with herself. It’s just my pregnancy hormones going haywire. Hunter is just hot. That’s why I’m in this bizarre condition. It’s best if I stay far away from him.

  So she tried testing that safe distance. After walking backwards and forward, she came to the conclusion that three meters was the perfect distance for her body to behave normally.

  Then another problem cropped up. How was she to wake Hunter when he was so far away?

  Being the bright girl she was, an idea popped into her head, and she smiled, going to the closet where she kept all her cleaning supplies. Picking up the long broomstick, she went back into the lounge, and making sure that she was a good three meters away, she poked Hunter in the ribs.

  “Oh, what the hell!” Hunter jolted upright, his eyes flying open, now fully awake.

  “About time.” Clarice heaved a sigh of relief. “Now do get dressed and proceed out the front door,” she instructed with her broomstick in hand, pointing it directly to the exit.

  Hunter didn’t pay any heed to her words. He was too mesmerized by the sight of Clarice’s curvaceous body early this morning. My God, she looked amazing in that dress. Do all pregnant women look this sexy? Or was it just Clarice in particular? Did she just turn sexy overnight?

  “Hunter, did you not hear what I said?” Clarice shouted again. Hunter looked like he was still in a dream, staring at her.

  Hunter smiled like the Cheshire Cat. “Is that any way to wake the father of your child?” He just couldn’t help teasing her this morning. Somehow, just seeing her affected by his presence really turned him on.

  “Excuse me?” She scoffed, gawking at his strange behavior at this early hour. “When…?”

  Hunter decided at that moment to sit up. As soon as his feet hit the floor, Clarice jumped back a meter.

  “What?” Hunter asked when he saw her reaction. “Why are you so far away from me? Scared I might eat you?”

  “Yes.” Wait, did I just say that out loud?

  “Don’t worry. If I wanted to eat you, I would have done so last night.” He smirked.

  Damn! Why did he have to mention last night? If only the door wasn’t locked, then he would’ve had his soft pillow to sleep on already. Blast, he could feel his neck muscles aching already. He might need to go see a therapist after this.

  “Stop smiling like a cat with a bird. I think it’s about time you get out.” Clarice held the broom in defense mode, just in case Hunter advanced towards her. If he did, then bam! A bump would appear on his head.

  “Are you going to hit me with that broom, Avocado?” Hunter’s voice shattered her illusion and brought her back to reality.

/>   “That’s just in case you do anything nasty,” she said squarely.

  “Like I want to.” Hunter lied while his hands moved to massage his strained neck.

  “Then get out.” Clarice pointed to the door again.

  “I will. You don’t have to keep telling me,” he snapped. He wasn’t happy that he had to leave already. His plan of having a good night’s sleep on her soft lap was looking dimmer and dimmer as the sun shone brighter and brighter. “Have to think of another way to stay,” he mumbled to himself.

  “What are you muttering about now?”

  “What? No, nothing.” And then a thought struck him. “I was just thinking it would be great if you let the father of your child stay a little longer. At least to freshen up and eat breakfast.” Yes, killing two birds with one stone. If he could at least have a shower to relieve his aching muscles and stay with Clarice a bit longer, he would be on cloud nine.

  “You’re lucky I’m feeling generous this morning. Yes, you may use the shower and share my breakfast, but once you’ve eaten, out you go.”

  Hunter mischievously stepped closer to Clarice and snatched the broomstick from her hand. “Are you really sure you want me to leave?” he teased.

  “Of course. Now go and freshen up or leave now.”

  “Okay. But aren’t you going to give the father of your child a good morning kiss?”

  “What?” Clarice shouted. “As if. Now go!”

  Clarice had enough of Hunter teasing her. Plus, she hadn’t a lot of time for dilly-dallying. She needed to go grocery shopping, and if she were to delay that task, she was sure it would be noon before she could get any shopping done. So with all of her might, she pushed Hunter upstairs. Hunter, though, was having too much fun teasing her, so he continued to play their little game. He dug his heels into the floor, preventing his body from moving forward. But when he saw Clarice huffing and puffing from exertion, he reluctantly obliged and went upstairs willingly.

  Still laughing, Hunter went into the guest bedroom. Just as fast as his fit of laughter came on, it dissipated.