21 weeks gestation

Every single day, Roan called her, and every day she avoided having an in-depth conversation with him. She had even canceled on the family dinner plans. It was really beginning to grate his nerves. While she might not like it, he was the father of her child, and he’d be damned if he was going to take a backseat.

Showing up at her house right before she was supposed to get off work, he sat on her front stoop and waited. If she wouldn’t talk to him by phone, then she was stuck with him in person. They needed to clear the air before he had to go back to Syria.

She pulled up and stared at him for a moment in surprise before getting out of her car. He drank in the sight of her like a man dying of thirst in the desert.

“Roan? Is everything okay?” she asked, coming his way.

“No. It’s not. My best friend refuses to talk to me, and I’m lost without her,” he told her, rising to stand in front of her. “Please don’t blow me off, B. I miss you like crazy.”

She hesitated, then nodded her head, “Come on in. I’m too tired to argue tonight.”

Following her to the door, he took her keys and opened it for her. She went inside the air-conditioned apartment and collapsed into a chair, her purse still on her shoulder.

“I’m so freaking tired,” she groaned. “Junior seems to be sucking the energy from me like a leech.”

“Maybe you’re working too hard?”

“The books say this is normal. The fatigue I mean. It doesn’t seem to matter how much I sleep, I still wake up tired.” She kicked off her shoes and stretched, arching her feet and pointing her toes.

Roan immediately went to her, dropping to the floor in front of her, taking her foot in his hands. “Just because fatigue is normal, doesn’t mean you can’t overdo it, baby. Did the day off help?”

“Yeah it did, but I can’t take more time off. I’ll need the time when Junior arrives.”

“You know, I can help. Hell, I should help. He’s my son too. Please let me help with the expenses,” Roan said, switching to the other foot. He smiled when she let out a moan of relief at his touch.

“Do you remember our senior year of high-school, when you were struggling with Chemistry and you needed tutoring, but you were too stubborn to take my help?” she asked, her eyes closed as she enjoyed the foot rub. “It took me almost a month to convince you it wasn’t weak to accept help.”

Roan paused his rubbing, watching her closely and hoping he was hearing her right.

“I’m going to need help,” she sighed heavily. “I don’t like it. I don’t want it, but I will need you.”

“Well, gee thanks.”

“That’s not what I mean,” she said with a laugh, her dark eyes popping open. They sparkled in the dim light of the room. “I mean, yes, you will have plenty of opportunities to help pay for your son, but not today. Today, the best thing you can do for me is keep rubbing. Damn, that feels good.”

Roan grinned at her reaction. Before they slept together, he’d tried not to think about the sounds she made when she was feeling good, but now…

Sliding his hand up to her calf, over her leggings, he manipulated the tight muscles there until she was sighing with pleasure. Switching sides, he did the same on the opposite leg, then took a big chance and moved his hands to her thighs.

“You know, I could help you relax in other ways, B.” Rising to his knees, he spread her thighs and insinuated himself between them, bracing his body on his elbows on either side of her, moving in close. “In that one book, it said that orgasms can help with getting a good night’s rest.”

Her pupils dilated, and her breathing increased, but she didn’t respond. She was like a wary rabbit, peeking out to see if the fox was around.

“Let me make you feel good, B,” he murmured, leaning in until their mouths were close enough to exchange breath.

She hesitated, then her chin tipped, just slightly up, an invitation he couldn’t have ignored even if he was a better man. Thankfully, he wasn’t a better man, because her kiss was intoxicating.

Their bodies were aligned, and he pressed into her, loving the sounds she made as she grew aroused. Her hands came up to scratch at his scalp, and he shivered under her touch. Burning for her, he cupped her face and took her mouth captive. Tempting and teasing until her tongue tangled with his. When they finally took a moment to breathe, she was panting for air, and her hips were wriggling, grinding her sweet V against his stomach.

“Let me touch you,” he said, reaching for her shirt. Her hands immediately stopped him and for just a moment, he thought she might show him to the door. Instead, she blushed and looked away.

“It’s not a pretty sight. I’ve put on weight, and I have stretch marks already,” she whispered, her eyes never meeting his.

