Snowbound (13 page)

He looked a bit uncomfortable. “Well, I
thought you might want to make it legal.”

She arched a brow. “Was that your idea of a
marriage proposal?” Talk about unromantic. Not that she should
expect anything from him.

Reed tugged at the collar of his flannel
shirt, which must have been scorching in the heat. “Not a formal
one. Just tryin’ to get your input. If you want my name for the
baby, I’ll give it to you.”

“For the baby?” She curled her lips, glaring
at him. “I don’t need your name for the baby. I don’t need anything
from you.”

“Hell, I know that,” he shouted, getting to
his feet. “Your momma told me you’re all set with your trust fund.”
He paced, dragging a hand through his hair. “I know you don’t need
nothin’ from me, Beth, so why’d you send the letter? If you don’t
want me here, why’d you tell me about the baby?”

She softened her voice, striving to remove
the simmering anger. He was making an effort. “I didn’t say I don’t
want you here. I just don’t want anything from you out of
obligation.”

He waved at her stomach. “That’s a pretty big
obligation there, Beth.”

Tears came to her eyes, and she sniffed. When
she replied, it was with a fair bit of her own shouting. “I
released you. I want you to be here because you want to be, not
because you feel like you should be.”

He froze. “I didn’t mean it that way. You
ain’t forcing me to be here. I came ‘cause my baby’s growing in
your belly, and I want to be here with you.”

“Oh.” She sniffed away the rest of the urge
to cry. “Well, what do you want to happen? What do you need?”

“I don’t know. I’d just sort of planned to
give you whatever you asked for.”

Beth rolled her eyes. “You can be so
frustrating at times, Reed Nixon.”

He gave her a small grin. “I’m willin’ to
concede that point.”

“Okay, I’m asking you to tell me one thing
you want. Let’s start with that.”

He hesitated, his gaze on her stomach. “I’d
like to feel your stomach and see the changes.”

Beth’s eyes widened. That wasn’t what she’d
expected, since they’d been discussing practicalities. In the
spirit of compromise, she couldn’t really refuse or try to
redirect, since he’d met her terms of expressing one thing he
wanted. “Um, okay.” Feeling reluctant, she got to her feet and slid
the camisole up under her unfettered breasts.

He came closer, his hands trembling a bit
when he rested them on her stomach. “You’re bigger’n I expected.”
She flinched, making him frown. “Did I hurt you?”

Beth shook her head. “No, but those aren’t
the best words to say to a fat, frumpy pregnant woman.”

He scowled. “You ain’t fat. That’s a baby in
there. My baby.” He purred the last two words, leaving no doubt he
was staking a claim. “You’re beautiful, Beth.”

She sniffed again, hating the hormones that
left her on perma-drip. “I don’t feel very beautiful these days,
Reed. I have eyes.”

“Then use them. Where’s a mirror?” He took
her hand, tugging her along behind him until they came to her
bedroom. Snapping on the light, he led her right to the mirrored
door that extended the length of the closet. With impatient
movements, he stripped off her camisole, putting his hand on her
stomach. “This is beautiful.” He touched her face with his other
hand. “Still beautiful. Maybe even more beautiful. You got a glow,
girl.”

She blushed, inexplicably shy, though unable
to tear her gaze from his hands in the mirror. The one on her tummy
splayed wider, encompassing most of her bump.

“You have any idea what it does to me to know
my baby is in you?” He stepped closer behind her, his erection
poking into her lower back. “It’s sexy as hell. Ain’t real modern
to say, but it gives me a thrill to know I marked you as mine.
You’re my woman, and this bump—our baby—tells the world you’re
mine.”

Hypnotized by his words and his hands, she
watched/felt the one on her face moving lower, to stroke her neck.
“Mine,” he said again, softly, as his hand slipped lower. She held
her breath, tummy fluttering, as he cupped one of her swollen
breasts, touching the nipple with exquisite gentleness that made
heat flare inside her.

“Mine.” He thumbed the nipple. “Until it’s
hers.” He patted her tummy. “Thinkin’ of your breasts doin’ what
they were meant to, producin’ milk for my baby…I ain’t got words
for it, Beth.”

Tears swam in her eyes, and she leaned back
against him as he rubbed her tummy for another minute before
putting both hands around the bump. “This is mine. You belong to
me, Beth, and I was a damned fool not to see it sooner.”

