His Change of Heart: Unexpected Pregnancy Romance (15 page)

Fifteen

 
 
A
very had no idea how long she had been sleeping for, but when she stirred, she found Will sitting on the couch next to her, looking at her, her feet resting comfortably on his legs. And she was greeted by the sweet aroma of food coming from the kitchen. Will must have been cooking while she slept—something was roasting in the oven. The delicious smell pervaded the house, and she suddenly realized how hungry she was. It had been hours since she had lunch. She turned on her back and yawned.

   “Hello, sleepy head. Had a good rest?” Will said to her, slowly rubbing her bare legs.

   “What time is it?” Avery asked, peering sleepily up at him.

   “Almost seven.” He reached in and kissed her.

   “I can’t believe I’ve been sleeping that long. You should have waked me. I had things to do.” Avery pushed her legs off his feet and tried to stand up.

   “You obviously needed the rest and so did the baby. Are you ready to eat? Dinner has been waiting for almost an hour.”

   “I’m starving.” Avery rubbed her stomach. “I just need to use the bathroom. I would be right back to help you set the table.”

   “No need for you to do that, everything is already done. All you have to do is get yourself at the table and eat.” Will kissed her again and rested his hand on her stomach. “He seems quiet in there. I think he has been sleeping when you were.”

   “Why do you keep calling the baby a he. It’s probably a girl.”

   “Sorry, she or he was taking a nap.”

   “Why do you say that?

   “Because the baby didn’t kick, or move around, not even once—I check.”

  Will kissed her again and she wriggled out of his arms. “You were keeping watch on my stomach while I sleep? Well, the baby needs its rest too,” Avery told him, and headed upstairs to use the bathroom there.

  After, she stood in front the large mirror and scrutinized her face. Her cheeks were flushed, probably from her just getting up, and she had bed hair—her hair was one big rumpled mess. She reached for the hairbrush in one of the drawers and run it quickly through her hair. Then, she pulled off the t-shirt and shorts she was wearing and went into the bedroom to find something that wasn’t accentuating her curves as much, especially the fullness of her breasts.

   She found a loose fitting yellow pattered summer dress that she had recently purchased at a maternity boutique in town, and slipped in over her head. She went back into the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face. She moisturized her face and dabbed a touch of cherry lip gloss to her lips. Then, she took one last look at herself in the mirror, and satisfied with what she saw there, she went back downstairs to find Will.

     He was standing at the kitchen sink draining the vegetables. He let out a loud approving whistle when he saw her. “Wow! You look nice,” he said to her, bringing her plate to the table, and bending over to peck her on the cheek. “You are glowing. Did I tell you pregnancy becomes you?” he whispered close to her ear, nuzzling the side of her neck.

    “You may have,” Avery smiled at him, as he placed her napkin on her lap.

   “Water or milk?” he asked, going over to the fridge and standing in front of it, his hand lingering on the handle, waiting for her to answer.

    “Water, please. I still can’t get use to the taste of milk. I was never a big drinker.”

   “Milk, it is then. You need your calcium and vitamins.”

   Avery didn’t protest. She knew she should be drinking more milk. She watched as he brought her back a full glass, and then as he sat and poured himself a glass of red wine from the bottle on the table that he had bought on his grocery run, because she didn’t have alcohol in the house.

   The food was delicious. He had prepared herb and lemon chicken breast, with baked baby potatoes, and a generous amount of asparagus, green beans, and baby carrots. Avery dug into the food on her plate and Will watched her as she ate ravenously. And she didn’t refused when he offered her a seconding helping of chicken and vegetables, or when he fed her forkfuls of chicken from his plate.

    “This is delicious,” she told him, digging into the moist chicken, putting forkfuls into her mouth. “I didn’t know you were such a good cook.”

   “I do cook, Ave. You do remember that, don’t you? I’m quite capable of doing some things for myself, including cooking my own meals. I’m not that pampered.”

   “I couldn’t remember you making this,” Avery told him, referring to the times when he had cooked for her. She dropped her napkin on her empty plate, and reached for the glass of milk.             

   “It’s something I threw together from a recipe I found in one of your aunt’s old cook books up there.” He pointed to the stack of cookbooks on the shelves above the fridge. “Don’t tell me you haven’t gone through them. There’s a world of recipes there.”

   “Oh, those. I haven’t had time to look at them. I’ve hardly done any cooking since I got here.”

  “I hope you are eating right and taking care of yourself,” Will said to her, giving her a very worried look.

    He had stopped eating and was looking at her with a furrowed brow.

