15. Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Laney

E ven though I wanted to choke her for lying, in the back of my mind I was so relieved. The one thing I didn’t mention is that if my period was more than a month late, that there must be something horribly wrong with me medically, if it’s not because I’m pregnant. When Brandy confessed her lie, my eyes widened, my face lit up, and Caleb, God, he lifted me up and circled me around and around, so fucking happy it made my heart skip a beat.

“This is where I leave you two alone.” Brandy says, smiling, pleased with herself. “Congratulations. The test stick is face down, but you can go see for yourself.” She winks.

I can’t help but give her a hug. “Nice touch, Brandy.”

“That’s what friends are for. At least now you know how you really feel about having a baby, Laney.”

I squeeze her tight. “I want you to come meet Peg tomorrow.”

“Tell me when and where and I’ll be there.”

Brandy gives Caleb and hug. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks, Brandy. You’re the best.”

“That’s what they say. Well, everyone except my ex-husband.”

“He doesn’t know what he’s missing.”

Brandy smiles warmly and gives us both a wink, before leaving. The second that she pulls out of the driveway, Caleb wraps his arms around me. “God, I love you so much.” He says on exhale.

“I love you, too. This is…surreal.”

“Yeah.” Caleb agrees. “My da has never been wrong about anything. When Brandy said the test was negative, I started rethinking my whole life.” He chuckles nervously. “Even though my da’s a ball buster, he’s a constant. He’s a rock. And the thought of him being wrong about something, well, that was a thousand times more frightening than having a baby.”

“Are you frightened?”

He places a hand on my belly. “Of a little bairn? Of our own little bairn? Not a chance, Laney. Nothing could make me happier.”

“Of course, I have to get this confirmed by my doctor.”

He nods emphatically. “Of course, of course. We need to make sure that everything is okay, Laney. Make sure you’re healthy and the bairn’s healthy.”

He’s so happy. I feel like I’m glowing inside. I did that. I made him this happy. That’s how I know how much I love him, and that my love for him runs deep. Because it’s not enough that I’m happy, but it’s ten-fold because of how happy I’ve made Caleb. “Are you tired, Laney? Are you feeling any symptoms?”

“No.” I shake my head. “No, not really. I’m just…I don’t know…I’m more relaxed and I can’t stop thinking about Peg and how we can make her life wonderful. All the things that we can do for her and for our own child, to make our mark in the world. It’s silly, but that’s all I’ve been thinking about since little Peg came into my life.”

Caleb rests his forehead on mine, stroking the sides of my head with his fingers. “You are the only woman for me, Laney. My heart is all yours. Forever and for always. Nothing could ever change the way I feel about you.”

My lips are on his. Why it turns me on so much to hear him talk like that, I don’t know, but it does. The emotional and physical connection that Caleb and I have is mind blowing. The second his tongue touches mine I groan. I want him so bad I’m instantly aching. “I need you.” I pant, pulling his shirt out of his jeans.

“Okay. You’ve got me, baby.” He whispers against my lips, pushing his shoes off his feet, and then pulling my shirt out of my pants. Our tongues are tangled, and I suck his lip, making him exhale fast, igniting me further. I can’t get his pants off fast enough as I hook my foot on his thigh, and push them down, while he steps out of them, and I step out of mine. He pulls my shirt over my head and slides my panties down, while I push his briefs down and we both step out of our undergarments. His lips are on mine as he unclasps my bra and pulls my arms off his shoulders, temporarily, so my bra can fall to the ground.

Our clothing is in a pile by the door as he grasps me by the waist and pulls me onto his body, impaling me with him. I cry out, desperate for him, as he fucks me raw, while he carries me to the bedroom. His cock is so hard and it hits all the right spots instantly, like he’s so versed at fucking me, he doesn’t need to guess any more, not that he ever did, since our connection was always there, it’s just grown stronger since ‘I love you’. As he reaches my room and my back is on the mattress, his mouth makes love to my breasts, and I arch my back, so hungry for him.

His hand trails down my belly, and then he circles my clit with his thumb, and I come seconds later, crying aloud, as his mouth remains on my breasts. His thrusts become stronger as I come, his thumb batters my clit faster, riding on the coattails of my first orgasm, when I feel my second coming right after. As my fingers dig into his back, I feel my encore release, even stronger than the first one. And he doesn’t stop. His cock pounds me vigorously, hitting me in the places where I’m desperate to be hit, while his thumb continues circling my clit, and his mouth keeps sucking and licking my breasts.

It's like a fucking orgasm smorgasbord as I feel my third release, and cry aloud, wondering where the fuck all this sexual tension is coming from. Then I remember that it’s been some time since Caleb and I last made love. Weeks, in fact. His cock goes rock hard and he lets himself come inside me, kissing me erotically as we both climax together. I feel his cock pulse as it spills his seed into me, and he moans like he hasn’t moaned before, equally hungry for his release, and for me. He rests his head in the crook of my neck, nestling it in there. “God, that was fucking amazing.” He says breathlessly.