“That’s where you’re wrong. No mark on this body could ever take away from its beauty.” Lifting her shirt, he exposed her to his view. She was right, there were very faint lines on the sides of her distended stomach, but to his eyes, they were a mark of strength. She was creating life, and he was in awe. Bending slightly, he kissed each mark, then lifted his head to take in the bounty that her breasts had become.

“Holy shit.”

He hadn’t meant to say it out loud, but her perfectly rounded handfuls had become glorious mounds that spilled out of her bra. His cock responded and thumped against his jeans, begging for release. When he met her gaze, she laughed.

“Yeah, they’ve grown along with the rest of me.”

“Thank you, Jesus, Allah, Buddha, and Zeus. I don’t care what you practice, but this right here proves there is a God.” Reaching for her, he gently released the front clasp on the plain white bra, and her breasts fell into his hands. Burying his face in her cleavage, he took a moment to just enjoy the feel of them. Bristol wasn’t having it for long though, and he captured her nipple between his teeth, making her squeal with pleasure.

“Roan, shit, oh my god, oh my god,” she babbled, and he grinned around his mouthful. So, she was a talker huh? He hadn’t noticed that before, but then, she’d been pretty drunk that night.

When he’d properly worshiped both of her boobs, he moved on to her swelling midsection. Taking time to touch every inch of her skin, fascinated with the way the tiny being underneath seemed to move with him.

“Is it strange?” he asked suddenly. “To feel him moving when you’re so turned on?”

“Can we please not talk about it right now? I’m trying to ignore it,” she muttered, pulling his hand away from her belly and tangling her fingers with it.

Taking his cue, Roan began tugging her leggings off and the panties beneath with it. Her intoxicating scent rose and filled his nose, making his blood boil in his veins. Bending, he buried his nose in the curls capping her slit and inhaled deeply.

“Fuck, you smell like heaven.” With a quick swipe of his tongue, he teased her. “Taste like it too.”

“Roan, please…” she whined.

“Please what baby? Please this?” He swiped his tongue up and down very slowly and thoroughly, then paused. “Or maybe this?” A quick motion like a snake with his tongue right on her clit had her squealing and begging for more.

“Yes, baby, give me the juice.” She was creaming all over the chair, but he figured he could buy her a new chair. No way was he stopping now. She humped his face, taking everything he had to give and more until her body was shuddering, and her pussy was clenching around his inserted finger.

“Yes, God! Roan! Sweet Jesus!” she said as she crested her climax and slid back into reality.

Roan sat up, wiping his face, and feeling pretty damn pleased with himself. “I’ll answer to any of the above.”

She giggled, and her eyes fluttered. “You were right, that was very relaxing.”

“Oh, but wait, that was only the beginning. I have at least one more big act to come.” Getting up, he lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bedroom. “For this one, I’ll need audience participation.”

He put her down on the bed, and reached for his jeans, releasing the catch that was keeping his cock restrained. It was leaking heavily, and his balls ached like mad. When Bristol reached out to grab him, he hissed at the painful pleasure that streaked through him.

“Fuck, yes,” he growled, pressing his hips forward to encourage her. “Don’t be shy. Take it all and make me give you more.”

Her cheeks were flushed pink, and the color carried down to her chest. Her breasts bounced with each movement she made, and under this light, he had a better view of her head to toe. She was beyond incredible. Her pale alabaster skin radiated with the glow of her pregnancy, and every time he saw her belly, he felt ten times taller. He’d done that. He’d helped create that life. There was no better feeling.

Distracted by his own thoughts, he squirmed when she suddenly took him in her mouth.

“Holy shit.”

Her mouth was scorching hot and slick, he nearly came with the first suckle, but he managed to hold himself together to enjoy a few more moments of it before he pushed her onto her back and climbed between her legs.

“Fuck me, Roan. Make me feel good,” she said, her hands linking behind his neck as he pressed the head of his cock against the wet opening of her pussy.

Barely holding onto his control, Roan sank into her slowly, relishing the tight squeeze of her body as they became one. It was as if they were made from two halves of the same stone. Their bodies fit perfectly together, and as they made love, Roan told her again and again how perfect she was. The only thing that never crossed his lips were the words his brothers insisted she was desperate to hear. He couldn’t bring himself to say them in the heat of the moment. She’d never have believed him. So, he focused on showing her how much he loved her with his body.

