Chapter 16

Embry

Everything dragged by once Trace left. I’d only had a little time with him, but every moment played back in my mind. It had already been a month, and I’d worked extra shifts at the bar, helping Gramps. The guys were still the same, constantly hitting on me, and I was neither sarcastic or indifferent to them lately.

I was downright bitchy.

I felt tired a lot and often went home to sleep. Trace gave me a key to his house if I wanted to stay there, but I missed him too much. I’d done that once when I wanted to be close to him and just smelled him everywhere.

Besides, it was his house with Ben, not me. I had my own place. I could just hole up in there and sleep, though Harper came by often to try to get me out into the sun or just to hang out.

I’d told her about Trace, and she was equally excited and worried about it. She liked him and thought he was gorgeous, but had certain expectations of the hot Navy guys. SEALs were at the top of that list with their swagger and cocky attitudes, even if we both admitted they were usually the best looking.

I heard the knock at the door from the bathroom tonight, hunched over the toilet. “Hang on!” I called to her as I took a deep breath.

Trace might indeed have magic sperm. I stood slowly and rinsed my face off with cold water. I glanced in the mirror and thought how pale I looked, but it was no wonder. I worked too much, and while technology was impressive in helping me keep in touch with Trace, it was also a little frustrating. We texted the most, talked on the phone a little bit, and skyped even less. It didn’t even feel like he was really mine some days; more like a memory of something that once was.

I made my way to the door and opened it, smiling weakly at Harper.

“Why are you so pale?” she asked. “Are you feeling okay?”

I considered the question for a moment, since I hadn’t exactly told her that we were careless about protection. No, not careless. He was downright determined to get me pregnant, and I didn’t fight it. I wanted all of him.

She walked inside, and I shrugged before making my way across the tiny living room to the kitchen.

“Just feeling a little off. Want something to drink?”

Harper sat down on the couch and produced two cups of my favorite frozen yogurt.

“Do you have any of that bai stuff?” she asked.

I smiled, reaching for two of the white cans. Trace was rubbing off on me with his healthy eating, and I was off soda now, which might be a good thing, considering the way I was feeling.

“Is pineapple good?” I asked, shaking my head at her enthusiastic response from the kitchen.

I joined her back on the couch with our drinks and took the strawberry yogurt from her, telling her thank you. It might come right back up, but the taste would be better than the faint taste of vomit that was in my mouth. I took a small, careful bite as she searched for something on television.

We watched a rom com, and I managed to keep the yogurt down, though I still felt nauseous and a little dizzy. When the night was over, I was relieved to see Harper to the door since I was so tired.

I reminded myself to buy a pregnancy test tomorrow. I needed to know if I was or wasn’t, so Trace could know. He promised me that he’d come to get me, and I knew that he’d keep his word. That’s who Trace was, and he wanted this. He wanted to start a new family.

The next day, I went in for the afternoon shift and helped with odds and ends around the bar. Gramps took one look at me and asked if I was okay, so I guess I still looked bad. I sure felt it.

I told him that it was just a little bug and sipped tart lemonade all day to soothe my stomach, stopping at a small store on the way home to buy a few pregnancy tests. I didn’t know anyone inside, since I went one town over away from the Navy life, and I headed home with the bag right after.

I felt like I was going to have a nervous breakdown as I went into the small bathroom and set the boxes down. I opened one to try it. I planned to take all of them, and I drank a huge glass of water in the kitchen so I could.

I might be pregnant with Trace Bellum’s baby. Holy shit.

I did all the tests once the water went through me and lined them up on the counter as I looked into the mirror. Could I do this? Could I be a mom?

I knew that he’d never abandon me, but it was so much to think about. I paced the apartment for the next few minutes, wondering what the baby could be, and who it would look like. Ben looked a lot like Trace, so would that happen this time?

I knew it was time and headed back to the bathroom to look at the tests. Between all the plus signs, the lines, and the words screaming at me, I knew that I was going to have Trace’s baby in a few months.

I took a picture of the tests and sent it to him before washing my face for bed. I’d felt so needy for Trace since he left, and I played back one of the times we were together in my head as I stroked my clit.

I needed him and needed to come, but until he was here, I had my hand. I thought about the night that he watched me masturbate and how hot it was. I bit my lip as I slid three fingers into my pussy and fucked it as hard as I could. I pretended that it was his thick cock as I rocked against my hand, coming hard with his name on my lips.

After I was finished, I stroked my hands over my body to see if it felt any different. I hadn’t gained any weight, though I didn’t think I would already. My pussy was incredibly sensitive, but I blamed that on Trace and what he did to me. My breasts felt heavy and tender, and I smiled as I closed my eyes.

He’d be here for me soon. For us.