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"We’re getting married in two weeks. Should we put it off?"
"No need for that. Like I said, we’re just monitoring her. She’s reacting well to the fluids. She’s asking for you."
With a nod, Maxwell made his way to the room assigned to her. She was four months pregnant and still not showing and, to his inexperienced eyes, looked too delicate to be carrying a baby inside her.
She was propped up on the pillows, wearing a frilly blue robe. He was relieved to see she looked a lot better. She’d been putting on weight and he’d been so hopeful before this.
"You look upset.”
“I’m concerned." He corrected as he sat on the edge of the bed. " I get the feeling you’re pulling this stunt to get out of marrying me. It’s not going to happen."
"You caught me." She searched his face closely. "It's not as bad as it was before and the doctors assured me I’ll make it for my wedding."
"You’d better." He’d been out of the country three times in the past couple months and hadn’t wanted to take the chance of taking her with him. It’d chafed at him and each time he’d cut his visit short so he could come back to her. She was partially moved in at his place and the plans for the wedding were moving along.
They were to be married at the Catholic church she and her Dad were members of, with the reception held at the house, outdoors in the garden. He couldn’t wait for that day. He’d given her a ring, an exquisite square cut diamond surrounded by rubies.
"You’re not even showing." His hand drifted down to the still flat stomach.
"No doubt I’ll be as big as a cow when I reach six months. It was the same for my Mom." She was trying to reassure him and they both knew it. "Daddy showed me pictures of the different stages of her pregnancy. He was obsessed in taking pictures the way you are."
"I want the kid to realize the sacrifice you’re making." He said gruffly. He’d bought a camera specifically for the purpose of documenting everything, even her stay in the hospital. The media had exploded when they first went out on a date and had been whipped in a frenzy when it was leaked she was pregnant.
"It's not a sacrifice. Darling, look at me." She pleaded and, when he lifted his head, she took his hand and kissed the palm, sending shockwaves throughout his body. He was careful with her, much to her frustration.
The violent passion that had been the highlight of their lovemaking had been replaced by gentleness and she missed the way he’d ruthlessly made love to her in the past.
Nothing she said to him would make him budge. “I’m fine. This is just a difficult part of the pregnancy and, after this, it’ll be smooth sailing."
"We'll see. I’m never putting you through this again."
"They say that as soon as the mother holds the baby in her arms, every negative aspect is forgotten." She tried to tease him out of his soberness.
"I’ll never forget."
"Obviously. Hence the way you make love to me."
"What do you mean?"
She sighed as she linked their fingers together. "You know what I mean Maxwell. You treat me like glass. Like I’m about to shatter if you touch me too hard. I want back the man I met all those months ago. I want to feel you pounding inside me, taking me from behind and putting your mark on me."
"You’re pregnant!"
"Wow. Really? Thanks for telling me." The sarcasm in her voice wasn’t lost on him.
"I’m not going to do anything to make it any worse."
"I’m not dying." The exasperation rang in her tone. "I don’t want you holding back."
"As soon as you’re better, then we’ll see." He rose and moved over to the window. She watched his broad shoulders as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his dark blue slacks. "I’ve hurt you enough."
"Maxwell-"
He rounded on her, his eyes fierce. "Do you think it's easy for me? I came here when you were first admitted and I saw a bag of bones. I thought I was going to lose you and I felt like I was dying. For the first time in my life, I’m in love, someone means more to me than my own life and it scares me.
It gives me nightmares when I wonder if something is going to happen to you, if I’m going to lose you. I’ve done a lot of reading up and it makes me weak at all the things that could happen." His hands moved as he continued to stare at her.
"I never wanted this-" His voice thickened. "I never counted on you and the way you make me feel. I can’t breathe with the love I have inside me and losing you-" He took a deep breath. "I can’t even contemplate-" He turned to the window again as he lapsed into silence.