She orgasmed twice before he let go of the strings of control he was barely holding and filled her body with his cum. Together they slumped onto the bed and fell asleep.

* * *

Bristol woke up with a sick feeling she’d repeated her mistakes. The heavy arm around her middle again was pretty good evidence of her blunder. Sliding out from under his arm, she made a beeline for the bathroom, scooping his shirt up on her way. It fit snuggly around her middle but hung like a sack on her everywhere else. More importantly, it smelled like Roan and made her feel wonderful.

She stared at the woman in the mirror, wondering exactly when things had gotten so out of control. Roan was a good man, and he deserved to spend his life with someone he was madly in love with—even if it wasn’t Bristol.

Washing her face with cold water, she left the bathroom to creep down the hallway to the kitchen. She was going to need a full pot of coffee today to deal with the aftermath of their night. She paused in the living room when she noticed her clothing strewn about. Her purse still sat on the floor next to the chair where Roan had eaten her pussy like a starving man. Holy shit. Had that really happened?

There was no doubt about it, they were explosive in bed together. Maybe it was the intimate friendship they’d had for years, or maybe, Roan was just that good. Either way, he’d be hard to live up to for any other man in her future.

Collecting her clothes, she dropped them on top of the washer to clean later and fixed her coffee. She was just sitting down with a cup when Roan stumbled out of the bedroom. Wearing only his jeans, she couldn’t help but melt at the sight of his beautiful body rumpled from sleep. How was it possible his bare feet were even sexy?

“Aha! There’s my shirt,” he said, bending to plant a kiss on her mouth and stealing her mug to take a big gulp. “Ouch! Hot!”

“Of course, it is, I just made it,” she responded, laughing at him as he stuck his tongue out to show her the burn. “Have some milk, that will calm the sting.”

Roan did as she bid, returning to her side, milk in hand. “Why do you have three gallons of milk in your fridge?”

“Because it’s one of the few things I can stomach in the morning. Milk and graham crackers are my go-to breakfast after coffee,” she explained. “Real breakfast foods just make me queasy.”

“I guess I won’t offer to take you to breakfast this morning then,” he chuckled as he drank his milk. “How about lunch instead?”

“I only get thirty minutes. I’m trying to save time up, remember?”

“Okay,” he nodded, “then dinner. If you’re not up to going out, I’ll bring something and come here.”

“What are we doing Roan?”

“What do you mean?” His eyebrow rose, and he stared her down as if challenging her to say the words.

“Are we dating? Are we a couple? I mean, I turned down your marriage proposal. Surely, you don’t want anything to do with me now.” She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from getting teary-eyed at the thought.

“So what,” Roan rolled his eyes, “I’ll keep asking until you give me the right answer, and if I have to make love to you a million times to convince you to marry me, I guess that’s a sacrifice I’ll have to make.”

“Gee, what a guy,” she snorted. “Does this mean we’re dating?”

“We’re more than dating. You’re the mother of my son and the most important person in my life.”

Bristol warmed at his words but pushed, anyway. “I don’t want you to feel obligated to be with me if someone else would make you happy. Junior and I will be just fine.”

“Stop, B.” Roan sat forward in his chair and reached for her hand. “I don’t feel obligated to do anything or feel anything for anyone. I’ve loved you since I met you. You’re my best friend.”

“Yes, but I want a future with passionate love. A love you can’t escape. A love that makes it hard to breathe.” She stood and began to pace. “We both deserve as much.”

Roan followed her, wrapping his arms around her to pull her close. “Everything changed so fast, B, don’t shut out the possibility you could have that with me. I sure as hell haven’t.”

Between them, the baby kicked, and she giggled and pressed his hand against her. “Do you feel him? I think he’s agreeing with his daddy.”

“See, I knew we’d make a brilliant boy,” Roan said with glee. His eyes sparkled as he dropped to his knees to press a kiss to her belly. “Don’t worry kiddo, Daddy is hellbent on seducing your mama into loving him.”

“I do love you, Roan, more than anyone else in the world—outside of Junior here—but that doesn’t mean we’re a match made in heaven.”

