Conflicted Love (Needle's Kiss) (16 page)

If I wasn’t sure I loved her before, I would have known with every part of me in that moment. She was it. She was my everything.

Teeny

“I feel like a whale,” I pouted unnecessarily flopping back on the bed. “I’m not going.”

“Do I need to show you again how fucking hot you are?” Trip smirked standing in the bathroom doorway, one hand extended above his head touching the top of the doorframe. I licked my lips. My body warmed up as I watched a drop of water slowly travel down the tattoos on his defined chest. It gently trickled over his ripped abs, down one side of that awesome V muscle and soaked into the low slung towel that barely held on to his waist.

“Huh?” I asked completely distracted by the muscles that were stretched under his inked skin. The metal ring in his nipple caught the last rays of light streaming in from the window. He chuckled and smacked out a beat with his hands on the doorframe before pushing off and stepping in front of me. “You look sexy. Don’t doubt it.” A blush crept up my face as his eyes locked on mine daring me to argue back. He leaned down, cupped my face and kissed me hard. “You. Are. Fucking. Hot.” I sat flushed and speechless as he wandered off and got dressed like he was completely unaffected.

“Humph,” I muttered pushing myself up from the bed and waddling to my cute flat sandals; my dress swished with each step. “You could go ahead and get fat with me; it’d make me feel better.”

“Princess, you aren’t fat. I’d tell you if you were fat. Your tits are fucking awesome. I’m actually thinking about making sure you stay knocked up. Those bad boys rock,” he snickered and dodged the ballet slipper flat I threw at him. I didn’t miss the suggestion of more kids, even if it was only him joking around. Rather than over analyzing it, I grabbed my purse and took myself downstairs ready for our first official date complete with a belly full of butterflies, arms and legs.

“I need to go again,” I sighed. “It’s your fault I need to use the bathroom so much. Your kid is heavy and pressing on my bladder.”

“You only went before we left the house,” Trip complained as he opened the restaurant door for me. I walked through choosing to ignore his comment. Instead, I just toddled up to the maitre’d stand. I opened my mouth to speak but was abruptly cut off when the young woman behind it locked her eyes on Trip and all but humped his leg.

“How can I help you tonight?” The tall brunette waitress cooed up at Trip batting her eyelashes and poking her very fake chest out. Unbelievably, she ignored my presence all together.

“Table for two, please. Somewhere quiet if you can,” he drawled smoothly while I glared at the flirty girl in front of him. Then he went and pulled out sweet Trip again and put an arm around my waist. My lips tipped up at the corners.

“Sure,” she sulked looking like she’d just sucked on a lemon. “If you’d like to take a seat at the bar over there, I’ll have somebody come and get you when it’s ready.”

“I’ll get us a drink while you go to the bathroom.” He dropped a kiss on my forehead and I shuffled off in the direction of the ladies’ room.

I stepped back out of the ladies’ room with a giant smile on my face. As far as first dates went, this one was a little late, as in thirty-six weeks late, but so far nothing short of wonderful. Trip had been thoughtful and cute. Never complaining about how slowly I was teetering about on my heavy legs, opening doors and dismissing the waitress. I knew he wouldn't change.

Ten steps in and my smile died as fast as it had appeared, “You’ve gotta be shitting me,” I grumbled, a sick feeling swirling around my stomach. Trip leaned against the bar his back to me, a stunning woman leaning into him with her hand on his bicep giggling and flirting. I should have known better; it was too good to be true and I was an idiot for thinking otherwise. Once a player, always a player.

Unable to help myself, I stepped up a little closer, just enough to be within hearing distance. My heart stopped when Trip reached up and grabbed the girl’s hand that was running up and down his arm. My stomach dropped to my feet as I realized I was being played a fool. I was on a date with him and he was hitting on some chick the first chance he got.

My body locked up when he began speaking. I waited for that final blow where he got her number or organized a hook-up.

"Listen, I get what you're trying to do and you look like a nice girl and all, but my woman will be back in a minute. And I wouldn't trade her for anyone, doll."

Wait, what? I did a double take, my stiff posture relaxing when his words sunk in. He wasn’t picking her up; he was dismissing her. For me. His words washed over me like magic. I watched as the girl turned her nose up at being rejected and stomped off in a snit. Trip simply shook his head and scoffed.

I quickly decided I didn’t want him to know I had witnessed the whole thing or had momentarily doubted him, so I ducked back around the other side of the wall and waited a beat. Smoothing my dress down, I watched him pull out his wallet and pay for our drinks before I walked back around the corner and straight up to him.

