After practice, Crosby and I decided to go have a couple beers at a hole-in-the-wall dive bar just down the street from the rink.

“You ready for Myla’s party tomorrow night?” he asked as the bartender put our beers down in front of us.

“As ready as I will ever be.” It was so crazy that my little sister was about to turn twenty-one. Where has the time gone?

“Well, I know a bunch of the guys are looking forward to it.”

“Thanks man. I know it is going to mean a lot to her to have the team there.”

Crosby shrugged. “She’s the sister to one of us and the girlfriend to another—she’s like our real MVP.”

We both laughed a little. “You’re right I guess. How’s your old lady?”

Crosby groaned. “A pain in my ass. She’s so pregnant, she can’t even put on her shoes by herself anymore. Don’t get married and don’t have kids. That’s all I can say. Learn from my mistakes.”

“I got off lucky. Karla doesn’t believe in marriage, thinks it takes away from the romance of it all, and the pill is a glorious invention.”

“I can drink to that.” We clanked our brown bottles together right as my phone started lighting up with a call from Karla.

“Yeah, babe?” I answered.

“I know you’re having drinks and relaxing, but I really need you to come to my place.”

The nervousness in her tone was freaking me out. I started to get up from my stool. “Are you okay?”

“Yes. I am fine. We just need to talk about something really important.”

“I will head over right now.”

I waved over to the bartender, pulling my card out of my wallet. Crosby put his hand on my shoulder. “Go man, I got this.”

“Thanks.”

I was out the door and hailing a cab within seconds.

I sat on the edge of my bathtub staring at the digital pregnancy stick. “How can I be pregnant?” I said under my breath to no one.

“Karla?” Brayden’s husky voice boomed through the apartment.

“In here,” I called to him, hiding the white pee stick in my hands as best as I could.

He opened the door, peeking his head in. “Can I come in?”

“Please.” I was fighting back tears, and I wasn’t sure if they were happy or sad yet—a lot of that depended on how Brayden took the news.

I took a deep breath and he sat down on the bathmat in front of me. “What’s going on babe? You had me worried sick.”

“Here.” I shoved the positive test into his hands, tears now rolling down my face.

He stared at it for what felt like a lifetime. Then all of a sudden he leapt to his feet, pulling me up into his arms. “This is the best news I could have ever gotten. You’re pregnant!” The elation in his voice jumped through the air, crashing into me as happy tears started to make me sob even more.

“I am so thankful you aren’t upset. I was so scared,” I admitted.

“How could I ever be upset about something as amazing as the fact that we’re going to have a baby? I am going to be a father! This is incredible!” He twirled me around, carrying me into my bedroom and throwing us both onto the bed. “I have to call Myla!”

I grabbed his cellphone right out of his hand. “No. No one can know right now.”

Confusion washed over him as the saddest look ever took away all of his giddiness. “But…?” He gave me his best attempt at a puppy-dog face.

“It’s too early, something could happen.” I put my hand on his cheek. “But, don’t worry. I am a nurse, so this little peanut is going to get the best care possible. I promise we will be able to tell everyone soon, ok?”

He nodded. “Fine.” His excitement rushed back as he grabbed my shoulders, kissing me hard. “God, I fucking love you so much!”

“I love you too, Daddy.” The word felt weird and amazing rolling off my tongue as it started to settle in: we were going to be parents.

“That has a nice ring to it.” Brayden’s tone shifted to lustful as his eyes narrowed. “Does this mean I am going to have to go easy on you?” He started to pull at my clothes and then his own.

I nipped at his neck. “I don’t think you’ll be tying me up or pulling the whips out any time soon, but we can still have sex. I’m not injured or anything.”

In the months, we had been together, we had come a long way from that first night we slept together. Slowly, Brayden had shown me just how much of a dominator he actually was. In doing that, we learned together, learned what worked and didn’t work for each other. The power and control we gave and took was simply beautiful in the rawest of forms.

“Tell me what you want, babe,” Brayden whispered in my ear.

“You’re going to lick my cunt until I come and use my wetness to lube yourself up then get behind me and fuck me in the ass.” Saying the commands out loud sent shivers down my spine.

“Yes, ma’am.” Brayden got off the bed, pulling my legs over the edge. Getting onto his knees, his lips kissed from my knee all the way to my tender flesh. He flattened his tongue, stroking my clit slowly. His nails dug into my thighs as he worked my throbbing bud perfectly. Softly sucking on my clit, he teased my opening with his thumb. “God, Karla, you’re so wet already.” He groaned.

My stomach started to knot up. “Oh fuck!” I cried, but not in a good way—in an I am going to hurl kind of way.

I rushed for the bathroom, practically running Brayden over to make it to the toilet in time.

As I hurled, Brayden sat down next to me, putting a cold wash cloth on the back of my neck. “Can I do anything to help?”

I glanced over at him, hoping the heaving was over. “Sorry.” I rested my head on the toilet seat.

Brayden sweetly rolled the back of his fingers over my cheek. “For what?”

I forced a laugh. “How sexy is this?”

He scooted closer to me, kissing my forehead. “Sweetheart, you’re pregnant. Doesn’t getting sick kind of come with the territory?”

“Yeah, but still.” I pulled the cool compress from behind my neck, holding it against my forehead.

“How about I order us a pizza and we sit on the couch all night watching anything you want?”

“Really? Anything?” Man, he really must be happy about this baby. Brayden was the master of the remote. It wasn’t like he didn’t let me pick things to watch, but he had total veto power if he thought something was too girly or sappy.

“Yes. Anything.” He helped me up from the floor and wrapped me in my favorite pink fluffy robe. “You just have to brush your teeth first.” He stuck his tongue out at me before heading back into my room to get dressed.