   “I’m not on a diet, if that’s what you are trying to imply. And yes, I have been taking very good care of us,” Avery patted her stomach. “Everything was fine at my last check up. And if you are worried about my weight, Will, you shouldn’t be. The doctor said I’m healthy. I’ve always been naturally thin. It’s genetics. Both of my parents were slender. I can’t help it. My weight isn’t affecting the baby if that is what you are thinking. The baby is developing as expected.”

   “You hardly have food in the house, Avery. The pantry is almost bare and so is the refrigerator. And don’t tell me that you eat out, because I know you don’t. I know you preferred cooking your own food.”

    He ignored her explanation.

   “I haven’t had time to go grocery shopping,” she told him, avoiding the serious look he was giving her.

   “Is it because you are low on funds? You can tell me Avery. I don’t want you keeping something like that from me. I’m here to help you.” He reached for her hand across the table.

  “No, I just haven’t found the time to go shopping. I work in the admissions department when I don’t have classes. And between teaching and grading papers I don’t have a lot of time left for myself. I pick up the basic things I need until I can find time to do a big order,” Avery explained to him.”

   “You don’t have to justify anything to me, Ave. I just want to know what’s going on with you, because I care. There’s nothing to be ashamed of. I saw the bills—you are barely making the minimum payments on your utility bills. You have been paying your medical bills in installments. And your credit cards are all carrying a high balance. I really wish you would have told me about the baby instead of running away here. I could have helped. What if Josh hadn’t said something to me—how do you think you were going to manage when the baby comes? It is not as easy as you think, Ave. Babies need a lot of things. It could get very expensive.”

   Avery glared at him. “It’s not your responsibility to take care of me, Will. I have a job! And for your information, I didn’t run away. This was my home before I moved to New York, and soon it will be the baby’s too. I grew up here. I was happy here. So naturally, I would want to come back to a place I will always consider home.”

   “I don’t have a problem with you moving here, Ave. It’s the way you did it. You should have said something to me before you left New York. I had a right to know about the baby.”

   “So, I didn’t tell you. Are you holding it against me because you found out about the baby from your buddy Josh? Maybe if you had been there in the first place, you wouldn’t have to hear it from someone else,” Avery told him angrily, through tears.

    “God, Avery, you are still angry at me for the way things ended between us, aren’t you. I can’t believe we are fighting over something this trivial—I just ask about your financial situation and you are getting upset.”

   “I have a right to be upset. You are treating me like an irresponsible teenager.”

   “I’m doing nothing of the sort. I’m concerned about you. And that job you keep talking about isn’t paying you quite enough. It certainly isn’t paying the bills and putting food on the table. I have taken care of all your outstanding bills. You have nothing to worry about as of now.”

   “You did what! You had no right to go through my personal stuff. I don’t want you paying my bills. I didn’t ask you to. I’m getting by just fine!” Avery said to him in a heightened voice. “And if you are here because you think I’m some charity case that fell into your lap, courtesy of your nosy friend Josh, you could leave right now because I’m far from being that. I don’t want or need your help. I want you out of this house! I don’t want you here!”

    Avery pushed her chair back, got up from the table, and made her way upstairs, with Will not far behind, calling out to her. She took rescue in the extra room she was planning on turning into a nursery for the baby and locked the door. So that was why he had come and was sticking around—because he felt he had a financial obligation to take care of her and the baby. She wasn’t certain he even loved her, or wanted to be a father to this baby.

  Well, she didn’t need him rescuing her. She may not have millions of dollars at her disposal like he did, but she was doing just fine with the money she had saved and the modest inheritance Aunt Beth had left her. And she could always sell the house and moved into something smaller if it came down to that. She could take care of herself and the baby without Will. She would be more than happy to prove that to him.

   “Avery, honey, please open the door.” She heard Will knocking on the door, and then him turning the knob. “I want to talk to you. I’m sorry if I said something to upset you. You have every right to be angry at me. I was out of line to snoop through your things.  Please open the door and talk to me.”

   She didn’t answer. He knocked again, and again. “Avery, sweet heart, please say something. I want to know that you are okay in there. Open the door or so help me, I would break it down,” he said to her in a firm, threatening voice.

   And Avery not doubting for one second that he wouldn’t smash the door down to get to her, got up off the floor where she had been sitting cross legged, staring into the empty closet and turned the key.

   Will came into the room and found her standing by the window, her arms cradling her stomach. He took in the sad expression on her tear stained face and went over and wrapped his arms around her, holding her against him, his hands rubbing her back and stroking her hair. He just held her, without saying a word. And Avery let him, surrendering herself completely to the warm comfort of his touches.

   Minutes after, Will slipped his finger under her chin and lifted her head to face him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to invade your privacy,” he told her in the softest of tones. “I had no right to pry, or to go through your things. I love you. I only want what’s best for you and the baby.”

