The SEAL Next Door (Alpha SEALs Book 5) (14 page)

Brianna hopped into a shuttle at National Airport the following Friday night, catching a ride to her hotel near Walter Reed.  After putting her visit off for a week, she was excited and anxious to see both Matthew and Beckett.  Although they’d talked most nights, her heart pounded at the idea of seeing Matthew again this evening.  How was she supposed to act around him when they visited her brother?  Beckett would see right through her the minute they walked in the room.  Maybe she should let Matthew talk to him first, like he’d wanted.  She’d wait outside while they discussed things man-to-man, and then they could all have their happy reunion.

If only it was guaranteed to go as smoothly as she wanted.

She looked out the window of the shuttle, taking in the bumper-to-bumper traffic.  It seemed like every time she was up in the DC area, traffic was brutal, and this Friday night was no exception.  Matthew had offered to drive to the airport to pick her up, but since Bethesda was on the other side of the Beltway, up in Maryland, she’d opted to use airport transportation.  It saved Matthew some travel time with the horrible Friday night traffic and would give them all longer to visit tonight.

She sent off a quick text to them both, letting them know her plane had landed and she was on her way to Bethesda.  Nearly two hours later, after crawling along in bumper-to-bumper traffic, she finally stepped off the shuttle at her hotel.  She felt a sudden wave of dizziness as she lugged her suitcase down the bus steps, and she clutched onto the metal railing, trying to regain her balance.  The driver hastily moved to assist her, asking if she was all right, but she brushed it off, realizing that she hadn’t eaten a single thing since lunch.

Her phone buzzed with a text from Matthew:

Great. Can’t wait to see you, sweetheart.

She did a quick double-take and realized he’d only texted her back, not Beckett.  A bellhop walked over to collect her suitcase, and she swayed slightly as she looked up at him.

“Are you all right, miss?” the older gentleman asked.

“Uh, yeah, I’m fine.  It’s just been a long day,” she assured him.

“Visiting someone at the medical center?”

“My brother.  I was supposed to come in last week but my flight was cancelled because of a tropical storm down in Florida.”

He nodded, and she followed him into the lobby, deciding to go ahead and check into her room.  Hopefully Matthew would be getting in soon, but he could call her when he arrived.  There was no point in sitting around waiting for him.  After getting her keycard from the clerk at the front desk, she took the elevator up to the eighth floor.  She wheeled her suitcase down the long hallway and finally made it to her room, feeling completely exhausted.  After her long day of travel, she decided to quick shower and change before meeting the guys.  Hopefully Matthew would arrive by the time she finished getting ready, and they could go see her brother together.

She pulled fresh clothes from her suitcase and unpacked her toiletries, then carried them into the bathroom. She pulled out her floral shampoo and favorite soap, but her heart stopped as her gaze fell on the unopened box of tampons she’d packed.

She was never, ever late, but her period was due two days ago, and she didn’t have so much as a single sign of it.  Uneasiness washed over her as she recalled her day on the beach with Matthew.  More specifically, her memory of them making love behind the dunes without using a condom.  It was impossible, she reasoned.  It would have been past the middle of the month when they’d had sex, and even so, it was way too early to be feeling any sort of pregnancy symptoms.  Didn’t women not feel those until they were several months along?  Morning sickness and all that?  Most likely her period was late from the stress of traveling and seeing her brother.

A little voice in the back of her head reminded her that missing her period
was
in fact a pregnancy symptom, but she tried to ignore the sudden feelings of panic.

She turned on the water in the shower, stepping inside when it was finally warm enough.  The hot water washed over her, easing the tension in her muscles.  She twisted under the spray, trying to avoid getting her hair wet, and felt a strange little pull in her abdomen.  It didn’t hurt but just felt…different.  It had to be her imagination though.  Even if she was somehow pregnant—which she was
not
—there was no way she’d notice any changes so soon.

Right?

She quickly finished rinsing off, then turned off the water and grabbed a fluffy, white towel.  Wrapping it around herself without bothering to completely towel off, she walked into the room and pulled her phone from her purse.  Opening up the calendar app, she recalculated the numbers again.

Shakily, she speed-dialed Ella.

“Hey, did you make it up to Bethesda safely?  How’s your brother?”

“I think I’m pregnant,” Brianna blurted out.  Drops of water ran down her legs onto the carpet, but she ignored them and sank dripping wet onto the bed, tears filling her eyes.

“What?  Are you serious?”

“Yeah, I’m serious.  I’m late.  I’m
never
late.”

“Is Matthew there?”

“God, no.  I haven’t even seen him yet.  But when we were on the beach his last day in Pensacola, we didn’t use any protection.  I know it was stupid, but it was sort of the heat of the moment.”

