Nobody's Baby (9 page)

“Not really. It was just unexpected.”

His gaze flicked to her lips and back up to meet hers. “You’re sure?”

Whether his question concerned the quickening within her or her previous comment that this was a bad idea, the answer was the same. “Yes.”

He rubbed the spot where the pain had occurred, his knuckle accidentally brushing the underside of her breast.

Kate sucked in a breath as a fierce jolt of need shot through her.

Rio’s lips parted, an apology in his eyes, but something in hers must’ve silenced him. He hooked a hand around her nape, tilted her chin up and settled his mouth soft and firm over hers.

For a second neither of them moved. Kate couldn’t say which of them changed that circumstance, but the kiss caught fire. Her breasts ached for more of his touch. She turned into him, clutching at his shoulders with insistent fingers and mashing her nipples against him. They were ultra sensitive, and it wasn’t enough. She wanted to feel his big hands weighing, his strong fingers plucking.

His rigid length pressed against her hip. A low keening sound pushed past her lips.

His hand slid from her neck and covered one breast. She gasped against his mouth, breaking the consuming kiss.

Kate’s eyes flew open, her gaze meeting his, smoldering hot. Oh, hell. She’d been acting like the sex-starved, hormone-driven woman she was. What had she done? “Rio,” she whispered. “I’m sor —”

“Don’t say it, because I’m not. Not even a little bit. You’re … amazing.” His voice was a low rumble she could feel in her chest. “I can give you what you need, Kate. Let me.”

“We can’t. The contract says —”

“Shh.” He sipped at her lips as he lifted her off his lap and pulled her down across the bed. “Not that. Let me pleasure you. I can’t stand the thought of leaving you needy, knowing I started this.”

He followed that startling offer with more kisses and nibbles along her jaw. Shoving her robe aside, he closed one hand over her breast. The first squeeze arched her back off the bed, and she no longer remembered why this shouldn’t happen. Covering his hand with her own, she pressed into his palm.

Rio responded to her encouragement with masterful fingers, creating magic as he plucked and rolled her nipples while kissing her and ravishing her neck and earlobes.

Need built in her with such a fierce intensity, Kate had to bite down on her bottom lip to keep from voicing her frustration. Just when she thought she’d scream if she couldn’t find release, Rio slid a hand up her thigh, under her gown and cupped her.

She was writhing now, need lifting her hips, searching for friction.

“Easy. I’ve got you, babe.” He pulled her panties to the side, plunged two fingers inside as his thumb pressed against the little throbbing nerve center above her entrance. A second later, his mouth nibbled at her breast through the thin silky fabric.

It was all too much. Lights flashed against the backs of her eyelids as she gasped for air and her body rippled with pleasure. Again and again her inner muscles clutched at his fingers.

“That’s it. Ride it out.” Rio didn’t ease up when she thought surely she would die from the overload of sensation, but shifted his fingers to her nerve center and rubbed against it. The tremors ebbed with the change, then amazingly began to build in strength. The delicious friction he created sent her over again. Rapture bordering on pain rippled through her with more force than she’d ever experienced.

When cognizant thought finally returned and her ears quit buzzing, Kate became aware of Rio kissing her with little tender sips between murmured reassurances. He adjusted the hem of her gown back into place.

Her heart squeezed with the knowledge that this could never be. What had she done?

“Rio,” she sighed his name, needing to hear it, wishing she had words of appreciation for what he’d done. Then she opened her eyes and saw his struggle.

He’d given her everything and took nothing for himself. “Oh, Rio.”

He shook his head.

She squeezed her eyes shut as his lips met her forehead for a long moment. In a rush of movement, he pushed off the bed and left her, the door stopping short of closing all the way.

Chapter Six

K
ate heard the tap-tap of Margaret’s heels on the upstairs landing from her perch on the living room sofa. Because the press somehow caught wind of Margaret’s travel plans, she insisted a bodyguard and no one else would escort her to the airport.

“Are you sure this is what you want, Mom? I don’t mind seeing you off.” Rio’s deep voice carried from upstairs, stirring Kate’s blood with memories of his touch.

“I know, dear, but it’s not necessary. To tell you the truth, I feel like a celebrity having paid security as my escort. So let me enjoy my little fantasy. Now, if you’ll carry these bags to the car, I’ll go say my goodbyes to Kate and be right out to smudge your cheek with my lipstick.”

Rio chuckled. “Sounds like a plan.”

Anticipating Margaret’s arrival, Kate discarded her magazine and brushed a crumb from breakfast off her coral pink shirt. It seemed everything landed on the little shelf her belly made these days. At least the pregnancy finally allowed her to experience decent-sized boobs, though she wouldn’t want them to stay quite this endowed. They’d be a nuisance while running, but if they retained a smidge more fullness than before she wouldn’t mind.

“Oh, don’t frown so at your stomach,” Margaret instructed as she approached through an archway, a bemused expression on her face. “I know how you feel, but this will all be over soon and it will be flat again.”

