“Okay, you can leave your bra and panties on if you want. If the tech can’t see everything, they might have to use the transvaginal probe but that’s not often the case. Hop up on the table when you’re ready and I’ll be right back with the technician,” she said, closing the door behind her.
“I’ll be happy to help you get out of that dress.”
“I’m sure,” she said with a laugh. “But I think I can handle it. You stay in the chair.”
She reached for the hem of her dress peeling the floral cotton print over her head, revealing inch after inch of her glorious body covered only in a pale pink bra and panties. He had to sit on his hands to keep from reaching for her. She was so fucking gorgeous, all gentle sloping curves and smooth white creamy skin.
“Hands to yourself, Masters,” she said, as if she could read his mind. “But I’d like to try some of those positions you were reading about later. If you’re up to it.”
She tugged on her bottom lip with her teeth, and he reached over and gave her perfect round ass a pinch before she could move away. She let out a satisfying squeak before dancing out of his grasp and sliding on the robe. She’d barely managed to make it onto the exam table when there was a soft rap on the door, and the nurse entered with a man who must have been the ultrasound tech.
Luke knew from the background checks he’d had Colin do that all the doctors in the practice, including Claire’s, were women. It hadn’t occurred to him that the tech would be a guy, and a young guy at that. The tech smiled and introduced himself as the nurse helped Claire lay back on the exam table. The robe slid open, revealing Claire’s gorgeous body and Luke worked in earnest to convince himself the other man was gay, although that seemed wishful thinking.
Luke didn’t get jealous, especially not of medical professionals. At least that’s what he told himself, determined not to let Claire see how he was really feeling or do anything that would let her call him out for being an asshole. Luke clenched his fists as the man squirted gel on Claire’s bare skin, coming perilously close to touching her, then watched as the technician pressed the ultrasound tool to her belly, and Luke’s world rocked off its axis.
At first it was just a swishing sound, like snow on an old television with no signal, and then he heard it. Kind of a faraway galloping. A tiny heartbeat, strong and racing so fast it couldn’t be Claire’s. Their baby’s heartbeat. Claire let out a soft “Oh,” and he reached for her hand, needing the connection of touching her to keep the love that was surging in him from fracturing him.
“That’s?” he managed to say without his voice cracking, and the tech quickly glanced at him and smiled.
“Your baby.”
CLAIRE’S BREATH CAUGHT in her throat, and she blinked hard at the tears filling her eyes. Her baby. Their baby. She squeezed Luke’s hand and saw him fighting against his own shining eyes. The tech tried to point things out on the monitor, but she couldn’t concentrate on anything but the feel of Luke’s hand, warm and strong, and the sound of the heartbeat that wasn’t hers.
She’d known she was pregnant. She’d made her peace with the morning sickness and strange cravings. Intellectually, she understood that they were having a baby, but even with the changes to her body, it hadn’t really sunk in until that moment that there was another person growing inside her. One that she and Luke made together.
Oh God, she was going to be a mother. She thought of her own mother and how perfect she’d been, how she’d built a home for Claire and her father and made sure they always had what they needed. Claire had known every moment of her life that her mother loved her and would do anything for her. That kind of unconditional love had made it possible for her to go on and take chances. It was woven through every single thing she’d ever done.
Her child deserved that, and she wanted to give it to him or her. She was simultaneously swamped with feelings of overwhelming love for the baby growing inside her and abject terror that she’d screw everything up. She’d never be able to do what her mother did. She was doomed to fail before she even started.
Luke squeezed her hand and she turned to look at him. Some of what she’d been feeling must have shown on her face because his grin was replaced by a look of concern, which just as quickly turned into one of resolve.
“Don’t worry,” he murmured, leaning in to her ear so only she could hear him. “You are going to be a wonderful mother. Our baby is so lucky to have you.”
She managed to stifle the sob that caught in her throat. It would be easy to blame the tears on her hormones, but that wasn’t it, and she wasn’t about to cheapen what was happening between them. There was so much honest emotion moving between she and Luke; it was overflowing in her and coming out as tears. She was surrounded by love and wonder and so many possibilities, and after being so sure for so long that he’d never let himself open up, he was right beside her holding her hand, ready to carry the burden if it got to be too much for her.
“I love you,” she said, not bothering to hide her words from the other people in the room.
“I love you, too, sweetheart,” he said without hesitation. “I love you and our baby so much.”
By the time the technician cleaned the gel off of her belly and the doctor came in, she’d managed to get her emotions under control and remembered the reason she’d insisted Luke come with her. Although at this point, she couldn’t imagine doing any of it without him.
“Everything looks beautiful,” said Doctor Andrews, sitting on the stool in front of them. “It’s too soon to tell what flavor, but it looks like you’ll be welcoming your baby around the second of March. Do either of you have any questions?”
“Is there any rational reason for me to cut back on work?” Claire asked, slanting her eyes at Luke to make sure he was paying attention.
“As long as you’re feeling okay, no. You’re healthy, the baby looks healthy, if it’s work you’re used to doing, there shouldn’t be a problem with you continuing to work almost until you’re at term. We’ll keep an eye on things to make sure that doesn’t change, but I don’t see a problem with it right now.”
Claire gave Luke a triumphant smile, but from the expression on his face, she didn’t think she’d managed a victory. He looked like he didn’t care what the doctor had to say about it. She was sure he’d still try to micro manage her. She’d have to come up with a more effective way to deal with him.
“What about sex?” she asked. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Luke sit up straighter.
“That’s up to you,” said the doctor. “Some women find their desire’s lower, especially during the first couple of month with morning sickness and feeling tired. For other women, pregnant sex is some of the best sex they’ve ever had. Do what feels right for you guys. If you were doing it before, you should be okay doing it now.”
Claire saw Luke lean forward when Doctor Andrews said pregnant sex could be some of the best sex, and she hoped she might still claim a small victory. If he didn’t stop bothering her about work, maybe he’d at least stop treating her like she was made of glass when they made love. She loved everything they did together, but she missed the raw feeling of being claimed by him.
“Is it really okay? Safe, I mean. It won’t hurt the baby?” Luke asked looking more uncomfortable than she’d ever seen him, but very determined.
“Don’t worry, you won’t knock the baby loose,” said the doctor with a smile.
