Strictly Taboo(223)

“Go away,” she told him, angrily. She was a mix of hormones and emotions and she couldn’t even begin to process that she was completely out of control of her body and her entire life was about to change again. She had just started getting used to being married, and now she had to deal with this.

“I’m not going anywhere Penny. We are in this together.” He told her and walked across the room and sat down on the bed next to her. Putting his arm around her shoulders, he held her against him, trying to comfort her.

“You’re the reason I’m in this condition.” She told him, and looked up at him glaring in hostility. She didn’t know if she was mad, or scared, or wanting to strangle him. She had so many different emotions rotating through her mind as she tried to process the realization that she was pregnant that she couldn’t even keep up with them.

“Well, it takes two to make a baby,” he said defensively. “We can handle this together Penny, just like we’ve figured everything else out so far. Have faith in me, in us.”

“Do you know I nearly attacked your cousin? I saw her in your study and nearly lost my mind, assuming the worst.” Penny told him and then started to laugh, not understanding quite where the emotion was coming from. “God, I feel like such an idiot.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t warn you about my family. I should have told you about them. I promise that over the next few weeks, I’ll catch you up on my family history, who’s in it, who I talk too, who I don’t, and all that lovely stuff, but for today, do you think you can get through dinner with Janie?” Flynn asked her gently, his hand starting to rub up and down her arm, trying to relax her.

“Flynn, I just realized I’m pregnant, this really has nothing to do with your cousin, and everything to do with me wanting to kick you in the shins.” She said and then pinched his arm, hard.

“Ow,” he said, and rubbed his upper arm, looking at her in shock.

“That’s what you get for knocking me up. Now help me out of this corset, I can’t breathe properly.” She finally admitted and turned so he could work the laces on her dress loose, so he could remove the corset.

“You know, Penny, I don’t know why you wear this silly contraption anyways, I love your natural body. Maybe I should burn all your corsets while you’re pregnant.” He told her and then touched her back with his fingers after he’d removed the offending item that was making her dizzy.

“Don’t touch me right now. It’s not fair. I’m mad at you.” She told him, pressing her thighs together and thinking her body a traitor.

“You can’t stay mad at me, you love me,” Flynn told her automatically, and then cupped her cheek with his hand, and kissed her. Pulling her on his lap he wrapped his arms around her waist and just held her for a few moments before kissing her again. “I love you Penny. I’m not the least bit sorry you’re pregnant. I am sorry that my cousin’s arrival unannounced caused such an extreme reaction.”

“It’s the hormones, I think.” Penny muttered and them put her head on his shoulder and sighed. His arms around her was causing her to relax and even though she tried to hang on to her anger, she found herself unable to really stay mad at him. “I’m scared.”

“I know, it’s going to be okay, I’ll be here by your side the whole time, I promise.” Flynn told her. “Have faith in me.”

“You make it sound so simple,” Penny said and then shook her head. “Flynn, I really don’t get how you managed to turn my entire world upside down. I go from wanting to jump your bones, to wanting to bite you.”

“I know the feeling.” Flynn said laughing and then leaned down and nipped her shoulder. “We are going to be okay, Penny.”

“When you say it like that I want to believe you.” Penny told him and squeezed his leg with her hand and then shut her eyes for a moment and sighed. Letting the comfort of his arms relax her, she reopened her eyes and met his gaze.

“I think I do love you.” She finally told him. “I don’t know how you wormed your way into my heart, but I’m slowly starting to picture my entire life with you in it, and the idea of not having you in it scares me.”

“Good, that’s how it’s supposed to be. I know you can take care of yourself Penny, you are a tough woman, but you don’t have to go through life alone.” Flynn told her. “I love you too.”

“Are you hungry?” Penny asked him, her gaze shooting to the door. “I realized I’m starving suddenly.”