“That’s about the dirtiest thing I’ve ever done.” Tasha twisted her head slightly to rub her lips against his stubble-roughened cheek. He caught her lips with his and they kissed lazily, warm breaths combining as they relaxed.
He buttoned her shirt up without taking his lips from hers. She opened her eyes, but his face was still relaxed, eyes closed even as he dressed her. His cock slipped from her body and he helped her up, straightening and tucking himself away only after he’d made sure she was comfortable and covered. They held hands as they went back to shut up the house, then hit the road to return home. All the while the tenderness in his touch landed in layers and soaked into her soul.
Maybe this whole crazy thing wasn’t a mistake. Maybe she could be brave enough to let go of a few more fears and learn to trust completely.
Chapter Fifteen
The muted sounds of medical equipment carried through the air, the clean scent of antiseptic and that not-quite-pleasant aroma of completely sterile surroundings. Max held on to Tasha’s fingers and tried not to squeeze too tightly.
“I’m dying here.” Tasha wiggled uncomfortably on the bed, her softly rounded belly poking up under the pale blue of her maternity top. He reached with his free hand and stroked the place where their baby was growing. Six months, and there was no denying to anyone that another Turner was on the way.
“I offered to drink the water for you, but they said that wouldn’t work very well.” He brought his chair closer to the bed without having to let go with either hand, and she chuckled lightly, cutting off with a moan.
“Don’t make me laugh or I’m going to pee right here on the bed. I think someone miscalculated how much liquid I needed to drink for this ultrasound to work. Oh…”
His heart leapt. “I felt that. The baby kicked.” He palmed her belly gently, rubbing in slow circles. The sensation didn’t get old—he’d been lying in bed for the past three weeks with his arm wrapped around Tasha, carefully holding her belly to catch as many of the increasingly noticeable movements as possible.
“This little tyke is getting more accurate in targeting vital spots. I know my bladder is full right now, but that doesn’t make it open season.” She dropped her head back on the pillow with a groan and Max’s heart swelled with love. She’d been better lately about not cutting herself off from him emotionally, but there was still something missing. Some part she held in reserve, and that damn prenatal agreement bound his tongue. It was killing him not to blurt out how much she meant to him.
Especially at a time like this. A truly momentous occasion, a memory they would share forever.
He leaned closer and kissed her cheek, nuzzling against her as they waited for the clinician to join them. The faint scent of her soap filled his head, the smell of her skin connecting him with so many memories from the past months. He loved waking in the morning with her cuddled next to him, usually with one leg thrown over his like she was trying to make sure he couldn’t run away.
She didn’t need to worry. He wasn’t planning on going anywhere.
Fluttering rumbles continued under his hand as their baby moved and his chest tightened. He had to get his mind on other things, or he was going to be bawling like a baby himself before too long. He brushed one final kiss against her temple before leaning back in his chair, reluctantly pulling his hand away.
“Did you arrange to take the rest of the day off?”
She nodded. “We need to stop in at the house sometime in the next while and make a few decisions about tile and taps and all sorts of things—the finishers have kept a list for us.”
Max groaned. He’d always prided himself on being a good multitasker, but over the past weeks as he’d strived to be there for Tasha, the ability to juggle as many balls as usual seemed to elude him.
Somehow he’d find the time to get it all done, without her thinking he was neglecting her. All the advances he’d made in terms of having her open up to him, having her start to confide in him as more than simply a friend, gave him hope she was falling for him. Now if she’d stop being so damn stubborn and admit it, they could get somewhere.
They chatted quietly as she squirmed until there was finally a knock at the door and a gowned attendant joined them.
“Sorry for the wait, we’ll be ready to roll in a jiffy.” The woman held out a hand to Tasha. “I’m Nancy. You eager to get a peek at that little one?”
Tasha’s face lit up. “You have no idea.”
Nancy laughed. “Well, I’m sure when I push on your bladder you’ll be debating how much you want these pictures, but yes, it’s exciting.” She turned toward him and smiled. “How nice. You brought your brother with you.”
He couldn’t stop his burst of laughter. “Husband. I’m the father of the baby you’re taking pictures of in a minute.”
The woman floundered for words, stammering out an embarrassed apology as she reached to grab plastic bottles from a warming tray. Max exchanged glances with Tasha. Her cheeks were flushed, but she rolled her eyes for a second then blew him a kiss. The difference in their ages had bothered very few people. Sure, there was the occasional question or a mistake like just now, but for the most part the only person who had made it into a huge issue was Lila.
Her continued avoidance of Tasha was more than rude, it was cruel. He checked Tasha again, hoping her thoughts hadn’t drifted in the same direction as his. He didn’t want the memory of Lila’s stubborn betrayal of their friendship to have any part in this day.
Tasha focused on the clinician as she settled in her chair and rearranged Tasha’s top to access her belly. Max rolled his chair closer, watching with fascination. Nancy was great, and explained each step as she proceeded. Tasha cringed when the monitor touched her skin, and he found his fingers and hers linked together again. He held her hand, silently enthralled as images appeared on the screen. Black and white blurs sharpened into focus, and suddenly there were tiny hands and feet. A little rounded bottom. Perfectly formed miniature shoulders.
Happiness struck him like the broadside of a wave. It threatened to crash him to his knees, his blood pounding in his ears so hard he barely heard the rest of the explanations.
“Do you want to know what sex your baby is?” Nancy asked.
Max motioned for Tasha to answer. He’d already told her what he wanted, but it was up to her to decide.
She licked her lips, turning back to the monitor eagerly. “If you can tell us, we’d love to know.”
Max leaned forward. Yes. He’d hoped to hear. Okay, maybe he had a touch of OCD, but it would make things a lot easier for planning, especially prepping the baby’s room and…
He just wanted to know.
“All right, we’ll take a look. There’s a slight chance we won’t be able to figure it out, and please remember there’s a possibility we might be wrong.”
The sound of his breathing echoed loudly in his ears as he waited.
Nancy clicked her tongue and made complaining noises. “Little one, stop rolling away from me. Looks like someone’s pretty active right now.”
Tasha was the one who put his fingers in a death grip. “I don’t mind.”
“Hmmm, I think if we try from this angle…” Nancy reached around to the far side of Tasha’s belly, angling the sensor back, and wonder of wonders, the baby stretched. “Oh, there we go. I do believe I don’t see anything.”
Max couldn’t care less. Fine, he could paint the walls yellow and they’d come up with two sets of names. It didn’t matter not knowing—
“Which usually means you’re having a girl.”