10. Leta

10

LETA

TWO MONTHS LATER

I pace nervously in my tiny bathroom, staring at the pregnancy test on the counter. The box says it takes three minutes, but it feels like an eternity. I know my period is probably just late because I've been stressed about the fundraiser tonight, but I need to know for sure.

The timer on my phone chimes. I take a deep breath and pick up the test with shaking hands.

Negative.

Relief washes over me. My relationship with Jake might be going strong, but that doesn't mean an unplanned pregnancy wouldn't have the potential to ruin everything. There's a reason he always pulls out.

So I'm relieved to see the negative test result. But as I stare at that single line, an unexpected twinge of disappointment also hits me. For a split second, I picture a little girl with Jake's eyes and my smile. The image fades as quickly as it appeared, leaving me shocked at my own reaction.

Where did that come from? I shake my head, trying to clear the confusing thoughts. Now isn't the time to unpack these feelings. I need to focus on tonight's event.

I toss the pregnancy test in the trash and hurry to finish getting ready. The fundraiser for the tutoring center starts in less than two hours, and there's still so much to do. As I apply my makeup, I push thoughts of babies and pregnancy tests to the back of my mind. Tonight is about securing funding to keep helping kids succeed. That's what matters right now.

But as I rush out the door, that fleeting image of a dark-haired little girl lingers in the corner of my mind.

When I arrive at the community center, my heart is racing with nerves for another reason. This fundraising gala isn't just another event—it's a lifeline for the tutoring center. If we hit our target, it'll cover my hefty loan payments and keep the center running smoothly for months to come. As much as I've appreciated Jake's generous donations, it's important to me to stop relying on them.

I burst through the doors, arms loaded with decorations and my mind a whirlwind of last-minute details. The room is already buzzing with volunteers hanging streamers and arranging silent auction items. We've got paintings from local artists, gift baskets from neighborhood shops, and even a weekend getaway package donated by a travel agency. It's not exactly black-tie fancy, but it's the best we could pull together on a shoestring budget.

"Hey, Leta! The caterers are asking where to set up," calls out one of my tutors.

"Tell them—" I start to say, but the words fade in my throat as I spot a striking figure by the entrance.

Jake.

He's leaning against the doorframe, looking like he just stepped off a magazine cover. His tailored suit hugs his strapping frame in all the right places.

"Need a hand?" he asks, pushing off the wall and striding towards me.

I blink, caught between surprise and the urge to jump into his arms. "What are you doing here?"

He reaches out, taking some of the decorations from my overloaded arms. "Thought you could use an extra set of hands. Plus," he says, leaning in close, his breath tickling my ear, "I couldn't wait to see you in that dress."

Heat rushes to my cheeks. I chose this emerald green dress hoping to impress potential donors, but suddenly all I can think about is the way Jake's eyes are roaming over me.

"Are you sure you're okay helping out?" I ask, knowing that an event like this might be too much for the social anxiety he experiences outside of work.

He nods, his gorgeous eyes softening. "I'm sure. This is important to you, so it's important to me."

Hours later, I can't stop smiling as Jake and I walk into my apartment. The fundraiser was a smashing success—we exceeded our goal by almost twenty percent. My heart feels like it might burst from happiness.

"I still can't believe how well it went," I gush, kicking off my heels. "And you were amazing out there. I know crowds aren't your thing, but you really charmed everyone."

Jake pulls me close, planting a kiss on my forehead. "Anything for you, Leta. I'm proud of you."

His words send a warm flutter through my chest. "Thank you for being there. It means the world to me."

"I'm going to use the bathroom real quick," Jake says, heading down the hall.

I nod and make my way to the kitchen, intent on scrounging up a meal for us. As I rummage through the fridge, my mind drifts to the past few months with Jake. Our relationship has blossomed into something I never could have imagined when we first met. The way he looks at me, supports me, loves me—it's everything I've ever wanted.

