Chapter 243

“I’m sure I’ll manage like every other pregnant woman on the planet, baby.” I smile indulgently at his
slightly cautious look before he goes back to snooping through my purchases. As soon as he knew I’d
bought items for the baby he’d been all over the bags searching for new tiny and cute treasures. He
really is odd for a guy. I try not to think of that bitch when I say pregnant women or while watching the
mountain of baby things on the floor.

Inner peace … Breathe. She will not ruin this.

“You’re not just another pregnant woman though. You’re my pregnant woman and I must admit baby,
now I’m thinking about this whole birth thing … I’m getting pretty fuck … goddamn scared.” Jake
glances up suddenly, stopping mid swear to correct himself, completely ashen faced and white. I gulp
in surprise praying to God he didn’t get his first flashes of doubt about being a father. I don’t think I
could handle it if

he was changing his mind; after all his happiness and being the first one excited about it. I’ve just
realized how much I love and want this little bundle and I don’t know how I’d deal with Jake if he didn’t.
My heart sinks dramatically.

“You are?” My voice wobbles a little and his eyebrows lower.

“Women still die giving birth.” Jake looks utterly devastated and I relax. He’s so heart destroying
sometimes. I get up off the bed and walk to him, sliding down into his waiting arms, finding my comfy
place on his lap, and nuzzling close among the sea of pricey things … now eating away at my inner
morality.

“You’d never let me die. You’re far too stubborn a man to not grip onto me for dear life.” I joke, but his
tense body tells me he’s serious about this. Jake is overthinking, stressing the shit out of himself, while
I’m barely two months gone. Yet another level to that quick brain and keen eye of his … he’s just too
loveable for words.



“We should see your OB-GYN again. Work out all the birth details and start planning for a C section
early and…” It all comes out in a rush and I silence him with a kiss.

“Stop and breathe.” I gaze into his bottomless green eyes and smile, calm about this whole
conversation, while he’s the one doing an Emma.

Crazily turned tables.

“Shhhh” I kiss him for a second time, trying to nudge his narrowed frown away. “We are going to be
okay, you told me so … Remember?” I give him that ‘you’re never wrong’ face and hope it calms him.

“If I lost you…” His voice is breathy and afraid, his eyes decidedly damp, and I wrap my arms around
his neck tightly, bringing us nose to nose so I can inhale his intoxicating smell. His sexy designer
aftershave mingled with just Jake that’s devastating to me.

“I’m too stubborn to let that happen,” I smile, catching a tiny glint of a grin hidden in those hazy greens,
peeking through the fear. His arms come around my waist and to my back pulling me close, bridging
that tiny gap so our noses touch and I’m straddling him on the floor, bodies close … Intimately close;
seeing as I’m in a bathrobe that’s now draped open revealing my naked body, and he’s only in a pair of
very sexy boxers. It’s hard to stay on topic with so much naked skin on skin contact on the go.

“Maybe you could take my mind off it for the next few months?” He smiles, and I catch his eye flicker
down between us; seems being naked has its advantages at distracting him anyway. I can’t help but
giggle, with a shift of wariness hitting on a full sexual glint, he swings me around onto the floor on my
back, lying over me, elbows and forearms at either side of me, holding his body taut over top. I’m still
wrapped around him so add my legs around his waist tightly and suggestively.

“Are you going to let me set a date anytime soon?” His eyes come to mine; fingers tangled in my hair
that’s fanned across the carpet.



“If you think I’m getting married with a bump then you can forget it. I’m not having pictures of me
hideously lumpy as our forever photos.” I pout at him, but he only smiles at me in a way which screams
‘You’re adorable.’

“I think it would be sexy, marrying you while carrying our baby.” He smirks.

“Not a chance. I want to look and feel gorgeous on that day and seeing as you ooze that already … I
can’t have you outshining the bride.” I bring one hand down and poke him in the cheek gently.

“You will always outshine me, you are perfection in every way, not one woman in the world will ever be
as beautiful as you. Bump or not, Emma, you’re stunning.” He’s deadly serious as he gazes at me.

My heart aches deeply at what he’s saying.

Could I love you anymore right now?

“I’m still not marrying you with a baby bump.” I point out with a devilish smile; romantic heart-wrenching
declarations don’t sway me that easily, Mr. Carrero. I’m not completely under his spell and I know in his
head he’s still trying to manipulate me into what he wants. He just can’t help himself.

“Fine we’ll wait until Junior comes, then get married. I’d rather it was the other way around, but I’m not
in the mood for a fight over this. In fact, I don’t want to fight about our wedding in any way, so I’m going
to let you decide on how it goes and how you want it.” He smiles in that swoon worthy way and I narrow
my eyes suspiciously.

