*****
“It’s so easy, even a two-year old can do it,” Shelby told him with a laugh as she showed him how to stock the plates inside the dishwasher. “Just stock them neat and turn it on and it washes by itself.”
“Now what?”
“Now we wipe the counters and put the leftovers in the fridge. Even though there is not much left. Rosa and Marlette certainly took quite a good amount.”
“Everything was very good.” He gave her a measuring look. “You have been at it since before I got up this morning and you must be exhausted. How about we finish this tomorrow and you go get some rest?”
She turned to look around the almost spotless kitchen. “I was taught not to leave a kitchen untidy.”
“I promise that I am not going to punish you.” He took her hand and led her way from the sink. “You need to get some rest. I saw you rubbing the small of your back earlier on, Shelby.”
“Okay.” She allowed him to lead her into the living room and sighed when he placed some cushions at her back and put her feet onto an ottoman. “How is that?” he eased her feet out of the soft shoes she had on and started to rub her feet.
“That feels so good,” she whispered as she closed her eyes. “Don’t stop.”
Gray felt his body tightened at the low tone of her voice and what she just said. “it feels so good.”
She opened her eyes when he stopped and stared at him.
“Gray?”
“I cannot do this,” he told her hoarsely.
“Do what?”
“I want you.” he said bluntly.
“What?”
he gave a hoarse laugh and sank down onto his knees. “I want you,” he repeated. “I have been fighting it ever since we started living together.”
“Oh.” Shelby sat up against the cushions.
“Is that all you are going to say?”
“I don’t know what else to say.”
He started to get to his feet. “You know what? Forget it.”
“I cannot do that.”
“I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable and besides it is my problem. I promise that I will not mention it again.”
“Then that is going to be a problem.”
“What?” he looked at her with a frown. “Why?”
“Because I happen to want you too.” She shrugged as he stared at her. “I just did not want to be the one to bring it up.”
He came over and sat next to her, turning sideways to look at her. “Are you sure?”
“Are you?”
“I have spent nights tossing and turning in my bed and talking myself out of coming to your suite.” He told her.
“Is it because I am here? Is it the convenience of having a woman living under the same roof?”
“What makes you say that?”
“You are not the type to stick with one woman Gray and you are certainly not the one-woman type of guy.”
“I have not been with anyone since you told me you were pregnant.”
“And how long will that last? I am attracted to you and would like nothing better than to lose myself in you but then I think to myself: what happens when he gets tired of me? How am I going to face that uncomfortable feeling? I am carrying his children and that means we are tied together for life.” She tilted her head to look into his eyes. “Where does that leave us?”
He took her hands in his and studied the plain blunt nails before saying anything. “I don’t think I will ever get tired of you.” He told her simply. “You are a very interesting woman Shelby and you have the distinction of carrying my babies inside you. That sets you apart from everyone else.” He took a deep breath. “I am not going to pressure into doing something you are not comfortable doing right now. If you want to think about it, then do so and let me know- “
“I don’t have to think about it.”
“You mean- “
“I mean that I want to do it.”
“If you are not ready- “
“I am ready.” She clutched at his hands. “I am ready, Gray. I mean I am always looking to the future, but this is something that I am not going to worry about. I am going to live in the moment and let it happen.”
“Now?” he was barely breathing.
“Now.” She nodded.
“Okay.” He took a breath. “How do you want to do this? Do we both go on up or you go up and I follow you?”
“We go up together.”
Chapter 7
He had been with a lot of women and he had been with her but suddenly he felt nervous and gauche as if this was his first time! He hesitated at her door before taking her hand, he led her to his. He stepped back to let her inside and watched as she walked slowly through the sitting room and into his bedroom. He was breathing rapidly, his skin clammy but not from the heat from the fireplace that took up most of one side of the wall.
“Are you just going to stand there?” she asked as she turned to face him.
“No,” he forced himself to relax as he came to stand in front of her. “I like this entire outfit,” he murmured, not having anything to say at the moment.
“This old thing?” she said with a grin as she lifted her hands to untie the knot of the head tie and released it, letting it fall to the floor. She ran her fingers through the short curls, and he watched them bounce to life immediately. “You made me happy today and I want to show you how much I appreciated it.” His breath backed up inside his throat as she unbuttoned the shirt and let it slip from her shoulders and onto the carpeted floor. Her generous breasts were encased in nude silk and he could see the nipples puckered and hardening.
“It was my pleasure,” he told her huskily. “Am I going to get the opportunity to finish what you started?”
“Oh, trust me, you are going to finish all right,” She told him with a breathless laugh as she unhooked her bra. “My work here is done.”
“Good,” he whispered hoarsely as he stepped forward and cupped her breasts. “I was beginning to feel left out.”
“No need for that,” Shelby gripped his strong wrists as she angled her head back to look up at him. “It feels right somehow.”
“It certainly does.” He dropped his hands and taking one of hers, led her to the bed, helping her to climb onto it. She laid back against the pillows, her eyes going to him as he took off his clothes, leaving his underwear on, the bulge of his erection very visible. Her eyes flew to his handsome face, suddenly feeling very shy, her skin feeling the heat. He climbed onto the bed, his hazel eyes traveling the length of her torso, his eyes lingering on her breasts. He placed his fingers at the waistband of her pants and eased it down over her hips. Shelby lifted her body to make it easier for him. He got rid of the material, his eyes flaring as he gazed at the bulge of her stomach. “May I?” he whispered, his hands hovering over her.
“You are the father,” She whispered back. “You don’t have to ask.”
“Father,” he said thickly as he ran his hand over her belly, jerking when he felt the movements, his eyes flying to hers.
“They know you, they know your touch.”