by Lane Hart
“You got your own room?” I turn around and ask Luke gruffly.
“If by own room you mean one with her, then, yeah, I have my own room,” he says with a smirk like he’s pleased with himself. My fists clench by my sides, wanting to knock the ever-loving-shit out of him again.
“You got the room to yourself. She’s staying with me,” I tell him.
“She is?” Abby asks. “Maybe you could ask if that’s what she wants.”
“I thought you couldn’t wait to fuck me. Isn’t that what you said on the plane?”
Abby’s face turns red when she glances around us in embarrassment and probably anger to see if anyone besides Luke heard me. I really don’t give a shit.
“I’ve changed my mind,” she replies, making my teeth grind together.
“If you fuck him, we’re done,” I warn her.
“That’s what you want, right, to be done with me so you can go fuck some cage cunts this weekend?” Abby says before she bolts into the women’s restroom.
“Lay a finger on her tonight or any other night and I’ll kill you,” I warn Luke.
“You’re an idiot,” he says with a shake of his head. “Unlike you, I can be there for her without being between her legs.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask.
“She’s getting sicker, weaker, and she doesn’t feel like screwing around all the time.”
“Fuck, it’s not like I ask her to or force her. She’s the one who comes over to my place every night. She’s the one who always initiates it.”
“Yeah, because she thinks that if she doesn’t, you’ll go out and find it somewhere else.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Is it?” he replies. “Because she’s getting bigger with your baby, and you can see the life draining from her a little more every single day. Of course she’s insecure, and you haven’t done shit to show her that you want more than to get in her panties.”
“Fuck,” I mutter, combing my fingers through my hair and watching for Abby to come out the bathroom. He’s right, and I really hate to admit that. “I don’t know what the hell to do. It’s not like I’ve ever done this shit before.”
“Luckily for you, I have an idea.”
“You have an idea?” I repeat. “You are half the problem!”
“Then let’s both agree to do what’s best for Abby. Doesn’t she deserve that?” he asks, holding out his palm to me in an offering of truce.
“Fine,” I say on an exhale when I shake it.
“Now, the first thing you need to do is keep your dick in your pants,” he says with a smirk.
…
Abby
Taking my time, I wash my face in the sink and avoid looking in the mirror. I know what I’ll see, a cow who looks like she’s on her last leg and should be put down. It’s not the baby bump that I mind about being pregnant. It’s the rest of my body swelling to try and compete with my protruding belly. Also, my complexion looks paler than a vampire’s, but with lots more acne. The lovely dark circles underneath my eyes are proving almost too bright to cover with concealer. I’m a hot mess, and I know it’s only gonna get worse. It’s starting to feel like Senn’s only with me out of pity, which really sucks. He blames himself for getting me pregnant, when he shouldn’t. I’ll never regret that night or the consequences. I just wish he actually cared about me. And then there’s Luke who may even love me, but I don’t feel the same way. It’s selfish of me to lead him on just because I’m terrified of the loneliness before the end. Luke’s who I need, even if he’s not who I want.
When I eventually step out of the bathroom, Luke is waiting for me, smiling proudly and holding up two plastic key cards. God, I don’t deserve him or his kindness.
“You got us checked-in?” I ask in surprise since the room is in my name.
“I can be very persuasive,” he answers. “Bellboy already took up our luggage. You ready to head up?”
“Sure. I could really use a warm bath.”
“Sounds good. I’ll go get some dinner while you soak,” Luke says after pushing the button to wait for the elevator.
I glance around, looking for Senn. Can’t say that I’m surprised when I don’t see him anywhere. Luke doesn’t mention him, so I don’t either on the way to our room. The pregnancy hormones have my emotions bouncing all over the place. Sometimes I’m so horny that I could jump Senn, but sometimes I just want him to hold me and tell me that everything is going to be all right. He, on the other hand, doesn’t have any desire to touch me unless we’re fucking. And today I can barely hold my eyes open. It’s only a matter of time before he finds someone else to get him off. I wouldn’t be all that surprised if he’s doing that right now. The thought is enough to have me attacking Luke as soon as we walk into our suite.
