by Nina Evans
“Nothing out of the ordinary.”
“Hmm,” she replied. She sat down in the seat and pushed the chart aside on the counter. “Well, consider yourself lucky. So far anyway.”
“Why? Am I supposed to be nauseated and have tender breasts and—”
Oh fuck…
Dr. Shelley flashed a sad smile that tugged at the corner of her lips. There’s no way. There just no way this could be happening to me right now.
Fuck. My. Life.
“Yes, Audrey. You’re pregnant.”
“It’s just the flu. Dr. Shelley said I need rest and to drink plenty of fluids. So I’ll probably stay home for the next few days. I don’t want you catching this.”
Little did James know he was going to catch a baby in eight and a half months, whether he liked it or not.
Oh no, I’m not one of those martyr types that takes on everything and insists on raising my baby alone. I just didn’t know how to tell him yet. I needed to get my wits about me first. So I sat there in the passenger seat of his BMW, watching the trees whip past while he held my hand. I chewed on my upper lip the whole way to keep myself from crying.
“Of course,” James agreed. “I insist that you stay home. In a few days, you’ll be as good as new.”
We pulled in his driveway and he circled around and into the garage. I glanced out at the pool, wishing I could spend the rest of the afternoon floating on a raft with a frozen virgin daiquiri. I bit my lip extra hard at the irony of drinking a virgin anything.
“I wish I could stay here with you,” I said.
That wasn’t really what was in my heart. I mean it was, but it was so much more than that. I wanted to stay with James every night and never leave his side. I wanted him to pull me close and never let go. I wanted to cling to his strength and feel safe in his arms and know that nothing bad was ever going to happen to me or my baby.
But how could I put that into words? I just couldn’t.
“I wish you could stay here too, sweetheart.”
The helplessness in his reply made my stomach heavy with grief. And now I had to go home and face my family and the solitude of my bedroom. The last thing I wanted was to be alone in my bed that night.
James ended up following me home, even though I told him it wasn’t necessary. He had stopped earlier to get me a milkshake and some French fries, though I really wanted a big, juicy hamburger. But it wasn’t like I was going to pass out from starvation or anything either. Besides, if I had eaten all that, James never would have believed I was sick with the flu.
Once I got home, I made a beeline for the bed, briefing my parents on what had happened at work. They gave James a curt ‘thank you’ for following me home. Boy, if they knew what was really going on, they’d read James the riot act. Not now, I told myself. The last thing the baby needed was for me to stress about anything. A long nap was just what the doctor ordered to forget about the current events of my fucked up life.
Several days later, I returned to work. James had called to check on me several times, and even told me that one of his regular clients had asked about me. Apparently I had made an impression with just a few phone calls. I have that effect on people. Must be my goofy laugh. I laugh at everything.
But the past few days, I hadn’t laughed at anything. I wondered how long it would be before I had another giggle fit.
That morning, I woke up sick to my stomach for the first time. I managed to stumble into the kitchen and grab a few crackers without my parents noticing the odd breakfast choice. But then my mom walked in.
“Good morning, sweetheart. Feeling better?” she asked, putting a palm to my forehead.
“Mm-hmm,” I lied.
“How about some eggs and biscuits, then? You need a good start if you’re going back to work.”
The mere mention of biscuits made me want to toss my cookies.
“No, I already grabbed a breakfast bar,” I lied again. “I need to get ready so I’m not late, but thanks anyway, mama.”
I scurried off to finish getting ready and barely arrived at work without having to pull over and puke. My stomach churned the whole way. I parked in James’ driveway, and my excitement about seeing him dwindled fast as I clenched my gut, hungry and nauseated all at once. I really should have grabbed some saltines for the road.
Once I got inside, James was sitting at the breakfast table with his morning tea and newspaper. His smile warmed me from head to toe.
“There you are. So glad you’re feeling better.” James kissed me on the forehead, and I caught a whiff of his black tea. My stomach rolled again and I swallowed hard.
I mumbled a good morning back, and wrapped my arms around him, trying to will the nausea away. But it was too late. The few crackers I ate were coming up, and there was nothing I could do to stop them.
I ran to the trashcan across the room and puked for two solid minutes.
“Sweetheart,” James said, stroking my hair. “I thought you were better. Come over here and sit down.”
James took me by the hand and pulled me in his lap, holding me as I sniffled and cried. I knew I had to tell him what was going on.
“There’s nothing you could tell me that would make me hate you.” James cupped my face in his hands and kissed me, the tears streaming down my face. He didn’t even care that I was a bumbling mess. And it seemed as though he knew there was something bigger going on.
“I’m pregnant,” I whispered with my eyes shut. I think I was afraid to see his face.
“I know,” he whispered back. My eyes shot open. How could he know? He just nodded at me, then pushed me gently off his lap as he stood up.
“Sit down, baby. I’ll make you some tea and dry toast. You need food in your stomach.” He walked to one of the cabinets, opened a bottle of brightly colored chewables and dropped a few in his hands.
“Take these, too. They’ll ease the stomach acid, which is part of what’s making you sick. Plus they have calcium so they’re good for the baby.”
