Say You Love Me Page 23

  I didn’t know which was harder, summoning images from the horrific day my dad decapitated my beloved doll or telling Cesar our lives were about to change in a major way. I’d already made up my mind. I was keeping the child. After inheriting over $550 million dollars from my father, it wasn’t like I couldn’t afford to have the baby. Besides, the child had been conceived in love. I loved Cesar, and I cared for him more and more each day. Despite the baby’s inopportune timing, I knew I’d love our child, too.

  “Okay, but if you want to talk I’m here for you.”

  I had to look away from the concern in his eyes. His kindness was so overwhelming, almost suffocating. I clutched the door handle and sucked in a shallow breath when I saw the Houston exit was only a few miles away. I had to get out of this truck, and soon. I needed to be alone, so I could have time to rehearse what I was going to tell him. I only hoped he supported my decision to keep the baby, because I was scared shitless, and I needed this man more than ever.

  Chapter Two

  Our three dogs howled, cried, and made all kinds of ruckus when we pulled into the drive. We’d left them this morning with plenty of food and water and every intention of returning to them by nightfall. I’d had no idea the wedding was going to last so long and we’d need to stay the night, and I felt like the worst dog mom ever for leaving them.

  After Cesar carried Jake to bed, and I kissed him goodnight, I smiled as he rolled over and snuggled with the dogs, who were still giving me the cold shoulder. Guilt hung over me like a raincloud as I trudged to our bedroom. How was I going to care for a baby when I couldn’t even look after three mutts?

  I stripped off my clothes and crawled into bed, burying my face in my pillow while tears silently soaked the Egyptian cotton. I didn’t bother looking up when I felt Cesar’s weight dip the mattress beside me. I stiffened when he placed a hand on my back. He ran a hand up my spine, then gently kneaded my neck, rubbing out the knots I hadn’t realized were there. Oh, damn. It felt so good.

  “I’m worried about you,” he whispered.

  I stiffened again, the knots in my neck tightening. “I’m sorry,” I mumbled into my pillow, afraid to let him see my tear-soaked face.

  “Why are you sorry?” He laid beside me, rolling me into his arms so my back was pressed against his chest. “The way you were crying in your sleep.” His voice cracked like splintered wood. “I’ve never heard you sound like that.”

  I silently sniffled, swiping a hand down my face and hoping he didn’t realize I’d been crying again. “I’m over it now.” For the most part, I wasn’t lying. My tears were for something else entirely, namely that little peanut growing inside my womb.

  He pushed a strand of hair behind my ear, then wrapped his arms tightly around me. “You don’t sound over it.”

  “I just want to go back to sleep.” Exhaustion, or maybe stress, was making that vein above my right eye throb with a vengeance.

  “Okay.” He kissed my cheek, then snuggled against my backside once more. “If you need to talk, I’m here for you,” he murmured, kissing the back of my head. “I’m always here for you, bella.”

  “I’m pregnant,” I blurted, then froze.

  Oh, God, Savannah. Why did you open that can of worms? Now you’ll never get to sleep.

  He sat up, rolling me onto my back. I didn’t know whether to be amused or horrified by the look in his eyes, as if he’d simultaneously seen a ghost and crapped his pants.

  “Whaaat?” he rasped.

  “I missed my pill when I was sick.” I sat up, scooting away from him and rubbing that throbbing vein above my eye. Oh, it was going to be a long night. “I didn’t think a few days would matter.” My throat constricted, threatening to close completely. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be sorry.” He held out his arms, his normally deep baritone sounding watery. “Come here.”

  I climbed in his lap, sighing against his chest when he planted a soft, lingering kiss on my temple. I clutched his shirt collar as a sob claimed me, followed by an obnoxious, blubbery, snorting sound.

  Real sexy, Savannah.

  I wiped my eyes again, worried I’d stain Cesar’s white shirt with pools of runny mascara.

  “Please don’t cry, bella,” he said soothingly, rubbing my back.

  His kindness and affection only made me cry harder.

  “I just found out tonight,” I said, still crying. “Sara had a pregnancy test. I used it.” My chest tightened, and I almost lost my nerve before the next sentence tripped over my tongue and stumbled across my lips. “I-I w-want to keep the baby.”

