Arrested By Love (27 page)

"So, are you having second thoughts?"

"I'm just a little confused and scared. As my lover you can be pretty intimidating. So, how would you change things if you were my husband?"

He sat back. " What makes you think I would want to change anything?"

"Wouldn't you. You're going to want me to promise to obey you, what happens if I don't agree with you?"

Leaning forward again, he said, "Tiffany, whether or not you promise to obey me in our wedding vows isn't important. Yes, I'd like you to do it, but even if you didn't, that wouldn't change the way we interact with each other. I would still expect you to obey me whether you promised to or not."

"So, you're saying nothing would change?"

"No, I don't think it would. I may occasionally play 'the husband card' by reminding you of your promise to me, but I feel that promise is one you've already made. Today, I could have substituted husband for lover when I insisted you say those words, because it wouldn't have changed anything. I feel in my heart that we are already married. We just haven't made it legal, yet."

"In some ways, I think I feel the same way."

"So, what's the problem?"

"Promise you won't laugh?"

"Yes, sweetie. I promise."

"I'd like for you to propose to me again."

"You would?" When she nodded slowly, he said, "Let's call Jim and Kelly after dinner and have them meet us at City Hall tomorrow as our witnesses. If you want me to propose tonight, tomorrow morning, or before them as witnesses, I will gladly do it."

"Really?"

"Of course. Do you want me to get the ring now?"

When she nodded, he got up from the table and retrieved the ring from his dresser, then went back to kneel by her side. "Tiffany Anne Morgan, I love you with all my heart. I always have, and I always will. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want you to have my children and grow old with me. I want you to enjoy every day that we have together and look forward to the next one. And I very much want you to do me the honor of becoming my wife. Will you marry me?"

Tears shone in her eyes as she nodded. "Yes. I will."

He rose up and kissed her then, and she came toward him without hesitation. He brushed the tears from her eyes as he felt his own growing moist. Then taking the ring out of its velvet box, he held out his hand for hers. With a blush, she gave it to him and he slid the ring on only to notice that it was much too large for her now. She'd lost so much weight that if she bent her wrist it would fall off.

"Hmm," he said, looking at her.

"I'll probably grow back into it after a few months."

"You'd better, my darling, or I'm going to find other less pleasant ways to fatten you up."

She winced. "I'm not really in trouble for this, am I?"

He considered that for a moment, then shook his head. "No, I can't scold you when I wasn't there to help you, but I'm going to start weighing you weekly at least, and if you haven't gained at least one pound during the week, you're getting a spanking."

"Is this something I could hand in a pass for?" she asked wistfully.

He chuckled. "Probably, although I think I may have created a monster here. In the meantime, eat your dinner. Unfortunately, they didn't weigh you at the doctor's office, since you were so sick. So, right after dinner, you're getting on the scales, and we're going to start keeping track. A minimum of one pound per week. Gain more and you get a reward. Stay the same, and you'll have to give me a pass. Lose weight, and it's a ten swat minimum."

"That I can get reduced to five, right?"

He reached up and kissed her. "Yes. You can get a reduction, though I can tell you now that I won't be happy about it. Not at all."

"Would you be happier if I let you spank me the full amount?"

"No. That wouldn't make me any happier. Your gaining weight is the only thing that would appease me in that regard. In the meantime, I'll go to the jewelers and get ring guards put on, so you can at least wear your set until you grow back into it."

She smiled, then her smile froze. "What about my parents? They're going to want the large wedding we had planned for next June."

"Fine. We'll do that, too, then. But if you are pregnant, we will have a baby by then, so I'm not going to want to wait that long to marry you. The church wedding will be our formal wedding, but not our legal one. Is that acceptable?'

"Yes. That'll be fine. Thank you."

He kissed her again, then pointed to her plate. "Now eat. You have some serious weight gaining to work on, my darling. So, you'd best get to it right away."

Smiling, she picked up her fork and put some chicken salad and melon on it, then showed him she was eating.

"Good girl. Keep that up."

He returned the ring to its box, put it in his pocket, then went back to his seat to join her in eating their dinner.

