Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“It’s fine,” I assure her. I raise my hand, and Reid laces his fingers through mine.
“I’m here,” he says, bending to kiss my temple.
I follow the doctor’s instructions, who tells me to put my feet in the stirrups and scoot down. This is the worst part, but I knew from my online research that they’d do an exam today. Reid’s grip on my hand tightens, but he doesn’t say anything. The exam is over just as quickly as it started, but that doesn’t make it any less humiliating.
“All set. Do you have any questions?”
I look up at Reid, and he shakes his head. “No, thank you.” I smile at the doctor.
“You can get dressed. Take your time. When you’re ready, stop at the counter. The receptionist will have a new mom packet for you. We’ll see you back in four weeks.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” Reid tells her, and she closes the door, leaving us alone.
Letting go of Reid’s hand, I move to stand, and he’s there, helping me. Together, we discard my gown, and I get redressed. He takes his time, touching me reverently. So much so that his tenderness brings tears to my eyes. Once I’m fully dressed, we leave the room and stop at the reception. I schedule my next appointment for the end of the day and move it up three days, because there’s an away game that week. Reid shared his calendar with me so I’ll always know where he’s going to be.
“I’ll see you at home?” I say, as he walks me to my car.
“Yes.” He nods. He gives me a sweet kiss before opening my door for me. “Be safe. I’ll be right behind you.”
“Okay.” I buckle in, and he shuts the door and walks to his truck. I give him a couple of minutes before I pull out, and he eases out right behind me. All the way back home, he stays right there, as if he’s afraid that if we get separated, it will be for life or something.
He was quiet after the ultrasound, and I get it. It’s big and scary, but I can’t help but wonder if he’s having second thoughts. I hate to even ask him, but if we’re not open with each other, this relationship will fail before we’ve ever really given it a fair shot.
Pulling into my spot in the parking garage, I barely have the car turned off, and he’s there, opening my door and offering me his hand. Reid keeps his palm on the small of my back as he leads us to the elevator. We’re both quiet as we watch the numbers rise. Once we reach our floor, we exit, still not speaking.
Inside the condo, he tosses his keys onto the entry table, takes my purse from me, dropping it to the table, as well, turns the lock, and leads me down the hall to our bedroom. Inside, he flips on the bedside lamp and turns toward me. His eyes rake over me. They’re heated, and they have my body tingling, aching for his touch.
Reid doesn’t speak as he finds the hem of my shirt and lifts. I raise my arms for him. He tosses it to the floor before reaching behind me and unclasping my bra. It, too, gets discarded, but neither one of us cares to see where it lands. Why would I when his mouth is on me? He sucks a hard, aching nipple into his mouth, causing me to moan and bury my hands in his hair. With an audible pop, he releases one only to latch on to the other.
The next thing I know, he’s dropping to his knees, wrapping his arms around me, and resting his forehead against my belly. I run my fingers through his hair, giving him time to feel what he’s feeling. He finally kisses my belly and tilts his head back to look at me.
“Our baby is in there, Bell. A piece of you and me,” he rasps.
“It’s surreal,” I confess.
“I knew I wanted kids and a family, but I didn’t understand what it would feel like when it happened. You’ve given me everything,” he says.
“I had some help,” I tell him with a smile.
His lips go back to my belly. “Hey, baby, I’m your daddy. I’ve never met you, but I already love you more than you’ll ever know. I can’t wait to meet you.”
My eyes are leaking, something that seems to be happening to me a lot lately. Reid gets to work removing the rest of my clothes before standing and stripping out of his own. When we’re both completely bare, he offers me his hand. “I need you.”
Three words that pack a punch of meaning. Eight letters voicing so much with so little. “I need you, too.” Need doesn’t seem strong enough, but it’s the best I’ve got. Releasing his hand, I climb onto the bed and wait for him. He reaches into the nightstand and pulls out a new box of condoms and tears them open.