Moving down the long driveway to my parents' house—which I still call home—I'm hit with a sudden jolt of nerves. I hadn't thought this through. All I knew when I saw Poppy and, figured out I was going to be a Dad, was that I wouldn't let her go. I needed her with me so I could make sure she didn't disappear as quickly as she had the last time.
My parents are cool, but perhaps I should have given some thought to having a woman move in with me, and the fact she's pregnant. I wince at the idea of the lecture that Dad and my uncles might give me. Growing up, they'd grilled safe sex into our heads, to the point of it becoming embarrassing.
After being with Poppy, I never wanted a rubber to separate us. She'd felt terrific wrapped around me—all slick and hot and sexy as fuck.
Groaning, I shift uncomfortably in my seat while at the same time, I hope I get the opportunity to experience that again. I know I need to tread carefully. The last thing I want is for her to be in tears because of me. My sister Sofia was always crying while she was pregnant, much to her husband, Shane’s horror.
So, stopping the car in front of the ranch-style house, I'm relieved that I thought about my sister. The family has a habit of dousing any lust running through my blood.
Switching the engine off, I unclip my belt and run around to Poppy's side. She's still snoozing and looks so damn cute that I want to cradle her in my arms and take her straight to my bed. I want to hold onto her while she sleeps—that’s all I want right now—to keep her and know she is mine.
Instead, I catch Mom hovering at the window as I lean forward and brush Poppy’s dark hair back from her face. She moans seconds before her green eyes focus on mine. “We’re here,” I whisper.
“Hmm,” she stretches and pauses when she notices my eyes caressing her body.
“You’re beautiful.” I smile and quickly kiss her on the lips. “Let’s go inside before Mom thinks I’ve lost my manners.”
Unclipping her belt, I enjoy the way she reacts to me being close, so I make sure to hold her gaze as I grab her hips and lift her down to the ground. Her eyes darken, and if I'm not careful, Mom is going to get an eye full—of something no son ever wants his mother to see.
“I’m nervous, Jaxon,” Poppy admits, chewing on her lip.
“If you don’t stop chewing on your lip, I’m going to put my mouth there and give my mom something to watch,” I growl.
“You wouldn’t dare?”
With a smirk, I cup the back of her head. Holding her close, I press a kiss against her plump lips. “I don’t want to stop,” I whisper, my eyes following the tip of her tongue as she runs it between the seam of her lips. “But,” I force out, “we need to.” Taking a step back, I take her hand and gently tug her toward the house.
Glancing at the windows of the house, I can’t spot Mom peeping through the curtains anymore. Smiling, I turn and look at Poppy, who looks like I'm leading her into the lion's den. I chuckle. "Mom and Dad are great. You have no reason to worry. Trust me." I squeeze her hand and pull her into my home.
I roll my eyes when I notice Mom and Dad on the sofa, Dad, with his arm around Mom as she snuggles into his side.
Poppy fidgets beside me and hisses, “Jaxon, say something.”
Giving an awkward laugh, I clear my throat. “Poppy, this is my mom and dad, Rosie and Ruben.”
Mom jumps up. “It’s lovely to meet you, Poppy.” She raises a brow, staring at me like I’m a naughty child. “Jaxon?”
"Poppy is my girlfriend, and she's pregnant." I grin so damn full that I catch Dad off guard.
Poppy looks just as surprised as my parents do after my admission. I'm not sure at which part though, at least from my parents' point of view. I know I've surprised Poppy with calling her, my girlfriend. I'm not calling her anything else—she's carrying my child, so I'm allowed to have a claim over her.
“Another grandchild?” Mom whispers. “Oh, Ruben.”
Dad moves in behind Mom and wraps an arm around her waist. “Welcome to the family, Poppy,” Dad says in a rough voice. “It’s nice to meet the woman who has had our son tied in knots for months.”
“We had a misunderstanding,” I add. “I’ve asked Poppy to move in here with me until we can find a place of our own.”
“Of course.” Mom grins, her hands twitching. “How far along are you?”
“Just over four months.”
“Baby will be moving now?” Mom says, excitement in her eyes.
