CHAPTER 11
Ryan
I turned my head to see Brea stirring beside me in her bed, smiling as she blinked at me. “Did you have a nice nap?” I asked. She giggled and nodded.
I couldn’t believe she was already twelve weeks along. Brea had a small bump that I could only see when she was naked, but other than that, she wasn’t showing much yet. Her breasts were full and round, though, and I could not get enough of them.
Since the first night we’d slept together again, I couldn’t stop sucking on them and cupping them in my hands. She was more sensitive than before as well and came from just my teeth on her skin. She came easier now, and I loved bringing her to release every way I could.
She was also glowing beautifully from the pregnancy, and I felt myself falling for her more every day. I didn’t say anything though, just spent time with her out here in Brooklyn.
My father had too much of a presence in Manhattan, and I got some peace out here. We hung out and watched TV in the living room or her bedroom, spent quality time in her bed, and made a lot of food. She seemed to be craving something different every day. I loved being a part of this process.
I leaned over to kiss her softly as she snuggled closer to me, murmuring my name.
“Want to go out tonight and get some food?” I asked as she pressed closer to me, her hard nipples distracting me from my plan.
“Where?” Brea asked. I thought for a moment, finding it hard not to turn her on her back and take her again.
“Let’s go to the pub and eat,” I suggested. She pushed up to go to the bathroom. I watched unabashedly, thinking about how sexy she was while carrying my baby. It filled her out in all the right places.
“I’ve been craving their burgers. That sounds great,” Brea called from her bathroom as I grinned. My phone chimed on the table beside the bed, and I glanced over and grabbed it.
Lewis: Where are you at?
Me: Brea’s. What’s up?
Lewis: You’ve been there a lot. Is it getting serious?
Me: Nah. Just a break from Manhattan is all. There’s a great vibe here.
Lewis: I’ll give you that. I’m at Lucy’s and we were thinking of heading to the pub. Want to come?
I laughed and told him that we were headed there too. I didn’t see him alone as much now—being here with Brea took up my time—but we tended to hang out with him and Lucy more. It worked out, but I knew he missed our guy time. It was getting harder to hide what was happening with Brea and me, and we were going to tell everyone about the baby soon.
We thought that under the circumstances, we should wait the standard three months to make sure it was going to be a healthy pregnancy. Like it or not, the media would catch on to the baby, and we just needed to keep quiet about things as much as possible.
Brea was feeling good despite a bit of remaining morning sickness and some aches and pains. Everything was going great. She turned on the shower, and I pushed myself off the bed to join her. I reached around to stroke her nipples as I stepped behind her and under the water. Brea giggled and leaned back against me as she closed her eyes.
“Don’t you ever get enough?”
“Not of you.” I slipped my hands over her small bump and stroked it as she sighed against me. We made love slowly in the shower even though she protested that she was too big. I laughed. She could never be too big for me to want her. Brea dressed in some stretchy jeans and an oversized Brooklyn long-sleeved shirt before she pulled her hair back in a loose bun. She didn’t wear any makeup, and in my opinion, she didn’t need it.
She looked beautiful.
I pulled on my clean jeans and shirt before we slipped our feet into Converse and headed out. We walked slowly to the corner building, talking about the upcoming appointment when we would find out the baby’s gender.
Brea had felt like it was a girl from the beginning, but a large part of me hoped for a boy so Dad would be happy. He didn’t feel that girls could run a company properly, and a daughter would only add fuel to his fire. I told her I wanted a boy, but deep down, I just wanted a healthy baby. I’d be happy with either, and the idea of seeing her holding our child made my body flush with affection.
I looked over at her as she smiled and glanced back at me. We’d gotten along well the last few weeks since the dinner had faded from our minds. I knew I could be with her as more than just the father of her baby. I opened the door to the pub, and we greeted Lorraine as we made our way back to the usual table.
It was empty, and I let Brea slide in first before joining her and ordering two lemonades. As much as she missed caffeine, Brea had given it up for the sake of the baby. I told her she was doing great all the time.
She picked up a menu and read it, more out of habit than anything else. I read over her shoulder. I knew I would get the burger with mushrooms and she’d get the bacon cheeseburger, but we still looked as I draped a hand over her thigh.
We ordered and looked up as Lewis led Lucy into the bar, both laughing. They slid into the booth across from us and grabbed menus. Lucy gave us a knowing smile.
“How are you?” she asked as Brea sipped her drink with a smile.
“Good. You?” She looked at her best friend curiously, and Lucy raised an eyebrow.
“It’s just a fling, Brea. Get that look off your face,” Lucy warned as she shook her head. “I am not following in your footsteps.”
She was still going with the idea that it was a one-night stand gone wrong, and I stiffened beside Brea.
“Yeah. You two look pretty close to me. Are you sure it isn’t serious?” Lewis asked as Lorraine approached to take their drink order. They both ordered beers, and then Lewis looked back at me.