That evening, Tiffany made a list of the things she wanted Kyle to get for them tomorrow. "A cake is a must, Champagne, and we'll need some sort of appetizer or non-sweet thing that our guests can munch on."

"No Champagne for you, my darling, so I'll get you some sparkling grape juice so you can join in on the toast."

She frowned. "But Kyle--"

He shook his head. I know it will legally be our wedding day, and I know I'm being exceptionally strict, but I'd rather not take the chance. Especially since you've been drinking on your own when we weren't together."

She sighed. "Okay, but I'd like to get a dress. I don't really have anything special enough to wear."

Though he didn't like the thought of Tiffany going shopping, he knew something like this would be important for her. "This isn't going to be your white dress day. It's a simple civil ceremony. Don't you have anything in your closet that you think might be suitable?" When she shook her head, he asked, "Do you think you and Kelly could find something tomorrow? Or is this something you'll need to do with your Mom and Chrissy?"

"I think I should save Mom and Chrissy for helping me select my bridal gown. Kelly could help me. At least we could look together."

"And is this a 'deal breaker' if you don't find anything?" he asked, concerned that they might have to postpone their marriage if she wasn't successful.

"No. I guess not. I'm pretty sure we'll be able to find something that would work. It might not be what I want, but it'll be close."

"Okay. I'll allow it--"

"Kyle.... I think you need to use another word. That one really ticks me off."

"All right. If this is something that is important to you, I won't try to argue with you about it. However, I do not want you wearing yourself out for a dress, especially since I prefer to see you with nothing on at all."

"Not right now, I bet," she muttered under her breath, but he still heard her.

He frowned. "Why not?"

Glancing down at her chest, she held out her t-shirt. "Because I'm too skinny. Even my bra size has shrunk a little, though not nearly as much as the rest of me."

"You are too thin for your health, which has nothing to do with your ability to give me a raging hard on. I still find you attractive, Tiffany, I'm just worried about you."

She looked like she didn't believe him, so he'd have to prove it to her again, later. "Any way, I understand that you want to look pretty tomorrow, but please know that this is something you are doing for yourself. Not me. So, I don't want you to be selfish and end up fainting, or worse, because you're on a quest for the perfect dress."

She nodded. "Okay. I'll be careful."

"Thank you. We'll need to work out a time schedule, but at this point I'm thinking we should all meet at City Hall around two p.m. Now, are you going to be superstitious about the groom seeing you in your dress before the ceremony?"

"Maybe you could go with Jim and I could go with Kelly?" she suggested timidly.

"All right. Let's call them now, and make sure they're available before we make any more plans."

Jim and Kelly got on the phone together and they were delighted to be witnesses. Jim offered his congratulations, then Tiffany and Kelly spoke privately.

"Would you mind helping me find a dress?" Tiffany asked.

"Mind? Hell no. I'd love to help. I know a really nice, but not expensive, boutique that will probably have just the right dress for you."

"Thanks. Will it be a problem for you to take off work?"

"Um, no," Kelly said, her voice sounding a little odd. "Actually, that shouldn't be a problem at all. But how are you feeling? Are you sure you're up to this?"

"I'm doing much better. The doctor prescribed something to help with the nausea and some sort of vitamin cocktail to give me more energy. Though I am sleeping a lot."

"Has the doctor confirmed a diagnosis, yet?"

"No. But both he and Kyle are pretty certain they know what it is."

"That you're pregnant, right?"

"How did you know?"

"Oh, Tiffany. You were displaying all the signs when I last saw you. I know you wanted to think it was the flu, and I wasn't sure whether you'd be pleased or more upset by the possibility of a baby, so I didn't want to say anything."

"Did you happen to mention that to anyone?" When Kelly didn't say anything, Tiffany whispered, "Kelly, you promised you wouldn't tell Jim how I was feeling. Did you say something to him?"

"I'm not a good liar, Tiffany. I'm sorry. Jim suspected I was keeping a secret from him, and he.... Well, he wasn't happy about it. Actually, when he'd discovered I'd gone to see you again, he got sort of pissed at me. Like, over the knee pissed."

"Oh, God," Tiffany whispered, keeping her back to Kyle. "When did this happen? Are you all right?"