“Abby,” he warns against my lips when I reach for the button on his jeans. “Abby, stop.” He grabs my hands to stop me from unzipping his pants. Great, now he doesn’t want me either. Or he does, but is worried about Senn’s cockblocking threat.
“Fuck him,” I say to Luke. “I don’t care what he said.”
“Yes, you do,” he argues with a frown. “What’s going on, Abby?”
“He’s probably fucking someone else right now,” I say when I jerk away from Luke’s grasp.
“No, he’s not. We’ve only been here five minutes. That’s not enough time for even a quickie,” he says, causing me to scowl at him. “Why do you think he would go fuck some random girl?”
“Because he can. That’s what he does,” I answer, flopping down on the edge of the king sized bed. “Did you know there’s a Facebook group dedicated to him?”
“Really?” Luke asks with an impressed gleam in his blue eyes before he comes to sit down next to me. “How many people are in it?”
“Like two thousand, almost all of which are women.”
“That’s pretty cool, but what does that have to do with anything?” he asks.
“There are a ton of women who talk about fucking him or wanting to fuck him. Some of which are gonna be here this weekend trying to do just that. Pretty, slutty, unpregnant women.”
“He wanted you to stay in his room,” he points out.
“Yeah, just because he’s jealous of you.”
“Or, he only wants you in his bed, not those unpregnant sluts.”
“He feels…responsible for me, I think, nothing else. I’m a pity fuck.”
Luke chuckles. “A pity fuck?” he repeats. “Why, because he knocked you up or because you have cancer?”
“Both.” I sigh.
“Maybe he wants to be with you because he knocked you up and you have cancer.”
“Um, that’s exactly what I just said,” I point out.
“Because he actually cares about you and doesn’t want to lose you or this little girl,” he says, rubbing a hand over my bump.
“I don’t know,” I reply softly. “I’m pretty sure he only cares about himself and his dick.”
“Or maybe that’s what you tell yourself because you’re afraid to admit that he might actually love you since that would mean putting your own heart on the line and admitting that you love him, too.”
“Why are you Team Senn? Trying to get an invite to watch again?” I ask.
“You’re my best friend, and I just want you to be happy, even if that means you end up with him and not me. Tell me I’m wrong, and I’ll never mention his name again.”
I fall backwards on the mattress, causing my shirt to rise. Like usual, my hands go to my growing stomach, entranced by the way it feels, knowing our daughter is in there, full of life and moving around so much I can feel her all the time now. Loving her is so easy and effortless. When I think of Senn, it’s usually in the form of irritation or affection. Irritation because I can’t trust him to not hurt me, which I absolutely hate. And affection because every night and every morning he kisses my belly in such a tender way that I know he already loves our daughter, making me think it might be wort
h it to take the chance of getting hurt if there’s even a possibility that he could love me in the same unconditional way.
“What if I’m just projecting because of the baby?” I ask Luke seriously.
“Who cares?” he replies so helpfully that I scoff when he lies down next to me. “Is he who you want to be with right now? Is he the one who makes you happier than anyone else? If the answer is yes, then so what if the baby is what made you feel closer to him? That doesn’t make it any less real.”
I brush away the wetness from my cheeks before I look over at Luke. “So what am I supposed to do?” I ask.
“Pick him,” he says simply. “You and I can still be friends without benefits, but I’m pretty sure that he’s gonna go nuts if he has to keep sharing you.”
“Really?” I ask. “You’re okay with that?”
“Yeah,” he says with a small smile. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. I’m a resilient motherfucker.”
I can’t help but laugh, even though a part of me is a little sad. It’s a small part, though, with most of me nervous and excited about what I could have with Senn if I trusted him enough not to break my heart.
“Now, why don’t you go take a bath, and I’ll go find some food?” Luke asks with a quick peck to my cheek. “Steak? It’ll be good for you with all the blood loss.”