“Yes.” Poppy grins, her free hand caressing the baby bump.
"May I?" Mom asks, and there is no mistaking what Mom means by her question.
Poppy squeezes my hand and moves into my side, which my parents' notice. Dad frowns, and Mom stills.
I turn my gaze toward Poppy, and I see tears hovering in her eyes. "Hey, it's okay." I brush the loose tears away with my thumb.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. McKenzie—” she meets my gaze, “—I’m hesitant because Jaxon hasn’t felt our baby moving yet.” Turning back to my parents, she adds, “I’ll be more than happy for you to feel your grandchild later.”
Overcome with emotion, I drop my forehead to hers and kiss the tip of her nose.
“That’s so sweet,” Mom says, hands over her heart. “Our son is an amazing young man, Poppy, and I’m so glad he’s found you again. No mother likes seeing her son upset.” She pats Poppy on the hand. “Jaxon, why don’t you show Poppy upstairs and I’ll make some tea and cakes. Ready in an hour.” Mom flutters off, leaving a smirk on Dad’s face.
“I hope she isn’t offended?” Poppy asks, her chin wobbling.
“She isn’t.” Dad grins. “Better do as your mother suggested.” He follows Mom.
With a slight tug, I lead Poppy upstairs while wondering what she thinks of my home and my parents. It should feel strange having a woman here. However, I like Poppy being with me, which is why I lead her to my room, cringing as I catch sight of the unmade bed. "I was eager to get going this morning." I shrug. "I hope you don't mind sharing with me. I want you close. Make sure you don't disappear on me again," I quietly admit.
"I'm not going to disappear, Jaxon. I promise." Poppy moves further into the room and slowly turns around. "Won't your parents have something to say about me sharing a room with you?"
“I don’t need my parents’ permission to share a room. I’m a grown man, Poppy, in case you hadn’t noticed.”
She laughs. “Oh, I noticed.”
Her amusement is so spontaneous that I feel the barrier that had me hesitant with her break. Keeping my eyes focused on her, I close the distance. She watches me warily. However, her eyes become heated when I place my hands on her hips and slowly move her backward until she's sitting on the end.
I kneel at her feet and ask softly, "Did you mean what you said about touching our baby?"
Tentatively, she reaches out and caresses the side of my face. I do the most natural thing in the world and turn into her touch. “I meant it. Not even David has touched my stomach.”
Nodding slowly, I swallow hard when Poppy takes my hand and presses it against the swell of her belly. I feel a slight movement against the palm of my hand and lift my surprised gaze to Poppy's. "She's moving."
“It could be a boy.”
Shaking my head, I place my other hand on her belly and move them around, enjoying the feeling of touching her. “I don’t care what we’re having, as long as both you and our baby are okay.” I dip my head, not wanting her to see the emotion in my eyes.
She takes my breath away, and with so many emotions going through my body, the last thing I want to do is scare her away.
Her hands cover mine on her body. “Would your mom mind if I lie down for a bit?”
“Are you okay?”
“I didn’t sleep well last night.”
Smiling, I move toward the closet. "Let me change the bed, and then you rest for as long as you want to."
Shaking her head, Poppy moves closer. “The bed is okay.” She kicks her shoes off while holding my gaze, a teas
ing glint appearing in hers. Her hands reach for her blouse and slowly start to open the buttons revealing smooth skin.
I’m disappointed she has a stretchy thing beneath her shirt. It doesn't hide how swollen her breasts are and, she laughs when I stare.
“It’s the pregnancy.” Tossing her shirt to the chair beside the bed, she slips out of the navy leggings.
Swallowing hard, I nervously usher her into my bed and cover her with the quilt. When she smiles and pats the space beside her, I don’t wait.
I kick my shoes off and staying on top of the quilt, lie beside her.
She's beautiful, with her dark hair spread out on my pillow. I've often wondered over these few months about how she'd look in my bed—the real thing is so much hotter.
“Can I ask you something?”
Her eyes search mine as she nods.
“Would you have looked for me if there wasn’t a baby?”
She doesn’t glance away, which I consider positive, and then she answers, “I wish I could say yes, but honestly, I’m not sure. I missed you. I may have thought about you once or twice.”
