Page 27 of Tied up in Knots (Gummy Bear Orgy #4)

Tattooed sexy-man pheromones

For some reason I thought things would be different after Warren returned yesterday, but they seem to be mostly the same.

I wake up at my normal time, shower and get dressed, crunch on a few pickles for breakfast, and head downstairs.

The only difference is Lauren asking me questions about Warren’s return.

Most of which I can’t answer, and a few I choose to play ignorant.

I can’t really admit I know he came back because he found out I was having his baby.

I’m standing at the register checking out a customer when the bell above the door rings and I call out my customary greeting.

“Good morning, welcome to The Book Vault.” I’m about to continue with offering assistance finding what they’re looking for, when I glance up to see it’s none other than Warren entering the store.

This time I’m not as caught off guard. I kind of figured he would be back soon, just not this soon. In his hand he’s carrying a white paper bag that smells heavenly.

“Good morning,” he says, waving his free hand at me and nearly knocking me over with his bright smile.

I knew fishermen were morning people, but he’s way too cheerful right now.

Regardless I have to admit, I like seeing him here and smiling with his handsome face, thick wild hair and two-day old scruff on his chin.

If only it were warm enough for him to roll up his sleeves and flash me those beautiful tattoos of his, then we’d be talkin’ naughty fantasy come to life.

Thinking about his tattoos brings into stark relief an image of Warren shirtless and enlightening me on his chest tattoos true meaning. The thought has me clearing my throat and refocusing my attention on the customer in front of me.

I finish ringing them up, and as soon as they’re gone, Warren is leaning over the check-out counter and sliding the bag across to me. I smell warm baked goods and butter.

“I brought you every flavor they had. I wasn’t sure which you would be craving.”

Leaning over to peek inside the bag, there are half a dozen croissants sitting inside. Plain, chocolate chip, strawberry filled, glazed, apple cinnamon, and one covered in almond slices…ew. I pluck out the apple cinnamon, deftly avoiding the almond one, and take a hearty bite.

“Mmm. Oh my god, thank you. I’m so hungry. Although I’m always hungry these days so that’s no surprise.”

Warren chuckles and leans on his elbows watching me with a grin plastered across his face. I slow my chewing and check around the edges of my mouth to make sure nothing's sticking to my face.

“I’m glad you like them. Later I’ll get you lunch too. Whatever you want.”

My eyes go wide and, because half of what I think about these days is food, I’ve already got a craving for lunch. Which will probably change by lunch time.

“A bacon cheeseburger with maple syrup and peanuts, with pickles on the side sounds amazing .”

Normally when someone hears the weird concoction I’m craving they cringe. Not Warren. He only shakes his head and chuckles, like he’s heard it all before and it doesn’t completely gross him out to consider eating it.

“If that’s what you desire then that is what you shall get. Until then, how can I help around the shop?”

I eye him over my half-eaten croissant, watching him carefully. He doesn’t flinch, just waits patiently, his chocolatey brown eyes gleaming with mirth. Does he actually want to help or is he just doing this to butter me up? Either way we do have some heavy bookshelves and boxes that need moving.

“You want to help out around the shop?” I ask for clarification.

“Hell yeah. I want to do anything you need. Run errands, lift heavy shit, pick up your lunch. I am at your disposal.” He leans back and opens his arms wide, presenting himself to me like a present. And what a present he is.

I hum and tap at my chin like a cartoon villain, trying hard to ignore his effortless charm. If he’s offering, I might as well take advantage, right? This way I can find out if he’s being sincere or not and get some free labor in the process.

“You know I could get used to having you at my beck and call, might even abuse my power. You sure you’re up for that?”

His grin only grows wider, and he leans back onto the counter, getting within inches of my face and speaks low and conspiratorially.

“Bambi I am up for anything you want.”

I suck in a breath and hold it at his nearness.

The last time we were this close we were nake d _ and probably making the baby in my stomach.

Heat blooms between my thighs and the familiar ache of longing and desire burns hot.

Fucking hormones making me horny all the time.

I can’t completely blame them though; Warren is sinfully hot.

Warren’s eyes flit down to my lips, and I inadvertently exhale, opening my lips to him in a silent invitation. He licks his bottom lip before rolling it between his teeth and I almost whimper out loud.

Stupid pregnancy hormones.

“So, what do you say Bambi? What would you like me to do?”

Pull down your pants, sit on my couch and let me ride your amazing dick. Wait, shit, no not that. At least not right now.

“There’s a shelf in the back that needs to be moved.” Weakly I point vaguely towards the back of the shop. “If you ask Lauren, she’ll point it out to you.”

“You got it boss. I’m on it. Just let me know when you get hungry again, okay?” He gives me a wink and finally withdraws from the counter giving me space to breathe.

I’m not sure I can survive being the sole focus of Warren’s attention.

When we were sneaking around and meeting in secret at night, that was one thing.

During the day we acted like we always had.

But having him following me around, bringing me food and winking at me, right out in public?

That’s a whole different ball game that I don’t know how to play.

Warren disappears to the rear of the store calling out Lauren’s name, his massive body hidden by the many shelves of books filling the shop.

It’s probably too many shelves to be honest, but I like having a plethora of options.

Not to mention all the used books we purchase and find.

It’s like a wonderland of paper and ink, each one filled with its own magical story.