She lifted a hand behind her, to tangle in
his hair. “It goes both ways. If I’m yours, you’re mine too. That
means you have to stop worrying about if you’re good enough or too
old. None of that matters. Only you matter.”

He buried his face in her neck. Even as his
lips feathered over the delicate skin, she swore she felt moisture
from his eyes. Soon, his teasing kisses distracted her from
anything but the sensations coursing through her body, and she
didn’t protest when he picked her up to carry her to bed.

He laid her down, his magical hands somehow
managing to make her shorts disappear in the process. It had been
too hot for underwear, so she lay nude before him as he shucked off
his clothes. “Gotta get some city outfits,” he commented, as he
came down beside her.

“Or just stay inside, naked.”

His eyes gleamed with interest. “That’s a
fine idea too, as long as you’re plannin’ to join me.”

His mouth on hers stole her ability to
respond, so she threaded her fingers through his hair to drag him
closer. It had been too long since they’d touched or kissed. Her
body hadn’t forgotten. She’d been on a slow simmer, but that fire
blasted to a raging inferno at first contact, especially when his
fingers slipped between her thighs to stroke her slick folds.

When he held up his fingers, her arousal
glistened. “You’re so wet.” He sounded awed.

“Your fault,” she managed to say as he swept
his tongue across her tongue and down her chin. A few seconds
later, his mouth found her nipple, and she dug her heels into the
mattress, crying out. “Oh, god, that hurts, but in a good way.”

He lifted his head, frowning. “You want me to
stop?”

She shook her head. “It’s just so sensitive
now.”

Reed dipped his head, gentling his tongue as
he traced it around her nipple before moving to the other to offer
some attention. “They’re bigger.”

She nodded shyly. “About a cup size.”

He grasped one in his hand, squeezing
carefully. “Love it. You was perfect before, but there’s something
that drives me wild about your fertile little body right now. Can’t
wait to see how big they get.” He squeezed again.

Scooting lower, he parted her legs, bringing
his face close to inhale. “You smell different too.” With an air of
experimentation, he lowered his head to run his tongue down her
slit before looking up. “You taste different too. Sweeter, with a
bit of spice.” He lapped her again, catching the rivulets that ran
from her lips. “I could eat your pussy all day, Beth.”

She moaned as he darted his tongue inside her
before taking a slow stroke. “I just want you inside me, Reed.
Please, just fuck me.”

He sat up, moving to lie beside her with his
back propped against the pillows piled in front of her headboard.
“I ain’t gonna fuck the mother of my child. I’m gonna make love to
you.”

Her chest felt tight, and she had to draw in
a deep breath to regain composure. “You’re a true romantic.”

With a laugh, he lifted her onto his lap, her
back to his chest, both of them facing the mirror. “It’s my
downfall.” Burying his hand in her ponytail, he pulled her head
back a bit while aligning the head of his cock against her soaking
pussy. “You feel how hot you’re makin’ me?” His cock slid inside
her, burying to the hilt with no resistance. He groaned and
stilled, as though savoring the sensation. “God, you feel real good
around me, Beth.” When she tightened her muscles, he groaned again.
“Just like that, baby. Squeeze me and ride me.”

Slowly, Beth lifted off him, trying to keep
her sheath clenched around him, before sliding down again. It was
heaven, riding his cock. The ridge of his erection hit her walls
just right, making her cry out and grind against him. She rocked
faster as he dug his fingers into her hips and started thrusting
against her, almost slamming his cock inside her.

“Damn, I missed you, Beth. Missed this.” He
rocked against her hard, maintaining pressure against her g-spot as
they stilled for a moment. “Mostly, I just missed you.”

She nodded, incapable of speech as she thrust
against him, wanting release so badly. His cock was hard and almost
punishing, but it felt so good that she didn’t care if she walked
funny for a week afterward.

As his cock tightened before convulsing, he
put his hands on her stomach again, holding her against him as he
came, while he said with savage delight, “Mine.”

The bunched chords in his neck, the fiercely
possessive expression, and the hot spurts of his satisfaction all
served to bring Beth crashing into an orgasm that left her shaking
and moaning his name. Afterward, she slumped backward, moving with
him when he lowered her to the mattress and turned so they were
lying side by side, faces almost touching.