“Unfortunately, so will my chest,” Kate spoke before she realized Rio was passing behind Margaret in the hallway. He turned a surprised laugh into a cough, nearly dropping a cosmetic case in the process.

Kate blushed so hot she was amazed her hair didn’t turn red. “Ah. Whoo. Well, that was awkward.”

Almost as awkward as having Rio come get her for breakfast this morning after what they’d done.

Grinning, Margaret sank into the cushion beside her. With her came a delicate drift of rich perfume and motherly comfort, if such a thing had a scent. “Kate, you can’t know what a breath of fresh air you are. I’m glad you were here so we could get to know you better. Sometimes I think if things were different ...” She caught herself and shook her head. “Listen to me going on.”

“If things were different how?”

“Never mind, dear. It doesn’t matter.” She took a deep breath as if fortifying herself. “What I really meant to say before I go was thank you, for what you did to help my son and daughter-in-law realize their dream of becoming a family.”

She stopped on a little indrawn breath and swallowed, her eyes bright and damp.

Kate nodded and looked away from the raw pain on the older woman’s face, unable to speak around the lump in her throat.

“They were never happier than in these last few months and that’s because of you.” Margaret’s voice was little more than a whisper now as she struggled for composure.

“It was my privilege.” Her heart breaking for the older woman, Kate embraced Margaret. They clung to one another for some time before Margaret straightened and dug into her handbag for a tissue.

Kate reflected on the truth of her response. Yes, she’d had goals in mind before agreeing to be a surrogate and those goals required the exchange of monies, but she’d gotten so much more. Friendships, the joy of a baby’s movement from within, the certainty that the course she’d chosen was the right one for her, even if she’d had to struggle with her emotional attachment at times. There was also the satisfaction from knowing she was doing something that would have deep, lasting impact on several lives. How could that not be a privilege?

“Mom, you coming?” Rio asked as he entered the room. Seeing the tissue and reddened eyes, he approached his mother’s side with a concerned frown.

She stood and squeezed his hand. “I’m fine, dear. Kate and I were just having a girl moment, weren’t we?”

Kate cleared her throat and pushed to her feet. “Absolutely. Thank you for your hospitality, Margaret. We’ll call you at the first sign of labor.”

Margaret embraced her again, this one more of a casual farewell before being rushed out the door. Kate crossed to the window, intending to wave goodbye, but lowered her hand when Rio gathered his mom to him and her shoulders began to shake.

It was a private moment that made Kate take a step back from the window. But Rio’s expression stilled her from further retreat. With brows drawn, eyes closed and his lips in a straight line, his face was a mask of suppressed emotion as he offered comfort.

Who comforted him?

It was a question she’d wondered about her father in the years after his death. Now that she thought about it, Rio was like her father in some ways. Both were strong men and assumed responsibility beyond that which might be expected of them. Because his expression made her want to be the person he looked to for solace, she turned away.

Her empty cup sat on the end table, so she carried it to the kitchen, brewed another cup of herbal tea and sipped it while waiting for Rio. He didn’t come inside until long after the car doors slammed and Kate had finished her drink. Then he hurried straight to the office upstairs and closed the door.

Grief was a strange companion, each person dealing with it in different ways and with varying degrees of intensity. Today, it seemed to have settled in at Hawthorne House and cast a pall over the entire structure.

Between the emotional upheaval and her cargo feeling heavier than usual, Kate needed a nap. Since the stairs were forbidden and Rio hadn’t yet appeared, she pulled a plush throw off the sofa arm and lay down to rest. The quiet house was perfect for napping, yet no position she tried was comfortable. Lying flat made her back ache. Left side, she could swear the baby’s head was pressing into her bladder. Right side, she was turned facing into the sofa cushions and hung off the other side. With a huff of frustration, she sat up, stuffed a pillow under her lower back and pulled out the recliner to elevate her feet. Finally comfortable, she was wide awake with the sudden realization that she hadn’t felt the baby move all day.

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A
keen sense of loss kept Rio largely subdued throughout the noon meal, so it took him a while to notice that Kate wasn’t eating and kept rubbing her belly.

Damn. He’d hoped they could get past last night without rehashing it, but that didn’t look likely. “Hey, if this is about that thing ...”

“What?” She sounded confused, as if she’d been deep in thought when he spoke. “A thing?”

“Never mind.” Maybe he shouldn’t assume that just because their momentary lapse in judgment was foremost on his mind, it was also on hers. “You’re quiet tonight. Is something wrong?”

Her gaze darted to his face then back to her plate. “I don’t know.”

“What do you mean?”

“The baby isn’t moving.”

Rio shrugged. “So, he’s giving you a break.”

“All day. He hasn’t moved all day. Not once.”

“Is it because of what we —”

“No!” She cringed. “Sorry. I’m sure there’s no correlation.”

“Okay. Do you want to talk about it?”
Please say no.

“Do we have to?”