“Only once or twice, huh?”
She reaches out and caresses my face, rubbing her thumb along my cheekbone, and enjoying the feel of my facial hair beneath her fingers. "A lot, if you must know. You were still a student. I didn't want to get in the way of what you had planned for your future. I thought one night would get each other out of our systems." She pauses. "It didn't work."
“I looked for you,” I admit. “I saw you with David and thought he was your boyfriend.”
"What?" She blinks and tries to shove herself up from the pillow. However, I gently push her backward.
She asks, "You came after me?"
"I did. Not right away, but once I realized you weren't coming back. Last night in Kenza, my brother was talking me into going after you again, regardless of the fact I thought you had a boyfriend.” I shrug. “And then there you were looking gorgeous.” Grinning, I add, “I think you need to wear that dress again. For my eyes only, of course."
"Of course." She giggles, becoming silent. "Are you sure I'm okay being here." She puts her fingers over my mouth. "I don't mean because of your parents, I mean—"
I remove her hand and kiss her palm. “I know what you mean.”
22
Poppy
My heart thumps behind my breastbone as I feel the sincerity behind Jaxon’s words. He very slowly slips a hand beneath the sheet and spreads his fingers over our baby. The heat from him warms me in places that I shouldn’t be thinking about right now.
I mean, he's a sexy man and, lying here in bed with him, while I'm wearing only a thin barrier from his touch, hurts—the right kind of hurt. My limbs twitch, wanting to open wider and beg for his touch. I’ve always reacted this way to Jaxon—from the moment we met. Nothing has changed with how my body reacts to his closeness. I’m also sure Jaxon would have no issue with putting out the fire burning through me.
“You’re blushing,” he states, giving me a knowing look. “You’re enjoying having my hand on you.” He pauses and moves his face so close to mine that I feel his breath whisper against my lips. “Do you want to have my mouth on you, Poppy?”
“Mmm,” I moan staring at his mouth.
His lips brush softly back and forth along the seam of mine. “You know what I want right now, which isn’t going to happen, huh? I want you naked so I can touch every part of you. I want to cradle your belly in my hands while I enter you from behind. I want to make slow love to you in my bed.”
“Jaxon,” I whisper. “Being pregnant has made me really horny.” I press closer.
“Fuck, Poppy!” he hisses. “I’m trying to behave. You’re not helping.”
“I don’t want you to behave. I never have.”
Breathing heavily, Jaxon grabs my hips and moves me slightly away. “I want you too.” He takes my hand and presses it to the front of his jeans before quickly removing it. "I want you to rest." He kisses the tip of my nose. "Tonight though…my best behavior ends."
"You expect me to sleep now, you've turned me on?"
“You will sleep.” He brushes his fingers across my brow. “Because you have nothing to worry about. You’re where you belong with whom you belong.” He kisses my lips, albeit briefly—too briefly. “Sleep.”
Jaxon moves from the bed and leaves me alone in his room. Frustrated, I inhale deeply. There is part of me that admires him for walking away from me right now. I've been back in his life less than twenty-four hours. At least he accepted he was the father without one question. That hadn’t surprised me either.
He was good whereas I hadn’t wanted to be. My body has ached for Jaxon far longer than our one night together. There is also a small part, buried deep inside of me, that wonders if he’s doing this because I’m pregnant. Not because he wants me, but because he wants our child. With how he reacts to me, it's probably all in my mind. Worry hovers, and I can't get it out of my head.
Maybe I'm hormonal. I’m not usually one to worry.
Either way, I’m far from tired as I look around my new room. It’s a masculine room with dark wooden furniture: fitted closet, large desk, tallboy and, the bed I’m lying on. The bed is large and fills up a good size of the room, but there is still plenty of space to move around. The armchairs on either side of the room look comfortable. There’s even a footstool on my side of the bed. Beside the chair, an old Victorian lamp sits on a small round table. Cozy. Looking around, I can't decide whether or not his mom has decorated or Jaxon. It's so like Jaxon and suits him.
Rolling to my side, I close my eyes, feeling sleepy.
