Chapter Thirteen

Rowan

I choked down another piece of dry toast. There were very few things I could keep down for the last week or so. Probably a stomach bug since, other than the nausea and a bit of tiredness, I had felt fine.

The last thing I wanted to do was miss work.

I wanted to be with Talon all the time.

Yesterday's encounter made me eager to return the next day. To see what other ways I could please my alpha and receive, in turn, the praise I so hungered for.

Today was the first time I'd ever been late to work.

"You're late, Rowan," Talon said from his desk. I'd barely entered the room.

"I'm sorry, Talon. I haven't been…is that coffee I smell? And, oh gods, eggs?" Without a moment's hesitation, I sprinted for the bathroom next to Talon's office and vomited a whole bunch of nothing into his toilet. I heaved and heaved until my throat hurt, and my muscles around my chest were sorer than they had been for a while.

I moved to the sink after flushing the toilet, washed my face with cold water, and brushed my teeth. I'd started keeping a hygiene kit here for the late nights. When I looked up from swiping the towel over my face, Talon stood behind me, a scowl marring his perfect face.

No one that gorgeous should ever be so angry.

"I'm sorry, Talon. I really didn't mean to be late. You can take the time out of my pay. I…"

"Omega mine," he whispered and wrapped his arms around me while resting his head against my back. "How long has this been going on?"

"The throwing up?" I asked. He nodded, holding me tighter. Despite being sick to my stomach, his embrace made me feel better. "A week or so."

"What else?" he asked.

"I'm really tired lately. When I get home, I practically collapse into bed. Sometimes, I forget to eat dinner, but a lot of it makes me nauseous anyway."

He raised his head to rest his chin on my shoulder and look at me through the reflection of the mirror. "How long since our first date, Rowan?"

I gasped and whirled around and put my hands on his chest. "You don't remember?"

"I remember, Rowan. Do you?"

"Three months and two days, Talon. That night was one of the best nights of my life."

"And you've been nauseated and tired but also extra needy," he said, with a raised eyebrow.

"So? It's a bug. I'll get through it."

"Rowan," he cooed, nuzzling his nose against my neck. "Mmm, your scent has sweetened. How could I not have known?"

I shrugged.

"You've been hiding information from me, Rowan, and I'm not pleased. You were sick and tired and didn't tell me. I can't help you and support you if you won't tell me what's going on."

I shrank in place at hearing he wasn't pleased.

"I'm sorry, alpha."

"Don't do it again, or it's ten minutes on the spanking bench for you."

I barely hid my excitement. "Okay. Should I go home? I don't want to make you sick."

"Rowan, I don't think I can catch what you have. Have you considered that you're carrying our baby, sweet one?"

I felt my eyes widen. "You think that's what this is?"

Talon nodded. "I do. I want you to cancel all my afternoon meetings while I go and get you a pregnancy test. Can you do that for me?"

I nodded. "Yes."

He lifted my chin with his finger hooked underneath it. "Yes, what?" I felt the change in his tone. Sometimes the line between normal life and our other life blurred together. Especially in this case. We were speaking of something so personal.

"Yes, Sir, I can."

"Good. Go on, then. Cancel my afternoon, and I'll be back in ten minutes."

His command shifted my attitude. I was no longer focused on being sick but instead concentrating on finishing the task on time. I'd put down the phone from the last contact when Talon came in the door holding a paper bag from the pharmacy.

We went to the bathroom together and I peed on the stick. We set an alarm on Talon's watch and waited.

"Are you going to be mad at me?" I asked with a whimper.

"Mad at you?" he asked. "For being pregnant? Never, mate. Never. If you are pregnant, we made this baby together. You've done nothing wrong."

Two minutes went by as fast as eternity.

"Can you read it for me?" I asked. "Please?"

"I can." He walked into the bathroom and came back out. His eyes twinkled with something I couldn't read. "We're having a baby, my love. You are pregnant."

I gasped but paused before reacting. "Talon?"

He lifted me in his arms and peppered my face with kisses. "I'm possibly the happiest man alive right now, Rowan." But as soon as he said that, he let me down. "Aren't you, omega?"

"I am. I have my mate, and we're going to be a family. How could I not be happy?"

"It's okay if you're not. I won't be upset."

Shaking my head, I pulled him down for a kiss. "I'm so damned happy, Talon. I am. I've always wanted a baby, and having one with you feels right."

He chuckled and I was sure he felt my hardness grow between us. "I love how you are always so needy for me, Rowan. I'm glad you canceled everything because this afternoon, we are celebrating."

"Good," I replied.

He squinted. "What is it? There's something you're not telling me."

"What if I wanted that spanking now? What if I wanted to go down to the playroom here at your home. Celebrate a lot of different ways."

He growled. "I knew adding a playroom here wasn't a mistake. We have to be more careful now, but we can still play. Go downstairs and take your clothes off. When I get there, I want to see you naked and ready for me, but I will put you on the bench. Are we clear?"

I nodded as I pulsed with need. "Yes, Sir."