He smiles at me and sweeps me into his arms. I tuck the quilt over us and snuggle into him, the warmth of his skin soothing to me as we entwine our legs and drape our arms around each other.
“Where’s Angus?” he says against my forehead.
“Out getting pussy. No pun intended,” I add when his body shakes.
“Good lad.” He tightens his hold on me, and I smile.
“You wouldn’t believe you had me against the shower wall not so long ago.”
Tyler laughs softly. “It’s what I’m here for, baby girl. I’ll fuck you hard and love you gently. That’s all that matters.”
Too true. I curl into him, savoring the feel of his skin against mine. His breath flutters across the top of my head.
“Love you, dirty Brit boy.”
“Love you, sassy American bitch.”
Yet again, Tyler Stone is navigating his way around a kitchen with ease. The guy is handsome as hell, fucks like a god, and can cook up a storm—it’s really quite unfair.
He’s also protective, almost to a fault.
If I have to tell him one more time that he didn’t impale the baby with his penis last night, I’m going to take the knife out of his hand and shove the handle up his ass.
Agreeing to dinner with his parents, in hindsight, wasn’t my smartest move. The moment I smelled coffee this morning, I had to make a rather swift detour to the bathroom. As it is, my toilet bowl and I are now very well acquainted, and I’ve broken up with coffee.
It was a sad moment, but considering that my stomach is still a little vile, I’m glad I chose to do it.
My relationship with my phone is also on hold, given Dayton’s newfound hobby of calling me every five fucking seconds.
I rest my chin in my hands and watch Tyler flip the chicken in the pan. “Did you tell your parents already?”
He shakes his head. “No. I wanted you to be there when they find out.”
“Great.” I sigh. I wish he’d told them before now. The introduction is going to be awkward.
Hi. I’m Liv, your son’s girlfriend. And also the mother to your future grandbaby! Rock on!
Tyler puts the oven mitt down and turns to me. He leans over the table and cups my face with his hands then sweetly brings his lips down on mine. “Don’t panic, okay? They’ll love you.”
“It’s kind of unconventional.”
“So add it to our list.” He grins. “Really, you sound surprised.”
I roll my eyes. “Not surprised. Wary. Nervous.” I swallow. “Nauseated.”
“Do you want some water?”
“Honestly, I’m too afraid to put anything in my stomach in case is comes back up and I vomit over your mom’s Jimmy Choos or something.”
There’s a knock at the door, and he laughs. “Good choice.”
I draw in a long, shaky breath when he walks to the door. I’ve always loved the open-plan setup of his apartment and how easy it is to move from room to room.
Now, I hate it because the door is right behind me. Give or take a few feet.
“Hi, Mum, Dad.”
I think I’m going to vomit.
“Hi, love. Is she here yet?” his mom asks.
I can taste the bile. Is it rude if I run out now?
“Yes, she’s in the kitchen. Come on through.”
Oh holy shit. I clap my hand over my mouth as the bile burns my throat. I mumble an unintelligible, “Excuse me,” and run past Tyler to the bathroom.
I kick the door shut and make it to the toilet just in time. I lean over it and retch. My eyes sting with tears as my stomach empties itself of the water and ginger cookies I’ve been nibbling all day.
Morning sickness my motherfucking ass.
“Liv? Baby girl, are you okay?” The door opens and closes within seconds, and Tyler’s hand rests on my back.
I shake my head. “I’m sorry,” I whisper.
He kneels next to me and rubs my back. “Don’t be sorry. I’m afraid the cat is well and truly out of the bag though.”
I lean my head against his shoulder. “And here I was, worried it would be awkward.”
I cough as the urge to vomit hits again. Tyler rubs my back and makes soothing noises in my ear.
“I’m good,” I say to myself more than him. “Can I have my toothbrush?”
He gets up and rinses it under the tap. I lean against the bath and take the brush from him. I scrub my teeth and tongue to get rid of the awful vomit taste and push myself up. Or try to. My legs are shaky, so Tyler steps forward and helps me up.
“Thank you,” I mumble through a mouthful of toothpaste. I spit it out and sigh, setting the toothbrush back in the holder.
“Okay?” Ty asks, pulling me into him.
I take a deep breath and nod against his chest. “Okay. Let’s go.”
He holds me back. “I can tell them you’re not up to it. They’ll understand.”
“What?” I look up. “You’re going to invite them here, drop the bombshell on them, and then ask them to leave?”
“Bombshell?” He raises his eyebrows.
“Well, it is, isn’t it?” My voice dips at the end with insecurity, and I swallow.
His fingers dig into my back as his body tenses. It’s easy for him to say it isn’t—he’s not the one who’s looking at spending the next ten weeks hugging a toilet.
“Sure you’re okay to spend the evening with Mum and Dad?”
Nice subject change. “I said I’m fine.”
He shrugs and lets me go. Just before he opens the door, he grabs my face and kisses my forehead softly. I lay my hands at his waist and close my eyes at the lingering touch.
“Sorry,” he whispers. “I’m trying to remember how different this is for you compared to me and I’m not doing a very good job.”
“Join me in the bathroom again. It’ll soon sink in.” I smile up at him. “Come on. Go and introduce me to the people I have to thank for you.”
He kisses me again and opens the door. His arm stays firmly around my waist as he leads me toward the front room and to the couple sitting on his sofa.
He looks like his dad. From the dark hair to the strong jaw, Tyler is his dad thirty years ago. And his mom—her light hair isn’t what I expected, but she’s just as gorgeous as Tessa. For real, this family has some serious genetic luck.
She stands and Tyler steps to the side so she can hug me. “Liv, it’s so lovely to meet you. Both of you!” She laughs, stepping back and glancing at my stomach.