***
Sleeping for a couple of hours, I washed and found something a bit cooler to wear. A soft tea dress in white and lilac. It flows softly around my thighs as I move downstairs in search of Jaxon. Something to eat and drink would be good too. I never knew pregnant women got so hungry. There is eating for two, but I’m sure I’m eating for four with how hungry I’ve become.
Halfway down the stairs, I stop and listen to soft voices coming from the kitchen. My name is mentioned. However, I can't hear in what context. As I get closer, Ruben's words are clear, "You don't have to date her to be a Dad to your child, Jaxon. Don't you think you're rushing things having her move in with you?" His words cause me to pause. Don't they like me?
Nervously, I hover not knowing what to do as tears fill my eyes, seconds from falling. My feet move me forward until I'm closer to the partly opened doorway.
Jaxon leans against the kitchen table, his parents' stand together in front of him with sunlight streaming into the room. Jaxon runs his hands through his hair, and says, “It will be much easier having her with me. I know what I’m doing, Dad.”
Surprise fills me, and I slowly back away, not wanting to believe Jaxon only asked me here for the baby. I know I thought about this. What girl wouldn't in my situation. However, to hear his parents' question him in that way, and his response, upsets me.
Quickly exiting through the front door, I turn. “Oomph,” I hiss, smacking into a hard-male body. His arms go around my waist, preventing me from tumbling to the ground.
“Poppy, right? I’m sorry. Are you okay?”
As soon as I have my balance, he releases me, until he gets a look at my face.
Frowning, Ryan asks, “What’s happened?” He glances at the front door before his concerned gaze searches my face.
“It doesn’t matter,” I whisper, my mouth trembling as I inhale deeply. I don’t want to break down in front of Ryan or someone else. What I'd wanted by escaping out here was my own space to think.
Ryan tilts his head and frowns. “My brother has done something, right?” He shakes his head and wraps an arm around my shoulders. “You’re carrying my niece or nephew, so that makes you family.” He grins. “Come and sit with me.” Guiding me into a cushioned-rocking chair, he sits beside me.
“Are all the McKenzie men handsome?” Shocked, I quickly cover my
mouth with a hand. Those words weren’t meant to leave my mouth.
Ryan’s eyes twinkle as he chuckles. “Yes.”
"Confident as well." I sigh, wiping at my cheeks with cold fingers.
"We don't know each other, but if you need to talk, then I'm a good listener." He draws a cross over his heart with a finger. "I promise."
I contemplate what to say because, after all, he is Jaxon’s brother. "It's difficult for me. Yesterday I was in a hotel with my brother, and today Jaxon has moved me into his family home and into his bedroom."
Ryan’s gaze shoots up to his hairline in surprise. “Mom and Dad are letting him have a girl in his room? That’s not fair!”
“Seriously? How old are you?”
He winks. “Old enough to want girls to share my room.”
"I've forgotten why I needed fresh air now." I glance over to the horizon and see nothing but fields covered in different shades of green, leading toward rolling hills. It's a beautiful place to be. "Why has Jaxon brought me here, Ryan?"
Focusing on his face, I see the surprise and gentleness in him I hadn't noticed before. At Kenza last night he'd come across as a player, but loyal to his brother. Today he's letting me see a deep caring inside of him—not just for his family either.
“My brother has been distracted for months. You know why? Because it turns out he’s been missing you.” He takes my hands and holding them between his, says, “The baby is a surprise and not just to him. But he was coming after you without knowing he was going to be a Dad. Anything else, then you’re going to have to talk to Jaxon about it.” He pauses. “My brother is pigheaded. If he only wanted you with him for the baby, then why would he have you sleeping in his bedroom with him and not the guest room? There are two guest rooms upstairs. Think about that?” Leaning forward, he hesitates and then gives me a kiss on the top of my head. “I’ll give you some peace…for now.”
He disappears from view, and I'm left with my thoughts. I know Jaxon wants the baby and me. I really am aware of this. Perhaps my doubts have everything to do with the hormonal change going on in my body.
McKenzie Cousins Box Set Four: Books Ten, Eleven, Twelve Page 10