“Did you take a pregnancy test?  You’ve been under a lot of stress lately.  I’m always irregular, so I’m not the best person to get advice from, but it’s totally possible the stress just messed up your cycle this month.  There has been a lot going on.”

“I know, you’re right.  There’s been too much going on.  I just feel like something’s different—I can’t even explain it.  I was lightheaded earlier, and I can just tell that something isn’t right.  I
feel
different.”

“Are you near a drug store?  Go buy a pregnancy test.  Before you see Matthew, otherwise he’ll wonder what’s wrong.  Take the test just to put your mind at ease.  It’s probably nothing, but there’s no sense worrying about it.”

“You’re right; I’m sure it’s nothing,” Brianna said as she shakily stood back up.  “It was just that one time, and like you said, stress can mess with your body.”

“Exactly.  Go buy it, take the test, and call me back.  And after that’s all taken care of, go see your brother and spend the night with your man.”

Brianna laughed weakly.

“Come on, you’ve been looking forward to seeing Matthew all week.  Take care of this, and everything will be fine.  But don’t forget to call me the second you find out.”

“Okay, bye,” Brianna whispered.

She dropped her phone onto the bed as she stood, and it instantly buzzed with an incoming text.

Should be there in 30.  See you soon, darlin’.

Brianna burst into tears.  Suddenly thirty minutes felt way too soon.

***

Shakily, Brianna sank onto the bed in her hotel room twenty minutes later.  She’d thrown on jeans and a tee shirt, not even bothering to reapply make-up, and her blonde hair was pulled up in a messy twist.  She looked like a wreck and she knew it, but something in her gut convinced her she was right.  She glanced at the timer on her phone, seeing that only thirty seconds had passed.  The pregnancy test she’d bought said it needed three minutes, and she’d left it in the bathroom as she waited, unable to watch.

Her heart pounded in her chest and her palms began sweating.  Matthew was going to be here any minute and would know something was wrong the second he looked at her.  Hastily, she sent him a quick text:

Change of plans.  Meet me in Beckett’s room.

She took a deep breath and got a message back from Matthew simply saying okay.  That was one problem down.  She’d put off seeing him for the moment at least.

Three minutes had to have passed by now, right?

She stood, and steeling herself, walked into the bathroom.  The pregnancy test lay innocently on the counter where she’d left it, but her heart stopped as she saw the two pink lines.

She was pregnant.

Matthew parked his pick-up in the parking lot at Walter Reed and climbed out of the driver seat, stretching his sore muscles.  The drive up had taken nearly six hours, which was insane, but what did he expect with Friday night traffic.  He was puzzled that Bri wanted to meet here instead of her hotel, but maybe she’d been anxious to see her brother, he reasoned.  He would’ve loved a little private time before they came over to give her a kiss hello and pull her into his arms, but he couldn’t fault her for wanting to spend some extra time with Beckett rather than waiting around for him to arrive.

He walked in, flashing his military ID, and made his way through the same hallways he’d come down last weekend.  Hell.  It would be good to see his buddy and great to see Brianna.  Had she already told Beckett about them, he wondered?

The door to Beckett’s room was open, so Matthew walked in, his eyes sweeping the small space and not noticing Brianna or any of her things.  Beckett was resting on the hospital bed, covered in a thin white blanket.  His dark hair was cropped short, and he’d shaved.  Faint red lines traced down his neck from where shrapnel had hit, and a long scar ran down his left arm.  But all in all, he looked good.

“Hey buddy,” Beckett called out as he walked in.  “About time you got your ass in here.”

Matthew chuckled and walked over, fist-bumping his friend, before sitting down in the chair near his bedside. “Traffic up here is brutal.  You’re lucky I came at all.”

“I know, I know. You just couldn’t resist my charm.”

“Where’s Bri?” Matthew asked.  “I thought she was already here.”

Beckett raised his eyebrows, the sea green eyes identical to his sister’s sparking with curiosity.  “Brianna isn’t here yet.  Why?”

Matthew swallowed, realizing his error.  “She texted to say she was on her way over.”

Beckett frowned.  “What time?”

“Half an hour ago, maybe.  I guess something held her up.”

“So why’s she texting you and not me?” Beckett asked, not missing a beat.  “Something I’m missing here?”

Matthew blew out a sigh.  “Look, your sister wanted to tell you when we were here together, but we’re, uh, sort of seeing each other.”

Beckett started laughing, and Matthew released a breath he hadn’t realized that he’d been holding.  “Well, it’s about damn time.  She’s only been in love with you forever.”

Matthew’s chest clenched as he nailed his friend with a gaze.  “Well why the fuck didn’t you ever say anything?”