I'm so lost in my thoughts that I don't hear Jake's footsteps. His voice startles me.

"Leta?"

I turn, a container of leftover pasta in hand, and freeze. Jake is standing a few feet away from me, holding the pregnancy test I took earlier. My stomach drops.

"Is there something you want to tell me?" he asks.

"It's negative," I blurt out. "I'm not pregnant."

Jake's brows dip as he looks from the test to me. "Did you think you might be?"

I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heartbeat. "I'm a few days late, but I'm pretty sure it's just stress from planning the fundraiser. I wanted to be certain, that's all."

Jake nods slowly, his eyes fixed on the test. His expression is unreadable, and a knot forms in my stomach. We've come so far in our relationship, but what if this false alarm is too much for him? What if all his talk about commitment flies out the window at the mere thought of a baby?

I swallow hard, knowing I need to ask the question that's burning inside me.

"Jake," I say carefully, "what would we do if I was pregnant?"

He looks up at me, his face serious. I hold my breath, waiting for his response, terrified of what he might say but needing to know how he truly feels.

To my utter shock, a slow smile spreads across his lips.

"You know, Leta," he says, his voice warm and steady, "a few months ago, that question would have terrified me. But now? It doesn't scare me anymore. In fact, I've been thinking a lot about what it would be like to start a family with you."

It feels like the wind has been knocked out of me. My mouth opens, but no words come out.

"You're serious?" I finally manage to say.

Jake nods, his eyes never leaving mine. "Completely."

My heart is pounding so hard I can hear it in my ears. I take a shaky breath, trying to process this unexpected turn of events. Although, the more I think about it, maybe it's not so shocking. Everything about the past few months have shown me how supportive and caring of a man he is.

"Are you saying you actually want that?" I ask. "A family? With me?"

"Yes," Jake says without hesitation. "I do. What do you want, Leta?"

I bite my lip, thinking about that fleeting image of a little girl with Jake's eyes that had surprised me earlier.

"I've been daydreaming about the same thing," I admit. "Having a family with you."

"Should we start right now on making that dream come true?"

A surprised laugh bubbles out of me. "Are you serious?"

Jake's eyes stay locked onto mine, his gaze intense and unwavering. "Very."

I'm at a loss for words again, but I haven't lost my ability to nod.

He sets the pregnancy test aside, the plastic clattering against the counter. My breath hitches as he closes the distance between us. His hands slide around my waist, and with a surprising gentleness, he hoists me up onto the kitchen counter.

Then Jake's hands are everywhere—pushing up my dress, pulling down my panties. I'm a tangle of nerves and excitement as he frees his cock from his pants. We're both breathing hard, our eyes locked together as he slides into me, filling me completely.

"Tell me what you want, Leta," he growls, his voice rough with desire.

I don't hesitate. "Come inside me. Fill me up. Make me yours."

The intensity of our connection is almost too much to bear, yet I crave every second. Jake's thrusts are powerful and possessive, each one staking a claim on my body and soul. My legs wrap tighter around his waist, pulling him deeper, wanting all of him.

My climax hits me like a freight train, the force of it ripping a high cry from my throat. Jake doesn't stop, his pace relentless, drawing out my pleasure until I'm a quivering mess against him.

Then, with a hard thrust, I feel him spill inside me, the warmth of his seed filling me as he comes with a deep moan.

As our breathing slows, a flicker of concern whispers at the back of my mind. Did he just get swept up in the heat of the moment? Is this really, truly what he wants?

Jake pulls out of me, and I feel his cum dripping down my thigh. He looks down, his eyes dark with desire, and what he says next takes my breath away.

"Look at you," he murmurs, his voice filled with awe. "Your pussy looks so fucking pretty filled with my cum."

Before I can react, he's pressing two fingers against me, pushing his cum back inside me. The act is so primal, so possessive, that it sends a strong shiver of delight up my spine.

Then he takes my hand, kisses it, and says, "I can't wait to put a ring on this finger."