“What’s that saying about marriages being made in heaven, but so were thunder and lightning?” he teased. “If I promise to give you time, will you promise to have an open mind? Let me have the next five days of my leave to convince you we should be together forever. Our son deserves that.”

Bristol hesitated, but she couldn’t deny the love shining back at her from his face. She just didn’t believe it was the right kind of love. Gratitude for carrying their child, perhaps? Appreciation for their deep friendship? It didn’t matter, it wasn’t the head over heels love she’d always expected to find from the man she would marry.

“I need to get ready for work,” she told him, pulling away and heading for her bedroom. “I’ll bring your shirt back in a second.”

She couldn’t resist looking back as she shut her bedroom door, and what she saw broke her heart. Roan still knelt where she’d left him, but he had his head in his hands as if he were frustrated or sad. Maybe he did mean it, but he meant it because of the baby, not because of her. She knew if there was no pregnancy, he would never have said the words, and that’s what truly hurt.

* * *

“The yellow one,” Bristol said as she eyeballed crib sets. “It will look great against the dark wood of the crib.”

“Why not blue? He’s a boy, aren’t they supposed to have blue?” Roan asked.

“I’m pretty sure he won’t remember what color his crib sheets were later in life, but if necessary, we’ll get him therapy,” Bristol giggled.

Roan nodded his agreement and scooped the yellow bedding set with frogs and turtles on it into the cart. “So, crib, bedding, changing table, what next?”

“Um, I’m not sure. Why don’t we stop now? This is a lot of money as it is,” she protested, feeling sticker shock after walking through the baby aisles.

“Babies are expensive. Everyone says so. What about a rocking chair? You don’t have one yet.”

“That’s an extra,” she shook her head. “If we find one cheap, great, but if not, I can make do without it.”

Roan narrowed his eyes at her and headed for the furniture, anyway. He made her sit in each one, and when she refused to pick, he picked one for her. Thankfully, it was the exact one she would have picked if she could. She just hated spending all of his money when he was back for such a short time. She was afraid he’d start to feel used if it kept going.

“That’s enough Roan,” she said after he added a footstool and night light to the cart. “We only have a couple of days to set all of this up in the extra bedroom, and I haven’t had time to make space for it yet. Let’s go find some lunch, then I’ll probably need a nap.”

“Surely, you don’t want to spend your only day off this week sleeping and cleaning,” he said. “Let’s go see a movie or something.”

“You don’t understand, napping has become my favorite activity in the last few months.”

He laughed with her and shook his head, “Alright, napping it is. I do have a good way to make sure you sleep well, remember?”

She felt herself blush all the way out of the store. She wasn’t sure if continuing a sexual relationship was the right move, but she knew in her heart, she wouldn’t be able to deny him if he tempted her. Now that she’d had a taste of the addictive drug that was Roan, she’d be hooked forever.

After stopping for tacos to take home, they took their purchases into the apartment and dumped them all in the living room.

“I’m going to have to find a home for the futon that’s in the bedroom and possibly the desk. I’ll need the space for all of this,” she complained, eyeballing the big pieces of furniture.

“No problem. We can store them at the Storm Castle in the basement until we need them again. I don’t imagine we’ll live in this apartment too much longer after Junior is born, we’ll need more space.”

“What is this we shit?” Bristol couldn’t hide her shock. “I live here. You live at your house. And when did you suddenly decide I was moving?”

“Whoa, I didn’t think you would mind if I planned to stay here after he was born. He’s my son too, and I won’t want to be away from him.”

Bristol hesitated, thinking through the situation from his side. He was right, it wasn’t fair to ask him to live away from his son when they were… dating? Hell, at this point who knew what they were.

“I’ll agree to that for now, but I’m not discussing moving yet. I’ve lived here for five years, and I love this apartment.”

“It will be very cozy with three of us in it,” Roan warned. “But I understand. I’m the thirty-two-year-old man still living in my family home. I can’t say much.”

“Wow. When you put it that way, I should really reconsider. Maybe you need a kickstart like that movie Failure to Launch?” she teased.

“I think my kickstart is right there,” he said, pointing at her middle. “I’ll call the guys to come help me clear out the furniture if you want to get it ready.”

“Can we nap first? Clean later?”

Roan laughed again, “Deal.”