“How do you know all this stuff?” I asked.
“I did a lot of reading when Kristin was trying to get pregnant. I even had a recipe for tea that’s supposed to settle the stomach. That’s what I’m making you right now.”
I watched James as he moved around the kitchen, and my nerves slowly but surely began to settle. But I still had one question.
“How did you know I was pregnant?”
“Ha!” he laughed. “Nobody with the flu wants French fries and a milkshake.”
“Yeah, I had a feeling about that one,” I giggled. “And to think, I was actually controlling myself. What I really wanted was a big, cheesy burger.”
“You should have asked for one.” James smiled and brought me his special tea, and I scarfed down the toast he made. I think just being in his presence and getting the truth out was the cure I needed. I asked for seconds and went to the fridge to get some preserves before sitting back down.
“Look,” he said, taking my hand across the table. “We’ll get through this. Together. And by the way, one of my clients is an obstetrician. I’d like you to start seeing her, okay? She’ll take good care of you. I want you to call today and made an appointment ASAP.”
I was amazed with how supportive James was being. I had been too sick to really worry about how he’d take it, plus I hadn’t really planned on telling him today. But to hear that he had a doctor lined up for me reassured me that he probably wasn’t going anywhere.
There was just one problem.
“I don’t think I’ve had a chance to explain this. But my parents are not going to take this well. They’re—” I stopped mid-sentence. A strange woman had walked into the kitchen. At first, I thought it was one of his clients.
The woman was a tall, gorgeous and stunning blonde who happened to be wearing a diamond so huge that it reflected the sun filtering through the window, practically blinding me. James turned around to see what had stopped me in my tracks.
“Kristin!” He jumped
up from the table, a little too excitedly in my oh-so-humble opinion, and walked over to where she was standing. She threw her arms around his neck, and he stood there, slowly but surely returning the embrace. After a few seconds, he tossed a nervous glance my way, as I sat there feeling like an intruder.
I wasn’t sure what was happening, but it sure as hell didn’t look like they were divorced or having any kind of trouble at all. In fact, it looked like she was returning home after an extended trip and he was thrilled to see her.
“Kristin,” he said again, gently pushing her away to arm’s length. “What’s going on?”
She wiped her face and looked down at the floor. She wasn’t at all interested in my presence, which led me to believe that she was not threatened by me. Not one bit.
“May we talk, James?”
And then they both looked at me.
“Of course we can talk,” he replied.
“Who is that? And why is she eating our food?” Kristin whispered, obviously attempting to talk soft enough that I couldn’t hear. But it wasn’t soft enough. I jumped up from the table and carried my plate and cup to the sink.
That’s fine. I know when I’m not wanted.
“You know what?” I snapped, wishing it was easier to hide my pain. “I’m going to go ahead and take care of those errands you need, Mr. Stone.” I snatched my purse from the chair and breezed past the two lovebirds standing in the kitchen. Before I reached the French doors that went to the back patio, I turned around to face James.
“I suppose you can just mail my final paycheck, seeing as you probably won’t be needing me after today, boss man...”
And with that, I was gone. James didn’t even come after me or try to stop me. I guess me and my baby weren’t all that important to him after all.
Fucking liar…
I walked around the mall for three hours, shopping and visiting my old friends at Rage where I used to work. And you know what? I felt like I belonged there more than at my own baby father’s house. I wished like hell Daddy hadn’t made me quit this job. Sometimes I hated how strict he was.
And what about me? Nobody ever asked me what I wanted. Well, I sure as hell didn’t want to quit a great job, start a new one, fall in love with a white man, and get pregnant with his baby. That’s for damn sure. It was amazing how one simple little change in my life turned it completely upside down.
That afternoon I got home early, and my mom just stared at me when I walked through the door, no questions or anything.
Good, I thought. I need some peace and quiet.
If anyone had started questioning what I was doing or why I was home early, I would have lost my shit.
Unfortunately, the peace didn’t last. My mom knocked on my bedroom door five minutes after I got home. She wanted to know what I was doing at the mall, shopping. Apparently she had stopped there to get a present for one of the church ladies. I told her I was shopping for my boss’s wife, but she didn’t buy it. She came and sat on the bed next to me.
“Audrey, your father and I have noticed your behavior has been off lately.” She rubbed my leg to console me. “Are you involved with this man?”
“What man?” I barked, trying to act like I didn’t have a clue what she was referring to.
She looked at me matter of fact and folded her arms in her lap.
“Your boss, Audrey.”
I just rolled my eyes and fell back on the bed. “Why would you think I’m involved with my boss? And what kind of a girl do you think I am?” I realized the mistake of me asking such questions a little too late. Now it was going to be really hard to come forward with the truth, if I ever did come forward. I didn’t know what my options were at that point. I was just so overwhelmed with everything.
“I think you’re a very smart girl. But you know that your father and I expect you to choose a nice Christian man as a partner, and someone who also understands our culture. It’s very important, Audrey.”
I just covered my ears and my mom finally walked out of the room. I was literally on the verge of screaming.
