14. Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Cooper

I t's late when the call comes in. Laura calls after eleven o'clock, but I did tell her to call me anytime, so she isn't overly apologetic when I answer, thankfully. The reason for the call is regarding is the funeral arrangements for Tommy, and for my banking information, so that she can wire the money to me. Once I get all that out of the way, I lay my head down on the pillow, and I'm out like a light. As I lay there in bed, in the middle of the night, I feel London join me. This time, she's in her pyjamas.

I roll over to kiss her on the mouth. "Not taking any chances now, are we?" I chuckle.

"I'd hate to relive that. Gosh, I thought I would die of embarrassment. Bean sure has a way of putting me on the spot sometimes."

"Kids are good at that. But the boys seemed to take it well." I'm facetious.

"Yeah, Wade sure climbed on that dog pile, didn't he."

"He means well. The dude loves a laugh."

"I'll give him that." She kisses me chastely. "Do you have Mingles tomorrow night?"

"Yeah. Did you follow Colton home?"

She nods. "Yes. He wants me to go in to work with him, but that's where I draw the line."

"How come?" I ask, wondering if she'll notice the hidden security that is now part of her entourage.

"Well, Cooper, that isn't right. He needs his privacy. Gosh, even Liz noticed that he's been watching me like a hawk."

"She said that?"

"Yeah. And she knows about Tommy, too."

"Well, that's why I came to see you tonight. The word will spread fast. Laura called earlier with the funeral arrangements."

"Oh yeah?Is she okay?"

"She's all business. I have to hand it to Tommy. He groomed his girls well."

"When's the funeral?"

"Monday. I'll have to book the day off work." I tell her. I don't want Bean at school without me, so I have to figure out a way to tell her that, without her suspecting anything. "I want Bean to come, too. I think it would mean a lot to Tommy's girls if we're all there."

She hesitates. "She's never been to a funeral before, Cooper. I'm not sure if that's the right thing to do. She didn't know the man. She's never seen a dead body."

"It's just a simple ceremony. Tommy's already been cremated. Laura assured me it's just going to be some speeches and a couple pictures. It's mostly business associates and some family, but they didn't have a lot of family, which is why she wants us to be there." I lick my lips. "I wouldn't have suggested it if I didn't think it would be appropriate for her. She won't be scared."

"Well, can I ask her how she feels about going? I don't want to force her if she's going to feel uncomfortable."

That's fair. I don't want to traumatize her. And if she's really that set on not going, I can let Colton know, and he can arrange for extra eyes on her. "Sure. Can we talk to her together? I mean, I knew Tommy, and I can help explain it to her. Is that okay?"

She smiles. "God, you're so sweet."

"Am I?"

"You are by far the sweetest man alive. I don't know anyone that cares that much for her." My eyes have adjusted to the darkness. I can see her chin quivering. "I love you so much."

"I love you…God, London…I love you more with every breath I take. And that's the truth." I pull her to me, so we're nose-to-nose. "I want you to stay with me. You and Bean." I allow myself to feed off her vulnerability just for a moment. "No matter what happens, London. I know that there's a lot you haven't told me, but whatever happens, I'm here. I'll be there for you, no matter what. If you need to go somewhere, I'm coming with you. You and I, we're…we're us. The love we have for each other can never be destroyed. I can feel it in my heart, London."

Tears pour down her face. God, my heart breaks for her. I can't imagine how hard it must be for her to keep all those secrets locked up inside for so long. I know how hard it is for her not to tell me. I love her so much, I could pour my soul out to her. There is nothing that she could tell me that would make me love her less. It would tear my heart out if I had to keep half of what she's keeping from me, from her. I wish I could tell her that I know, but I can't. She'll be too scared. She'll be fearful that she's breaching some contract she has with the feds.

My arms are around her as she cries ugly tears. She's so afraid. I can feel the lump in my throat, feeling her pain, wanting so badly to take it away. And then she says something that shocks the living shit out of me. "Cooper, I'm pregnant."

I freeze. I'm not sure if I heard right. "Did you say…you're…pregnant?"