“You? Fuck, I came three times.”

“It’s been a while, Laney. I came like a fucking freight train.”

“I could feel it.”

“I’m sure your ceiling tiles felt it.”

I snort a laugh. “We were both in need of a good fuck.”

“Aye. Yes, we were.” He lifts his head and looks at me. “I like making love to you when you’re pregnant.”

“Just wait until I’m a whale and looking for love and see how much you like it.” I say, matter-of-factly.

“I’ll make love to you no matter what. You’re mine. All mine. And that, to me, is as sexy as hell, baby.” He wiggles his brows, looking so fucking sexy I could die. Caleb looks the sexiest after sex. His hair is all over the place, and he’s got this satisfied expression that you know is only from one thing: you.

He removes himself from me and we lay there, face to face. “What do you say about moving in with me?” He just says, out of the blue. “I mean, we could live at my place or at yours, it doesn’t matter, but I already told Peg that we’d live at my place. What do you think?”

I think about it for a moment and frown. “It doesn’t matter to me where we live, as long as we’re together. I’d still like to keep this place as an investment.”

“For sure.” Caleb nods. “Or, we can buy a new place, for all four of us to live in.”

“How about we see what Peg wants? If she likes my place or yours better, or if she wants a new place.”

“That’s a great idea.” He kisses my lips. “And you’re right. It doesn't matter where we live as long as we’re together.”

We lay there, in bed, and finally fall asleep. He wakes me unintentionally, very early, as he’s getting up. “Where are you going?” I ask him, groggy.

“I’ve got to go into the office for a bit before I take Peg out. Go back to sleep.” He says, kissing my forehead.

“What time is it?”

“It’s just after six. I’m going to run home and get showered and go into the office for a couple of hours. Your mama told me she’d text me when Peg is up, so I’ll go over and get her after breakfast. I’ll be caught up with work by then.”

“Okay. I love you.”

“Love you, too, baby. I’ll see you soon.”

He kisses me goodbye and I roll over, hand on my belly. And it occurs to me that there’s a bairn in there. It’s strange, but I feel myself falling in love with it. Like the bairn is keeping me company, like it’s here for me more than I’m here for it. And I suddenly realize that having a baby is something that I’ve secretly always wanted, but hated myself for thinking it. But now that it’s real, now that I have a being living inside me, I fall in love with the idea of being a mama, with being the person that I now am, which is someone that I’ve always wanted to be, I just never knew it until now.

Declan, my older brother, is at the office when I arrive. He’s walking to his office, meeting me halfway, and he smirks at me. “Ah, so it’s true then.”

“What’s true?”

“You and Laney McAdams.”

I follow him to his office. “What did you hear?”

“What everyone already knows. That you two are a thing now.”

“And what do you make of that?” I ask, sitting in his guest chair, while he sits in the captain’s chair behind the desk. I fan my fingers together, wondering just what sort of things my family and the general public have been saying about Laney and me, not that it matters, but I guess it does.

“It’s a great pairing, but I don’t think it’s the chess move that everyone thinks it is.”

“Aren’t you the astute one, Declan.”

“I’m not astute. It’s that shit-eating grin on your face that I’d have to be blind not to see, man.” He chuckles, good-naturedly. “And something tells me that grin is not because you’ve taken over the McAdams estate, either.”

“Again, you are astute.”

“I just know my little brother is all, Caleb.” He draws in a deep breath. “So, I’m gathering you haven’t fucked it up yet. When’s the wedding?”

“I haven’t asked her yet. We just found out that she’s pregnant, so I want to give her some time.”

“Caleb, do you know anything about women?” He asks, with a quirky smile on his face, like he knows something I don’t know.

“I know what I need to know about Laney. And thanks for the congratulations, by the way.”

He lifts his brows apologetically. “Forgive me. I wasn’t sure if that was good news or not.”

“Well, you said yourself that I have a shit-eating grin.”

“Touche, my brother. Touche. And congratulations. I always thought I’d be the one to bring the first grandbaby to mama and da.”

“Sorry for beating you to the punch. And thanks.”

He waves. “Anyway, now is the time to propose if you’re going to, Caleb. If she’s carrying your bairn, that is. I assume you love her?”

“Like I’ve never loved anything else.”

He opens his hands, accentuating his point. “All the better. If you want my advice, I’d do it now.”

“But we’ve only known each other a couple of months, Declan. I’m not sure if that’s being too hasty.”

“Says the man about to become a father, and from what I understand, with two bairns. Is that true?”

I give him the abridged version of how we came to care for Peg. “So, yes, it’s true.”

“Then you’ve got to do it now, Caleb. If both of you want to adopt Peg, do you want all the paperwork to be fucked up? It’ll look much better if you and Laney are married.”

“Are you saying we should drop everything and tie the knot right now?” I practically squeak.

“Caleb, she’s pregnant with your bairn, brother. The deal is done, man.”

