Hot-Bites, Volume Two by Jenika Snow
Chapter Seventeen
Jo
Six weeks later
Iknew it could happen. I wasn’t stupid in thinking having unprotected sex with Cooper couldn’t result in this outcome, but after only the first time? My first time?
I bounce my leg, my nerves running high, my palms sweaty. Everything in me feels like it’ll combust. I left the gym a couple hours ago, went straight to the drugstore, picked up the three different pregnancy tests, and now I’m back at my place waiting for the outcome that will forever change my life.
Cooper’s as well.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve had little symptoms that, at first, I attributed to my period about to start. Sore breasts, cramping, even a touch of nausea that I thought was from the Indian food Cooper and I had eaten the previous night.
I sit on the edge of my bed, staring at the open doorway to my bathroom, seeing the three pregnancy tests lined up on the counter. I know Cooper said he wanted this, but will he still feel the same way if it turns out I’m pregnant?
This is the longest three minutes of my life, as I wait for the results to process.
But the truth is, I am pretty sure I am pregnant with Cooper’s baby. It isn’t like we used any kind of protection. And Cooper’s appetite for me is insatiable. I blush as I think about how much he wants me, how much he acts like he can’t control himself around me.
His passion is raw and unhinged … exactly how I like it.
But that desire and passion will most likely result in our lives changing forever.
I pick up my phone to check the time. Cooper said he’d stop by after he left the gym, so chances of him showing up any minute are pretty good.
God, how am I going to tell him if it turns out I am pregnant?
And then the three minutes is up.
But I can’t move, aside from my damn leg that won’t stop bouncing nervously. I run my hands over my thighs, my stomach in knots as I continue to stare at my bathroom.
Just do it. Get this over with.
I force myself to stand, to walk into the bathroom, and to look down at the tests.
Pregnant.
Two pink lines.
Positive.
Each test says something different but it all means the same thing.
I hear a knock on my front door. I don’t move because I gave him a key after our first night together. He’s practically living here now, not that I mind. A second later Cooper is coming inside. I can hear his heavy steps across my floors.
I pick up one, then the other, then the third.
Oh my God. I’m pregnant.
I feel my stomach tighten, my mouth water, and before I can stop myself, I am hunched over the toilet throwing up. I flush and sit there for a moment, not able to move. I’m stunned, but elation fills me. This is what I’ve always wanted. To be a mother.
“Jo, baby?” Cooper calls out, his voice deep, making my entire body light up. “Baby? Where are you?” Cooper calls out a little louder this time.
“In here,” I say back, as I quickly wipe my mouth with a few squares of toilet paper, and force myself to stand. This isn’t how I want to tell him, with three tests lined up on my counter, and just throwing up seconds before.
But before I can get out of the bathroom and figure out how to do this, he is standing in the open doorway.
“Hey, you.” He grins, but his gaze lands on the pregnancy tests. His brows knit as if he’s confused for a second. Then he’s stepping further inside and picking one of them up. I see the realization on his face instantly.
“Hey.” My voice is shaky. But I can’t help it, can’t stop the nerves that make themselves known. He’s still looking at the test. I am about to see whether he thinks this was a good idea or not.
He loves me unconditionally, I know that, but bringing a baby into the picture doesn’t mean he’s actually ready, no matter what he says.
“Jo?” He looks up at me, his eyes wide, the shock clear on his face. He’s setting the test down and moving so he’s right in front of me. “Jo?” His voice is thick.
“I mean, you know now, but yeah, I’m pregnant, Cooper.” I swallow, my throat so thick. I wait for him to respond, to say something, anything.
“A baby?” He looks me in the eyes, and then takes a step back to gaze down at my belly, as if he expects me to be big already. I can’t help but smile. Instinctively I place a hand on my stomach.
I nod. “A baby.”
And then he grins, a big, pleasure-filled smile that has me instantly relaxing because I know all is right in the world.
Cooper is happy about this. I’m happy about this. Things are perfect.
“A baby?” he asks again, his grin infectious.
“A baby.” I cup his cheeks, the scruff under my palm tickling my flesh. “I mean, I’m not surprised, I guess. You’re insatiable.” I grin as I feel a flush stealing over me.
He doesn’t say anything, just presses his mouth to mine, kissing me deeply.
We kiss for long seconds, and I wind my arms around his neck, pulling him close, feeling so much relief. God, I feel kind of guilty for thinking he wouldn’t want this.
I know Cooper better than that.
I feel guilty for thinking he wouldn’t be happy about this.
He pulls back and sinks to his knees in front of me, pushing my shirt up and exposing my flat belly. The he rests his forehead on my stomach and I move my fingers through his short blond hair.
“If you thought I was insane for you before, my girl is pregnant with my baby. The world better fucking watch out.”
I chuckle, knowing he’s being serious and loving him even more for it.
“God, I love you so fucking much, Jo.”
I add a little pressure to his hair so he knows to stand. When he’s looking me in the eyes again, I rise up on my toes and kiss him. “I love you too,” I whisper against his mouth.
He rests his forehead on mine. “Mine, Jo. Mine forever, baby.”
He pulls me closer again and cups the back of my head, stroking my hair, calming me further. Cooper has that way about him and I love him for it.
“I love you, Jo. I love you so fucking much I’d go to war to keep you by my side.”
I close my eyes and smile. “And I would too, Coop.”
“It’s you and me, Jo, forever.” He places a hand back on my belly. “I told you that I wasn’t letting you go, that you were mine.”
Perfection.
Utterly, maddeningly, intensely perfect.
