“What’s going on?”
“Nothing fits. I have no clothes. I have nothing to wear on this interview.”
He twisted his mouth to the side, then went to his closet. He took out a white button-down shirt and handed it to her. She slipped it on. It was huge on her, except around her middle where her stomach continued to grow. She pulled it down and tied the ends into a knot at the side, making it somewhat better fitting and more fashionable.
“Beautiful,” he said. He kissed her forehead and went to get dressed.
She had gone on four interviews by the end of the week, but had the suspicion that her growing belly was keeping them from calling. Friday night, when Gabe finally got home, she nearly attacked him. She threw her arms around him, crushing herself to him.
“Hi,” he said, chuckling.
“I can’t find a job,” she blurted out. “No one wants to hire a pregnant woman who’s going to leave in a few months to have a baby.”
He smoothed her hair down and kissed her forehead like he’d been doing recently. “I’m sure you’ll find something. And if you don’t, we’ll be okay.”
She looked into his eyes for a long moment. All she wanted was to feel his body against hers, the warmth and comfort of his skin next to hers. He’d barely touched her since they moved in. Most days, he didn’t even kiss her lips, just her forehead, like she was a little girl. She’d felt so lonely. Not having her classes to go to and her classmates, not having Mikaela, who’d been her constant friend. She needed him.
“Kiss me,” she said.
He pressed his lips to hers, but it was nothing like the kisses they’d had before. There was sweetness, but little passion. She pressed harder back, forcing her tongue into his mouth and pulling his hair at the back of his neck. It seemed to be working. He pulled her closer and he kissed back with as much fervor as she kissed him. But then, he stepped back and smiled at her.
“Hungry? I’ll make dinner.”
“Wait.” She let her arms fall for a moment, then had an idea. She pulled her shirt over her head and stepped out of her pants. “I’m hungry for you.”
He took in the sight of her almost naked body. He adjusted his pants, and that made her smile. “But…”
“Don’t you want me anymore?” she asked. “Or don’t you like my big belly?”
His face crumpled into shock. “What? Is that what you think?” He came to her and put one hand on her belly, pressing the other into her back. “I want you more now than I ever have. Your belly, with my child in it, is the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Then why won’t you touch me!” Her hands went to him again, pulling him to her.
“Because of the baby. I don’t know. It seems wrong.”
“It’s not. Trust me. My doctor assured me that having sex right up until my water breaks is perfectly fine.”
He put his hands on her cheeks, and his eyes grew wild with desire. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
He pressed his lips to hers in a kiss that could devour her if she let it. He tugged at her lip and pressed his hard cock against her. They were wearing far too many clothes, though.
She reached to his pants and unzipped his jeans, then pushed them to the floor. He stepped out of them as he released her bra, cupping her full breasts.
“I have been wanting you so badly,” he whispered in her ear.
“Then take me.”
He pushed her panties down and picked her up, wrapping her legs around his waist. Even with her extra weight, it was nothing for his strong arms. His dick rubbed against her clit, making her wet all over. He lifted her enough to slide inside her.
She moaned loudly when he entered her, the delicious sensation running through her whole body. He pressed her back against the wall and moved up and down inside her, hard, like he was trying to make her head hit the ceiling.
She wrapped her legs tight around him to pull him in deeper, scratching her nails along his back. It didn’t take long. She felt the orgasm coming and screamed out in pleasure as it overtook her.
He pounded into her three more times with a deep thrust, then shuddered as he held her close.
“Oh God,” he said.
“Tell me again why you made me wait for that?” she breathed into his ear.
“Not fucking you like that every hour was maybe the biggest the mistake of my life. You feel so good.”
“So do you.”
He lifted her again to slide out of her, and set her gently on the floor. “First time in our new place.”
“Aren’t we supposed to do it in every room in the apartment or something?” She winked.
“I do believe that’s a rule, yes.”
“We’ll have to work on that right away.”
“Deal.” He kissed her before picking up his clothes from the floor.
She was just pulling her shirt back on when someone knocked on the door. “Are you expecting someone?”
He shook his head. “Stay here.”