“She’ll run for the hills, Declan. It’s bad enough that we’ve been given Peg, and now a baby, but if I go back and propose, and tell her that I want to do it now, she’ll have my head.”

He tilts his head. “It’s up to you, Caleb. You know her better than I do, but if you want the adoption to go smoothly, and if she wants to get married before the baby comes, or before she’s showing, now is the time.”

After a long sigh, I sit there, thinking about if Declan’s argument is valid. “I’ve got to go talk to mama.”

“That’s a wise decision, Caleb.” He says levelly.

I walk towards the door, but Declan stops me. “By the way, congratulations.”

“Thanks, man.” I smile.

“When do I get to meet Peg? And Laney?” He chuckles.

“Peg’s with Laney’s mama and da right now. I’m taking her shopping for a bed this morning. You can come to my place for lunch if you want.”

“I’ll do that. See you soon.”

“See you.”

I head back to my office and get an hour’s worth of work done, which is all I needed, anyway, since my assistant knocked off a bunch of things for me, and all I needed to do was review and approve. I know that my mama is home, because she came back to the states with da, and they’re staying here for the next week or so, before heading back to Scotland. It’s nothing for mama and da to go back and forth all the time, as do all of us, that’s why we have a private jet. With the flagship location being in Scotland, it’s essential for us to be able to commute back and forth, and we’re all so used to it, it’s nothing to be in Scotland one day and in the states the next.

Mama is just getting some work done in her home office when I arrive. Her white/blonde hair is straightened and reaching her shoulders, while her slim body is covered in a smart pants suit and a double-breasted jacket, cream white, tailored perfectly to fit her body. She sees me as she’s finishing up a call, and she rises to greet me with a kiss on either cheek. “Caleb, this is a surprise.” By her tone, I’m gathering that da already filled her in on Peg and Laney.

“You know, don’t you.” I surmise, sitting on the chaise lounge in her office.

“Caleb, this family is much too busy for keeping things secret. We tell it like it is. Now, how far along is she.”

I lick my lips, sort of shocked that she didn’t preamble anything, but that’s mama. No sugar coating goes on in this family, no, ma’am. “A couple of months, maybe. We just did the test last night. She’s going to the doctor to get everything confirmed.”

“And the bairn? Where will she live?”

“Laney and I have decided to let her choose.”

Mama rolls her eyes. “She’s a bairn, Caleb. If you’re the da, you’ve got to make that choice. She’s far too young. Now, she can get a dual citizenship, just like you, Caleb. But I don’t see how trucking her around from country to country is going to benefit her.”

“I wasn’t planning on doing that, mama.”

“Good. And your house is closest to that nice private school. And you’re not far from Laney’s, either.”

“Laney’s going to move in with me. We just haven’t decided where to, or if we’re going to buy a whole new place, for all of us to live in.”

“The bairn has already moved once, Caleb. You pick one or the other. It’s bad enough you’re already having her stay with Laney’s mama.”

“But she loves it there. I’m surprised you’re not pissed I haven’t brought her here yet.”

“Caleb, you can bring the child whenever you want to, son. I just think that you trucking her all over hell’s half acre is going to traumatize her.” She sighs, exacerbated, so I quiet down. This is the way that mama shows she cares, by fussing. So, I let her. “Now, are you going to marry Laney?”

I nod once. “The thought had crossed my mind. I’m just not sure when. Declan seems to think I ought to do it now, but I’m not sure. I think it’ll be too much of a shock to Laney. She even said herself that everything is happening so fast.”

Mama walks over to the oil painting hanging on the wall. She pushes it over and starts turning the combination lock to the safe behind the photograph. When she opens it, she pulls out a wooden box the size of a tissue box. I watch her open the lid and pull something out. She places it in her pocket and returns the box to the safe, and closes it, turning the dial so it locks safely. As she walks to me, she pulls something out of her pocket, and hands it to me. “This belonged to your grandma. My mama, not your da’s. It was her engagement ring, and she wanted me to give it to my first child to be married. If you think Laney will like it, it’s yours to give to her.” She lifts a hand as I study it. “I’m not going to tell you how to run your life, Caleb, but if Laney is carrying your bairn, and you love each other, proposing to her would be the honorable thing.”

I swallow, looking at the gorgeous, antique ring. It has heart filigree on the setting, with a round, clear diamond, about half a carat, and a small heart cutout on either side of the diamond, with a tiny, crushed diamond at the center of each heart. It’s beautiful. Laney would love it. But I can feel myself tremble just thinking about how this is going to look. “Mama, she knows about da’s plan to marry us. What if she thinks that this is all a game? That I’m not asking her to marry me because I genuinely love her?”

Mama tilts her head and blinks. “ Do you love her, son?”

I shake my head, adding conviction to my words. “More than anything, mama. I’d die before hurting her.”

She nods, levelling with me. “Then if she knows that, it won’t be a game to her, Caleb.”