He’d just shown me that all his focus was on me. His simple words and easy gesture had soothed my thoughts as simply as if he’d flicked a switch. I stopped in front of him. Trip slid my drink over looking relaxed; he obviously didn’t realize I had witnessed the whole thing, so I decided I would act like it hadn’t happened. Rather, I would simply bask in the knowledge that he had validated me, us, without knowing it.

“Everything okay?” he asked noticing my wide smile.

"Everything’s perfect," I replied meaning those words more than he’d ever know.

Trip

“Keep ‘em closed till I say,” I whispered in her ear shuffling her forward. I couldn’t help but lean in and run my nose up her throat.

“Oh,” she gasped. “Will there be sex? I can do sex. I like sex,” she rambled confirming she was the most perfect woman ever created. The last few weeks, she’d been insatiable. I was pretty sure my dick was close to shriveling up and running away; still, I wasn’t complaining. I didn’t think I’d ever get enough of her.  She claimed it was just hormones and it’d stop once the baby was born. Me, I was hoping at least some of her over-excited appetite would stay.

I barked out a short laugh at her one-track mind. “No, no sex. Yet.”

“Damn,” she pouted making me smile even bigger.

“Okay, we’re going up a step now, ready?” I asked.

“Where are we going?” she asked sounding slightly giddy from the excitement of being surprised. I had woken her up in the most toe-curling way. I’d been as discreet as possible, even going so far as to blindfold her after helping her up into the truck.

“You’ll see in a minute. Be patient, baby.” Once I guided her up the step and pressed myself to her back, my arms curled around her very big belly. I couldn’t not touch it; it was a pretty special thing, and every time I did Junior would roll or kick, almost like it knew I was there.

“Congratulations!” Everyone yelled when Teeny stepped inside the tattoo parlor. The entire place was decked out in balloons and streamers. Mace and I had snuck off after dinner the previous night leaving Teeny and Scarlett to their girls’ night in while we slaved over the decorations. Well, maybe not slaved, but close enough.

Teeny’s eyes watered with unshed tears as she smiled shakily holding a hand to her chest in surprise. “What? I don’t…who did this? What’s it for? I mean…”

Damn, it was adorable when she babbled.

“You graduated, Princess. You are a fully qualified tattoo artist.” I rested my chin on her shoulder.

“You did this for me?” she asked sounding a little choked up. I reached into to my pocket and pulled out the tissues I’d had the good sense to grab. I was getting the hang of this crying thing. I just had to have provisions all the damn time.

I handed her off to Scarlett and pushed the tissues into Teeny’s hand. “I’ll be right back. I just have to take care of something,” I assured her before nodding to Mace and ducking into the backroom of the parlor.

“You all set?” Mace asked walking in behind me and shutting the door.

“Yes, no. I don’t know.” I ran a hand over my face and took a deep breath. “Fuck me.”

“Yeah, you’re ready,” Mace laughed and slapped me on the back.

“Have you got it?” I asked shifting from foot-to-foot nervously. Mace reached over and passed me the box I was after.

“She’s going to skin you alive when she finds out what you’ve done.” Mace laughed when I nodded.

“I know, but it had to be done.” I hid the box and moved to the refrigerator pulling out the cake Scarlett had picked up that morning. “I feel kinda sick,” I regrettably told Mace.

His answer was to laugh and head back out to the party with me following not far behind. As soon as I stepped back into the crowd of our family and a few close friends, Teeny’s eyes locked on me and she waddled over.

“This isn’t just for my graduation.” Obviously while I was in the back, she’d noticed the decorations that all said baby shower. I shook my head smiling, placed the cake on the table and cupped her face in my hands.

Looking down at her sparkling eyes and blindingly happy smile, I felt almost like a superhero. I’d put that smile there. Me. “Enjoy it. You deserve it.” I brushed my lips over hers and nibbled the side of her mouth, and then spoke against the soft red skin of her lip. “You want something to drink or eat? I got pickles just for you.” Her answer was to snort and nod her head.

When I pulled a jar of pickles out of a bag under the table and handed it to her, she pecked me on the cheek and took off as fast as her heavy frame would allow. I chuckled when she eased down on the waiting room sofa and opened the jar, popping a pickle straight in her mouth. I could even hear her moan from across the room. “Damn, pickles,” I muttered busying myself again.

“I’m not sure what you were thinking picking this cake,” Ma chastised stepping up beside me.

“What’s wrong with the cake?” I asked confused. It was what the lady had suggested at the bakery when I called the order in.

“It’s blue,” she pointed out softly.

“Yes, it’s blue. I’m relieved you aren’t color blind yet, Ma.” I ducked right away, but her hand still miraculously connected with my ear. “Ouch,” I complained rubbing my lobe between my fingers.

“You don’t know you’re having a boy, bebe.” Ma’s warm smile made me more than a little happy.