“We’re just hanging out and taking it slow. Nothing serious,” I assured him, but I knew I was lying. I cared about Brea now, and spending all this time with her recently had made my feelings stronger. Lewis shot me a look that told me he didn’t fully believe me before he looked down at the menu.
I thought the same about his relationship with Lucy but didn’t say anything, hoping they would eventually stop seeing one another and, more than that, not end up pregnant. I reminded myself that this thing between Brea and I was a different situation than probably anything else out there. This was just a planned, financial transaction. Or was it?
Stacy had told Brea that she was moving out of the apartment to live with her boyfriend, and while I was glad she’d have room for the baby, I worried about her living alone. It wasn’t a bad area, but I still didn’t want my baby living alone in an apartment with low security. This was New York, after all.
We ate dinner and discussed Lucy’s art. Her gallery showing had been a success, and she was getting some fans’ attention. Plus, a few art galleries wanted to feature her work. She was busy, but that was how Lucy worked best. She got completely manic about things, but I admired how she made it work for her.
I was a workaholic, but now I was starting to enjoy spending time with Brea. I had never enjoyed people the way I did her. I knew I had made the right choice for the mother of my baby. She was so naturally compassionate that she’d be an amazing mom. I would have to remind her to take care of herself in the process more than likely. I didn’t want Brea to burn herself out.
Parenting never stopped, and we were going to do it right. Lewis and Lucy both ordered more drinks, and I watched him sling an arm over her shoulder. He even seemed interested in her career, and I wondered how long this would last.
We talked about some of the new movies coming out, and Brea told me she was craving popcorn, making Lucy giggle. They both knew I’d take her to get some.
The other couple left the table, and Brea took a sip of her lemonade as we waited for her cake. She smiled as she glanced at me, making me raise an eyebrow.
“We’re going to find out what the baby is in a few weeks. I can’t wait.”
She blushed. “I’ve been looking at stuff online.”
“Pink stuff?” I teased, and she hit my arm softly. I imagined a daughter and how much she’d get me wrapped around her little finger, but it would be better to have a boy and make everyone happy. Everything would fall into place and I could have another baby later in life.
Would I want to do it with Brea? I loved the process already, but I didn’t know where we would end up.
“Yeah. I want a girl to dress up and share my stuff with later. I think it’ll be fun,” she replied. She grinned widely. “My cake is here.” Then her face fell as she looked down at her stomach. “I hope I don’t get fat.”
“You look beautiful,” I assured her. She shrugged.
“I feel like I eat all the time.”
“You’re feeding two,” I reminded her as Lorraine placed the cake in front of her. “Everything is going well though?”
“Yeah. Dr. Perry thinks it’s going to be a good pregnancy overall and that the delivery will be easy. He’s always telling me to walk and keep active,” she said. I smirked.
“You are too active,” I said. She smiled up at me. “But, I like your activity of choice, so don’t stop.”
Brea laughed as she picked up her fork. “I think we need to walk more, especially in about a month.”
Lewis and Lucy came back, looking like they’d had some time together in a closet. I teased him about the straw that was sticking out of his shirt. He tugged it out and laughed as Lucy blushed, making Brea shake her head.
Lucy helped Brea with a couple bites of the cake before they started talking about what else to do. Lucy suggested hanging out at her apartment since Stacy was in the midst of packing boxes. Brea’s apartment was a bit of a mess, but it was worth staying there with her.
I nodded, helped Brea stack the plates, and paid the bill, leaving a large tip. We walked over to Lucy’s place, and they had some more drinks while I got water for Brea and myself. Lewis looked at us and smirked as I asked him what he was thinking about. “You were both non-drinkers even before you knocked her up. That’s perfect.”
“You know that we both have issues with it in our families,” Brea pointed out. He shrugged. Lewis was lucky with normal, caring parents who didn’t have many issues other than the fact that they spoiled him. He was a bit of a jerk at times and extremely entitled. It was a result of him getting anything he’d ever wanted. There were times when I’d considered not hanging out with him. He was sometimes too much for me. One of those times was when he had admitted to sleeping with my cousin.
That had nearly killed out friendship, but Lucy had sat me down and assured me that they were both adults. She knew what she was doing and wouldn’t hesitate it to end it when she felt the urge to do so.
Lucy found a new movie on one of her cable channels, and Brea settled against me on the couch as I pulled her closer to my side. We weren’t out in public now, and our friends understood what was going on.
Mostly.
We could relax, so I let my mind drift ahead to when we went back to her place. I’d had her twice already, but pregnant Brea couldn’t get enough and was a little wild, so who was I to complain? I had known all along that I wanted to sleep with her again after that first time. I wished I hadn’t pulled away for those weeks before we knew she was pregnant. I hadn’t slept with any other women since I’d met Brea.
That, more than anything, was telling.