Fiction is our greatest seller and what comprises the majority of our selection.

If you want a manual on how to disassemble a transmission, look it up on YouTube. The Book Vault is all about imagination and whimsy. Books should be one of two things: informative or entertaining. I prefer the entertaining ones, so that’s what we stock, and people seem to like it.

For the rest of the morning I work the front counter, checking out customers and fiddling around on the tablet to keep myself distracted from the glimpses I catch of Warren between the stacks.

I may or may not take a few steps to the left to get a better angle of his backside when he flexes to reposition the shelf and lift boxes.

As soon as he turns around, I not so slyly avert my gaze, but I’m sure he knows I was watching him.

He doesn’t say anything about it though, thankfully.

After one such time he surprises me by appearing at my side behind the counter, instead of safely on the opposite side. He’s so close I can smell his salty sea scent and feel his radiated heat.

Warren turns his body to shield us from Lauren, still working in the back of the store.

There are no other customers right now and the only sound is the quiet music playing from the speakers.

He faces me and gently places one hand on my stomach.

I try to remain calm, not because I’m concerned about him touching my stomach, but because I don’t want to give into him on day one.

The feel of his hand on my belly is comforting and warm. Our son settling at the sensation of his father nearby. It’s strange how after only one meeting he somehow instinctually already knows who Warren is to him. Warren’s thumb rubs small circles and we both watch the movement.

“How are you doing? Feeling, okay? Do you need anything? Should I bring you a chair, or a blanket?”

I giggle quietly at his adorable questions and concern. It’s kind of nice to have someone fretting over me. Warren looks up at me, the cutest quirk in his brow.

“What’s so funny?

“You are.”

“Well, I’m not trying to be. At least not right now. I’m serious Bambi.”

And he is, he’s not joking or goofing around, his face is calm and relaxed as he watches me. I reach up and cup his scruff covered cheek and scratch my nails through the short hair.

“I’m fine Warren. I have a chair and I’m more hot than cold these days.”

My answer seems to appease him, because he smiles and his shoulders relax, but his hand remains on my stomach.

Which is barely covered by today’s pair of overalls.

I’m going to have to invest in a pair of maternity overalls made with tons of spandex and elastic at this point.

Especially since I’ll grow the most in the last trimester.

After a long pause I drop my hand from his face, already missing the feel of him against my skin.

“Okay, if you don’t need anything, can you direct me towards the maternity books? I can’t seem to find them, and I’d like to do some reading so I don’t feel completely inept about what’s going on.”

A guilty blush heats my cheeks, as I drop my gaze to the wooden countertop in front of me.

“They’re all up in my apartment. I may have commandeered them for research of my own,” I admit sheepishly.

“So, I’m not the only one who needs to do a little studying huh?”

I shrug and any apprehension I may have felt when he first arrived and offered his assistance, drifts away with our easy conversation.

Talking to Warren was always easy to do.

After six months away it feels like no time has passed at all.

His presence is so familiar and comfortable, it’s as if he never left.

But he did leave, and I have to keep reminding myself about that. I can’t let his tattooed sexy-man pheromones overpower my common sense.

“If you want to read them, you can head up to my apartment. They're kind of all over the place so you’ll just have to find them.”

I should probably be worried about him snooping around, but there’s nothing up there he hasn’t already seen or that I wouldn’t want him to see. All my secrets are concealed on my body.

“Okay. I’ll be back to go get that weird ass cheeseburger you wanted in a little bit. Can’t have the two most important people in my life going hungry now, can I?”

My heart races and I promptly blush again.

It’s a strange sensation having his every attention on me.

This easy flirting and close proximity that we never had before.

I like it, but it also scares me. It scares me because I’m afraid if I get too comfortable it’ll all go away just as easily as before.

Warren disappears upstairs to find the maternity books and doesn’t come back down for an hour. Right about the time my stomach starts growling again.

I’m unceremoniously ushered to Warren’s truck that he must have picked up from Owen, because the last time I saw it, it was parked in his driveway. Warren calls out to Lauren that we’re leaving and doesn’t wait for her reply. He even buckles me in once I’m firmly seated in his truck.

“I can do that myself you know?”

He swats my hands away as I try to take over buckling my own freaking seat belt. If he’s going to be a helicopter parent we’re going to have a serious conversation about boundaries.

“I know, but I want to make sure you’re safe.” The buckle clicks into place, and he reaches up to adjust the strap over my belly, resting his hand there reverently. “You’re important to me, and I want you to know that. Not just because you’re pregnant either.”

His eyes are like lasers locked on mine as he says this. I want to say something back, be snarky and break the tension between us, but I can’t. I don’t want to belittle his feelings and make him feel bad for caring about me. It is, after all, what I’ve wanted all along.

Instead, I just nod and let him finish checking my safety belt before gently closing the passenger side door.

He rounds the hood of the truck and slides into the driver’s seat, turning on the heater as soon as he starts the engine.

It takes a second for the air to warm but once it does, I relax into the bench seat.

But now I have a whole new set of problems. What are people going to say when we show up to the diner for lunch and Warren’s handling me with kid gloves?

Hopefully they’ll just think he’s being a good friend.

Us being together isn’t new, everyone knows we’re friends.

And until I’m ready to publicly announce him as the father, I’d like it to remain that way.