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“I would pay good money to hear that all again.”

Kate stands at the entryway to her bedroom, dressed in a fitted black suit. Her hair is up in a bun this morning.

Striding into the kitchen, she hunts through the fridge and pulls out the morning smoothie I’ve started preparing for her, packed with all the vitamins she needs. “You’re making my place messy. It looks like shit.”

“My back feels like shit.” Rising from the couch, I straighten out and feel another crack. “I’m going to order an airbed.”

She goes to speak, but I hold up a hand. “Before you say no, I’ll take it down every day.”

“That wasn’t what I was going to say.” Her gaze lingers just long enough on my bare chest before she snaps her head away and turns to the cupboard, pulling out some cereal.

“What were you going to say? And are you feeling well enough to go to work?”

She turns back to the counter and sets the cereal box down.

Lucky Charms?Just pour yourself a bowl of gestational diabetes, Katherine.

“Yes, I’m taking the chance while I don’t want to puke my guts up. The longer I can put off telling work, the better. Also…” She pauses while pouring the cereal into her bowl. “If you want,we can share a bed. Mine is huge, and we can form some sort of pillow barrier.”

She looks up nervously at me, and my dick twitches in the athletic shorts I’m wearing.

Walking towards the kitchen, I come to stand right next to her, and instantly, I’m hit with her familiar fruity scent. “I’m not getting in your bed, Kate.”

I begin inspecting the nutritional facts on the back of the box. I have no intention of stopping her from eating what she wants, but I know it’ll rile her up.

“Why not?” She grabs the box from me and sets it back down on the other side of her.

As I lean, I see the way her skin reacts to my proximity. “Because I want you and not your pity.”

Her breath snags in her throat, and I see the way her chest moves up and down more rapidly. “You know that’s not happening.”

“Your body tells me differently.” Moving behind her, I stand with my bare chest to her back, and I swear she moves back to press into my fully aroused cock. Picking up the milk, my hands work either side of her as I unscrew the carton and begin pouring it into her cereal. “Silly, traitorous body telling me everything you don’t with your words.”

Once I’m finished pouring, my hand moves lower, and I spread my left palm across her stomach. “When is your first scan?”

She’s breathless when she whispers. “This Friday at three. I was going to tell you today; I got the email confirmation late last night.”

Quick lunch with Mom and Dad, then.

“Do you want to find out what we’re having?” I whisper into the shell of her ear.

“I guess it makes it easier to plan everything, but I haven’t decided yet. Do you?”

Yes.“I do. But this is your call, Mommy.”

She doesn’t fight to move away from me, and warmth floods my chest.

Only a matter of time, Katherine.

“When you want me in your bed again, and not just because of my back, just say the word. But until then, it’s the air mattress.”

Her chest continues to rise and fall rapidly. “I need to eat this and get to work.”

“I’ll take you.”

KATE

The level of tired I am as I walk through the front door and mindlessly pull off my heels is staggering.