Lean on Me

Kari soon appeared, still flushed, and Jessica asked what she wanted to drink.

“Just water, thanks.”

“You had just water all night,” Beth said in her soft voice. “Are you pregnant or something?”

Kari jerked. “How did—”

“Oh, my God,” Jessica exclaimed. “You are!” With a squeal, she hugged the schoolteacher. Then Beth did.

Andrea smiled, standing off to one side and wishing she knew them better.

Kari winked at her, holding her arms out. “It's lucky to hug a pregnant woman. C'mon.”

And Andrea got a hug that made her feel like she belonged.

When she stepped back, the silence on the lanai was overwhelming. The Doms had stopped talking and turned their attention to the subs.

“Oh, God,” Kari said under her breath.

Jessica's eyes widened. “He doesn't—”

“I was going to tell him later. In private, darn it.”

“Kari.” Master Dan stalked over, and Dios, he looked big as he stared down at his short, curvy sub. He tucked a finger under her chin. “Why was everyone hugging you?”

“Uh, strictly speaking, only the women hugged—”

“Little sub,” he snapped. “Answer me.”

“Jeez. Fine!” She stepped back out of his reach, shoved her long hair out of her face, and frowned at him. “We're going to have a baby.”

A tender smile softened his lean face, and he pulled her into his arms, rocking her. “Now that's the right answer.”

She stepped back. “Wait a minute. You knew?”

“Of course.” He chuckled and reached inside her robe to cup a breast. “This is my body, little sub, and I know every inch of it. I'm not liable to miss when some of my favorite parts get bigger and more tender.”

“Oh.” Her lips curved, and she flung herself against him. “A baby. Isn't that cool?”

Andrea saw the mist in his eyes before he buried his face in her hair, murmuring in her ear.

He wasn't the only one puddling up. Tears ran down Jessica's cheeks, Beth's eyes gleamed, and Z and Master Cullen shook hands as if they'd personally arranged for a baby. Master Nolan actually grinned.

Well. Andrea leaned a hip against the table and wondered if Kari would like a baby blanket.

Everyone eventually moved toward the sitting area on the lanai. Nolan plucked his sub up and settled into a chair. Z put his drink on the table beside him and held his hand out for Jessica. Cullen took Andrea's wrist and pulled her down onto his lap. Startled at first, Andrea snuggled against her Señor's chest and sighed. Dios, she liked being held more than she'd ever thought. And how nice they didn't insist on having the subs kneel all the time.

The small group bandied about ideas for submissive costumes, and then Dan and Kari rejoined them.

Master Z raised his glass. “A memorable St. Patrick's Day. Here's to Daniel and Kari.”

Glasses lifted as Kari beamed at everyone from Dan's lap.

Andrea tried to ignore the lump of envy in her chest.

“How many are you planning?” Jessica asked Kari.

“At least two.” Kari patted her Dom's hand that curled protectively over her stomach. “I'm going to stretch this overprotectiveness out over a few more bodies.”

“Sounds nice.” Beth sighed. “I've always been envious of people with big families. Nolan has a half dozen brothers and sisters, and don't you have a bunch, Cullen?”

“Enough for a baseball team in just my family. And when the entire O'Keefe clan gathers for Sunday dinners, the neighbors hide.” He tugged Andrea's hair. “How about you, love? Do you have brothers and sisters? Are your parents nearby?”

The pang of loss squeezed for a second. “There's just me. My parents are both dead.”

“That's rough, baby.” Señor rubbed his chin on her head. “How about cousins and all that?”

The question stole her breath. Dios, she could just see him showing up at Aunt Rosa's and finding out that drug money had bought the house. She sucked in some air. “Here and there. Kari, do you have family to dote over the new baby?”

As Kari answered, Andrea glanced up to see Master Cullen frowning at her. Obviously, she'd failed in diverting his question.

“So how's the arson business, Cullen?” Nolan asked. “Is that how you got scorched?”

“Yeah. I was careless.”

Arson? He's a criminal? Andrea turned and looked at him. “You burn down buildings?” Even as she asked, she knew he'd never do such a thing.