“Hell, she was too young when we left.  Not even in high school yet.  She had to grow up, and you always had a trail of girls chasing after you.  Maybe we all had to grow up a bit first.”

Matthew leaned back in the chair, crossing his legs.  “You’re probably right, but damn.  I was always asking your mom about her when I was back in town.  I’m just kind of amazed we never got together sooner.”

Beckett shrugged, wincing at the movement.  “You were too dumb to see it, I guess.”

“You’re lucky you’re in a hospital bed,” Matthew threatened.

“So what’s going to happen now?  You’re in Little Creek; she’s down in Pensacola.  Did she find a new marketing job?”

“She told you about that?”

“Well, I knew she got laid off and was working as a cocktail waitress for a while.  I told her to quit that months ago.”

Matthew shifted uneasily, and Beckett suddenly struggled to sit up, his heart rate increasing on the monitor.  “Shit, is she still working there?”

“No, she’s not,” Matthew assured him, watching the monitor closely.  Hell.  This wasn’t exactly the time to tell Beckett about the incident at the bar.  Maybe when he recovered and was home in Florida.

They heard a rustling in the hallway, and Matthew glanced up, expecting Brianna to walk in.  No one entered the room, though, so he figured it was just someone passing by.

“So what’s gonna happen then?  Do the long distance thing?” Beckett asked as he relaxed again.

“I’m trying to convince her to move up to Virginia Beach.”

“And move in with you?”

Matthew grinned.  “That’s the plan, but it’s up to your sister.”

“And then what, marriage, kids?”

“Whoa, hold up,” Matthew said chuckling.  “No one said anything about that.  Let’s take it one step at a time.”

At that moment, Brianna came rushing into the room, looking pale with tears in her eyes.  Matthew jumped to his feet, and Beckett asked if she was okay.  She looked between both of them and shook her head.  “I’m sorry, I have to go.  I shouldn’t be here.”  She turned and fled from the room as quickly as she’d come.

Matthew and Beckett exchanged a glance.

“Well don’t sit around waiting for me,” Beckett chastised.  “I’ve got one leg.  Go after her!”

Matthew bolted from the room, looking left and right to see where she’d run off to.  His heart clenched at the tears in her eyes and the frail way she’d looked.  Something was wrong, and he had to find her.  Immediately.  He raced down toward the elevator bank, looking around, but Brianna was already gone.

***

Brianna rushed out the doors of Walter Reed, ignoring the stares of curious onlookers.  Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she gasped for breath.  When she’d first heard the guys talking, she thought Matthew was going to tell Beckett about the incident in the bar, and she’d hesitated outside the door to her brother’s room.  But the conversation after that was a million times worse.  Matthew had just about said outright that he didn’t want kids.

And she was pregnant.

With his baby.

Sobs came from her chest as she rushed down the sidewalk into a secluded courtyard.  It was bad enough having the shock of an unplanned pregnancy, but to have to deal with it alone?  It was overwhelming.  She sank onto a bench near a fountain and let the tears come.  She needed to get out of here as quickly as possible, but she’d have to arrange for another flight.  The idea of sitting in traffic again on that damn shuttle bus back to the airport and then waiting around the airport made the trip feel impossible to make at the moment.  She needed to rest, to cry herself to sleep, and then just deal with everything else in the morning.

Her phone buzzed from inside her purse, and she knew it was Matthew, but she ignored it.

He didn’t want kids.

Fresh tears streamed down her cheeks, and she felt a wave of nausea wash over her.  What was she supposed to do now?

She wiped the tears from her face with her hands, knowing she was being ridiculous.  She hadn’t even said hello to her own brother, but she couldn’t face going back there right now.  She’d have to check into a new hotel, she decided.  Matthew knew where she was staying because they were supposed to be together.

Together.

Her body shook as she wrapped her arms around herself.  It was hard to imagine feeling more alone than she did at the moment.  But she wasn’t alone.  She had life, a
baby
, growing inside her.

“Bri!”

Matthew’s deep voice washed over her like a caress, and for a moment she wondered how he’d found her.  She longed to run to him, to sob into his chest, to make him promise it would all be okay.  But he was the one who’d inadvertently made her so upset in the first place.  She was shocked at the positive test results but it was his words that had sent her into a tailspin.

He rushed over and knelt down in front of her, taking one of her hands in his.  “What happened?  Are you okay?”  He wiped away her tears with his other hand, and she clung to him like he was her lifeline in the midst of the storm.  Concerned green eyes met hers, and he actually looked scared that something was really wrong.

“I’m pregnant,” she blurted out.

Matthew did a double-take.  “Wait.  What?”

“I’m pregnant,” she repeated.  “I was late, and I just took the test.  And I heard you talking to my brother.  I heard you saying you don’t want kids.”