She nods.

We haven't been together that long. I have a fleeting thought that I need to confirm before I allow myself to think about anything else. "It's not…James's, is it?"

She chuckles, shaking her head. "No. God, no."

I sit up in bed, my face lighting up. "Are you kidding me? We're…we're…having a baby?"

Another nod. "Yes. I wasn't sure when I should tell you, but after what you just said, God, I want to tell you this, if nothing else." She gasps, sitting up with me, steepling her hands over her nose, crying.

"Well, my God, London! I…I can't believe it! I'm…I mean, we're…I'm…I'm going to be a daddy?" I repeat, testing the words on my tongue.

"Are you happy?" She asks, checking. I suppose my stammering leaves a lot to be determined.

My eyes go to hers. "London, hands down, best news ever…and that includes when Wade told me I was in the band, AND when I got the job teaching music." I pull her to me, squeezing her tight. "God, I love you so much, darlin'. Man, I know that Christmas is still a few weeks away, but, man, this is the best Christmas present, ever."

"Are you sure? You're not just freaked out and really good at acting like you're happy?" She snuffles a laugh.

"No, baby. This is fabulous news." I squeeze her once more and then pull back, so I can see her face. "Oh, hey, how are we going to tell Bean?"

"Well, do you think we should? I mean, shouldn't we wait until after the first trimester?"

I scrunch up my face. "Why, exactly?"

"Well, it's customary, to some, to wait until after the first trimester, so that in case anything happens, which is most common before three months, nobody has to know."

"And you think that if anything happens, that Bean won't pick up on that?" I point out. "Darlin', Bean is like your rock. If you don't tell that little girl that she's going to be a big sister, and then she finds out that something happened to the pregnancy, how is that going to make her feel, huh? She'll be devastated that you kept that from her."

London considers that for a moment. "You're right. Okay. We'll tell her, but we have to wait until after the funeral."

"Right, in case she gets totally bummed out from that." I say, following along.

"Yeah. There's no point in telling her and then telling her she's got to go to her first funeral. That'll take the wind out of her sails."

"Exactly."

We look at each other and smile. "Look at that." She says. "It's like we're inside each other's heads. We're almost completing each other's sentences."

"Finishing our thoughts."

"Yeah." She looks at me.

Then I have a thought. "Oh…my God. I have the perfect way to tell her, too."

"What?"

I give her a sideways glance. "Well, now I have a secret to keep from you ."

Her face falls, but her eyes are still dancing, playful. "What do you mean? You're not going to tell me?"

"Of course not. Then it'll be a surprise for both of you." I wink. "I wouldn't want to miss out on an opportunity like that."

"I suppose not."

We snuggle back under the covers, and I hold her tight to me. "This is fantastic. And here you thought that you couldn't have any more. I guess this proves you wrong."

"Maybe it was James that was infertile." She comments with an unimpressed scoff. "Your little swimmers sure know their way around."

I snort a laugh. "I guess they do." And then I have a thought. "Hey, gosh, here I am getting all excited about this, and I haven't even asked you how you feel about it. I mean, are you happy that you're going to be a mama again?"

She draws in a deep breath and releases it. "It might not be the best time. But, Cooper, I've always wanted to have more kids. And it just makes it all worthwhile that you're so happy about it. I love making you happy, and I love it even more that the things that make me happy, also make you happy."

I kiss her on the head. "That's true. Nothing makes my day brighter than seeing your smiling face."

She chuckles. "See? And it's things like that. When you say sweet things like that, it just, I don't know, you mean everything to me, Cooper. I mean it."

I snuggle in closer to her. "Ditto over here, baby. You and Bean are my world. I can't think of anything that could make me happier than us growing this little family that we have here. It's…perfect."

"Do you want to come with me to the doctor's appointments and things?"

"Most definitely. I want to be part of everything. And I'm not the squeamish type, either. Shoot, how many times have I been puked on, in this business, I can't even tell you."

She chuckles. "What about poopy diapers? How are you on that?"

