Lucien(54)
“But how will you get home?”
Luc laughed. “That didn’t take much convincing. Don’t worry about me. I can get Ben to drop me off.” Luc pressed his lips to her temple and wrapped his arms around her. “I need you rested for what I’ve got planned for you later.”
Elise smiled and laid her head on his shoulder. “Aw, you need me.”
“Yeah. I do,” Luc replied softly. He cleared his throat and, after another quick kiss, disentangled himself from her. “Now, get your things and get out of here. And don’t even think about cooking dinner. Damn, if I want my woman slaving over a hot stove when she’s supposed to be taking it easy.”
Elise laughed as Luc found her things and stuffed them into her arms. “I’m going, I’m going.”
“You bet you are.” Luc escorted her out to the rental car and personally put her behind the steering wheel. He waited until the seat belt was buckled and closed the door. Elise rolled down the window and Luc braced on arm against the roof, leaning in for another kiss. “I’ll be home soon, darlin’.”
Elise sighed and reached out to adjust his tie. “How late do you think you’ll be?”
“I’m not sure. But I’ll try not to wake you up when I come in.”
“If you wake me up, then you had best be prepared for the consequences.” Elise caught his tie and pulled him down for a bone melting kiss. “Be good, Lucien.”
“You, too.” Luc reluctantly pulled back. “Drive carefully. I’ll be home soon.”
Elise started the engine and watched Luc walk back towards the building. She rolled up the window and put the car in gear. “All right, girley-girl. Let’s get this show on the road before you give in and do something silly like… jump him in the parking lot.” Elise chuckled and turned up the radio, then eased her way out of the parking lot and onto the main road.
At the first stop light, her mind tuned out the radio and blurted out questions like: How does the prospect of being pregnant make you feel? How would Luc feel about becoming a daddy? If the marriage is only temporary then—
The light turned green and Elise pressed the accelerator. She sighed. “A baby.”
Not just any baby, her lovesick mind corrected, but a child with the man you’re in love with. How does that make you feel?
Elise pursed her lips. “I might not be pregnant.”
And you might be.
She gripped the steering wheel tighter. “Okay, let’s suppose for one minute that I am.”
Okay. Keep going.
“I’d have to tell Luc.”
Naturally. A pregnancy isn’t something which can be hidden from a lover for more than a couple of months.
“Luc is more than a lover,” Elise retorted. “He’s my husband and I love him so much it hurts.”
True, but love isn’t supposed to hurt.
“We are not going to argue about that again,” she told herself. “The fact of the matter is, I love Luc and he’s my husband and I want children.”
Oh? You do?
“Yes, I do.” She slowed for another red light and thumped the steering wheel. “I don’t know if I’m ready for children, but… oooh, a little boy with Luc’s eyes? He’d be so cute. Or… a little girl. Oh. I want one. I may never get another chance. Who knows how long we’ll stay together and…,” she trailed off, unwilling to go down that line of thought.
Oh sure, Elise wants one, but what about Luc? Doesn’t he get a say in this?
“Whatever say he had, he lost when he forgot about birth control.”
Uh-huh. And Elise “conveniently” forgot to ask about birth control?
“Oh, shut-up,” she muttered. “I hate arguing with you. I mean, me.” Elise groaned and pulled into the driveway. “You always have to have the last word. Why won’t you let me win one measly argument?”
Because an overly developed conscience never sleeps. All day long, it’s think, think, think. And while we’re on the subject of brooding over possibilities… has it occurred to you that Luc may not be able to have children? Ever think of that, Elise?
Elise gasped and, stopping the car, slid the gear shift into park. “Not have children? Why wouldn’t he be able to? He’s young and virile and— Ohmigoodness. I’ll never be able to sleep now.”
Elise smiled into her pillow as Luc’s hand skimmed up her leg to rest on her hip. “If I didn’t know you so well, I’d be angry at you.” She shivered deliciously and snuggled her backside closer to him. “Coming into my bed at this hour, waking me up. You didn’t wake me up last night.”