Secret Love (Love Stings Series Book 2) (18 page)

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, it’s just morning sickness.”

I freeze, and she must realize what she said because she looks at me with wide eyes.

“A-Are you pregnant?” She nods her head. I pull her into a hug. Wow. Um—a baby. “Wow, I’m kind of in shock right now. When did you find out?”

“At the hospital, after everything happened. There were two babies, but there was no heartbeat on one when they did the ultrasound. The doctor said there was still a heartbeat on the baby that was left.” She grabs a can of ginger ale off of her nightstand and takes a sip. “I’m so sorry, Damien.”

“You’ve got nothing to be sorry about. Baby, you weren’t alone. I’m the one who’s sorry. We’ll figure it out, okay? I love you.”

“Why haven’t I seen you until now? You just left me at the hospital. I needed you, and you weren’t there. I had to hear that one of our babies didn’t make it, alone. Let’s talk about the fact that you’re not who you say you are. Was everything a lie? Do you truly even love me, or was I just part of your job?”

She’s letting me have it, but it’s what I totally deserve.

“Baby, I wanted to tell you so many times, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t risk your safety, but fuck, I couldn’t keep you safe anyway. I will never forgive myself for what happened. You haven’t seen me because I’ve been working round the clock to make sure they stay locked up. We’ve arrested Jackson, not only for attacking you, but he’s the one who figured out who I am and told Rafe about it. He’s looking at serious jail time.” I reach out and stroke her cheek.

There’s a knock on the door, and we both turn toward it. Her mom is at the door. “Dinner’s ready. Care bear, do you think you can get some food down?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

“Okay, good. Damien, are you staying?” she asks.

“That’d be great, thanks.” I get off Carrington’s bed and help her up. She lets me pull her toward me and hug her close. “Is it okay if I stay?” I won’t stay if Carrington doesn’t want me to.

“Of course you can stay.”

I wrap my arm around her shoulders as we head out into the dining room. Her dad and brother are sitting at the table. Something is going on with her and her dad. She won’t look at him, and he looks like he wants to go to her. Her brother, Luke, gets up and comes around the table to hug her.

“You look like shit,” he says to her.

She slaps at his chest and gives him a smile. Luke’s right, though. She looks green. I’ve been around pregnant women before and I know this is normal, especially the first few months.

I shake her dad’s hand. He doesn’t punch me, so I’m going to guess that he doesn’t completely hate me for getting his daughter pregnant. He is staring at me, though. Maybe he’s merely plotting my death and he’s choosing to have me live in fear. I’m a big guy and even taller than him, but I’m intimidated as hell right now. I want to know what’s going on with him and Carrington.

Chicken sandwiches are passed around, and then what looks like homemade macaroni and cheese. Carrington sets a bowl of salad in front of each of us. I scoop a huge bite of the macaroni and cheese into my mouth. It’s amazing, and I try not to moan and embarrass myself.

“This is amazing, Mrs. Carter.”

“Damien, please call me Bellamy.”

Carrington sits next to me and pushes her food around on her plate. I feel bad because it’s technically my fault she’s suffering right now. Reaching out, I rub my hand up and down her back.

“Are you okay, baby? Do you want your ginger ale?”

“My stomach’s turning a little bit.”

“I’ll be right back.” I run back to her room and grab the open can off of her nightstand. I set it down in front of her and take my seat.

After dinner, Carrington and I sit on the back deck. “Baby, what happened with your dad? I can tell that things are strained between you.”

She spends the next ten minutes telling me about her dad and brother getting text messages and videos, outing her as a stripper. Her dad didn’t take it well. I don’t really like the fact that he asked her if she was a whore. By the time she’s done telling me everything, she’s crying against my chest. I hold her close, rubbing her back as she lets it all out. It’s obvious Carrington loves her dad a lot, and his disapproval really hurts her.

My baby falls asleep against my chest. I pick her up and carry her into the house. Her mom gives me a smile as I pass by. I lay her down on her mattress and cover her with her blankets. She immediately snuggles in, so I place the trashcan by the side of the bed just in case.

I kiss her forehead and then back out of her room quietly. In the living room, I find her dad sitting on the sofa.

“Do you have a minute to talk, sir?” He nods and stands up.

“Let’s go outside.” I follow behind him as he steps out onto the front porch.

