Chapter Twenty-Three
Greer
“Do we really have to do this? I mean, come on. Don’t you want the sex to be a surprise?”
I pushed Tenn down on formerly my bed, now our bed, and began to take off my shirt. We’d been able to move back into his family home only a week earlier, many weeks past when they’d originally promised.
He sat up and put his hands over mine, stopping my attempt to disrobe.
“You’ve developed a phobia about the doctor. That’s all. Now, stop trying to get me worked up so you can miss the visit. This is an important one, G.”
I’d just about do anything to hear him call me G.
Plus, he was right. We’d seen the baby our first visit and heard the heartbeat at the last visit and knew the big ultrasound was coming up.
Ultrasounds were big deals. Especially this one. We’d decided together to find out if the baby was a boy or a girl, so we could prepare.
Not that knowing would do anything preparedness-wise except tell us whether to buy blue things or pink things.
Personally, I wanted everything gray and yellow, anyway.
“I know. I’m sorry. Uh, my stomach is in knots.”
My Tenn wrapped his arms around me and brought my head to rest on his chest. His heartbeat could soothe me in seconds along with his warm arms.
“Calm yourself, omega mine. Do you hear that? My heart? It rushes when you’re in my arms.”
I did hear it, the ever up-tempo of his lifeforce recognizing my closeness.
“Of course I do. Do you have to go to work straight afterward?” I asked, already knowing the truth.
My alpha had turned down the offer in Mapleville and had followed his mother, and in turn, the department’s rules to the letter. He was intent on working on his tenure and getting back in the good graces of his mother.
Personally, I didn’t think she owned good graces.
“Yeah. I’ll barely make my three o’clock class, but you know I like to be on time. Like right now, we are going to be late. Let’s go.”
We got into separate cars since he had to leave right after. The smell of the doctor’s office made my nose itch. That disinfectant plus plastic and paper smell also made my stomach turn.
They called my name, and I swore the babe inside me did a somersault.
He or she was pissed, too.
Tenn took my hand as we walked down the stark hallway and into a room that seemed too small to hold miracles like heartbeats and pictures of babies. My closet was bigger, and it simply held sweaters.
“Pull your shirt up, Greer. This will be cold.”
I nodded and pulled up the hem of my shirt then gasped as the nurse splattered blueish gel on my stomach.
“What is that?” Tenn asked in a calm tone, but his hand shook in mine.
“It’s gel to make me able to see inside his belly. Calm your balls, alpha.”
I laughed at the woman, a slow chuckle at first, but then it developed into a full-blown laugh and shook the table.
“Oh, look at the little guy move! Guy or girl, sorry. I can’t tell that yet. But damn, that’s a mover and a shaker if I ever saw one. He likes his papa’s laugh for sure.”
As soon as my laughter died down, so did the movements of our babe. Tenn and I whispered back and forth to each other about his or her toes and legs and head. He or she was absolutely perfect.
“Looks like everything is in order. So, am I looking for lady bits or gentleman parts? Or are we going to have a surprise?”
We both looked at the woman. Her name tag said Darla.
“Can you see? Do you already know?”
She laughed and nodded. I felt my eyes widen. This was it. The moment we’d been waiting for, and yet I was hesitant.
“Tenn?” I asked, waiting for his confirmation.
“I think we should know on this one, love. The next ones can be surprises.”
I nodded, agreeing. At least we would know this. At least we would know how to pick a name for goodness sakes.
“Can you show us?” I asked Darla.
“Here you go. See that?”
I bobbed my head up and down seeing, but still not really knowing.
“Well, let’s put it this way, there’s peaks and valleys instead of a branch and berries. Baby girl for sure and certain.”
Tenn kissed my forehead and told me how much he loved me.
“You two are the sweetest. Let’s get some pictures printed for you and then you’re free to go.”
We went back and forth on names while she did her thing.
“Wait, are you the Greer guy that owns that new ice-cream shop? Just One Lick?”
“I am. You’ve heard of us?”
She clapped her hands. “Of course I have. Your social media feeds are a hoot. My husband wanted to go this weekend.”
I smiled at her and sat up after wiping away the blue goo with the sad towel she handed me. “I’ll leave your name on the register, Darla. You tell whoever is ringing you up that your order is on the house.”
She grinned from ear to ear and handed me the pictures. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I know, but anyone who showed us our baby girl gets ice cream for free. Just this once. My accountant will give me shit if I give too much away.”
“Thank you! You’re free to go. I’ll see you two on the next visit, not that you will need another ultrasound, just around the office. One month, okay?”
We left, and I kissed Tenn long and passionately, pressing him against his car before he could get in.
“Damn it, Greer. I don’t want to leave you when you do that to me. You’re killing me, you know that, right?”
I chuckled and nipped at his bottom lip. “Just a little something to spark some daytime fantasies. It’s like all-day foreplay.”
Tenn grabbed my hips and pulled them against his, the proof of my teasing hard and pulsing in his pants. “Just wait until I get my hands on you tonight.” He looked down at my belly. “Pregnancy looks so fucking good on you, omega.”
“Right now, it feels icky. That blue stuff is still on me. I might have to go home and take a long, hot bubble bath. Too bad you won’t be there to see how...slick it will be.”
He growled. The alpha actually growled at me. “Tease. Go home. And not too hot a bath. Feel free to text me pictures of you, bubbles or no bubbles.”
He got into his car and drove off, waving from the open window.