   Avery was crying, and he wiped her tears away. “Ave, honey, I hate it when you cry, especially when I’m the reason for it. I want you to be happy.” He kissed her gently on the cheeks and forehead, and on the mouth, prying her lips open, tasting her tears. And Avery kissed him back, enjoying the taste of him, mixed with her tears.

  “Tell me I’m forgiven,” he said, taking her face between his hands.

   Avery responded by reaching for his lips and kissing him again. “Only if you promise you wouldn’t go through my things again without asking me first.”

    “I promise. I have learned my lesson.” He wrapped his arms around her. “And you have to promise me that you will let me take care of you and the baby. You are my life, Ave, you both are.”

He rested his hand on her stomach. Avery nodded yes to him.

  “Good. Let’s go have dessert. I bought the fruits you like, and a mixed field berry frozen sorbet to go with them.”

  He took Avery’s hand and led her back downstairs.

Sixteen

 
A
very had just stepped from the shower and was standing naked in the bedroom, with a large white towel wrapped carelessly around her wet hair, when Will walked in. The color rushed to her cheeks when she saw him standing there, his eyes roaming curiously over her naked body, taking in her swollen stomach and ample breasts. She made an attempt to reach for her robe on the side of the bed to cover herself, embarrassed by Will’s probing eyes. But Will was at her side in no time. He took the terry robe from her hand.

  “Don’t,” he said to her softly, tossing the robe at the side. “Please don’t cover yourself from me, Avery. I want to look at you. I want to see how beautiful you are, every part of you.” He rested his hands tenderly on her bare stomach. “Your body has changed so much. You are even more desirable.” He ran the tips of his fingers over her erect nipples and circled her breasts with his hands. “Your breasts are lovely. They have gotten even bigger.” He bent his head and caressed her taut nipples with his tongue.

   “You are only saying that to make me feel better,” Avery told him, doubtfully. “My breasts are huge. None of my bras fits—I have already replaced them, twice, and they still are too small. And my clothes are all tight, especially my tops. I can hardly find something in my closet to wear to work. And I’m certain you wouldn’t feel the same way about me in the coming months, when I’m fat and bloated.”

   “You will always be beautiful to me, Ave. Your body is just going through a lot of changes. It’s getting ready for the baby.”  Will pulled her close to him and hugged her. “I love you. I think it’s time we go shopping for new clothes, and bras.” He stroked her face and kissed the top of her head.

   “Are you sure you are up to that task?” Avery asked him with a smile. “I thought you hated shopping. You will be in a store waiting room and watching me try on dozen of outfits. You will be bored to tears,” Avery tried to discourage him.

   She didn’t want to tell him that she preferred going shopping with her cousins because she valued their opinions more than she did his. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings. Avery was certain he would give her the thumps up on every hideous outfit she tried on. He would tell her she looked fabulous even when he knew she didn’t. It would be a completely different experience shopping for maternity clothes with her cousins. She would be more comfortable coming out of a changing room with something that didn’t quite fit her—at least she could count on them to tell her what they honestly thought. 

   “I’m up to anything, as long as it is with you.” He smiled at her.

   “Are you certain, because I was thinking of asking Chloe and Hannah, and maybe my friend, Jo,” Avery finally blurted out to him.

   “Looks like I’m off the hook, then,” he told her much too quickly. He actually sounded relieved.

    “Yes, you are.” Avery pecked him lovingly on the cheek.

    “They will be much better at this than me, anyway.”

    He took the bottle of organic coconut oil Avery had in her hand that she was about to rub on her damped skin and began applying the oil leisurely over her naked body—starting with her legs, then her arms, over her back, and buttocks and finally on her stomach and breasts.

     Avery moaned softly when Will cupped her breasts in his hands, and rubbed her sensitive nipples gently, taking his time with one breast, then the other, as he gazed into her eyes. And she gasped, and placed her hands on his shoulders to steady herself when he bent and showered lights kisses all over her bare stomach, his hands reaching up to fondle her firm breasts.

   He stood for a moment to kiss her, his lips ravaging hers as he swept her off her feet and carried her to the large bed. He sat her down gently on the edge and reached for the oil again. He poured a generous amount into the palms of his hands, took her left foot into his hands and began massaging it, then the right. Avery closed her eyes and tilted her head back as she felt the gentle touch of his hands, moving expertly over her tired feet. She didn’t realize how much she needed a massage until she felt Will’s hands all over her body.

    And she couldn’t contain the warm tingling running through her stimulated body, especially the insatiable throbbing between her tights as Will continued to touch her in all the right places. She closed her eyes and moaned, surrendering herself completely to his seductive caresses. Minutes after, she felt Will’s lips on hers, and she opened her eyes to find him looking at her.

