One week later

---

Bryan was officially home, Carly was at school, and I was in a state of goddamned disarray. It was past time I told him about the pregnancy. The morning sickness had only gotten worse, and Beverly kept hinting at it every chance she got.

I stood in the kitchen of the house, preparing lunch for when Carly got home, and stressing out in a big way.

Bryan was taking it easy, opting to stick in bed for a little longer, but that was only because the doctor had ordered him to do it. Likely, he’d have been up and about if he hadn’t been told otherwise, and he still winced every time he did anything.

The shot had narrowly missed everything important, but the bullet had been lodged just below his right shoulder.

I shook my head, dismissing thoughts of it, and focused on cutting up the pineapple to stick in the fruit salad I’d promised Carly this morning.

She was highly excited about the fact that her daddy was home and doing well.

The past week had been pretty hectic. Carly still had school, she’d been going to counseling after as well, to deal with everything that’d happened, and then we’d headed off to see Bryan during visiting hours. We hadn’t had a chance to talk.

I chopped up some strawberries next, nerves streaking through me again, and again. It was like a constant stream of electric shocks.

Woman up! You have to tell him. For god’s sake, you went through that horrible night in the desert, and you weren’t half as scared as you are now.

Not actually true. I shuddered at the memory.

The spicy scent of Bryan’s cologne drifted into the kitchen, and I swallowed hard, pressed my lips together, my grip trembling on the knife. I set it down, just as he entered.

He walked up behind me, more like limped, and looped his arms around my waist, rested his head on my shoulder. “Gorgeous,” he said, “what are you doing down here? I’m lonely as hell up there.”

“You should be lying down, Bryan,” I whispered. Or at least sitting for what I was about to tell him.

“All right,” he replied and straightened, letting out a wheeze of pain. “I’ll lie down if you’ll come with me.”

I chuckled, lightly, forcing it, then followed him out of the kitchen and up the stairs. He took each step with gritted teeth but didn’t grab the railing for support. Finally, we reached the landing and walked down the hall together and into his bedroom. He wore nothing but the bandage on his chest and a pair of pinstriped PJ pants.

He lay down on top of the covers and gestured for me to join him.

I didn’t budge from the foot of the bed.

Bryan’s cocky grin faltered. “Riley? What’s up?”

“There’s something we need to talk about. But I’m really, uh, nervous to tell you about it. So, wow, this is going to be difficult. I want you to know that I understand if this changes things for you, but that it won’t really change things for me. I—well, OK.”

“What is it?” he asked, sitting up straighter, wincing again.

“I’m pregnant,” I said, as loudly as I could manage. “And, obviously, you’re the father. And I’m keeping the baby. That’s all there is to it. And if you can’t handle that, then I’ll leave, but I—”

“Riley, slow down.” He beckoned to me a second time, and this time I came closer, sat down on the bed. He took my hand in his, brushing rough fingers over my knuckles, gently. “You’re seriously pregnant?”

“Yes,” I said and opened my mouth again, ready to explain.

He covered it with a kiss, pressed his tongue against mine and claimed me. The mood went from scared to hot and heavy in about two seconds flat. He broke the kiss, and I gasped against his lips, my cheeks flushing, my nipples already hard.

“Jesus Christ,” he said, “that’s the best news I’ve had in a week. In a year. Since Carly was born. Christ almighty, are you serious? You’re really pregnant?”

“Yes.”

“Fuck,” he groaned. “Fuck, Riley that makes me so damn happy. That makes this so much easier.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve been waiting for the right moment to ask you to move in with me. To live with us. Not as a nanny, but as my girlfriend. Carly loves you. And I—I love you too. I love you so fucking much.”

“Bryan—” I choked up, unable to finish the sentence.

“A baby. Our baby.” He took both my cheeks in his hands and brought my face to his again. He kissed one of my eyelids, then the other, my nose, my mouth, my chin, my jawline on either side, and then my lips again. “This is everything I ever wanted. You’re mine, now. You always will be. And I’ll be yours. Live with me, Riley. Say yes.”