  He squeezed me tight, resting his forehead against mine. “So do I.”

  I clutched his face, rough like sandpaper from only a day of not shaving. “I have no idea what I’m doing.”

  When his lips brushed mine, I fought the urge to pull back, feeling like I was unworthy of his affection. Why hadn’t I remembered to take my pills?

  “The first step is prenatal care,” he said, acting perfectly natural, as if we were deciding between a mushroom or pepperoni pizza. “Monday morning we’ll book an appointment with a doctor.” He grabbed my shoulders, searching my eyes with intensity. “Did you drink tonight?”

  I vehemently shook my head. “No, I was too nauseous. That’s why I took the pregnancy test. That, and the fact that I’m late.”

  His eyes bulged, his cheeks turning ten shades of red. “I should’ve noticed.”

  “It’s okay.” I touched his arm. “I know you’ve been busy with work.” He had been working late hours and coming home exhausted. Almost too exhausted for sex. Almost.

  “I’m interviewing a few managers to take over some of my responsibilities.” He searched my face with soulful eyes. “I’m going to make more time for you and Jake and the baby.”

  And the baby? I was amazed at how easily he’d accepted my pregnancy and how quickly he was willing to assume the daddy role.

  “So you’re not upset?” I asked. “This happened so fast.”

  His sideways smile lit up my whole universe. “I know it did, but I love you more than life, bella. Every day we spend together is a gift, but this is the greatest gift you could’ve ever given me.”

  Oh, dear Lord, I think my heart just imploded.

  “Really?”

  “You need your rest.” He laid down and held his arms open. “Let me hold you.”

  I let out a sigh and snuggled against his warmth. “I love you, Cesar.”

  “I love you, bella, so very much,” he murmured against my forehead before resting a hand on my abdomen. “Thank you for giving me a child.”

  I settled a hand on his chest, comforted by the steady beating of his heart. “Thank you for being so supportive.”

  “I will be a good father. I swear it.”

  Lord, could this man be any more perfect? “I know you will.” My eyelids fell shut, heavy with fatigue, as my worries melted away. Everything was going to be okay because I had Cesar.

  * * *

  Cesar

  Holy shit, Savannah was pregnant. As I listened to the gentle sound of her deep, steady breathing, I let out a shaky breath.

  I was going to be a father. Maybe. Hopefully.

  I’d been down this road before, only to have my hopes crushed by my former fiancée’s medical problems. Melinda and I had three miscarriages, four babies in all, because she was pregnant with twins the last time. She’d managed to carry them all the way through the first trimester before losing them.

  That last miscarriage nearly cost me my sanity, and here I was about to go through it again.

  I’d hated the look of desperation in Savannah’s eyes tonight, as if she expected me to be strong enough for the both of us. Correction. For the three of us.

  Truthfully, I didn’t know if I had the fortitude to survive another miscarriage.

  I reminded myself Savannah was healthier than Melinda, but I couldn’t escape the bone-crushing fear it was going to happen again.

  Chapt
er Three

  The next morning, I woke to Cesar’s phone alarm, followed by his gentle kiss on my forehead. I stumbled out of bed to my private bathroom, brushed my teeth, and stood under the hot shower for a good ten minutes while millions of thoughts ran through my head. Namely, how the hell I was supposed to take care of a baby when I couldn’t even remember to feed the dogs until they started whimpering and drooling all over my feet?

  I placed a hand on my still flat stomach as drops from the rain shower pooled around my naval. Not much longer, and my stomach would be so big, I wouldn’t be able to see my toes.

  I jumped as the shower door opened and Cesar poked his head inside.

  “You okay, bella?” He was looking sexier than should be legal, clean-shaven and shirtless, wearing unbuttoned jeans.

  I licked my lips at the sight of that delicious trail of hair leading down his abdomen and disappearing under the elastic of his red briefs.

  How can you get horny at a time like this, Savannah? You haven’t even had coffee.

  “Yeah, just thinking.” I lathered up my hands and massaged the soapy bubbles into my breasts.

