I poked my head out again.
Nick and Rowan were locked in a silent stand-off.
Rowan broke first, stalking off the bed like a scorned madam. The bathroom door snapped shut a second later.
I slid across the mattress and tucked myself against Ella.
Wouldn’t mind a lie-in, actually.
I draped my arm and leg over hers and closed my eyes. Ella sighed and snuggled closer. The mattress shifted and Nick left. At least his bitch fit remained on the inside.
???
She hovered over the display of peaches and nectarines, poking and prodding each one until she seemed satisfied. When she finally placed a few into the trolley, she looked up at me with a faint frown.
“I’m craving rice pudding with peaches,” she said, hope shining in her eyes.
“Hot or cold?” I murmured.
That was all it took for her to smile.
“Cold,” she said, already selecting more fruit.“Creamy and sweet.”
Nick and Rowan left for work, leaving us to sleep in. I let her rest before we came out. We were almost out of coffee, but I wanted her to pick fresh fruit and vegetables. Something simple. Something normal.
It felt too early for cravings.
And yet there was something perverse in knowing we’d bred her and she didn’t have a clue. Her eyes had lingered on the prenatal vitamin I gave her this morning. Just long enough to register it. It still hadn’t stopped her from swallowing both pills.
I checked the peaches she’d chosen.
Large. Ripe. No yellow spots.
She moved on to the bananas.
My eyes lingered on the curve of her arse as she reached, casual and unaware. Her diet would need monitoring. So would what we did with her. Did the guys even read about relaxin? The hormone that loosened ligaments in preparation for childbirth. Increased flexibility. Increased risk.
But a quick one-on-one should be fine this afternoon.
I followed her to the banana section with all sorts of ideas on how to feed her the defiled fruit.
She was oblivious to my thoughts as she placed a small bunch into the trolley and moved on.
I didn’t.
I rummaged through the pile and chose the right one.
Firm. Curved. Long. Thick.
Perfect.
Then I dropped it in beside the rest and pushed the trolley forward like nothing had happened.
I enjoyed grocery shopping with Ella.
Chapter 53
Nick