"I'm fine. He actually gave me a reprieve since I was so upset. It was Saturday."

"This last Saturday?"

"Yup."

"Did he tell Kyle?"

Tiffany heard a slight pause, then Kelly said, "Yes, Jim called Kyle."

"But did he tell him he thought I was pregnant?" Tiffany asked, though she already suspected the answer to that question. Kelly paused again. "Did he, Kelly?'

"Yes. It was Jim's idea for Kyle to kidnap you."

"I see."

"Tiffany, both the guys were really worried about you. I was, too. So, I'm glad Jim tortured the information out of me, even though I felt like I was betraying you. You needed to be with Kyle. He's taking really good care of you now, isn't he?"

"Yes. He is."

"And you felt better once you got back with him, didn't you?"

"Yes. I do."

"So, it's okay, isn't it?"

Tiffany glanced back at Kyle, who was organizing paperwork in his office. "I'll talk to you tomorrow, Kelly. Don't worry. I'm not angry with you."

"You're thinking the only reason Kyle decided to get you was because you might be pregnant, aren't you?"

"He has seemed overly concerned in that regard, yes." Kyle must have sensed the tension in her voice then, because he glanced over to give her a quizzical look. She knew he loved her, but the fact that he only came to get her when he thought she was pregnant was not sitting at all well with her at that moment.

"Kyle loves you, Tiffany. It was the thought that you were really sick that prompted him to finally get you. He wanted to take care of you."

"I know," Tiffany answered, trying not to cry. Stupid hormones.

"You are the only thing that is important to him."

Tiffany tried to smile. "That's a nice thought, Kelly, but I'm not sure it's true. I'm sorry I got you in trouble, but I'm glad Jim didn't take action against you for once. Don't worry. I'm fine."

"No, you're not. I can tell. Kyle is there with you right now, isn't he?"

"Yes."

"He suspects you're upset, doesn't he?"

"I think so."

"Then tell him what you're feeling."

Yeah, she'd already done that, and it had only ended up with them getting into a fight. "I'll see you tomorrow, Kelly. Can you pick me up around nine or so?"

"Sure. I'd love to, but--"

"I really need to go now. I'll see you then. Okay?"

"I don't know. I can tell you're upset and--"

"It's okay. I'll be fine. See you tomorrow."

When Tiffany hung up, Kyle walked over to her. "What's wrong?"

Sometimes having someone so attuned to your feelings wasn't a good thing. "Nothing," she answered. "I'm going to go look at my shoes to see if--"

Kyle shook his head. "No. You're going to tell me what just upset you."

Sighing, Tiffany said, "Why should I? You'll only say I'm being a selfish brat again."

He crouched down beside her. "What did Kelly say?"

She started to get up, but he placed a firm hand on her thigh to keep her in place. "Nothing important."

He regarded her carefully. "You're lying to me, little girl, and you know how I feel about that."

She nodded. "May I have my notes now, please?"

"I'll honor one, if you want to use it, but I'd still like you to tell me what Kelly said that upset you."

Closing her eyes, Tiffany sighed, then said, "She told me Jim called you Saturday."

"He did."

"And that he suggested I might be pregnant."

Kyle rose to his feet. "And you think that is the only reason I chose to kidnap you on Monday. Don't you?"

"Was it?" she asked softly.

"No. It wasn't. But I have a feeling you aren't going to believe me given some of the things I've said and done lately. Are you?"

She shook her head. "You already think I'm a terrible mother. No wonder you decided I needed a keeper."

Kyle reached for her hand. "Come here."

Tiffany resisted. "No. I want a pass."

He looked back at her with a thoroughly disgruntled expression. "That's nice, darling. Except I'm not giving you one this time. Not for this. Now, come here."

Tiffany groaned, but allowed him to lift her to her feet. He led her over to the couch in the living room where he sat down and pulled her onto his lap. "Now, how do you think I will react if the doctor says you're not pregnant?"

"You'll be disappointed, of course. You want kids right away."

"Yes, I do. I love kids. I will especially love any kids that you give me, but my primary reaction to that news would not be disappointment. It would be worry, and do you know why?"