“Wait.  Slow down.  Are you sure?”

“Of course I’m sure!” she said, sobs escaping again.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”  He pulled her against his chest as he knelt before her, stroking her hair with one hand.  “Shhh.  Don’t cry.”

She sobbed into his shirt, feeling the solid strength of him.  Muscular arms wrapped around her, holding her close, keeping her safe.  Matthew kissed the top of her head gently, murmuring into her ear.  When the tears finally slowed, he held her, looking down into her eyes.  “I can’t believe we’re going to have a baby,” he whispered.

“You want a baby?”

“Hell, I want everything with you, Bri.  I was surprised, that’s all.  But I already told you I want you to move in with me, to wake up in my arms each morning.  To know my child is growing inside you?  That’s pretty amazing stuff.  I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

She smiled at him through her tears, and he ducked down and kissed her gently.

“Can we go back to the hotel?  We’ll go see my brother tomorrow.  I just need to let everything sink in first.”

“Of course, sweetheart.  Don’t you know I’d do anything for you?”

She burst into tears again, and Matthew gently wiped them away.  They walked to Matthew’s pick-up truck and drove back to the hotel.  When they got back to the room, Brianna caught sight of herself in the mirror and cringed.  “I look terrible.”

“You look perfect,” he said, coming up behind her.  He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.  One held her securely across her chest, while he let his other hand rest on her still flat stomach.  She felt his chest rising and falling behind her and his erection digging into her lower back.  “You’re perfect,” he breathed again, kissing the top of her head.  She tilted her head back, and he ducked to kiss her, claiming her mouth with his.  One hand slid to her breast, cupping it through the material of her shirt, and she moaned softly.

“Can I make love to you?” he asked gently.  “Do you feel okay?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

His hand on her stomach slid to the waist of her jeans, and he unbuttoned them, slowly sliding down the zipper.  She watched in the mirror in fascination as his large hand slid into her pants.  It looked erotic and sexy-as-hell, not to mention possessive.

His.

She was his.

He cupped her sex for a moment, holding her to him, and then his fingers delved into her lace panties.  His other hand slid under the v-neck of her shirt, beneath her bra, cupping her breast.  She was still fully clothed but completely aroused, lost to his touch.  His fingers slid through her wetness, finding her clit, and he circled around slowly.  She gasped as pleasure surged through her, and he worked his hand faster, driving her up, sending her spiraling out of control.  She cried out his name as she came, her inner walls clamping down around nothing.  She longed to have him filling her, taking her, claiming her.

“Hell, you’re wet,” he murmured.  “So wet for me.”

He tugged off her tee shirt, slowly unfastening her bra so that her breasts bounced free.  Her gaze met Matthew’s in the mirror, and his eyes were on fire. He cupped her breasts with large hands, massaging them gently as he ground his erection against her from behind.  He lightly pinched both of her nipples, and she squealed in surprise.

“I’m really sensitive now,” she said.

“Sorry, I’ll be gentle,” he promised.  Matthew slid down her jeans and panties, helping her to step free of them, and quickly undressed himself.  He pulled her body to his, his thick erection digging into her lower back.  The sight of their naked bodies in the mirror seemed almost illicit.  She’d never watched herself making love before, but somehow the idea of watching Matthew taking her, claiming her, made her even more desperate for him.

“I guess I don’t need a condom?” he asked wryly.

Brianna let out a soft laugh.  “Not anymore.”

Matthew ducked and kissed the side of her neck. “I love the feel of going bare inside you.  You feel so good around me, Bri.”  He gently spread her legs and bent her over the dresser, his large body curling around hers.  One hand cupped a breast, and she felt his erection prodding between her legs as he guided himself to her entrance.

She met his eyes in the mirror, gasping as he lightly caressed her breast.  “You are so fucking gorgeous,” he murmured.  “So beautiful.”

He slid inside of her slowly, his thick length penetrating and stretching her.  His hand clasped possessively on her hip, and he gently rocked into her, causing her to moan in pleasure.

“Matthew,” she gasped.  Her inner walls clamped down around him, and he was deep, so deep when he took her this way.  He thrust gently, slowly, and she again caught sight of their bodies in the mirror.  Matthew was all strength and muscles, curled protectively, possessively around her smaller frame.  The way he held her was a claiming, a possession.  But he was so gentle it nearly brought tears to her eyes.

He bucked into her more quickly, beginning to lose some of his control, and his hand slid to where their sexes were joined.  He stroked her clit lightly as he filled her, and she cried out, surrendering to the sensations, falling off the precipice as he made her come around his hardened cock.  He stiffened and then spilled his seed inside her, grunting as he released.