“Why are you being so amenable suddenly?” It’s not like him at all. He leans in and starts running a
gentle lick up my neck, shivers tingling through my body, and his hot breath is making my inner core
clench.

You’re so easy, Emma, it’s pathetic.



His stubble scratches me in a sensual way, before he goes for my exposed throat, planting kisses
vertically down my neck, from my ear to my shoulder.

“I have other battles to deal with and I don’t want our happy day to be one of them.” He’s focused on
making my body tingle with expert attention to the places he knows affect me most.

Good answer, Carrero.

“So, you’re fine with waiting until baby is here and we’re all set in the Hamptons then?” I tilt my head to
catch his eye as he lifts his gaze to mine.

“Sure … Just so you know, that tonight, when we go on your little Leila Operation, I’m bringing you
home as soon as things look rosy for the two of them.”

He smirks, and I eye roll.

God damn you, Carrero.

I’ve managed to convince both girls to have a celebratory ‘I’m having a baby’ night. Jake should’ve
been flying home today so I arranged it for this evening. Sarah’s fully on board and up to speed with all
that is the ‘Leila and Daniel’ show. Marcus is even invited to tag along with the men. Fortunately, he
works most evenings at a bar in Queens, so Jake and Daniel are going to be a duo tonight. Leila
doesn’t seem to suspect a thing when I called her at lunch while shopping.

“That is in no way some sort of verbal agreement or compromise, Mr. Carrero.” I huff and get a little
pouty as he smiles at me, his mouth lightly coming in to trail my neck near my jawline. His hot warm
breath sending shivers in every direction and his voice takes on the severe husky low tone that always
drives me wild for him.

“We’ll see.”



Oh, no you don’t. My words. Not yours.

“No, we won’t.” I turn my face away from him as

though I’m completely unaffected by the way his mouth is seducing me; my body is literally brimming
with horniness right now.

“Annoying … isn’t it? Those few little words?” He nibbles my ear lobe and I sigh, relaxing into what he’s
doing because it feels good, the way he lowers his groin into me, slowly and gently rocking over me.
My eyes snap open.

“Oh no, you don’t. Mr. Sexpertize! You are not bending my will with this.” I know exactly what he’s
doing, and he chuckles in the most annoyingly young way, like a young boy caught with his hand in the
cookie jar.

Smart bastard!

“We both know I can,” and he can, it’s true. I can’t think straight with the infernal body rubbing going on.
I know I should stop what he’s doing but all my resolve is fading into nothing with his pressed to mine
and those hands skimming me seductively.

Jesus.

“No. No. NO!” I try for pushing, my hands meeting his unmovable hard chest muscles, he doesn’t
budge an inch. I want this night out to relax and let my hair loose, Hunter and Leila drama aside. I’m
really looking forward to doing something sociable and glamorous.

Okay, who are you? Where is Emma?

What the hell does he bench press? Freakin yaks or something?! For God’s sake! Wow.



“You’re pregnant.” He says as though it’s the only answer in the world which should matter.

“Yes. Pregnant, not disabled, or dying, or incapable.” I point out, trying again with the pushing, getting
nowhere.

“Fragile.” He says a little more forcefully.

“Please. I’m not that goddamn fragile. It doesn’t stop you maneuvering me into kinky positions
pounding into me at your heart’s content when the moment overtakes you.” I point out.

“That’s a hell of a lot different. I’m always conscious of how I lay my hands on you and how I’m fucking
you.” He frowns at me and shows me his deadly serious glare. He really does remain aware of little
tadpole, even during sex? My heart flutters a little.

Okay that is unbelievably sweet … despite his use of that

vulgar word.

I roll my eyes and sigh.

“I need you to loosen the reigns a little and stop saying ‘fucking’. I’m not asking to go out without you,
just stop smothering me so protectively. You’re driving me insane with this. I mean that poor doctor
looked like he was afraid for his life.” I attempt to get my arms into a chest fold but he’s too close, so I
end up just slumping them down beside my head on each side.

“Good, he should’ve been. If he had the urge to touch you one more time, I was going to…” I cover his
mouth with my hands.

“…That’s what I mean! He was feeling my stomach, like he’s supposed to, not feeling me up. You never
once noticed that I was letting an actual man touch me without wanting you to rip his throat out. I was
very proud of myself that I could accept he was just doing his job and not being some sleazy leech. If I



can accept that then you can too.” I smile triumphantly, feeling a little
courageous.


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