“I think you’re doing just fine.”
“Whatever you say. I know that we need to head out and do some more packing and meet with the rest of the roommates later, but I’m enjoying myself just lying here.” She stretched in my arms, her breasts pushing towards my face. I leaned down and sucked a nipple into my mouth, making her groan.
“Seriously, good morning.”
I mumbled and kept looking at her, needing her.
“I love how you taste.” I moved my hand between her legs. She arched into me as her hand wrapped around my cock. I swallowed hard, pumping into her gently, both of us acting as if this were just a typical morning. And it could be.
Somehow, these would be my mornings.
Me. Tanner Hagen.
Natalie cupped my face and frowned.
“You’ve got that look that means you’re not with me.”
I shook my head and kissed her again as I slid my hand over her clit. She moaned, her body shaking. “I’m always with you.”
“Good, continue to be with me.”
As we both showered love on one another and sent each other over the edge, I knew that she would be mine forever. I might not have expected her, but she was it for me.
I would never let her go.
Afterwards, we both lay there holding each other, and I sighed. “We should go shower and clean each other up. We have things to do.”
“You’re right. We may be nearly done with all of our school stuff before graduation, but that doesn’t mean we can spend a lazy day in bed.”
“That does sound like a dream, though.”
I kissed her again, and then we both went to take a shower. It took longer than it should have because I made sure she was perfectly clean all over and then watched as she dressed.
She had on a maternity dress now and frowned.
“What is it?”
“When did my belly get this big? My ankles are the size of dinner plates.”
I shook my head, getting hard again just looking at her. She’d always been able to do that to me, even before we’d kissed the first time, and I swore I was the bad bet. “That’s a lie.”
“It doesn’t feel like one. I’m really pregnant, Tanner.”
I looked at her then, frowning. “You’re right. You’ve been pregnant for what? Seven months now?”
“Nearly.”
“You are really pregnant. I like the look on you.”
She glared at me. “That means we’ve been together for those seven months.”
I froze, doing the math. I’d never been with anyone that long. “Really?”
“More like five months. Maybe. I don’t know when our anniversary will be.”
I just smiled at her as I zipped my jeans. “If we think about the conception date as our anniversary, that could work.”
“You mean our wham, bam, thank you, ma’am?”
I scowled. “Excuse me? There was nothing wham or bam about it.”
“You have taught me that we can go fast, slow, hard, soft, or anything in between and still make it worthwhile.”
“Damn straight.” I wrapped my hand around the back of her neck and kissed her hard. “You should rest today.” I’d always been a little overprotective when it came to Natalie, but these days, I was going full tilt.
“I have packing to do.”
“We’re going to have those weeks without the lease on this place. Are you ready to live with me at the guys’ house?”
“At some point, I think there’ll be eight of us living there. But we’ll make it work. Pacey’s house is ridiculously large.”
“Yes, but we can make it work.”
“We’re doing this.”
I studied her face, then leaned forward and kissed her again. “I love you, Natalie. Yes, we’re doing this.”
She brushed my hair from my face and smiled. “We wasted so much time being afraid.”
I swallowed hard. “I don’t know. Maybe fear is what we needed. So we knew that this was worth it.”
“Given our relationship means we’re making up our anniversary date because we didn’t go on a date until I was nearing my second trimester tells me that maybe we did this backwards, but we’re doing it right now.”
“That sounds good to me.”
I kissed her again, and then my phone rang. I frowned and pulled it out of my pocket, sighing. “It’s my mom.”
“Answer.”
I shook my head. “I still haven’t truly forgiven her for everything that happened.”
“Your mom tried her best. If anything, you should do it for your brother.”
“You’re right.”
“Answer. I’ll be here if you need me.” She took my hand, and I sighed and answered.
“Hey, Mom.”
“Hi there. Can you come and help me?”
Ice slid through my veins, and I swallowed hard. “What’s wrong?”
Mom let out a breath. “I love you, baby. I’m so sorry for how things worked out, and I’m going to fix it. I need your help picking up a few more things. Your brother and I are moving out.”
I stiffened, a kernel of hope taking root. “You’re leaving him?”
“Yes. Finally. I should’ve done it a long time ago. We can talk more in person. I can’t fit everything in my van, and I could use your help.”
“You’re on the lease, Mom. Not him.”
“You’re right. But I need a clean break. He’s not here right now, and I could really use the help. Please, Tanner. I know I should have left him ages ago, but I’m doing it now. Please.”
“Of course. I’ll be right there.”
Natalie looked up at me, her eyes wide. “Wow. She’s leaving him?”
“Yes, and moving out, apparently. I don’t know what her plan is, but I’ll ask her when I’m there. Is it okay if you stay here?”
“I want to help, though,” Natalie said, frowning.
“If he shows up, I don’t want to have to protect you, my mother, and my brother. Plus, you can’t lift anything. You’re like eighteen months pregnant.”
She flipped me off, even as she smiled. “Watch it, mister. And, of course. I’ll do some packing here—I promise I won’t lift anything,” she added at my frown.
“Just be safe.” I kissed her hard. “Please.”
My heart raced, and I knew I needed to get to my mother fast, just in case Jared came back. I didn’t want to leave Natalie behind. Only I knew she couldn’t go with me to this.
“I’ll be here when you get back. Or I’ll be at your place where I’ll cook something for everybody. I’m in the mood to nest, and since we can’t do that here, it might need to be at the guys’ house.”
“Whatever you need. I will be there.”
She rolled her eyes, kissed me again, and pushed me out of the room. “Go. They need you.”
I swallowed hard, my heart pounding, and made my way to my truck.
Traffic was a bitch, and it took me longer than I wanted to get there, but I scrambled out as soon as I saw my mom ducking a fist.
“You stupid bitch! You don’t get to leave me.”
Anger slammed into me, my whole body shaking, and my muscles clenched.