The O'Conners: A Made for Love Novella (17 page)

“That
’
s the plan, gorgeous. First
—”

“No,
”
she sighs, wrapping her legs around my hips.
“
Later. You can do whatever you want later, but Hottie
—
I
’
m ready. I need you. Please. I want to feel you come.
”

“Shorty,
”
I speak her name as I bury myself inside of her. She whimpers with pleasure and my cock throbs at the sound.
“
Have I told you lately how sexy you are?
”
She grins at me as she reaches up to sink her fingers in my hair.
“
I love you, so much, Mrs. O
’
Conner.
”

“I love you, too. Forever and always.
”

“Forever and always.
”
 

I can hardly believe that in just a couple of weeks classes will start up again. It seems as if August has vanished right before my eyes. My summer with Grayson wasn
’
t what I thought it would be. Last year our days were filled with last minute wedding details and packing for our big move. This break between semesters has been filled with a different sort of anticipation. With my sister
’
s wedding, our anniversary, and news of a baby on the way, it
’
s safe to say that we
’
ve had an exciting few months.

For the last three weeks, Grayson and I have spent our evenings the same. When he gets home from work, we go for a jog before we eat dinner. After we clean up, we then spend the rest of the night reading about what we can expect with my pregnancy. Just before bed, we discuss possible baby names before we make love and fall asleep in each other
’
s arms.

It took us a little while to really wrap our heads around the fact that this will be our last summer with just the two of us. Since the reality of our baby has started to blossom, we
’
ve been taking advantage of our free time. On the weekends that I don
’
t have gigs, we
’
ve been spending a great deal of time with friends. Not to say that we won
’
t have the chance to see them when the baby comes, but we understand that it
’
ll certainly be different.

Tonight, we
’
re out with everyone from my string quintet. Clifton brought his girlfriend, Kayla, and Brenna brought her boyfriend, Shane. Everyone is drinking except for Sonny and me and I
’
m grateful that no one questions our lack of consumption. Since Sonny never drinks, it
’
s not very noteworthy that I
’
m not. I
’
m just a few days away from twelve weeks in my pregnancy and I
’
m anxious to tell my friends! Rule of thumb is that I wait until my first trimester is complete. I
’
m counting down the days while I do my best to hide the beginning of my recent growth.

I
’
m halfway through my third mozzarella stick, listening to Paul as he tells the group a funny story about his childhood, when I grow nauseous. I set aside the last bit of fried, cheesy deliciousness and rest a hand against my unsettled stomach. I take a few deep breaths in hopes that I won
’
t have to make a mad dash to the restrooms.

“Hey, are you alright?
”
asks Grayson as his hand slides across my belly and over the top of my resting fingers. Since I
’
ve begun to develop a little baby bump, my dear husband has become quite fascinated with my changing body. His touch makes me feel beautiful and I
’
m sure I
’
m the luckiest girl in the world to have a husband like him.
“
Sweetheart?
”

I nod when I realize I
’
ve been so lost in my thoughts, trying to take deep breathes, that I haven
’
t answered him.
“
I just don
’
t feel very well. The cheese
—
I don
’
t know. It
’
s suddenly not agreeing with me.
”

“Do you want me to take you home?
”

I think about it for a moment, trying to assess exactly how I feel. I
’
m not convinced that I
’
ll throw up, but I know something is off.
“
Yeah,
”
I finally reply.
“
I think I just need to lay down.
”
He nods, kissing my temple before he excuses himself to go find our waiter.

“Is everything okay?
”
asks Brenna, who sits beside me.

“Yeah,
”
I assure her.
“
I
’
m not feeling well so Grayson and I are going to head out. I think he went to pay our portion of the bill.
”

“Oh, no. You
’
re leaving already?
”
asks Tiffany with a pout.

“Sorry, guys,
”
I reply with a feeble shrug.

“You do look a little pale,
”
Kayla observes.

“Do I?
”
I reach up and cover my cheeks with my hands.
“
I
’
m sure it
’
s nothing,
”
I say, aware that sickness is part of pregnancy. I haven
’
t really felt this ill before, but I
’
ve been waiting for it. Of course, this isn
’
t news I can tell my friends.
“
I probably just need to rest.
”

Just then, I feel Sonny
’
s warm hand against the small of my back and I turn to smile up at him.
“
You ready?
”
he asks.

I nod in response before sliding off of my stool. We say our goodbyes and then before I know it, we
’
re home. My stomach ache has grown worse but I try not to complain. Instead, I take off my clothes and change into one of Grayson
’
s t-shirts before climbing into bed.

“Can I get you anything? Water or crackers or something? I can run to the store and
—”

“No, Hottie. I
’
m alright,
”
I promise.
“
I
’
m just going to try and sleep it off.
”

“Okay,
”
he murmurs, running his fingers through my hair.
“
I
’
ll come to bed in a little bit.
”

“Sounds good.
”
I can
’
t help but smile when he stays with me a while longer, comforting me as he continues to stroke my hair.
“
Are you sure you don
’
t want to name our little one Grayson Junior?
”
I know, even with my eyes closed, that he
’
s shaking his head at me.

“I
’
m sure. Our little one will already have my last name. Besides, I think I might like the name
Charlie
.
”

I open my eyes and search for his.
“
After your uncle?
”

“Yeah. Technically, his name was Charles, but I like just Charlie. It
’
s what I called him.
”
He shrugs.
“
If it wasn
’
t for him, I would probably have never ended up in Colorado. If I never ended up in Colorado, I would have never met you.
”

It only takes a second for me to decide that I love his idea. I suck in a breath as I
’
m struck with another thought.
“
Charlie
—
L-I-E for a boy. Charlee
—
L-E-E for a girl. I like it for both. What do you think?
”

“I think my little mama is onto something,
”
he replies with a smirk.

I hum my satisfaction, pleased to hear my new nickname and that he favors my idea. I close my eyes and imagine what it
’
ll be like to have a little Charlie or Charlee running around, clinging to our ankles. I have no idea what our future holds, but what I
’
m sure of is that our little family will grow. No matter what, we
’
ll make it work.

Grayson
’
s fingertips on my scalp feel really good and as we fall silent, I
’
m asleep before he leaves my side.

I wake with a gasp. I
’
m not sure if it was the gasp or the pain that pulled me from out of my slumber. Before I can think twice about it, another cramp tugs at my abdomen. I sit up abruptly, wincing at the feel of my body
’
s protest in response to my movement. That
’
s when I feel it. My panties are wet.

No! No, no,no
.

Panic leaves me frozen as I try and justify
why
my panties are wet. The room is dark, aside from the small amount of moonlight that pours through the curtains that cover our bedroom window. Part of me is grateful that I can
’
t see; grateful that when I pull the covers away, I can
’
t tell if I
’
ve somehow lost control of my bladder or
—