“No, sweetie, I arrest the ones that do. I'm an arson investigator.”

Every single muscle in her body tightened, and her throat closed so tightly that her voice came out hoarse. “A cop?”

His eyes narrowed. “Basically, yes.”

She put her arms around herself, chilling despite the warm robe. “I thought you were a bartender. You act like a bartender.” Not a cop. This couldn't be happening.

“I had helped my gramps at his Irish pub in Chicago, so Z asked me to tend the bar at the club.” He grinned. “He knew if Nolan or Dan handled the bar, he'd lose half his membership.”

“Hey,” Dan said as Nolan snorted a laugh.

Andrea flinched. She'd forgotten the others.

Master Z studied her for a moment, then turned to Nolan, “Speaking of occupations, how is the landscaping going? Has Beth given you a rose garden yet?”

As Nolan growled something about herbs, Master Cullen put a finger under Andrea's chin and lifted. “Why does my being a cop bother you?” he asked softly.

Bother her? It terrified her. Nice, plain, normal people reacted badly to her background. But a cop? Oh, she knew what cops thought of her. The sense of despair sent coldness deep into her bones. “I need to be going.”

His arm flexed, keeping her in his lap. “Not yet.”

“Señor. Please.”

His eyes had darkened like a pine forest in the twilight. His hand cupped her cheek, holding her so she couldn't look away, but the gentleness made tears prickle in her eyes. “Now tell me. Is your cleaning business a front for the mob?”

She blinked at the unexpected question. “No.”

“Well, that's a start.” His cheek creased. “Are you wanted for any crime?”

“No.”

“No, what?”

She stared at him. How could he demand a title now? Couldn't he see her life shattering around her?

“Andrea…”

“No, Señor, I'm not wanted for anything.” She took hold of his wrist, tried to push his hand away. “I don't want to talk about this; I want to leave.”

“I'll give you what you need, not always what you want. And you need to get this out of your system.” His jaw tightened, but his thumb caressed her chin. “Explain to me. Now.”

She'd set herself up for this, wanting a man who could tell her what to do and make it stick. Now he demanded more, for her to open to him, and he was the enemy. One of them who had—

“What is my name, Andrea?” He broke into her thoughts with the question.

“Master Cullen.” Mi Señor.

“Good. Now tell me.”

“I have a…a background. And I come from the slums, so my family has a…background.”

He chuckled, the sound vibrating through his chest and into her body. “Background is a good word. Is everything in the background and nothing current?”

He wasn't reacting right. What was wrong with him? She could feel her heart pounding as she nodded.

“Oh, little sub,” he murmured. “There're very few people who haven't done something—or many things—they regret later. I don't hold a past against a person. Or their relatives.” He grinned. “We have a large number of law enforcement types in my family, true, but my uncle used to be a bookie, a cousin dealt drugs, and my great-grandfather never would say where the money for the pub and other businesses came from.”

“Really?” He wouldn't mind?

“I like who you are now, Andrea. I like your intelligence, your courage, the way you are willing to risk punishment to care for me, and your sense of humor, which is as warped as mine.” He brushed a kiss over her lips. “But all that wariness obviously comes from a hurt in your past. I intend to find out what.”

She stiffened again. She never wanted to talk about her past. Not to him. She started to undo the belt of the robe. “I need to go. Where should I leave the robe?”

He closed his fingers over hers. “We'll bring it back tomorrow and get your purse then.”

“Tomorrow?”

Running a finger down her cheek, he smiled. “Oh, yes. Tomorrow.”

“But I told you…” She tried to pull back. She needed to go home and think. “But… No.”

“You may use a room upstairs if you wish,” Z interrupted. He stood nearby, and Andrea realized the others had left.

“Thank you; we will.” Master Cullen jerked his head for Z to move on.

As Z complied with a chuckle, Señor said, “You'll stay here with me tonight.”

“I can't. I have work that I need to do.”

“Your cleaning business?”

“Yes. I haven't found a replacement for one of my employees, so I'm picking up the businesses she did. I have two places to do by seven.”