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Chapter Twenty-Two
Isabella
“I don’t like this.” I step out of the changing room and examine myself in the mirror, frowning critically at the bulge. “It’s not flattering at all.”
Carter crosses one leg over the other and raises an eyebrow. “You’ve said that about every single piece that you’ve tried on.”
The black lace is like butter between my fingers, and it is one of the prettiest items of clothing I’ve ever seen, but it’s also the sexiest. It has a bow in the center, a thong that rides up the crack in my ass, and a plunging neckline that leaves very little to the imagination.
Although the clerk was helpful enough in handing me a handful of clothing from the maternity section of the store, a part of me wonders if she’s trying to sabotage me on purpose. Especially when she keeps coming into the opulent cream-colored changing rooms to place a hand on Carter’s arm and ask him, in a low and sultry voice, if he needs anything.
I keep glaring at her in the mirror, but as usual, she’s acting like I don’t exist.
Given my size, I’m sure she feels certain that there is no competition, especially with her clear skin, coiffed hair, and an outfit that hugs her body in all the right places. In comparison, I feel like a beached whale, and I’m not enjoying the excursion as much as I thought.
Having Carter back has been amazing, but we’ve spent the past few hours wandering the mall while he buys everything in sight. He’s brought everything from onesies to books and everything in between, and while I’m touched by his enthusiasm and explicit show of support for the baby, a part of me feels like I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Sighing, I go back into the changing room and slide the curtain shut.
I’m pulling my hoodie back on when Carter comes into the changing room and pulls the curtain behind him. He wraps both of his hands around my waist, and I stare at us in the full-length mirror. It’s strange to see the two of us in such an intimate position, especially when we’ve stood like this before, but there’s something about the way we look.
Like we’re ready to take on the whole world if it crosses us.
A swell of emotion rises and grows in my chest, and it’s expanded when Carter spins me around, kneels down in front of my stomach, and presses his lips there. Little pinpricks of happiness dart up and down my arms, and I’m humming with pleasure and surprise when Carter pulls me back out of the dressing room. He laces his fingers through mine, sending a swarm of butterflies to my stomach.
I squeeze his hand back and spot the blonde-haired clerk lingering out of the corner of my eye.
Pausing, I lift Carter’s hand up to my lips and kiss each individual finger. Then I push myself up to the tips of my toes and press my lips to his for a kiss. Before I can pull back, he wraps his arms around my waist and deepens the kiss, making me go light-headed. When my knees go weak, I cling to him and try to remember how to breathe.
But I don’t wipe the grin off my face, especially when Carter’s hands dart between us and he cups my breasts over the fabric of my hoodie. A jolt of desire courses through me as the need for air becomes too great. Carter gives me a meaningful look, and his hands move to settle over my hips. Slowly, I spin around to face the store clerk, who is red-faced and pretending to busy herself with the clothes.
“I’m sorry, but none of them seem right.” I make a vague hand gesture and clear my throat. “Do you have anything else?”
She glances between the two of us, and her gaze lingers on me. “I’ll see what else there is.”
As soon as she’s gone, Carter carries me over to the red leather couch and pulls me down onto his lap. I giggle, link my fingers over his neck, and grind against him. “I’ve missed this.”
Carter gives my ass a firm squeeze. “So have I, but don’t think this means you can talk me into sending our daughter to public school.”
My mouth falls open. “How did you know about that?”
“You and Sam aren’t as quiet as you think you are,” Carter replies, keeping one hand around my waist and the other tracing a path up to my shoulders. “And public school is completely out of the question.”
I frown. “I don’t want our daughter to be entitled or spoiled.”
Carter waves my comment away. “She’ll be fine.”
I huff. “Look at how much you’re spoiling her already, and she isn’t even here yet. Imagine how much worse you’ll be when she’s born. Public school will give her some structure and discipline. I went to public school.”
Carter pushes my hair over my shoulders and kisses my neck. “You’re the exception, not the rule, dove.”
I sigh. “Stop trying to distract me. I’m trying to make a point.”
Carter’s smirk turns wicked, and it sends a shiver racing up my spine. “You can make all the points you want to, dove, but I’m not changing my mind.”
“Why not?”
Carter keeps one hand splayed on my ass, and the other darts underneath my hoodie and grazes the sensitive skin there. “Because she’s going to have you as a mother, and I know you’re not going to let her be spoiled.”
