apologizing? Those were just your memories and I think I almost lost consciousness a few times because of that . You actually went through it; I honestly don’t think anyone else would’ve survived.”
He laid back down on the bed, deep in thought and probably in shock. I lay down next to him, giving him a few minutes to mull things over.
“You must hate me,” he announced suddenly.
I had to stifle a giggle. “Yeah, because I often sleep with people I hate.”
He didn’t laugh.
I rolled over on my side and moved close to him so our bare skin was touching. I traced the outline of his abdominal muscles with the tip of my finger. “There are other, much worse things in the world for me to hate.”
“Like penguins?” I think it was meant to be a joke, but neither of us laughed. I kept moving my hand along his stomach, his sides. He was becoming aroused, and looked ashamed for it.
“Yes – like penguins,” I whispered in his ear. “I think for now, only one thing will help us.”
“What’s that?” He searched my face, anxious for some kind of solution.
“More sex.”
He only hesitated a moment, then took me more ferociously than before. It felt like make up sex after a long and arduous argument; an argument that wasn’t quite over. He was laying claim to me in a way I couldn’t resist. He made love to me as if I were the only thing in the world he cherished; rough and gentle at the same time, possessive, and unmistakably his.
Chapter 10
The Mother
The next morning, I awoke alone. I rolled to the other side of the bed, feeling the sheets still warm from Micah’s body. I stayed there, cocooned in blankets until the last remaining scent of him disappeared. Finally, I made my way out to the kitchen looking for the real thing. Micah was nowhere to be found, but his sister was. I would have to settle for her green eyes instead of his. Susan looked at me, one eyebrow raised. I blushed, wondering if she’d heard our escapades last night. She only handed me a cup of coffee.
“Thank you,” I murmured, staring intently at a cracked tile on the floor. I held the cup to my lips then stopped myself. “Wait, is this safe? I mean, for the baby and all?”
“I don’t think one cup will hurt the baby. Pregnant women have ingested much worse.”
“Okay.” I hesitantly sipped it. It felt wonderful.
“Micah has already arranged for a doctor to visit,” Susan said. “He should be arriving later today.”
“Oh, okay. That was fast.”
“Hmm,” Susan commented. Of course she’d wanted it done much sooner. “I’m sorry we intervened the way we did. But it maybe worked out okay?”
“That it did,” I said wistfully, remembering the more explicit events of the night before. “And it certainly stopped Shawn dead in his tracks,” I quickly added, hoping she didn’t see me blushing again. I pushed away from the table. “Maybe I should go find Micah.”
She wasn’t having it, “Maybe you should eat.”
In short order she had a plate of eggs and fruit in front of me, complete with my daily dose of prenatal vitamins, no longer hidden from sight. She shook the bottle. “We forgot to bring these with us to Australia and Wyoming. Now they’re staying right here in the kitchen so you don’t forget to take them.”
I slunk down into the chair. “Yes, mother.”
Susan smiled and moved to leave the kitchen. She paused beside me, her hand on my shoulder, and bent down to whisper in my ear, “You’re the mother now.”
Her words resonated long after she had gone. I couldn’t move as it truly sunk in. Kids had never been in my plans, much because a husband had never been in my plans – and still wasn’t, for that matter.
I spent the next two hours walking the grounds of the Chakra, somewhat searching for Micah but mostly just enjoying the sunshine on my face. Pale from the months of cloud cover, I could feel my skin starting to burn. I looked around, no one, least of all Micah, was in
Janwillem van de Wetering