Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 43071 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 215(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43071 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 215(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
He cupped the back of my neck, his thumb stroking soothing circles. “When did it start?”
“Last night after dinner for the nausea, and it got worse when I woke up. But I’ve been tired all week.”
He studied me for a long beat. Then the corners of his mouth kicked up in a smirk that was smugger than usual.
I frowned. “What?”
“We met seventeen days ago.”
When I realized that was all the explanation he seemed to think I needed, I asked, “And?”
“And you’ve been here every day since then.” Satisfaction gleamed from his light-brown eyes. “But you haven’t needed any of your feminine shit that’s under the sink.”
It took me a moment to understand what stuff he was talking about, and then I realized my period was late. It should’ve started a week ago, and I hadn’t even noticed. Not that I’d needed to track my cycle that closely before I met Colter. There was no risk of getting pregnant when you weren’t having sex. “Oh my gosh.”
He carefully picked me up again and carried me back to the bed. After setting me down gently, he walked through the bathroom and disappeared into the closet. When he came back out, he was fully dressed and carrying a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt from one of the loads of stuff he’d brought over from my apartment.
“C’mon, baby. We’re going to the clinic.”
I blinked. “The clinic? I don’t want to spend hours waiting for someone—”
“Trust me.” He leaned down and kissed my forehead, silencing my protest. “We’re going.”
Ten minutes later, we were in the SUV, after he glared at me for daring to suggest we take the motorcycle.
He drove with one hand on the wheel and the other resting on my thigh, his thumb tracing absent circles. I stared out the window, trying to ignore the low-grade nausea still roiling in my belly as he rolled through the gates of the compound.
“Can I get a ginger ale or something as long as we’re stopping here on our way to the clinic?”
“We’re not going anywhere else, baby. We have our own doctors,” he explained.
“Oh. That's a relief.” My brows drew together as I tried not to think about what kind of medical help Colter and his club brothers would need often enough to have their own medical clinic at the compound. “But are you sure they can help me? I can’t imagine they give many pregnancy tests.”
“Two years ago, you would’ve been right.” He shook his head with a laugh as he parked at the far end of the lot in front of the clubhouse. “You saw how many kids were at the barbecue, though. Flint and Razor have learned to keep stocked ever since Stella needed to be tested when she was pregnant with Cadell.”
“Okay, that totally makes sense,” I murmured with a soft smile as he helped me out of the SUV. “All the couples did seem to either have a baby already or one on the way. Maybe there’s something in the water if I’m pregnant, too. I know it’s just a saying, but—”
Colter pressed his lips against mine in a quick kiss. “The ‘something’ is us Hounds can’t keep our hands off the right woman when we find her.”
“Totally fair,” I agreed with a giggle.
He kept my hand in his as we walked around the side of the clubhouse and into the clinic. The only person inside—a club brother I hadn’t met yet—looked up and grinned.
“Ace. Didn’t expect to see you today.” His gaze slid to me. “And this must be Poppy.”
“Yeah.” Colter gave him a chin lift. “Baby, this is Flint. He’s one of our doctors.”
Flint stood, offering me his hand. “Sorry I missed the barbecue last weekend. I had a shift at the hospital I couldn’t ditch. Heard you made quite the impression on the old ladies.”
I managed a weak smile. “They were really nice.”
He glanced at Colter. “You bring her in for the usual reason?”
Colter nodded. “She’s been throwing up. Tired. We need to know.”
“Got it.” He pulled a small box from a cabinet and handed it to me. “Bathroom’s right there. Pee on the stick. Results in three minutes.”
Colter started to follow me, but I planted a hand on his chest. “Nope. You stay here.”
He grumbled but let me slip inside the bathroom by myself. My hands shook as I opened the box. As soon as I flushed the toilet, Colter knocked on the door. “Not gonna wait out here for those three minutes, baby.”
I unlocked the door and washed my hands while he came inside. Pulling my back against his chest, we stared at the stick that held the answer to our future for three long minutes. Finally, two pink lines appeared, clear as day.
My knees went weak and would’ve fallen to the floor if he hadn’t been holding me up.