My stomach rumbles just at the mention of a juicy steak. Maybe that’s why I’m so tired. I haven’t had much to eat today after leaving Senn’s house before sunrise to pack for our flight and get to the airport. And he’s right, my nosebleeds have been rough the past few days.
“Steak would be awesome. Ooh! And a salad with lots of cucumbers, too, please.”
“Got it, darling. I’ll be back as fast as I can,” he says before he walks out the door.
As soon as he’s gone, I roll myself out of the bed and undress as I walk to the bathroom. There’s a nice deep tub calling my name, so I start filling it up, making sure the water’s not too hot for the baby. I squeeze a bottle of the hotel soap in the running faucet to make some bubbles.
Sinking down into the warmth feels so nice. My tense muscles in my neck and back from sleeping on Senn’s shoulder for hours instantly relax while I soak. Closing my eyes and leaning my head against the tile wall, I try to clear my mind of everything and just enjoy this quiet, blissful moment.
My hands trail along the curve of my belly, and I would almost swear that I felt the baby moving on the outside. She’s growing bigger and healthier, which is what I’ve prayed for. Since I may not be around after she’s born, I’ve started recording a video diary for her to have. My sister Whitney has been helping, so I know she’ll make sure she gets to see and hear me as she grows up. It’s nothing deep or profound on the recordings, just the advice Whitney and I wish our mother would have given us growing up, if she hadn’t been too busy planning garden parties and picking out the most expensive dress for a gala. After each recording I’m usually an emotional wreck for the rest of the day, but it’s worth it to leave a piece of me behind for her.
By the time I hear the hotel room door shut with Luke’s return, the water has started to chill, so I pull the plug and dry off. Since my braid was submerged in the water, it’s soaking wet. Removing the hair tie to undo it, I use the hotel hairdryer to blow it out. Not having any clean clothes in the bathroom, I wrap a towel around my chest, tucking it in, before heading back into the room to finally eat.
My feet come to a sudden stop; and hearing my gasp of surprise, Senn turns around to face me. Good Lord, he’s wearing a suit! How did he even find a suit big enough to cover his wide shoulders and mammoth height? He must’ve had it custom made. Either way, the black pinstripe and golden pattern tie look damn good on him. His wavy hair is pulled back into a manbun, displaying his flawless, shaven face and making him look even more sophisticated. The last time I had seen him he’d been wearing shorts and a Big Johnson’s shirt for christsakes.
“Wow,” I say since there are really no other words to describe him. I become even more speechless when I see the table behind him set for two with candles and silver covered dishes, the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean adding the final romantic touch. A romantic setting and Senn in the same room is something I never thought I would see in this lifetime.
“Hungry?” he asks, his deep voice causing cold chill bumps to spread along my still damp skin.
“Starving.” I’m hungry all right. The kind of hungry that involves stripping him out of his suit and nibbling my way down his entire, enormous body.
When Senn sits down at the table instead of yanking my towel off and throwing me on the bed, I get the feeling that he, on the other hand, wants food. Not me.
“So, I guess I’ll get some clothes on,” I say before I start digging through my suitcase.
“Good idea,” Senn replies, sipping from a glass of water and leaning back casually in his chair. “Because if you don’t cover up soon, I’m gonna end up eating you for dinner and then our food will get cold.”
“I wouldn’t mind cold food,” I say, clenching my thighs together at the mention of his tongue between my legs.
Senn chuckles. “Don’t tempt me. I want us to have a real date. I’m trying to be a gentleman tonight.”
“Gentlemen don’t like to eat pussy?” I ask, baiting him, even though I’m thrilled that he wants to have a normal date with me. Sure, we’ve had dinner together a lot of nights the past few weeks, but usually we do it in his bed, naked, after we’ve fucked.
“A gentleman would feed his pregnant woman before burying his face in her pussy and feasting on her,” he tells me.
