“Milton, let me walk you out,” Thomas said, getting to his feet.
“I'll leave some vitamins for you and a recommendation for an OBGYN,” he said before he left.
He came back to see her pacing the floor.
“Want to talk?” he asked mildly as he closed the doors.
She stopped and stared at him. “Do I want to—”She threw up her hands. “What do you think?”
“I think we should talk.”
“A baby will complicate things. At the end of the year we're going to be going through an actual divorce. A baby. Why aren’t you freaking out?”
“Why should I?” he asked mildly as he came to stand before her.
“Thomas, I'm serious! What are we going to do? Fight over custody for this kid?”
“Or we could remain married to each other.”
“Just because I'm pregnant?”
“What better reason?” He took her arms to stop her from moving. “I want our child to grow up with both parents.”
“Are you saying that I was any worse off just because I was brought up by a single parent?” she demanded.
“Why do you have to be so confrontational?”
“If by confrontational you mean stating the fact, then, yes I am.”
“A baby is usually a good thing.”
“Not when we're forced to stay together,” she pointed out.
“Are we being forced to stay together?”
“What do you mean?”
“We tear up the sheets every night.”
“That's just sex.”
“Is it?” He tipped her chin up, his thumb grazing her bottom lip, feeling the immediate tremors.
“Stop—”
He replaced his finger with his lips, his tongue entering her mouth hungrily. He pulled back and closed his eyes. “I can't keep my hands off you. I should let you rest—”
“No!” She spread her hands over his chest and lifted her face to his. “I don’t want to rest.”
“What do you want to do?”
“I want to feel you inside me.”
“Isn’t that why we're in this situation?”
“Are you calling our baby a situation?”
“Not at all.” He tan his tongue over her bottom lip. “Open for me.”
She did, her fingers curling into his shirt.
“God, how I want you!” he breathed.
*****
“We aren't telling anyone just now,” Donna told him later that night as she collapsed exhausted on his chest.
“You mean Mother and Talia.” Thomas was fighting to get his breath back under control. The minute he touched her, he went up in flames and he couldn't understand what was happening.
“I mean them, yes, and anyone else who is going to take the opportunity to get some time with the press.”
“How long do you want us to keep it a secret?”
She lifted her head and looked at him. “As long as possible. It will give us time to figure things out. And you are going to have to tell your lawyers the good news.”
“Let me worry about that.” He cupped her breast. “Why can’t I get enough of you?”
“I have no idea.” She arched her back as he started to stroke her nipple. “Take it into your mouth,” she moaned.
“You should get some sleep,” he murmured, but he was already lifting his head to take the nipple between his teeth.
“I should have known that something was up when I felt super sensitive when you did that. Oh, please don’t stop, Thomas.” She dug her fingers into his hair and held on tight as darts of desire sprang through her body. He suckled gently at first and then urgently, pulling at everything inside her. His hand parted her thighs, his fingers seeking her sex. He slid two fingers into the moistness, the sound slick as he thrust into her. She came immediately, sobbing as she bent her head over his, her body out of control! “More please,” she whispered brokenly. “Give me more.”
He did and sent her flying again before he climbed on top of her, his face hard with passion as he entered her.
*****
He waited until she was asleep before he got out of bed. He needed some time and a little space to process things. He sat there watching her for a moment before pulling the sheets up over her naked body. A glance at the clock showed that it was almost one a.m.. but he was too wired to sleep, and he had a lot of thinking to do. Pulling on his loose sweatpants and his robe, he headed out of the suite with the intention of going into the library where he did his best processing. But that was the time his sister chose to come downstairs as well.
“Hi, I thought you'd gone to bed.”
“Mother and I came in half hour ago.” She linked her hand through his arm and led the way into the library.
“How did you know that was where I'm headed?”
“You look like you have a lot on your mind.” She closed the doors behind them. “You left the party early.”
“I wasn't feeling well.”
“Or she wasn't?” Talia sat on the edge of the desk and watched as he went to pour a shot of whiskey before coming back to sit behind the desk. “Leesa told us.”
He shrugged. “She was feeling a little lightheaded.”
“Was she drinking? Caroline told me that she was very rude to her.”
“Enough,” he told her quietly. “I am done listening to negative things about my wife.”
Talia stared at him for a moment and then went to pour some whiskey for herself. “Remember when we used to creep down here to look at the floor to ceiling books and tried to count them?”
“You tried to count; I was always reading,” he reminded her.
“Yes,” Talia said with a laugh as she came back and sat on the edge of the desk. “You always liked reading and discovering things.” She eyed him as she sipped her drink. “You're in love with her.”
“I suspect I might be.” He didn't try to deny it.
“So you're going to stay married to her.”
“That’s the plan.”
“It means that I might have to bury the hatchet.”
“Just not in her back.”
“I admire her,” she admitted, laughing as his brows shot up. “It’s true. She's fearless, as you said before, and doesn't back down from anything. She's also very rude, but she doesn't suck up just because of who we are. I suppose you could do worse.”
“Why thank you,” he told her with a nod of his head.
“And she's changed you.” She waved a hand. “Not in a bad way, but a good one. You look happier and less cynical and constipated.”
“Constipated?”
“For want of a better word. She keeps you on your toes and doesn't take any crap from you or anyone. I think she's good for you.”
“I think so too,” he stared down into his glass. “She has me spinning in circles.” He looked up and met her eyes. “I've never met anyone like her.”
“I don’t suppose there is.”
“Does that mean you're going to roll out the red carpet for her?”
“Not just yet. She has to pass a few more tests first.”