Adored (Masters and Mercenaries #8.5)(30)

Bridget pulled Laurel in for a hug. “I’m so glad you’re here. I see Mitch was kind with the clothes.”

She was wearing a crop top and tiny miniskirt. No shoes for her. He’d explained that while he liked her heels, he was afraid she would trip in them. She hadn’t stopped wearing them to work, but he ruled here at Sanctum. “He’s afraid a corset would be confining for the baby. I did not even point out that women wore them for many years and they’re adjustable. I’ve found on some things, it’s easier to give in. And I really hope we got all the hideously embarrassing questions out of the way with the first doctor’s visit.”

Mitch had driven her to Dr. Bates’s office and waited with her. He’d helped her change into her gown and listened intently while the doctor had searched for the heartbeat. While she’d gotten teary at the sound, he’d been stoic. He’d simply nodded and squeezed her hand as though he’d read somewhere that was what the expectant father did when the expectant mother cried. He’d shown no real emotion, but boy had he had some questions for the doc.

Bridget laughed. “How bad was it? I happen to know your OB. She’s very cool and understands the lifestyle, so I’m sure it’s nothing she hasn’t heard before.”

“He asked if anal sex was okay for the baby. I’m not kidding you.” It had been horrifying. He’d had a list of questions for Dr. Bates, most of them about sexual things she never thought she would talk to a doctor about.

“What did she say?” Serena asked. “Because when Jake asked she told us as long as it was my ass he was very gently f*cking it would likely be all right, but otherwise he might be in trouble.”

Dr. Bates seemed to have come from the Big Tag school of bedside manner. “Yes, that seems to be her patent response. Did Mitchell have to go through an entire list of sexual positions and acts?”

“This is a guy’s way of caring. He’s nervous about it so he has to find some way of taking control,” Serena explained. “Pregnancy can be very difficult for the man. Especially a Dom. He can’t control it so you have to find ways to make him more comfortable with the situation. Let him pamper you even when it’s annoying. Seriously, a foot rub can get boring after three hours, but it soothed Jake to do it. Adam was definitely calmer until we hit the delivery room. That first blood freaked him out. He wasn’t prepared for it to be so bloody and painful.”

“Hey, ixnay on the ainpay.” Bridget frowned Serena’s way.

“Oh, because I should tell her that childbirth is a lovely, pain-free, and completely comfortable experience.”

“I’m going to take all the drugs,” Laurel admitted. “Every one of them. I’m not a Viking woman.”

The pain part scared the crap out of her. So did all the things that could happen. Mitch didn’t want her to read the childbirth books. He’d told her they would only scare her, but she’d put a couple on her Kindle anyway. One of them had to be ready. He’d asked the doctor a million questions about their sex lives and not one about the actual pregnancy.

Sometimes she wondered if he’d changed his mind about the baby again. Or was it all about his duty to her and responsibility for the child?

She’d noticed that after their first night together, they hadn’t spoken of marriage again. She told herself it was good because she didn’t want to have that fight, but she had to wonder if she really wanted to be a single mom.

“Do you absolutely have to play tonight? It’s hard walking around without looking at things. I’m going to crash into someone’s scene,” a familiar voice said.

She turned and there was her brother coming up the stairs with Mitchell and Kai. Will’s eyes were firmly planted on the ground.

Kai gave her a smile. “He’s trying to avoid seeing you half naked.”

“She’s actually quite covered,” Mitch admitted.

He looked utterly delicious. No matter what kind of problems they might have, there was no denying the fact that this man got her motor running like no other. Sanctum was filled with gorgeous men, but Mitch seemed to stand above the rest. He was so masculine, with his broad shoulders and cut chest on display. She loved how petite she felt when he held her. He seemed to like to show off how strong he was by carrying her around.

Will brought his head up, his eyes opening cautiously. He seemed to relax. “All right. I suppose I can handle that. What kind of scene are you two doing tonight?”

Mitch moved to her side, his eyes going to the collar around her neck. She could practically feel the satisfaction pouring off him in waves. He might not want her as a wife, but she could tell he was enjoying keeping a submissive. “I’m doing a ropes demonstration, and no, you will not want to watch. We’re up very soon, so you and Bridget should stay on the east side of the dungeon. I hear Weston and his wife are doing an impact play scene.”

“I’m going to find a pretty little pain slut and get my freak on,” Kai promised. He looked nothing like his normal self. Kai was usually very intellectual looking. Like the professor at college every girl wanted to date. But with his hair down around his shoulders and dressed in leathers and motorcycle boots, the good psychologist looked dangerous. And definitely ready for some fun. Of course, his idea of fun had to do with pain.

“When are you going to play with Kori?” Mitch nodded to a girl across the room.