G.I. BABY (17 page)

Her arms went a bit tighter around the baby.

“Careful. You’ll break his fragile bones, ” he said warningly, his eyes, dead serious.

She inhaled deeply and looked at her baby sleeping peacefully in her arms, embarrassed that he was reprimanding her for not handling her own child with care.

She met his eyes again. “Look—”

Again, he cut her, not giving her any avenue to turn the table. “There’s nothing to look into except the fact that you tried to hide him from me. You deliberately kept me in the dark about your pregnancy.”

“Kept you in the dark?!” she spluttered. “We parted ways nine months ago! We have no business with each other anymore!”

The baby jerked in her arms, startled. She tried to keep calm but it was hard with him steamrolling her and she was still weak from child birth.
 

His gaze dropped to the baby. “Except that we have.” He stared at her again. “Big business.”
 

It was disconcerting that we wasn’t even blinking as his eyes bored into hers. Intimidating her like a soldier. Hah!
 

“I called your aunt’s office before I left for the tour months ago. She lied to me about you saying you were just a part-time employee and not her relative and that she didn’t know you that much and therefore could not be located. Guess who told her to do that.”

She bristled even more at his accusing tone but she had no reply to that.

“I could have terminated her contract for entrusting my property to someone she didn’t even know.”

“Why didn’t you?”

He shrugged. “Beats me. Maybe I didn’t have time. I was called back to the base shortly after.”

“And why were you calling anyway? I already told you I didn’t want any further association. What part of ‘no’ didn’t you understand?”

“You know, you’re the only female who can tell me to fuck off without getting something in return. If you didn’t just give birth, I’ll give you a reason to scream ‘yes’ till your throat’s raw.”

Her cheeks heated up at his lascivious insinuation. “Oh please, spare me the macho bullshit. You know, most men would be happily putting distance between me and this baby by now.”

“I’m not most men.”

 
“Look, it was my fault I got knocked up. Honestly, I didn’t want to bother you with it and burden you with an unwanted responsibility.”

“No. It was mine. You were sleeping in my bed and…why were you sleeping in my bed anyway?”

“I was working all day. I had a headache, took a pill and dozed off for a bit. Obviously, I slept for hours and totally forgot the time. My fault.”

 
“Nevertheless, I had the wrong impression of you. I thought you were one of the girls I…” he didn’t continue his sentence. “I’ve never failed to use rubber in my past sexual liaisons. That night though, and the other nights, I was careless. Totally my fault.”

The fact that he was man enough to own up to his part of the mess alleviated her temper. “Okay, no biggie. It was both our fault. But I chose to keep the baby so he’s my sole responsibility.”

“What are you saying? That had I known you were pregnant I would have wanted you to get rid of it?”

She sneered at him. “Wouldn’t you have,
Mister I’m not a good person you will regret trying to frame me for rape or fatherhood
?” She enunciated each word.

He looked guilty. Bingo!
 

“See? I was saving myself from further humiliation and with good reason.”
 

He clenched his jaw, as if curbing his temper. “Okay, Andi, point taken. I’m normally a reasonable man. For the baby’s sake, can we start over again? I’m Craig and I’m the father of your baby. Deal with that. I’m not going away. Are we clear on this?”

“That doesn’t sound like starting over again, at all. Back to your threats, officer?”

He threw away any pretense of being nice. “If that’s the way you wanna play it, then you can start believing it. Your cherry may have impressed me enough to want to fuck you nonstop for a week but you got me good with that child. Don’t make this ugly and force me to use my resources on you, Andi.”

It was a threat and she knew he could carry it out.

Their eyes clashed. Her chest heaved in her agitation. She was still weak and hurting physically and she could hardly stand on her own two feet. She felt helpless as she lay there on the hospital bed while he looked strong and powerful and capable pulling strings to make her life miserable.

“Damn you, what do you want?” she snarled at him.

“For starters, you’ve awakened the baby by your tantrum and he looks hungry again. Feed him,” he commanded.

The way he had changed the topic made her head spin. She glared at him harder. Tantrum?! She wanted to scream at him at this point.

“Feed him,” he repeated calmly. “The doctor said the baby needs colostrum for his immune system. He should start sucking from your…so your milk will come.” He cleared his throat.

She blushed at his words. Oh God, how terribly awkward was this? But her little prince was awake now and nuzzling her chest restlessly, making these cooing baby noises.

Her heart instantly melted, her maternal instinct taking over. “Get out while I feed him.

He shook his head. “I’m gonna stay right here and watch you feed my kid. Don’t wanna miss that for anything.”

 
If things were different and they were real lovers, that would have been really sweet.

“C’mon. It’s not like I haven’t sucked your tits raw for a week.”

“You are gross!” Her cheeks flushed she was probably red as a tomato now.

A grin split his lips. His expression which was granite-hard a few seconds ago was a pin-up for a toothpaste commercial now.
 

Good Lord, her stupid tummy just recently ravaged from childbirth actually fluttered.

Ew, Andi. You’re such a slut where this man was concerned. Thank God he couldn’t read minds.

“C’mon, the kid’s hungry.” He pulled the chair closer to the bed to get a better look.
 

One thing she just discovered about Craig Walker, the man had zero respect for a woman’s sensibilities.
 

——*****——

He meant only to tease her but the moment
she lifted her hospital gown and revealed one of her breasts, he realized he just subjected himself to a visual torture.