  He arched a brow, honing on my pebbled nipples like twin lasers. “What are you doing up so early?”

  “What do you mean? Your alarm went off.” I placed a foot on the tile bench and switched from the rain shower to the nozzle, lathering myself before spraying between my thighs. I had already cleaned there. I was just being a tease.

  I looked over my shoulder at him leaning against the wall, his cheeks flushing as the bulge beneath his red briefs stared at me like an erect circus tent. He coughed into his fist. “I’m going in early this morning, remember?”

  “What time is it?” I asked, massaging my sweet spot with the showerhead, a soft moan escaping me.

  “Five-thirty,” he grumbled, the veins in his neck bulging while he focused on the nozzle’s pulsating spray.

  I bit my lip before settling the showerhead back in the cradle. “What shall I do with this extra time?”

  I giggled when he stripped out of his pants and stepped in the shower, his glorious man parts glistening as droplets of water rained down on all of his hard, tanned muscles. “You’re killing me, bella. Guess I’m not going in early after all.”

  I turned my bottom lip down in a mock pout. “I’m not sorry.”

  He tenderly brushed a lock of wet hair out of my eyes. “How do you feel?”

  This was so like Cesar. Even when he had a raging boner jutting at me like a nuclear torpedo ready to explode, he still put my needs before his. I couldn’t have picked a better man to father my child. I leaned up on tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. “Fine.”

  He frowned, cupping my face and stroking my lips. “No morning sickness.”

  “Nope.” Weird, how it only seemed to affect me at night.

  My breath hitched at the molten look in Cesar’s eyes. The air whooshed from my lungs when he grabbed my ass and hoisted me against the shower wall.

  I wrapped my legs around his waist as his lips sought mine. He kissed me, gently at first, and then he deepened the kiss, squeezing the globes of my ass while pressing his cockhead against the apex of my desire.

  A chill swept up my spine as the cool tiles dug into my back, but the warmth Cesar infused into me turned those icy shards into melted butter. Soon I was panting into his mouth like a caged animal while he circled my clit with his slick cock. Liquid desire dripped out of my sheath, coating him with moisture as he slowly pushed inside me.

  I panted harder, clawing at his back. “Please, Cesar,” I begged, “Give it all to me.”

  With a growl, he bit my neck and thrust all the way in.

  Holy fuck, he felt so big!

  I stifled a gasp as he pinned me against the wall, driving into me with shallow, choppy thrusts as the water that coated our skin diluted my natural lubricant. But every time his bulging head smacked into my swollen bundle of nerves, more moisture seeped from me.

  Soon, he was gliding through me with perfect rhythm, whispering Spanish words of love between each thrust while nibbling on my ear. I swelled like a raging river, matching his thrusts by grinding into him.

  When he stiffened and burst inside of me, my own dam of desire came crumbling down. We panted into each other’s mouths while we shuddered against each other. I moaned my delight as little jolts of pleasure zinged all the way to my toes. While we gently nibbled each other’s lips, I was vaguely aware that the water had turned lukewarm. My arms fell limply across his shoulders as he slid out of me.

  I sighed, missing his warmth. He held me beneath the shower, which was now cool. When he turned on the showerhead, I settled one foot on the bench and he cleaned me out. I gasped when he circled my clit with the pulsating water while tunneling a thick finger inside me. The orgasm was fast and powerful, and I had to lean against him to keep from slumping onto the slick tile floor.

  The water turned icy cold, so we quickly untangled ourselves and got out. Good thing I had the bathroom heater running.

  We playfully nipped and kissed each other while drying off. His cock surged again when I gently patted it dry.

  He swatted my hand away with a pleading look. “I’m already late, bella.”

  “It’s not fair.” I wrapped my arms around his neck, rubbing against his groin. “I had two, and you only had one.”

  He answered with a groan as I slid down his body and began kissing all over his erection. He stumbled to a nearby bench, and I followed, taking his cock in my mouth and slurping up and down his shaft until he exploded. He slumped against the wall, spent, his mouth hitched up in a lazy grin while I cleaned him off with a towel. I brushed my teeth once more while he dressed, stumbling into his pants like a drunk.