“Yes,” I whispered. “I’ll live with you. But—my bills. I have to study and—”

“Don’t worry about any of that now.” He kissed me again, his blue eyes sucking me in as they had since the first time we’d met. “Just be here with me. Now. Forever.” He slipped one hand beneath the strap of my top and worked it down to my breast.

“Bryan,” I moaned.

“There’s time,” he said. “We’ve got at least two hours.”

“The fruit,” I muttered, into his mouth.

“The what now? The fruit? Fruit of my loins?”

“No,” I said, laughing against his lips now. “No, I left the fruit out, downstairs.”

“Fuck the fruit.”

“I’d rather not.”

“Then fuck me, instead,” he replied and sucked my bottom lip between his teeth. Slowly, he peeled off my shirt. He lifted my long skirt and felt between my legs, growling at the wetness already soaking my cotton panties.

“You can’t possibly do this,” I said. “You’re still sore.”

“Don’t challenge me, woman. I’ll fuck you raw until the day I die, I swear it.”

“At least, let me get on top. Just this once. Just to help you out, here.”

“Hmm, OK,” he said, and nipped my bottom lip again.

“I’ll be gentle, I promise.”

“I can’t make the same one.” He dragged my panties aside, and pressed his fingers into my pussy, claiming me as he’d done ages ago. God, eons ago. I’d needed this so much, needed him. I’d been aching for him since everything had gone down.

I fumbled the waistband of his pants down, and he lifted slightly, allowing me to rip the PJs all the way down to his ankles. His fat cock fell against his abdomen, heavy, already pulsing for me. His tip was wet with pre-cum, and I licked my lips.

“I want to suck you,” I whispered. “You need release, baby.”

“So do you,” he said and lifted me by the waist, wincing, but still strong as ever. He placed me over his cock, and I adjusted myself then lifted his thick shaft and placed it against my wetness.

He growled.

“That good for you?” I asked, and dipped downward, taking in his tip and nothing more, then pulling off again.

Another growl, and he snapped his teeth at me. “Don’t play with me, woman. I’ve got to fill you now. Gotta feel you again.”

“You want it that bad?”

“You do,” he replied and gently pressed me downward onto his dick. It was as if my body had never known anyone else, never wanted anyone else. In this love, I was a total virgin, blown away by him again.

Every time was the first time, and I cried out, placing my hands behind him on the headboard for support.

“That’s it,” Bryan said, softly.

“I’m going to come. I know it’s crazy, but it’s been so long. I think I’m going to—”

He kept me dead still, skewered on top of him, and crept one of his hands beneath my skirt, all the way to my clit. He circled it once, slowly, and I jerked against the pressure of it, the pleasure, rattling the headboard against the wall.

“Then come, gorgeous.”

I couldn’t help myself—the feeling was different, accentuated. Maybe I was more sensitive because of the pregnancy, but it was just too much.

“Move, Riley,” Bryan said. “Move that gorgeous body. Use me. Make yourself come.”

I met him stare for stare as I rose along his length, my pussy clenching around him as I did, then lowered myself again. Up and down, a slow pace, as he circled my clit. His lips were parted, and he exhaled against mine, softly.

The breaths, the sweat joining us, the wetness between my legs built, and my eyes rolled back in my head. My climax tore through me, violent this time, and Bryan held me in place as I closed around him, again, and again, and again.

“Jesus,” he said, “Holy shit, Riley. That’s the hardest you’ve ever come.”

I nodded, still caught in the aftershocks of bliss. “Now you,” I whispered. “Come inside me.”

We set a new rhythm, slightly quicker, with him directing me on how he wanted it, reaching up to grasp both my breasts in his warm, massive hands. He pinched my nipples, appreciated every one of my moans, looking up at me, expressive as he’d been when he’d said those words.

“I love you,” I said. “Bryan, I love you.”

“I love you too,” he replied, straining, now. “Riley, I’m going to come.”

He dragged me down to him and kissed me hard, pulsing inside me, releasing so many times I lost count. After, he rolled me to one side, tucked me against his chest and kissed my cheek, then my ear lobe, softly. “This is it, Riley.”

“What?”

“The start of our future. No more crap from the past. No more worries. No more fears. It’s you, me, and Carly. And the little one. It’s going to be great.” He paused, nuzzling my neck, gently. “It’s going to be forever.”