“Did you mean it?” She bit her lip. “That
‘mine’ stuff?”

He nodded. “Yeah. There ain’t never been
anyone before for me. Not like this, Beth. I ain’t never had a
girlfriend or any kind of real relationship.”

She frowned. “But you’re thirty-three. How is
that possible?”

He shrugged. “I didn’t want the baggage. I’ve
had fuck-buddies and plenty of one-night stands, but I ain’t
never…cared about anyone until you.”

She longed for words of love, but knew it was
too soon. As closed as Reed was, she might never get the actual
words, but it didn’t matter. As long as he showed her in other
ways, she could be okay with that. “I haven’t either.”

He smirked a bit. “Of course you ain’t.
You’re about a second old, girl.” Reed’s face clouded. “Someday,
you’ll change your mind.” He said it with enough conviction to
hurt, because he obviously believed it.

Beth shook her head. “I won’t. It wouldn’t
matter if I’d met you when I was eight or eighty, instead of
eighteen. I’d still have fallen for you.” Allowing a little of her
pain to show, she said, “Frankly, I’m insulted that you think I’m
just so fickle that I can fall in and out of love like that. I’m
not my father.”

Reed winced. “I know that, baby. I didn’t
mean to hurt you. Just tryin’ to be realistic.”

She glared. “You’re being an ass. I already
told you that you have to stop doubting your worth to me. I’m never
going to love anyone the way I love you.”

He closed his eyes, looking like he was torn
between agony and hope. “I’m going to do my best to believe that,
Beth. It ain’t that I doubt you. I just don’t see why you’d want to
be with me.” Cupping her stomach, he said, “If I didn’t knock you
up, you wouldn’t be stuck with me.”

Beth rolled her eyes. “I’m not stuck with
you. I wanted you, and I went after you. I’m not a cheating whore,
like my father, but I am a determined woman used to getting my own
way.” Putting a hand on his cheek, she softened her tone. “Unlike
my dad, when he gets what he wants, I don’t get bored and move on.
If this relationship fails, it will be because you leave me, not
the other way around.”

He frowned. “I ain’t gonna leave you, girl.”
Apprehension shadowed his blue eyes. “Not sure what I’m gonna do
here in the city, but I ain’t leaving you.”

It was her turn to frown.”What do you mean,
here in the city? We’re going back to Alaska.”

He snorted. “You can’t go back there with a
kid on the way.”

Beth gritted her teeth. “I know for a fact
they have midwives and doctors in Alaska. They tend to be
everywhere.”

He arched a brow. “For a fact, huh? How?”

Her cheeks warmed. “I might have done a
little Googling after I mailed you the letter. I kind of hoped
you’d want me to come back.” Putting her hand over his on her
stomach, she squeezed. “I believed you were a decent man and would
want some part in the baby’s life, even if you didn’t want me.”

“I never stopped wantin’ you, Beth. I sent
you away ‘cause I know I ain’t good enough for you.” He held up a
hand before she could protest. “In my heart, I know I ain’t, but
I’m going to try to make you happy and be what you need.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Is that because you
want to, or because you feel obligated?”

His eyes widened. “I want to. I want to be
there for you and the baby. It’ll take me a bit of time to find a
buyer for the Alaskan property, and to figure out what the hell I’m
gonna do with myself in New York City, but I’m hopin’ to have that
all settled by the time she’s born.”

She frowned. “And what about Aika? Are you
just going to forget about her?”

He frowned. “’Course not. She’ll fit right
in, already practically a damned froufrou dog as it is.” A grin
lightened his expression. “I can see her strutting down the street
in one of those soft pink sweaters like you wear, with a diamond
collar.”

Beth giggled, but shook her head. “No, her
home is in Alaska. So is yours. So is mine.”

He shook his head. “I ain’t riskin’ your life
and health to have a baby in the middle of nowhere.”

“Honey, I’m rich.” She blushed. “I’m not
bragging, but I’m simply pointing out that money buys things that
makes life easier—like having my midwife come stay with us for the
last month or so before the birth, if it makes you more
comfortable. We’ll make it work.”

He frowned. “You shouldn’t have to make it
work. I can’t ask you to give up coffee and Thai food.”