“It has to be. Look at the genes in play here.” I pointed to my puffed out chest.

“Still so modest,” she mumbled leaning up and kissing me on the cheek before finding her seat again.

It was a damn near perfect day. Teen was smiling like a loon surrounded by baby crap of every possible variety. So why was my stomach churning like a bitch?

Teeny

Once everything was cleaned up and all our friends and family had left, Trip smiled and told me with a sparkle in his eyes, “I have another surprise.” He had been acting all cute and discreet, and made me close my eyes. Shuffling through the parlor, I held onto his hand and let him lead the way.

Still with my eyes closed, he told me, “Lay down right here. I’ll guide you.” He held my hips until I was sitting on the tattoo table and then gently helped me to lay down. The paper sheet crinkled under me as I got comfortable.

“So I’ve been working on this tattoo piece for your ribs. I want to show you,” Trip told me cautiously.

“Won’t I need my eyes open to see it?” I pointed out smiling. He was being coy and a little obscure.

Buzzzzz 

At the sound of the tattoo gun, my eyes shot open and I sat up, ramrod straight.

“What are you doing?” I barked out. Trip had the tattoo gun in his hand. “You can’t tattoo me! I’m pregnant!” I screeched. My hand flew up to my chest and my heart raced a million miles an hour. A giant smile took over his face and he burst out laughing. It was then that I realized he’d intended to frighten me.

“You should have seen your face,” he wheezed holding his stomach with one hand. “That was priceless.”

I slapped his arm. “You scared me to half to death, you asshole,” I giggled.

“I was just messing with you.” He calmed himself down enough to put the tattoo gun down and picked up a sharpie. “I have this instead.” He waved the pen around and raised his eyebrows.

“Okay, you’re in charge here.”

Rather than just pulling up my top, he gripped my hips, squeezed my waist then slowly slid his hands up my ribs causing my top to lift and goose bumps to break out over my skin. His thumbs brushed against my ribs in a small affectionate gesture.

“This might be a little cold,” his husky voice penetrated the cloud of lust around my head. Uncapping the marker, he sat me up, legs dangling over the side of the table and then rolled himself on the stool between my legs.

"You gotta keep still, Princess," Trip whispered against my skin. The wet tip of the sharpie tickled my ribs as he leaned in close and started drawing lines, shapes and patterns I wasn’t able to see yet.

I let out a long breath and relaxed under his hard warm hands.

“Oh, that’s pretty.” I glanced at the intricate vines he had sketched over my taut skin within minutes.

“I’ve barely started,” he grinned concentrating on his task. I was entrapped by the look on his face; every so often, his tongue would shoot out and wet his lips. Not only had my sex drive flown through the roof, but any normal woman would have wanted to jump his bones. He was damn sexy when he was drawing; he always had been. There were more than a few times when I’d been at the shop visiting Scarlett and he’d been sketching something, so absorbed in his project that he wouldn’t notice me watching him. The way he’d bite his lip and furrow his brow was enough to make me combust.

I must have become lost in thought, as the next time I looked down, he had made a lot of progress. Along one side of my ribs was an amazingly detailed vine with whisper-soft baby’s breath; the background was the perfect pattern of wind and blowing leaves.

“That’s amazing. Is it done?” I asked trying to see further past his tattooed hands.

“Nope, I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time. I’m savoring it,” Trip murmured completely focused.

“What do you mean a long time?” I hadn’t realized before now, but he had drawn the entire thing without a sketch. He’d told me he drew up the design, so it wasn’t just him messing around with a pen; he had committed it to memory beforehand.

“I told you. I’ve been thinking about this for a long time, probably since the first time you walked into the parlor. You were wearing those fucking tight jeans that made your ass look like heaven and a backless shirt-thingy,” he all but moaned.

Dumbstruck, I searched his face to find him lost in thought, the black marker raised mid-stroke. A cheeky grin slowly crept over his face and he shook his head.

“Explain, please,” I demanded softly. The pen tickling as he steadily created his masterpiece.

“You didn’t know?” he asked looking up at me as I shook my head. “Babe, every fucking time you walked in the room, I’d have a hard-on the size of the Statue of Liberty. I lost count of the number of times I whacked off with you on my mind.”

“Oh, I didn’t know. Why didn’t you ever…?” I wanted to ask, but I was afraid of the answer. I still had this niggling fear he had fallen in love with me only because I was carrying his child.

Capping the pen, he put it aside. “I never wanted to mess up the friendship we had. If I had thought for a second fucking you six ways from Sunday would have gotten me what I have now, I wouldn’t have hesitated. I wasn’t ready then. I am now.” The easy, simple way he spoke those words melted my heart.