I blew out a shaky breath. It wasn’t a fluke. He still affected me the same as before.
“Elizabeth.”
“Hi.” I clenched my water tighter and tried to remember how to breathe.
In the blink of an eye, he was across the kitchen, and had me in his arms. His hug was crushing, but I needed it, for some reason. I felt better than I had in months and, like some sort of magic, my queasy stomach settled down.
“Bailey, come on. I think we need to give your brother some privacy.”
“Are they going to do it? Mates are so gross with the sex stuff.”
Alex growled at his little sister from over my head. “Bailey.”
“Okay, we’re going. Come and find us when you’re done, Alex.” Carolyn sounded happier than earlier, singing her words instead of speaking them.
Alex leaned back and looked down at me. “Hi.”
I bit my lip. “Hi.”
He grinned. “You already said that.”
I felt his eyes dip lower and then felt him stiffen as he breathed in deeply. I knew he was seeing my belly and I knew things weren’t going to be as nice as they’d just been. I pulled away and went back to the counter. “As you can probably see, I gained a little weight while I was away.”
He stuttered out nonsensical words and kept his eyes on my stomach.
“Bad joke, you’re right. I’m actually pregnant. I found out last month and I’ve been trying to think of a better way to tell you, but a singing telegram just didn’t feel right.” I continued on when he still remained frozen. “Another bad joke. Okay. Well, he’s yours. I just… know. I’ve been to the doctor and he’s healthy. Bigger than normal babies his age, but healthy.”
“He?”
“The man speaks!” I laughed awkwardly and wrung my hands together. “I don’t know for sure yet, but I just have a feeling. I’m sorry to just burst back into your life like this, Alex, but I thought you might want to know.”
He shook his head.
My heart sank. I had envisioned a thousand different scenarios, but I hadn’t been able to stop my hope from building. There had been something between us that night. There still was if the way he grabbed me meant anything. Maybe I was mistaken, though.
“Okay. I’m sorry.” I turned to leave and tried to fight the tears back.
“Wait! Where are you going?” He rushed over to me and grabbed my arms. “I didn’t mean no. I’m just… shocked. I didn’t think I was ever going to see you again and then you’re here. Carrying my baby…”
I rested my hands on his chest and felt my body respond to his. “I can’t imagine how big of a shock this is. Why don’t you take some time to process it?”
He frowned down at me. “I don’t need time.”
“You don’t?”
“No. He’s mine. My father made me the man I am today. There’s no way I’m leaving this little guy-or girl- without a father. Absolutely not.”
His intensity hit me right in the chest and I had to look away from him. I wanted him to feel the same intense possession with me, but I knew that was an insane feeling. Nothing was making sense with him standing so close. I needed some space to figure things out.
“I think I need to rest. I’ve been feeling sick lately. Is there a cab I can call for a ride back to town?”
“A cab?”
I shifted from foot to foot, feeling a little more than antsy to get away. “I need some space.”
I spun around and rushed to the door. It swung open just as I got closer and I charged past the young man standing there. I just wanted to get away.
“Elizabeth!”
“Beth?”
I turned too quickly to the right and went down hard on my hands and knees. It knocked the air out of my lungs, but I still managed to croak out the one name I thought I’d never say again. “Sam?”
CHAPTER 12: Alex
My heart was raging in my chest. I’d been dreaming about seeing Elizabeth again since the moment she left. I’d been an idiot for letting her leave. I knew she was my mate and yet I didn’t fight for her because I was too busy panicking like a pussy.
I’d managed to drink my way through enough whiskey to float a boat while she’d been away. I’d tried to find her, but I had nothing to go on besides her first name and that she lived in DC.
Then, she was there, standing in front of me, smelling like heaven. It’d taken me a few minutes to realize that she was softer and her smell had changed. She smelled like me. The little cub inside her smelled just like me.
I’d managed to fuck it up, though. I was still hungover and my head was throbbing, so I’d said the wrong thing. All I wanted to do was carry her back to my trailer and keep her by my side. Well, I wanted to sink into her again and again while claiming her, too. I’d smelled her arousal in the air and I was seconds from dragging her away like a caveman.