... and Forever (Next Generation: Chaos Bleeds 1)

“No, not an anniversary.” She blew out a breath, rubbing at her temple. “I don’t know what I’m doing. This was supposed to be a little something special. This is what couples do. They light candles, have wine, but I can’t drink wine. A nice romantic meal.”

“Why can’t you drink wine?”

She pressed her lips together. “You caught that part.”

“You speak, I listen.”

She chuckled. “Yeah, how about that.”

“Tabby, what’s going on?”

Turning toward his chair, she lifted up the box. “I had this whole thing planned in my head. We’d enjoy a meal, you’d drink a beer or wine. I’d have a nice water. Er, we’d talk, laugh, and then I’d show you this.” She held out the pregnancy test.

“You’re pregnant?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t taken the test but I believe I am. I’ve got a lot of signs.”

“You have?”

“I vomit a lot in the mornings. Smells make me feel sick. My tits are huge.”

“I had noticed your tits.” He smiled. “And this made you nervous?”

“Yeah, I mean, this is like our first real … moment.”

“And you think we needed all of this?” he asked.

“I don’t know.” She covered her face. “I’m so scared. I know we’ve only been together a few months and everything is going so perfect.”

He put the box down and went to her. His hands covered hers, and he dropped them away from her face.

“You need to stop second-guessing all of this,” he said, stroking some of her hair back from her ear.

“I don’t want to spoil what we’ve got.”

“You couldn’t spoil anything.” He pressed a kiss to her lips. “You’re too perfect to. I don’t need all of this and we haven’t been together for a few months.”

“You’re not mad?” she asked.

He shook his head. “No. I’m not surprised about this. It’s not like I was being careful.”

“Did you do this on purpose?”

“What? Get you pregnant a second time so you’ve got less of an excuse to leave me?”

She shook her head. “You did, didn’t you?”

“I didn’t have an agenda with you. I never do. But this isn’t a bad thing. I don’t see it as a bad thing. Do you?”

She shook her head.

“Then it’s not bad. Do you want to take this before or after dinner?” he asked.

“You want to know the answer?”

“Hell, yeah. This is our future right here. Me and you.”

“Then before dinner,” she said, smiling. “You’re not going to want to see me pee, are you?”

“I’ll hold your hand and turn my back.”

This was going better than she thought. Her nerves were back in place but she didn’t expect anything less. There was no way she couldn’t be nervous about this.

This was their life. Their future.

Entering the bathroom, Simon removed the test from the box and handed it to her. She took it, thanking him as she did.

Her hands shook. He took one of hers in his own. Their fingers locking together. “We’ve got this. You and me.”

Simon turned away but he didn’t leave her.

Peeing on the stick was so embarrassing but she was glad to not be alone this time. Once she finished, she put the stick on the counter and washed her hands. Simon didn’t let her go as he held on to her hips. His arms wrapping around her body, his head resting on top of hers as he looked over to see the results.

She held on to him, not wanting to let him go.

“If it’s a yes, we’ve got to move to a bigger house,” he said. “I want Nathan to be able to play in the yard. He talks about your place back in Fort Wills. He likes gardening.”

She chuckled. “It was how I got him to be tired on weekends. He’s got so much energy. It’s almost impossible to keep up with him.”

“You’ve done good with him, Tabby. I wish I could have been there,” he said. “I’d have loved to be part of every moment, but I’m going to make up for it now.”

“Simon, you don’t have to make up for anything. I don’t blame you. I love you so much.”

“And I love you too.” He kissed her neck and she leaned back so he could take her lips. That first touch and she was already on fire, her need growing by the second. They both moaned.

“Wait,” she said, holding her hand up. “It’s time.”

They looked down at the test.

“Is that a yes?” he asked.

She turned in his arms and nodded. “It’s a yes. We’re pregnant.”

He lifted her up on the bathroom counter, spreading her legs as he sank his fingers into her hair. He pulled her in close, ravishing her mouth. One of his hands rested on her thigh, and he stroked up, touching the edge of her panties.

“I want you,” he said. “Fuck, I always want you. Can dinner wait?”

“Yes.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and he picked her up, carrying her through to the bedroom. Her body was so soft against his. He was never going to get enough of her. She was fucking perfect.