"Well, I've cleaned up many kids that had accidents, if that counts. I'm not a fan, but if it's my kid, it's not a problem."

"Good. Bean, God, she was such a good baby. I just hope that this one doesn't make up for it."

"My mama said that all of us kids were good babies. I'm sure this one will be just fine." I volunteer. "She's going to love you and Bean. I can't wait for you to meet my folks." I sense her tensing a little and add. "But when you're ready, baby. No pressure."

She lifts her head and kisses me on the mouth. "I love you."

I kiss her back tenderly. "I love you, too."

She sleeps with her head nestled in my chest, as we lay facing each other. When I wake up in the morning, her body is tangled in mine, and she's now without her pyjamas. She hears my alarm and lifts her leg, brushing it against my morning wood. God, any contact with her, and I'm like a horny teenager. Suddenly, she lifts her body on mine, as my hands rise, cupping her breasts. Her lips are on my nipples, making me instantly like a rock, and my hands move to her ass, positioning her so that her wetness is on my cock. As I move my pelvis up and down, I can feel her swollen clit against my shaft.

Her lips are on mine as she murmurs, between kisses. "Good morning."

"That it is." I agree, as she positions her entrance just right, and I slide inside her. My tongue plunges inside her mouth at the same time, and she lets out a moan that makes my cock twitch. As she starts to ride me, my pelvis quickly finds her rhythm, and we move together in a soft, slow, delicious pace, kissing like lovers, enjoying the nicest way to wake up in the morning. Her breasts bob up and down in front of me, and my mouth is on them, as she moans softly, letting me know how much she likes that.

"This doesn't hurt at all, does it, baby?" I ask, being careful, now that she's carrying my baby, and her body is about to go through a plethora of changes.

"Um um." She moans, in a way that tells me no, in fact, it's just the opposite of hurt. Her insides are so tight and warm, as her muscles contract, fitting perfectly around my shaft, sliding up and down, bringing me closer and closer with each pass, following her to the edge. When her insides start to quiver, making my cock impossibly hard, I angle her just right, hitting that spot inside her that makes her come hard and fast, and we both climax together, as I cup her face with my hands, kissing her hungrily while she comes on my dick, crying into my mouth, making me empty quickly inside her.

We're both breathless as we come down, still kissing, as I suck her lips, and she slowly rests her head on my chest. "Man, no wonder we got in trouble so fast." She chuckles softly. "We are on fire."

"There's definitely a flame burning inside me when I'm with you, baby."

She lifts her head. "I think you mean inside your pants."

"That, too. But who was climbing on top of whom just now, huh?" I point out. "Not that I'm complaining."

"I just could not resist that…that." She says, clenching her muscles inside, hugging my still hard cock.

It tickles. "Hey, cut that out." I chuckle, pulling myself out of her. She rests next to me.

"Do you really have to get up?"

"Unfortunately, yes. If I had my way about it, I'd stay her in bed and make love to you all day, but I have to go teach and then I have Mingles tonight. But at least we get to be together tonight at Mingles. I hate it when you're there without me."

"I hate it, too."

I kiss her head. "Okay, you stay in bed, and I'll go get Bean up and ready for school."

"I made her a lunch already. And I'm getting up. I've got to call the doctor this morning."

I kiss her head and rise, grabbing my shorts from the chair next to the bed.

"Are you still going to want me when I'm a whale?" She asks contemplatively, watching me pull my shorts up.

"Darlin', I'll love you in any shape, form, or mood you're in. You're so beautiful, I'll never be able to resist you."

She smiles, rising, naked. I look her up and down, shaking my head. "I mean, God, London. You're an angel. Just…look at you." I pull her close to me.

"Yeah, but with Bean, I was huge. I mean, so big, I had to go the Sally Ann and buy a man's jacket, I couldn't fit into any of mine. Thank God they make maternity clothes, but even then, I could only fit into the giant moomoo dresses."

"And look how beautiful you both turned out, hm? I think you need to look at the bigger picture, darlin'."

She leans her head on me. "You're right. I need to focus."

…and in the next few hours, she learns how to, for the first time in months.