“I already know something about her.”
“Oh yeah?”
I nodded. “She was a genius.”
“How do you figure?”
“She locked onto you and didn’t let go.” I kissed him again. “I plan to do the same.”
He rolled me onto my back and smiled. “I’m gonna make sure you never want to let go.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
Kissing me one more time, we got dressed and headed downstairs to join our family and friends.
We stepped into the great room and my stomach roiled. “Doom?”
“Yeah?”
I reached for his arm.
“Baby?”
“Sick.”
I had to give him credit. He had a plastic bag under my chin faster than I could turn back toward the stairs, and I puked as daintily as I could, considering I was in a building full of people.
While I kept the bag under my face, he wrapped an arm around my waist and guided me down the hall and into the bathroom, closing us in and taking the bag from me. I knelt in front of the toilet and he took care of the bag before washing his hands, then sweeping my hair back and tying it with a band he kept on his wrist for his own hair.
“Give me three seconds,” he said, and stepped out. I heard him bellow for my sister and then he was back with me and leaning against the sink. “I’m not gonna crowd you, baby, but you tell me what you need. I’ll be right here.”
I nodded and closed my eyes. I was exhausted all of a sudden.
A knock at the door brought my sister with saltines and pop, and once I felt like I could stand, I washed my hands and rinsed my mouth out, but I was still exhausted.
“Bed,” Doom ordered.
“I have nothing with me,” I countered.
“You don’t need anything,” he said. “I’ll run out and pick up whatever you need tomorrow. But for now, you’re gonna rest.”
His tone left no room for argument, and I was way too tired anyway, so I nodded and let him lead me back upstairs.
Harmony followed with the Sprite and crackers, then hugged me and closed me in with my man.
Lyric
DOOM’S BEARD TICKLED me as he kissed my shoulder, sliding his hand to my belly. “How are you feeling?”
“As long as I don’t move, I’m good,” I said. “I think. What time is it?”
“Ten.”
“Why am I so tired?” I complained.
I’d thrown up a few more times last night, but then I fell asleep and pretty much slept like the dead. I woke up a few minutes ago, which meant I’d had almost eleven hours of sleep, so the fact I still felt like I’d been hit by a truck was annoying as hell.
“Because you’re growing a life inside of you.” He kissed my shoulder again. “But today, you’re staying where you are.”