“Oh really?” I ask, pulling out a navy blue summer dress from my luggage, hoping that it still fits. “Well then, I guess there’s no need for panties.”
Senn grumbles a curse. “Abby,” he warns.
“Fine,” I say, going back in the bathroom to put on the dress. If he’s trying to be good then I won’t tease him anymore. It’s sort of sweet that he went to all this trouble for me when I should be the one catering to him before his big fight.
Chapter Sixteen
Senn
Why can’t we fuck her?
Because we’re trying to show her that we care about her more than exchanging a few orgasms, I tell my cock. So, even though I know for a fact from the lustful look on her face that she’s down to fuck, I’m gonna keep my hands off her tonight. Well, mostly. Tonight is about her and her pleasure, not my own. I can do this because despite her sexy bravado, Luke is right, this is what she needs right now. And I need to convince her that there’s more to me than my cock. I can be a boyfriend, and I can be a father, if she’ll just give me a chance.
Abby comes back into the room a few minutes later, wearing a short, navy blue dress held up by thin spaghetti straps. Her long, mahogany hair that’s usually braided, falls in loose waves down her shoulders and over her succulent tits. I don’t know if it’s the pregnancy or what, but she emits a glow that no other woman has. Walking around the hotel, there were plenty of women to compare her to. Plenty of them checking me out. But none of them had Abby’s sexy curves or radiance.
“You look beautiful,” I tell her when she sits down at the small table across from me. Her dark chocolate eyes widen in surprise and her face lights up before she tries to hide her joy at my sincere compliment. She reaches across the table and slaps her palm over my forehead.
“Do you feel okay? Have you got a fever making you delusional? Or maybe you bumped your head and have a concussion?” she teases before settling back in her chair.
“What?” I ask. “I have to be brain damaged to give you a compliment?” Now that I consider it, I’ve never actually told her how attractive she is before. “Just because I don’t say it, doesn’t mean I don’t think it.”
“Whatever,” she says with a smile and roll of her eyes when she lifts the lid on her dinner plate. “You never looked at me twice before I propositioned you in the club that night.”
�
�Is that what you think?” I ask her.
“Uh-huh,” she says, digging her fork into the baked potato. “I’m surprised you knew my name.” She swallows and freezes with her fork in midair. “You did know my name that night, right?”
“Of course I knew your name. Fuck, you had been in Havoc flaunting your tits and ass at Linc at least two dozen times.”
“Like you noticed,” she mutters.
“Yellow shirt, dark jeans and knee high brown boots.”
“What?” Abby asks with a confused crease between her eyebrows.
“That’s what you were wearing the first day you walked in to see Linc,” I tell her. When she keeps staring silently at me because I remember the outfit she had on almost a year ago like a creepy stalker, I lift the cover off my own plate and start cutting up my steak.
“How-how did you know that?” she eventually asks.
“‘Cause I was there.”
“No, I mean how did you remember?”
I shrug like it’s no big deal and I remember what women wear all the time. “Yellow’s my favorite color, and you had a nice ass. It’s not like many women come into Havoc other than moms.”
“That’s…that’s sort of sweet,” she says softly.
“Thinking about fucking you from behind before I even knew your name is sweet?” I chuckle. “Then I must be the sweetest motherfucker on the planet.”
“Don’t belittle it,” she scoffs, and cuts into her own steak like she’s starving. “It’s sweet, and so is this.”
After all that heaviness, we eat most of our meal in silence, both of us in our own heads. Mostly I’m relieved that she didn’t laugh at my attempt at trying to impress her. I’ve never had to date a woman, so this is all new to me. So what if I’m doing it backwards? As long as it works to show Abby that I’m not going anywhere, it’s worth the effort.
“Do you want any dessert?” I ask Abby after she pushes her mostly empty plate away.
She sits back and rubs a hand over her bump. “Too full.”
“Me, too,” I agree. “Oh, and I put a pint of milk in the fridge and brought up some Lucky Charms for you to have for breakfast.”