His Woman, His Child (13 page)

Susan felt strangely awkward allowing Hank to see her naked now that she was nearly seven months' pregnant. She hadn't gained a lot of weight and wasn't retaining water the way Donna was, but her stomach was quite large and so were her breasts. How could Hank possibly find her attractive in her present condition?

She grabbed his hands when he tried to unbutton her maternity top. "I don't look the way I did the last time. I've gotten pretty big and—"

He kissed her, then cupped her face with his hands. "You're the best-looking pregnant lady I've ever seen. And if you think I don't find you attractive, then you'd better think again."

"You really find me attractive? Now. Looking like this?"

"Yes, I do. And if you'll give me a chance, I'll prove it to you."

She nodded meekly. "We'll have to be inventive since I'm sure my stomach will get in the way."

"Oh, Susie Q, I'm going to show you inventive."

Hank's wide grin set off rockets inside her—rockets that soared through her bloodstream and set her on fire.

He did a slow, sexy striptease in front of her. Then when he stood boldly naked in front of her, she made no protest as he unbuttoned her top, removed it and then unhooked her bra. He lifted her large breasts into his hands.

"Are they tender?" he asked.

"Yes. Very tender."

"Then I'll be extra careful with them."

He eased her down on the bed, slipped her maternity jeans over her hips and then removed her shoes and socks before taking off the jeans and panties. She lay before him naked and very pregnant. Pregnant with his baby. He smoothed his hand slowly from her neck, over her breasts and across her protruding belly, finally covering her mound with his palm.

"You're a mighty sexy mother-to-be," he said, his voice slightly slurred.

"And you're a sexy father-to-be," she replied breathlessly.

He explored the intimate delicacies of her body, first with his fingers and then with his mouth. Sighing her surrender as her body relaxed, she spread her legs fully and gave him dominion over her. Using his tongue, he brought her to the edge, but before he allowed her to plunge into complete fulfillment, he withdrew and began again the slow, worshipful caresses to her legs and arms. She whimpered as need built higher and higher within her. His lips covered every inch of her back and buttocks, then he turned her over with great gentleness and gave her breasts his full attention, being cautious not to be too rough.

"Please, Hank. I can't … it's too much."

"Soon. Very soon," he promised.

With his fingertips tenderly rubbing her nipples and his tongue lovingly tormenting her femininity, Hank brought Susan to the edge once more. And this time when she began to drop over into the abyss of pure sensation, he gave her the final push. She writhed and cried out, but he continued until she was mindless with pleasure.

When the fading ripples of her climax echoed through her body, Hank eased out of bed, maneuvered her to the side of the mattress and lifted her legs to his shoulders. He entered her slowly, ever mindful of her delicate condition. She undulated her hips, inviting him to take her completely. He sank into her depths, filling her, expanding her. Susan moaned, loving the feel of him inside her.

With each thrust, his control slipped more and more, until with one final lunge he jetted his release into the welcoming warmth of her body. And as his climax hit him, Susan trembled when fulfillment claimed her a second time.

Hank eased her back into the bed, then crawled in beside her and took her into his arms. He kissed her, his lips hot and moist and infinitely tender.

When he pulled her close, she snuggled against him. "Don't leave," she whispered. "Not yet."

"I'm not going to leave," he said. "I'm going to stay all night."

"You are?" she said sleepily.

"Yes, I am. Tonight and tomorrow night and—"

After placing one finger over his lips, she lifted her head and gazed into his dark eyes. "I love you."

He kissed her on the nose. "You're the sweetest thing on earth. And I'm going to try to be what you want me to be. For you and the baby."

Susan smiled, then yawned. "You're already what I want you to be. You don't have to change. I love you just the way you are."

"Go to sleep, honey. We'll talk about this in the morning."

"All right." She sighed, yawned again and closed her eyes.

Hank lay awake for a long time, holding her, watching the moonlight shimmering across her face. He knew he had to do the right thing by Susan and the child. He had to set aside his reservations about marriage and fatherhood and accept his responsibilities. In the morning, he'd tell Susan what he had decided. She didn't have to worry about the future. He was going to take care of everything.

The ringing telephone woke Susan from a wonderful dream—a dream where she and Hank were happily married. Reaching for the phone on the nightstand, she accidently knocked over the alarm clock. She picked up the receiver, said hello and glanced over to the other side of the bed. Empty. Hank was gone. Tired from a full day at the fund-raiser and sedated on sexual fulfillment, she had slept soundly, not even aware that Hank had gotten out of bed.

"Susan? Susan, are you there?" Sheila asked.

"Huh? What? Oh, sorry, yes, I'm here."

"Is Hank still there with you?"

"What? How did you know that—"

"News travels fast," Sheila said. "Is Hank still there?"

"I don't know. He may be downstairs."

"I thought y'all should know that Mrs. Brown has spread the word that you and Hank were kissing."

"Oh, dear, I was afraid of that."

"Well, Mrs. Brown is simply delighted. She's certain a wedding isn't far off. She thinks you and Hank are a perfect match. But I'm afraid not everyone agrees."

Susan scooted to the edge of the bed, slipped her feet into her house slippers and stood. "How could word have traveled that fast? Mrs. Brown walked in on Hank kissing me late yesterday."

"Oh, that's not the worst of it." Sheila sighed heavily.

"What do you mean?"

"It seems Hank's Lexus has been spotted at your house and now everyone knows that he stayed the night with you. This fact, coupled with Mrs. Brown's tale about the passionate kiss she witnessed, has the whole town buzzing. I've had four phone calls already this morning and it's only eight o'clock."

"Damn! Why can't people just mind their own business?"