“Jackson Travis is behind bars. It was he who found out who I was and turned me in. They picked him up last week, and he won’t be getting out for a while. The people I was investigating are behind bars as well. I doubt they’ll get out anytime soon.” He nods his head at me. “Sir, I didn’t mean for her to get hurt. I tried to stay away from her, but she’s got this light about her that draws me in.”

When the hell did I get so mushy? Her dad probably thinks I’m a pussy.

Chapter

Twenty-One

Luke

I’ll admit when I first heard that Damien was an undercover agent, it gave me bad flashbacks of another DEA agent that started out good and then turned into a nightmare, almost ruining our family’s lives.

“Damien, no one blames you for anything that happened. I blame that piece of shit, Jackson. Hope for a boy because having a girl ages you very quickly. I’m just kidding, sort of. The first time I held her, I was scared to death. She was just so tiny and perfect. I’d never believed in love at first sight until I saw that little angel. There were so many times that she would look up at me with those big blue eyes and I would do anything for her, give her anything she wanted.” I take a deep breath. “I’ve made so many mistakes when it comes to my girl. That whole situation with that fucking teacher hurt our relationship. I blamed her, but it wasn’t her fault. She’s always been beautiful, and I guess I just hated the idea of any man paying her any attention.”

“I can imagine. I suppose I’d probably be the same way if this baby is a girl. I plan to marry her, just so you know. I want her and our baby to have my last name.” Damien looks sincere.

“I’m going to be a grandpa,” I whisper. “Wow!”

I want to be upset that my baby girl is having a baby, but I’m just happy.

“It kills me that she’s not speaking to me. I know I fucked up when I found out about her dancing, but just the thought of perverts watching my little girl dance became too much. The things I said to her…Jesus, I was cruel. I just don’t know how to fix it.”

“Daddy?” I turn around and find my daughter in the doorway.

She steps outside and moves until she’s right in front of me. Damien excuses himself and disappears inside the house.

“You are the light of my life. You and your brother are the best things that ever happened to me. I’m sorry what I said hurt you.”

“I’ve always felt like I was never good enough for you. I’ve always felt like I was just a replacement child for Rose.”

I’m floored that she’d felt that way. Yes, Bellamy and I still mourn the child we lost, but that was not the reason why we had kids.

“Baby, no. Fuck, no. You were never a replacement for Rose. I’m sorry if you ever thought that. I’m sorry that you felt like you weren’t good enough. We love you so much and are so proud of you. You’ve got such a big heart, and the way you care for others is why I know you’re going to be an amazing nurse and you’re going to be a phenomenal mother.”

Carrington wraps her arms around my waist. I hug her tight and feel the burning behind my eyelids start, but I try to blink the tears back. I look up and find my wife standing in the doorway watching us with tears rolling down her cheeks. She wraps her arms around us.

Our girl finally stops crying, and I kiss the top of her head before I watch her disappear inside, presumably to find Damien. I look down at my wife, who still has her arms around me. Twenty-two years of marriage and this woman still knows how to make my heart skip a beat.

***

Bellamy

Hearing my daughter say that she’d always felt like a replacement for her sister rips me apart. I try to think back to the past and if I ever gave her any indication that she was a replacement, and I can’t think of anything. Of course, there isn’t a day that I don’t think about our beautiful Rose. She’d be twenty-eight if she were alive, but with time I finally accepted that she was meant to be my angel. Carrington has been such a blessing, and I hate the fact that we ever made her feel like she wasn’t. When they laid her on my chest the day she was born, she opened her eyes and looked up at me and I felt peace. She was perfect in every way.

When I step outside, I wrap my arms around my beautiful husband and my gorgeous daughter. Carrington excuses herself and goes back in the house.

Damien leaves a short time later, and I make my way down the hall to Carrington’s old room. I find her lying against a stack of pillows. “Hey, baby girl. How are you feeling?”

“Good. Tired. Damien went to get me some ice cream. Is that okay, that he comes back?” Carrington stifles a yawn with the back of her hand.

“Of course. Don’t worry. In a couple of months, you’ll feel better. The beginning is always the toughest. Honey, I just wanted to say that I’m sorry if I ever made you feel like you were a replacement for Rose or that you were somehow second best.” Tears start to cloud my vision, and I try to swipe them quickly away. “You and your brother are the best things to every happen to your dad and me.” I feel Carrington’s arms wrap around me as we both begin to cry.

My girl and I lie side by side while she asks me about being pregnant and what to expect. When Damien comes back in the room with a pint of ice cream and a spoon, I take my leave, but not before I kiss my daughter on the forehead and kiss Damien on the cheek.