Her boob had doubled in size and stood proud and firm, its crown a deep shade of pink now, lusciously swollen and by the looks of it, ready to squirt milk.

Saliva pooled in his mouth.

His cock jumped.

Shit.
 

“Get me a wet cotton.”

He forced his eyes away from her boob and blinked at her, dazed. “Huh?”

“I need to clean my…Get me a ball of cotton dipped in warm water,” she repeated, giving him a disapproving look.

He stood up and did her bidding. He went to a nearby table and came back to her with balls of cotton he’d drenched with warm water.

He watched like a gawking boy as she gently rubbed the wet cotton around her areola. The little nub puckered even more, making his throat dry and his cock a raring monster in his pants.

His kid was going crazy, sensing his source of nourishment. Andi guided her nipple into his little mouth. The baby’s tiny frame jolted as if electrified and then he was latching on it like there was no tomorrow.

Fuck if he did not envy his kid right now.

His cock was a Tomahawk ready to hit home now and the target was blocked. Helluva time to be feeling horny for someone whom you can clearly NOT fuck as it was physically impossible.

He should have called Tommy’s girls and flushed out the first wave of his pent-up tension so he won’t be this antsy. But he didn’t want just anybody. His cock had suddenly developed a discriminating taste. He wanted the woman in front of him. THE mother of his child.

Damn, he’d never seen a more beautiful woman than Andi breastfeeding their baby boy. She was hands down the sexiest woman in his eyes.

The baby was grunting and gurgling, his little mouth producing sucking sounds. Then he let go of the nipple and started bawling.

“She’s not getting enough,” he said the obvious. “Try the other one.”

He watched like a voyeur again as she cleansed her other nipple. The baby latched on it too, like a starving leech, shaking and purring and kicking his little legs.

“My milk hasn’t fully come yet so he’s kinda frustrated he’s just getting a little. He’s not even supposed to need much this early.”

“That’s my kid so he’d need more than a normal baby,” he said in a smug tone.

She rolled her eyes. “Tell me about it.”

By this time, he wanted to go to the bathroom to jack off.
 
Shit, lusting after her when she just gave birth. It was low, even for a lowlife like him. But who can blame him? With her extra pounds, glowing skin and her rack full to overflowing, she was a goddess waiting to be ravished.

When the baby’s crying continued, he turned around. “I’ll call the nurse.”
 

He went out of the suite and leaned his back against the hallway wall.
 

He did some deep breathing, hoping it will kill his hard-on. The bulge in his fly cannot possibly be disguised so he stayed there for a few minutes to let it subside, wincing as he heard his kid scream furiously for more milk. So demanding already.

He was forced to rush to the nurse’s station.

——*****——

As their child fed from the formula bottle,
they both kept quiet and watched in rapt fascination.

Andi set aside her issues for now. In that moment she knew, Craig shared her exact feelings. It showed in his eyes. They fairly glowed with love for his child. Despite her fears and doubts and misgivings, she couldn’t possibly take this joy away from him. It was the instinctive affection of a parent for his child.

The suite was utterly quiet except for the happy noises the baby was making as he sucked from the feeding bottle like a little glutton.

“Have you thought of a name for him?” His soft voice broke the idyllic silence.

“No. Not yet,” she answered in soft tone, too. They were both afraid they’d startle the baby with their voices.

She couldn’t help but smile. Again, the stupid
what if
intruded. If the circumstances were different, this would be a really sweet moment between a new family. Their family.

“Would you like to name him?” That came out of her lips while she was lost in those dreamy thoughts.
Oh God, seriously?
 

But it was too late to take it back. His eyes had already lit up in surprise and excitement. She had seen his eyes smolder with desire, ignite in anger, sear in mockery, scorch in sexual seduction, but never like this. They were devoid of the usual veil of authority masking all his inner emotions. They were now open…and happy.

“Are you sure…?” He sounded like a hopeful child.

“Yes, of course. You name him.”
 

His smile widened, unguarded, melting her defenses.
 

“Can I name him after me?”

“Are you serious? A junior? I can only handle one terrible Craig,” she teased him.

His smile vanished.

“Kidding! Craig Walker Jr., alias Cray-cray. Sounds good.”

He chuckled.

Oh God. That sounded like her fondest dreams. Of a good life and happy-ever-afters.

Yes, she did have those dreams, but she rarely entertained them yet as they still belonged in her distant future. But now, they seemed so near, so attainable.

So, so dumb.

“Craig Richard Walker.” There was pride in his voice when he proclaimed his son’s full name.

“Who’s Richard? Any significance to it?”
 

“Major Richard Bong. He was one of Air Force’s most decorated fighter pilots during the World War II. We call him the Ace of Aces for shooting down 40 Japanese planes in dog fights.”

“Wow. Your idol, obviously.”

“You like it?”

“Yes. Just not the shooting part. I’m not a fan of violence.”

His eyes dropped to his hands. He made no comment. A rare display of humility. Or embarrassment? His ears had turned red. Definitely embarrassment…or something else. She’d hit a raw nerve.

Okay, that was not cool of her. No matter how strong her opinions about military men, she had no right to insult their profession. It was probably the most courageous of all professions.

To salvage the precious moment, she handed him the baby who already finished feeding. “Here. Gosh, he’s heavy for a newborn.”

His arms readily lifted to receive the baby.

“How many pounds is he again?” she asked him to redirect the conversation.

“8.5 pounds when delivered. Probably above nine now.” Her heart fluttered with joy that he knew their baby’s stats.