"I thought I should warn you and Hank. Let y'all know what's happening, so you can be prepared for the worst."

The bedroom door swung open. Hank walked in carrying two ceramic mugs. "Who's on the phone?" he asked as he approached Susan.

She placed her hand over the mouthpiece and replied, "It's Sheila. She's the bearer of town gossip. It seems Mrs. Brown has told the world at large about seeing us kissing. And someone spotted your Lexus parked here overnight."

Hank handed Susan the cup of hot cocoa, then took the phone from her. "Sheila, it's Hank."

"Look, you and Susan should know that the town is forming two sides—two opposing opinions on your and Susan's relationship. Some are delighted that you two are a pair. Others are appalled that y'all are carrying on so soon after Lowell's death."

"Well, Sheila, Susan and I don't care what this town thinks. But you can tell anyone else who calls you that you know for a fact that Susan and I are getting married, just as soon as possible."

"What!" Sheila shouted.

"W-what did you say?" Mumbling, Susan stared wide-eyed at Hank.

"Susan will call you later," Hank told Sheila, then hung up the receiver.

"Hank?" Susan set her mug down on the nightstand. "What do you mean, we're getting married as soon as possible?"

Hank placed his mug beside Susan's, then gently clasped her shoulders. "I've given it a lot of thought, honey. And it's the only sensible thing to do. You're pregnant with my child and our son needs a father. I'll admit that I'm scared at the very idea of trying to be a good father and a good husband, but I can't think of any other solution. Lowell's death left you and your baby alone. It's my duty to step in and take Lowell's place.

"And it's not like you and I aren't good together. A lot of couples don't even have that going for them. Of course, it would mean your moving to Alexandria with me when I go back to work for the Bureau. We'll buy a house, of course. I don't expect you and the baby to live in my apartment."

Susan stared at him as she listened to what he was saying. The words that rang out loud and clear were
sensible
and
solution
and
duty.
He hadn't mentioned love. Hank was offering her what she'd dreamed of—marriage to him. But in her dream Hank had loved her.

"If we start making plans today, we should be able to get married within a week," he said. "I know, under the circumstances, you won't expect a wedding. We'll have Judge Ware marry us in his chambers. And if you'd like, Caleb and Sheila can be our witnesses."

He made the whole arrangement sound like a business deal. Cold and unfeeling. How could she accept his offer when he had made it out of duty and not out of love?

She wanted to be Hank's wife more than she'd ever wanted anything in her life. And she wanted him to be a real father to his son. But how could she marry him if he didn't love her?

Susan pulled away from him. He stared at her quizzically.

"I want you to leave," she said in a calm, controlled voice.

He just stared at her, his eyes questioning her.

"I don't want you to marry me because you can't figure out any other solution, because you believe it's the right thing to do." Her voice rose to a higher volume. "I don't want you doing me any favors! You don't have to sacrifice your blessed bachelorhood for me and my baby!"

"Susan, honey, don't go getting all upset." He reached out for her, but she sidestepped his grasp. "I thought marriage was what you wanted. I thought you'd be happy that I'd finally come around to your way of thinking."

"Get out!" she screamed at him.

"Susan?"

"Dammit, Hank Bishop, get out of my sight right this minute!" She glowered at him, her jaw tight, her teeth clenched.

"All right. Just calm down. I'll leave and give you time to think things through." He hurried to the door, then paused. "I'm just trying to do what's best for all of us."

Susan picked up a glass figurine off the nightstand and pitched it at Hank's head. Barely missing him, the figurine hit the door frame, broke in two and crashed to the floor.

Hank exited hurriedly. Susan slumped down on the bed, balled her hands into fists and beat furiously at the pillows.

Damn him! How dare he propose to her in such a cold, calculated way? Duty. Responsibility. Doing the right thing. To hell with all his noble sentiments. She would gladly trade them all for one little word. Love.

She needed to talk to someone unbiased. Someone who could help her decide what she should do. She wanted nothing less than Hank's love, but she had more than herself to consider in this situation. She had to think of her child. Hank's son would need him every day of his young life. Did she have the right to reject Hank's offer and deny her son his father?

Susan lifted the telephone receiver, dialed the number and waited.

"Hello?" the male voice said.

"Reverend Swan, this is Susan Redman. I really need to talk to you this morning. Do you think I could come over in about an hour?"

"Yes, of course, Susan. Come on over."

After her bath, Susan dressed quickly, then went downstairs to feed the animals and let the dogs outside for a few minutes. Just as she entered the kitchen, a loud rumble of thunder shook the house. Great, she thought, just great. It was going to rain. The weather would fit her gloomy mood. When she started to open the refrigerator to retrieve a carton of milk, she noticed a note attached to the door.

"Fed the mutts and felines," she read, "and took the boys out to do their business. You and I will talk everything over this evening. I'll take you somewhere nice for dinner. Hank."

She jerked the note off the refrigerator, crumpled it in her hand and tossed it into the garbage. She said goodbye to Lucy, Ethel, Fred and Ricky, put on her coat and headed for her car. Just as she slid behind the driver's seat, the sky opened up and the rain came down in torrents.

She drove below the speed limit, taking extra precautions because the roads were slick and she could barely see the road in front her. As she rounded the corner at Fifth and Elm, she noticed the windows were steaming up. She turned on the defog system and within minutes the windows cleared. She noted that the light at the intersection was green. When she reached the center of the intersection, she saw that a car coming from her left was traveling at a high speed. The driver didn't slow down, didn't stop at the red light. Susan knew what was going to happen and realized, in that split second, she was powerless to stop it. The out-of-control vehicle struck the driver's side of Susan's car with a deadly force. The air bag exploded in her face. She screamed. And then everything went pitch-black.