For the next few days, James texted me and called constantly. And every time, I would hit ignore and delete his messages. Fuck him and his wife. He had no idea what I was going through. Facing a future of raising a child alone was damn scary, much less a mixed-race child. For the first time in my life, I felt like I had real problems, and I sympathized with every single mom I had ever known.
After a few days of me ignoring him, James did something I never would have guessed. He showed up at my house, knocked on the door, and faced my parents to ask them if I was okay. I could hear the conversation down the hall, and the next thing I knew, my dad was knocking on my bedroom door.
I thought for sure there was going to be a scene right there in the living room, but apparently James had come up with some excuse that there had been a misunderstanding at work, and that I was the only one who could fix it. I guess they bought it because they sat there and watched as we left the house.
I wasn’t going to go anywhere with him, but I didn’t really have a choice. It’s not like I could refuse to go back to work, especially in light of everything that was going on. I also wanted to know what was going on with him and his wife.
While he drove, I was too stubborn to act like I cared enough to start a conversation, so I sat in his car with my arms folded over my chest while we rode in silence for a while.
“This is what happens when you ignore my calls,” he said, pulling into the parking lot of the most expensive hotel in downtown.
“What?” I grumbled.
“You get kidnapped by your boss and held hostage at an exclusive resort.”
I shook my head and looked out the window.
“You must have me confused with someone who gives a damn.”
James grabbed my chin and turned me to face him. He had a wild look in his eye, like he was ready to take me right there.
“You need to lose the attitude right this minute. I don’t care if you’re carrying my child. I’ll turn you over my knee and spank you right here in this parking lot, is that understood?”
I was shocked at the way James was talking to me, but I was also turned on. My pussy immediately started to throb, and all I wanted was to feel his hands on my hips and his cock inside of me again. I nodded and grabbed the car door handle.
Not a word was spoken on the way up to our room. I kept looking at James to gauge his mood. I wouldn’t say that he was pissed, but he was definitely not taking any of my shit. He wouldn’t even so much as look at me on the elevator.
We got to our room, and there were three dozen, long-stem roses sitting on the bedside table. A basket of snacks sat in the breakfast nook, and my eyes scanned the room for any other surprises. I tossed my purse on the bed.
“Excuse me,” James said, his voice deep and authoritative. “Go get your purse and hang it on the hook like a young lady.”
I wasn’t sure where all this was coming from, but it was turning me on, big time. He was usually kind, but now he was treating me like a spoiled brat. I grabbed my purse and hung it on the wall just like James ordered. When I turned around, he was standing there in front of me, his body slowly pressing up against mine.
I stared at him with burning eyes. “Why did you lie to me?”
“Lie?”
“About Kristen. You said you were divorced.”
“I am…”
“But–“
James put his finger on my lips. “You think too much Aubrey. I’m not with Kristen anymore. I’m with you. Got it?”
I didn’t say a word.
“And he next time I call or text, you will answer me, is that clear?”
My whole body started to tremble. He was so strong. I nodded at him.
“Y-yes.”
“Good. Now I’m going to fuck you, and I’m going to make you come repeatedly until you beg me to stop.”
Without giving me a chance to protest, which I sure wouldn’t have, James planted
his lips on mine, kissing me so hard it hurt. He picked me up and tossed me on the bed, and his hands were on my shirt, ripping it off, and then on my pants, pulling them down. He stood above me and let his clothes fall to the floor, and I took in his hardness as I lay there, legs splayed open for him.
His hard cock twitched and I could see a drop of pre-come dripping off the head. I sat up and flicked his dick with my tongue, letting the salty-sweetness of his juices mingle with my saliva before taking him fully in my mouth.
James fisted a handful of my hair, groaning as I sucked his cock furiously. With one hand, I cupped his balls, which were tight and hot, and with my other hand, I started playing with my swollen, pink nub. I couldn’t wait to feel his mouth devour my pussy. After several minutes of working his shaft, James pulled my head away from his cock.
“Lie down,” he grumbled. He pushed my legs up in the air and buried his face in my mound. His tongue skillfully worked on my clit as I rotated my hips around and around, feeling my belly tighten up. Every few minutes, he would trace his tongue around my labia, quickly returning to my clit that was getting harder and harder.
“Oh fuck, James. I love the way you lick my pussy.”
He grunted and kept working his magic on my wetness. I could feel the juices dripping down to my ass. Within a few minutes, my body thundered through an orgasm, the most intense orgasm I had ever had.
Before my heart slowed down to normal, he plunged his cock deep inside of me, working in and out and bringing me to tears with pleasure. My whole body shuddered as he fucked me right through another orgasm. His hands gripped my tits, squeezing and pinching my nipples, making me feel completely owned by this man.
He grasped my hips, and his body stiffened as he let out a long growl. I loved watching him come. It made me feel sexy, wanted, and empowered. As he fell on top of me, covered in sweat and juices from our wild and heated session, I felt like the luckiest girl in the world. His breath on my neck kept me warm as I ran my hands through his hair.
“So you feel good about everything, my love?”