Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53605 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53605 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
“What are you doing?”
“Unclipping your seat belt. From now on, you don’t lift a fucking finger.”
I’m just about to giggle and joke around with him. Until I look at his face.
He’s serious.
I can’t believe he’s serious, but he is. He unclips the seat belt and winds it carefully away, making sure not to squeeze my bump too tight before he hops out of the cab and comes around to my side to help me out.
“I can manage on my own,” I protest.
“No,” he says simply, carefully lowering me to the ground, then taking my hand and leading me to the store.
I have to admit, he’s right about one thing. This place has everything.
We wander the aisles, and James piles a trolley high with everything a new mother could need, from breast pumps to sterilizers, diapers, a nursing pillow… the list goes on. When we get to the cribs, he calls one of the assistants over.
“Which of these is safest for the baby?” he demands, waving a finger at the huge selection.
The assistant grins. “Hey, aren’t you James, the Savage, White?”
“Aren’t you supposed to be working? I said, which of these is safe?”
He hesitates, the smile faltering, then stutters a reply. “They’re… all safe. Sir.”
“Which is safest?” He raises his voice on the last word, and I see the vein in his throat standing clear.
“I don’t know. I think they’re all just as—”
“The site said the staff here are knowledgeable. Now you’re saying you don’t know? How am I supposed to buy something without knowing if it’s going to be safe?”
I take his arm, stroking his hand with mine. “He said they’re all safe. Let’s just pick one.”
“No.” He shakes his head. “You think I’m letting our baby near some deathtrap? Uh uh, no way, we’ll go someplace else where they know what they’re fucking talking about. In fact, we’re putting all this shit back and going someplace else.”
“Is everything all right here?” Another staff member steps in, and her manner is instantly calming.
Or at least it is to me.
“No, it fucking isn’t,” James explodes, rounding on her. “I ask one fucking question and I find that nobody can answer it. All I want is a crib that’s safe for our baby, now I’m wondering if any of this fucking shit is safe.”
“I completely understand, I would feel exactly the same way. I’m Emily, by the way. Is this your first?”
“Yes,” I say quickly, before he can respond, watching the first staff member slink away while the coast is clear.
“How exciting.” Emily beams. James is still glaring. “All the cribs are safe, that’s true, but they’re not all equal. Why don’t you tell me what the home situation is going to be like, and we’ll discuss some of the features and find exactly what you’re both looking for. Sound good?”
James looks ready to pop a blood vessel, so I nod for us both. “Yes please, that would be perfect.”
“Wonderful, let’s get started.”
After that, it’s all plain sailing. Even James starts to warm to Emily, who guides us to the right crib, then checks through what we’ve already picked up, pointing out features and assuring us that if anything isn’t exactly right, we can return it for an exchange or a refund. Then she takes us personally to the checkout and rings us up.
When we’re back in the truck, with our haul piled in the back, I start to laugh.
“What?” James says as he starts it up.
I shake my head. “Nothing.” I lean in and kiss his cheek. “You’re so over the top about it all. It’s sweet.”
“Fuck yes. I’m protective of my family,” he grunts, palming the steering wheel as he pulls away. “I’m going to make sure you and my baby have everything. Always.”
CHAPTER 13
Nancy
"You’re going to walk around naked unless I tell you otherwise.” James punches the buttons on the thermostat while Taylor slinks around his ankles. “I’ve set it to seventy-five. If that’s not warm enough, you tell me, okay?”
I frown. “Do you think they were just pretending to be happy for us?”
“Baby, our parents were over the fucking moon. I told you they would be. And now everything is out in the open, we can do things properly.”
He’s already gone through the refrigerator and thrown away nearly everything inside. Then got on the computer and ordered a delivery of all organic fruits, vegetables, grass fed beef, pasture raised chicken, no fish—because, mercury—and an arm’s length list of everything else he thought I needed.
Anything that he even thought might be a trip hazard has been fixed. He’s called the manufacturer of the chairs and sofa to make sure the cushioning is hypo-allergenic. New bedding has been ordered.
My stepbrother, the psycho.
“Take off your shirt.” He strides my way as I stand frozen in the family room off the kitchen. He’s ignited the gas fireplace so it’s already toasty warm in here but the fire in his eyes is raising the temperature even more. “I want those tits in my mouth right fucking now. I put all the pieces together, baby. You were hiding that delicious bump from me, but not anymore. I want it on full display and I’m going to suckle on those milky tits until you are gushing. I read about it, the more demand, the more the supply, and I’m a demanding fuck. So come here.”