  “See what you did to me?” He tsked. “My legs are useless.”

  I rinsed my mouth, then looked into the mirror, cringing at the way my freckles stood out beneath the glare of the overhead lights. I reminded myself for at least the millionth time that Cesar loved my freckles, and that’s all that mattered.

  I looked over my shoulder at him, innocently batting my eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Cesar. You interrupted my shower.”

  He answered me with a stinging swat on my bare ass. I yelped and spun to smack his shoulder, but he pinned my hands and quelled my mock-anger with a deep, passionate kiss.

  “Thank you for a very good morning,” he breathed against my mouth.

  “You’re welcome.” I giggled.

  He released my hands, his playful smirk fading. “You going to make an appointment with your doctor?”

  “Oh, yes.” Instinctively, I clutched my gut. “I forgot.” How could I have forgotten I was pregnant? Oh, yeah, Cesar had distracted me.

  “Don’t forget,” he teased, “or I’ll give you another spanking.”

  I wrapped my arms around him, nibbling on his lip. “Mmmm. You act like spankings are a bad thing.”

  “Naughty girl.” He circled my waist, squeezing me to him. “I love you, bella.”

  “I love you, Cesar.” I laid my head against his chest, wishing we could stay locked in this embrace all day.

  My heart sighed when he kissed the top of my head and then pulled away. Since he wasn’t able to go in early, he’d probably stay at work late again.

  He kissed me once more before he left, mumbling something about trying to beat traffic. I hoped he meant what he said when he told me he was going to hire more help, because lately we hadn’t been spending enough time together, and I knew with a baby on the way, I’d need more of his support.

  * * *

  After Cesar left, I threw on jeans and a T-shirt and knocked on my nephew’s bedroom door. This was his last week in school before summer break. I was looking forward to spending extra time with him, and I was especially happy I wouldn’t have to fight Houston traffic every morning.

  “Jake,” I whispered, poking my head through the door. “Time to get up.”

  The three dogs, havi
ng forgiven me for neglecting them yesterday, ran at me with tails wagging in full force.

  “Down, down.” I pushed Nacho’s muzzle away, shaking yellow Lab slobber off my fingers. “Enough, girls,” I said to my little white and brown mutts as they scratched my jeans.

  Jake flopped to the other side of the bed, reluctant to rise, before lifting his head. “I’m coming, Auntie.”

  I followed the dogs down the stairs and let them out, but not before they eagerly scratched the French doors leading to the patio. We’d only moved into this house about a month ago, and already they’d peeled the paint off the wood trim and scratched some of the reflective tint off the glass.

  Because I’d woken up early, I was still running on time, so I made us a breakfast of runny eggs and slightly burnt toast.

  Jake, all elbows and knees, large Latin eyes, a thick mop of dark hair, and a suntan to rival Cesar’s, sat across from me at the breakfast table. We were nicely situated beside my gourmet kitchen, with a view of our spacious backyard. Summer had come to Houston, so Nacho was lounging on the pool steps, slapping the water with his tail, while the other two dogs chased each other around the lawn.

  “Auntie, these look like slimy boogers.”

  I looked over at Jake, who was grimacing over egg snot dripping off his toast.

  I took a sip of coffee, trying my best to keep a straight face. “That’s because I blew my nose in your eggs.”

  He dropped his toast to the plate with a clatter. A clatter? Bread wasn’t supposed to sound like a brick. My culinary skills definitely needed improving.

  He jerked back. “Really?”

  “Yep.” I smiled into my coffee mug. “Adds flavor.”

  When Jake shuddered and pushed his plate away, I knew my joke had gone on long enough.

  I pushed his plate back. “I’m kidding.”

  He grimaced, scooting back from the table. “Can’t I just eat breakfast at school?” He gave me a pleading smile I couldn’t resist; his two missing front teeth made him even more adorable.

  I should have been upset that he preferred cafeteria food to my cooking, but I had to face the truth. Snotty eggs and brick toast did not make me a master chef. Time to hire a new housekeeper. I just hoped I didn’t end up with another nightmare housekeeper like the last one.