   “Hello, there,” he whispered very close to her mouth, their lips barely apart. “Glad to see you are enjoying yourself.”

    He smiled at her, before his lips found hers again, his tongue making its way deep inside her mouth, slowly tasting the sweetness of her.

   Avery lowered her body back onto the bed as he continued to kiss her, wrapping her hands tightly around his neck, refusing to let him go. And when Will placed his mouth over her breasts, sucking them, his tongue passing eagerly over her swollen nipples, Avery moaned and ran her fingers through his thick hair, pulling his head closer to her.

  Will paused for a second to gaze at her, his eyes taking in her flushed cheeks and the naked longing in her eyes, and he smiled at her. He pressed his lips against the side of her neck, and the top of her bare chest, as his lips made their way down to her stomach and to her legs. He ran his lips over the sides of her shapely legs, and on the inside of her tights, before his mouth found its way to her aroused womanhood.

    And Avery breathed in deeply as he covered all of her with his mouth, his tongue passing leisurely over her. And he ate her with such tenderness and longing that Avery couldn’t help the loud screams and moans that escaped her lips, or the way she called out his name. Her body was responding to his lovemaking in an entirely different way—she was experiencing a high level of euphoria and a yearning for him that she never had before. More importantly, she missed him. She desperately wanted to feel him inside her—for them to become one again. She needed him—his touches—his kisses and most of all, his loving. And she swayed her hips, and grabbed handfuls of his hair as his tongue continued to move over her in the most delicious way ever, bringing her to an orgasm.

   “I love you,” he whispered to her, as he brought his head up to her, his face resting between her full heaving breasts. “God, Ave, I love you so much. But are you sure we should. There are other ways I could make you happy—we don’t have to. I don’t want to hurt you and the baby.”

    He searched her face before finding her lips again.

   “You won’t, Will. It’s okay. I’m not that far along.” Avery hands reached up and pulled him closer to her. “I love you,” she said to him between kisses. “This will bring us closer together. I miss you so much. I want you, Will. Please don’t deny us this.”

   Her hand sought out his swollen manhood, and she stroked it, slowly, lovingly, her fingers swiftly caressing the tip of him. She heard him groaned as he planted his mouth over hers again, his tongue probing and tasting the sweetness of her.

  “I will be gentle,” he whispered close to her lips, as his body hovered over hers. “Are you sure I wouldn’t hurt you?” he asked again, with uncertainty. And Avery replied by pulling him closer to her and covering his mouth with hers.

   And he entered her, slowly, cautiously, supporting his weight on his hands, his mouth over hers, as his tongue parted her lips. Avery wrapped her hands around his lower back and moaned as he delved into her, urging him on. She wriggled her hips in sync, as he increased his rhythm, and deluged with the wonderful sensation of him inside her, she called out his name and her love for him, over and over, as another intense orgasm rocked her body.

   “I didn’t hurt you. Did I?” Will asked seconds after, leaning over her, his eyes searching her face, with an anxious look on his face.

   “No, you were wonderful, as always.” Avery kissed him on the lips and rubbed his arm. “I told you it’s fine. Pregnant women have sex all the time, some, up to the day they deliver their babies.”

   And Will lying on his side, cradled her in his arms. “Are you sure you are okay?” he asked her again.

   “Stop worrying, Will. I’m more than fine—I’m just pregnant with your child, that’s all.” Avery told him with a small nudge in the stomach.

   “Do you know when it happened?” he asked, passing his hand over her stomach.

   “Remember that weekend we spent in the Hamptons?” Avery said, turning around to look at him. “If I didn’t know better I would have sworn that you deliberately got me pregnant.”

   She smiled sheepishly at him.

   Will laughed. “Oh, that time. I should have suspected. We hardly left the house and our bed that weekend.” He grinned at her.

   “You know we have always been careful. I didn’t even know you wanted kids.”

   “Oh, I have always wanted kids. What made you think I didn’t?”

   “We never talked about it when we were together.”

   “That doesn’t mean that it wasn’t on my mind. There was always the possibility of you getting pregnant. Birth control is never fool proof, especially when you missed a couple.” He leaned in and pecked her playfully on the cheek. “I wished I was there with you when you found out.”

   “So did I.”

  “Were you afraid that you would have to raise the baby alone?”

   “I was terrified, Will. It wasn’t exactly the best time for me to find out I was pregnant. We weren’t together, so yes—I was scared that I was going to bring up this baby alone. I honestly didn’t want that for our child.”

   “Well, I’m here now, Ave. I’m not going anywhere, not now, not ever. You are stuck with me, you and this little guy.” He rubbed her belly, then rolled over and found her lips again. And Avery giggled as she felt his aroused manhood against her legs.