She quickly pulled up her pants as he went to look out the peephole.
“Some guy,” he said quietly. He opened the door a crack, so he could see who it was. “Can I help you?”
“Yeah, you can help me, jackass. Let me see my wife.”
Carolyn’s stomach twisted when she heard Sam’s voice. What was he doing here? How had he found her?
“I think you have the wrong apartment,” Gabe said, and started to shut the door.
“No,” Carolyn said, panic already filling her chest. “No, he doesn’t.”
Sam pushed the door open farther and gave her a joyless smile. “There’s she is. My little wife. Pregnant with some other dude’s baby.”
Gabe looked at her, horrified. “He’s your husband?”
She bit her lip and nodded.
Chapter 9
Sam pushed his way into the apartment, easy to do with Gabe frozen in shock and no longer trying to keep him out.
“How could you not tell me?” Gabe asked.
Carolyn twisted her fingers together, looking from Gabe to Sam.
“Aww, you wanted to keep me a secret, did you?” Sam asked.
“No, it’s not that.” Carolyn stuck her chin out. “It’s just been so long that we’ve been separated, maybe I forgot that I was even married.”
Gabe crossed his arms. “So when we slept together, you were married?”
“Didn’t she tell you she’s a little cheating slut?” Sam said with a smug smile.
“Gabe, we’ve been separated for almost two years. If Sam would sign the paper work, we would be divorced already.”
“Why won’t you sign the paperwork?” Gabe asked Sam.
“Because she’s my wife. And she’s going to come home with me to raise this baby. My baby.”
Gabe raised an eyebrow at Carolyn. She shook her head. “You can’t claim a baby that’s not biological yours just because you want it to be. That’s not how it works.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Sam said. “We’re married. That makes you mine, and your child mine, too.”
Gabe’s face flushed red and he stepped closer to Sam. “I don’t think so.” He pointed to Carolyn’s stomach. “That is my baby and there’s nothing you can do about it. I’m sorry that you want her back. I don’t blame you. But she doesn’t want to be with you.”
Carolyn almost put her teeth through her lip. She loved seeing Gabe defend her, but the way he was so insistent on it being his baby? What would he do if he knew the truth? That she wasn’t even 100% certain it was his. Maybe it didn’t matter. She was, at least, 100% certain it was not Sam’s. And if it wasn’t technically Gabe’s, maybe no one ever had to know.
“Why are you even here, Sam? I told you when I was home that I’m with Gabe now and I’m staying here.”
“I came to change your mind.” Sam looked over at Gabe. “I figured that once your new beau found out that you were married and liked to cheat, he’d want nothing to do with you. Then you’d have no choice but to
come home with me.”
“And that’s really what you want?” Gabe asked. “Someone who is only with you because they have no other option? Man, that’s messed up.”
Sam glared at him. “Well, she’s my wife and after she comes back to me, she’ll remember all of the good times we had.”
“Yeah, there were so many of those,” Carolyn said. “Just leave, Sam, really.”
“Don’t you need a minute to pack a bag?”
“No. I’m not going anywhere,” she said.
“Then I’m not leaving.”
“Yes, you are,” Gabe said. He stepped closer to Sam. “Even if I have to force you to leave.”
“Oh, what are you going to do? Yell at me until I leave?” Sam laughed.
Sam was a big guy, but he had no idea what he was saying. “Sam.” He turned his attention to her. “You do realize that Gabe is a professional football player, right? And a bear shifter? Pretty sure he’d win if you fought him.”
Sam’s face paled and his smile vanished. He looked at Gabe again, more carefully this time. Gabe, in response, stood up taller and flexed his huge bicep until his shirt sleeve strained.
Sam took a step back. “Come on, Care. I love you. We are still married, whether you want to be or not. Give me another chance.”
“I gave you too many already.”
“Okay.” Gabe stepped again toward Sam. “Time to go.”
Sam backed away from him, clearly intimidated. He held his hands up. “Fine. I’ll go. But I’m not leaving town without my wife.”
“Then welcome to the area, neighbor,” Gabe said. He pushed Sam out the door, shut it, and locked it. Then he turned to Carolyn. “We need to talk.”