As I shut the door behind me, I see Damien situate Carrington so she’s sitting up and then feeds her the ice cream. He’s looking at her the same way Luke has always looked at me. I head out into the kitchen, smiling. I know my girl is going to be just fine.

***

Carrington

It’s been a month since everything went down. Things have slowly been getting better. I got my letter that says I passed my boards, so I’m officially an RN. I’m now in orientation in the ER, where I’ll be working three twelve-hour shifts. I’ll have full benefits, and as soon as the baby’s born, my baby will have coverage too.

I’m not getting nearly as sick as I did a month ago, but my doctor doesn’t like that I haven’t gained any weight, so I’ve been chugging down protein shakes, which has helped. Damien and I are dividing our time between my place and his. We’ve started talking about whether we want to just have him move him into my place for the time being or find something completely different.

Speaking of my man, I see his Jeep pull into the parking lot. He’s coming with me to my OB appointment today, and we’re hoping to maybe hear the heartbeat. I climb out of my car and tie my coat around me just a little bit tighter. Ugh, he’s so sexy. His jeans hug his thighs and showcase his beautiful dick, making my mouth water.

We haven’t had sex since before our ordeal. Of course, most of the reason we haven’t is because I was getting sick all of the time. God, I’m so fucking horny right now.

“Babe, don’t look at me like that. Otherwise we’re going to have to find a bathroom or dark hallway to fuck in.” He bends down and kisses my lips. “Did you get sick this morning?”

“No, I actually felt a little bit better today. Can you meet me at home after our appointment?” I walk my fingers up his hard chest. If he stuck his hand in my panties, he’d find me wet.

Hand in hand, we walk inside. I check in at the desk and then sit with him while we wait for my name to be called. Once I get called back, we go through the normal stuff: weight, blood pressure, and temperature. As soon as the nurse leaves the room Damien steps between my legs and kisses my lips thoroughly. I asked if I should call him David, but he said he likes me calling him Damien.

The doctor comes in a few minutes later, and I introduce them. She asks me about getting sick and about my energy level. I lie back on the table while she feels around. Then she grabs the Doppler and the jelly. “Okay, guys, let’s see if we can hear your baby’s heart beat.”

Damien grabs hold of my hand as the doctor squirts some of the jelly onto my still flat stomach. There’s a lot of static and then the most beautiful sound in the world. Tears run down my face in response to the rapid beating of our baby’s heart.

Damien pulls my hand to his lips and kisses them. “That’s the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard.” His voice sounds like it’s thick with unshed tears.

She tells us everything sounds good and looks good. For the time being, she wants me to continue drinking those shakes and says she’ll see me in a month. On our way out, I schedule my appointment and then we head to the parking lot.

“I’ll meet you at your place,” he says before disappearing.

“Finally,” I mutter to myself.

***

While I’m on my hands and knees, Damien slowly eases in and out of me. I’m so close to coming again it’s not even funny. When we got home, first he ate my pussy while I was spread out on the sofa in the living room and then he carried me to my bed and made me come again just by sucking on my tits, which are highly sensitive at the moment. He put me in the position that I am right now in lightning speed.

It’s been too long, and I feel like I’m stuffed so full. I’ve missed this, missed the feel of him inside me. He kisses my back as he continues to move so slowly in and out of me.

“I’ve missed your pussy. You feel so good. You’re squeezing my dick so good, baby,” he whispers against my skin. I whimper when he reaches around and rubs clit, working me up to an orgasm that threatens to annihilate me. His strokes are short, each hitting my sweat spot. My cries fill the room, and I feel an orgasm coming.

“Oh yeah, baby. I can feel it coming. Rub your clit for me.” He grabs my hips, and as I rub my clit, he pounds into me with punishing strokes.

I fuck myself on his cock and squeeze my clit between my fingers as I hurtle toward my orgasm. He thrusts once, twice, and I come so hard, my head flies back. Damien plants himself deep, and I feel the hot blast of his come over and over. He places his lips against my neck and squeezes me tightly. With another kiss, he pulls out of me and collapses next to me.

“Come here, baby.” He pulls me toward him until we’re chest to chest. With a tender touch, he brushes my hair out of my face. “I fucking love you.”

He reaches down, covering my lower belly, where our baby rests.

“I love you too,” I whisper.

In the dark of my room, snuggled together, Damien and I make plans for our future—a future that is going to be amazing. Together we can do anything.