She closed her eyes and walked into the bedroom. In case Sam was still at the door, listening, she didn’t want him to overhear their conversation.
Gabe followed her in and sat on the bed beside her. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I’ve tried really hard to forget that part of my life. Marrying Sam was a huge mistake and our entire relationship was a disaster. I try to forget he even exists.”
“That’s bull. You didn’t forget, whether you wanted to or not. And you just saw him when you went home.”
She nodded and looked down at her hands. “I went to visit. But my plan was to stay. I was going to go back to him. Back to Sam.”
“Why would you do that if it was so bad?”
“I didn’t see a better choice. I barely knew you, Gabe. And with everything going in your life, I thought that telling you would only stress you out and make you drink.”
“That’s why you didn’t tell me about the baby?” His voice rose.
“I’m sorry. I should have. I thought I was doing the best thing. I figured even if Sam wasn’t perfect, he was better than no dad at all. And he does love me. He’d be an okay father. Maybe he would learn how to be an okay husband. But then when I saw you in the airport, and you were just so perfect and sweet… You saved me, Gabe. Just like that one night I saved you? You saved me from having to go back to Sam and have a horrible marriage.”
He reached out and took her hand. “I’m glad you didn’t go back to him. But that still doesn’t answer the question. Why didn’t you tell me you’re married?”
“I thought it would mess things up, I guess. I don’t really know. I just knew I didn’t want you to know.”
“Okay, but Carolyn, didn’t you think that maybe…”
She met his eyes. He looked hesitant.
“Maybe what?”
He shrugged. “We’re having a baby together. We live together. Maybe some day, we might get married? Didn’t you think that might happen?”
“No. I didn’t think you’d want to marry me, and honestly, as horrible as it was the first time, I don’t think I ever want to get married again.”
“You should have told me.”
“I’m sorry. You’re right.”
He let out a long breath. “So, now what? You have to get him to sign the papers somehow.”
“I know. I’m working on it. I’m just not sure how to convince him when he thinks I’m still coming back.”
“Won’t it complicate things when the baby comes if you’re married to him?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well,” he said. “I think there are laws about that. I mean first of all, forget any sort of food stamps. You’re married and they’ll take that into consideration. But he’s automatically responsible for the baby. And I think that means his name goes on the birth certificate no matter what.”
“What? That can’t be right.”
“The laws are different here.”
“Yeah, I know,” she said. “In a few more months, I’ll be able to get the divorce whether he signs or not since I’ve lived here so long, and the law says he can only refuse for a year.”
“When’s the deadline on that?”
“January.”
“Then it’s too late. You have to convince him sooner.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
“So, what else are keeping from me?” he asked.
Carolyn gulped. “Nothing. I swear.”
He looked hard into her eyes. “I don’t think I can trust you. It was bad enough that you weren’t going to tell me you’re pregnant, now you didn’t tell me you’re married? What’s next? Are you going to cheat on me, too? Get pregnant to another guy?”
“No!” Tears filled her eyes and she wanted to hit him or scream. “I said I’m sorry. Just stop.”
He got to his feet and paced the room. “I’m so angry right now, I don’t even know what to do.”
She shrunk back against the headboard. Her whole body went very still. She’d never really seen him angry, and she didn’t know how he’d react. Would he turn into a bear right there in front of her?
He glared at her and must have seen the fear in her face. “What?” he barked.
“Just calm down, okay?”
“Do you think I can’t control myself?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never seen you angry like this.”
He let out a frustrated growl. “I’m not going to hurt you. I’m not going to freak out, okay? I’m just pissed.”
She took a deep breath and decided to do something risky. She stood and went to him. Anger could go a number of ways. If she was lucky, this would work. She stood in his path as he paced and when they were close enough together, she reached out and put her arm around his neck so she could kiss him.
He pushed her back. Forcefully, but not roughly. “What are you doing? Kissing you is the last thing I want to do right now. I can barely even look at you.”
MUNDO (BBW Bear Shifter MC Romance) (MC Bear Mates Book 2) Page 27