In the light of day, their foray into a more intimate relationship seemed far away. Maybe she felt the same way. “I’m good. You?”

“Ouch.” She winced and rubbed both sides of her stomach. “Actually, I’m sort of having pains.”

Oh, hell
. “You’re in labor?”

“I don’t know. It’s too soon, but maybe. It’s not like I’m an old pro with this, you know. Dr. Krieger said something about bands tightening, but this feels sharp.”

He could hear the worry in her voice and had to tamp down on his own fears. “How far apart? The book I read said —”

“I don’t know. Three minutes, maybe. It’s not like I’ve been timing them.” Kate was obviously agitated, and he wasn’t helping with his questions.

But three minutes? That was close.

“Okay. Let’s don’t panic.” While everything inside him screamed panic, panic, panic, Rio faked a smile. “We’ll call Dr. Krieger and see what she says. I’m sure it’s ...”
Labor. Oh, hell, I’m not ready for this
. “... perfectly normal.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right. Hey, thanks for being so calm. That really helps.” She gave a self-conscious laugh. “I thought you’d freak and to tell you the truth, I’ve been sitting here going a little crazy.”

If Kate was that concerned, maybe they were way past a phone call. No way he was delivering a kid. “We should go to the hospital and get you checked out. Just in case.”

“Oh, God. You think this is a bad sign too.”

“No. Just playing it safe. Neither one of us has any experience with this so having a professional assess the situation is the smart thing to do.”

“Okay. You’re right. ” She took a deep breath, nodding. “But I should take my go bag just in case I have to stay. Would you get it and my purse out of the bedroom?”

“Sure.” Rio didn’t rush until out of Kate’s line of vision, then called to alert whoever was on security detail and took the stairs two at a time. He didn’t check to see which twin had the Land Rover ready and didn’t care. He was too focused on getting Kate to a medical facility.

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S
omewhere between Kate sharing her concern with Rio and rushing to the car, the pains eased. But that didn’t account for the baby being so still. That was still a worry.

Rio kept glancing at her, his brow furrowed as they passed through the gates and onto the main street.

All that without encountering the press.

“Did you see that?” Kate pointed behind them.

“See what?” Rio asked.

“Exactly. No reporters. Do you think they’ve finally given up?”

He shrugged. “I hope so”

Kate heard a faint jingle. “Hand me my purse. I think that’s my phone.”

Rio produced it, and she dug out her cell.

Dean. Bad timing, but she couldn’t afford to alienate the only sibling still talking to her. “Hey. What’s up?”

“Just checking in. Thought you’d like to know I aced a big test last Thursday. My professor posted the grades online tonight.”

“Ooh.” She breathed through a new stab of pain. “Um, that’s ... great.”

“Wow, Kate. Your enthusiasm is underwhelming.”

She heard the hurt through his sarcasm. “I’m glad. Really. Impressed and ... proud of you. It’s just that —”
Ouch!
She shoved the phone into Rio’s hand and concentrated on breathing.

“Who is this?” he demanded, then relaxed his jaw. “Listen. Kate can’t talk right now. We’re headed to the hospital.”

He ignored her frantic head shaking.

“Yeah, maybe. We’re not sure yet, but it looks like this could be it.”

Oh, man. Dean would probably race to her side now, worrying unnecessarily. She hadn’t meant  to involve them in this, didn’t want them to think of this baby as hers. She groaned in protest.

Rio ended the call. “The pains are closer now?”

“No. I’m upset with you. Why did you tell him? It’s bad enough that I have no say in where I live and am carried around like some invalid. But now you’re involving yourself in my personal relationships too? Why can’t you just back off?” Kate fought away angry tears and huffed away when Rio tried to place his hand over hers. “I can take care of my own life and have been for some time.”

This was too much. She’d had enough of his high-handed lord-of-the-manor attitude. Enough of his smoldering glances and sexy grins and making her want him. Enough, period! If he so much as disagreed —

“I’m sorry if I overstepped.”

Well, that was irritating when she was geared up for a fight. She gauged his sincerity and found it genuine. Phooey. “Oh, all right. I apologize for snapping at you.”

“Understandable. You’re stressed.”

“You’re assuming again.”

“I think it’s a given.”

She gritted her teeth. “That’s not the point.”

How could he stay so calm when everything in her was screaming for everything to stop for a second and let her catch her breath? “It’s not your place to decide what to tell my brother. I don’t need him seeing or treating this birth as something that affects our family in any way.”

“I get it. Won’t happen again.”

Still too upset to form a civil reply and suspecting he was humoring her, Kate remained silent until she had to talk to the emergency room staff about forms and symptoms. Though it irked her to admit it, even in secret, there was something comforting about Rio’s equanimity. 

She’d seldom been able to share the load with someone else, let alone rely on them to carry their portion. Even when her dad was alive, he’d been on the road most of the time, trucking loads here and there, trying to keep food on the table. She could still remember him giving her big bear hugs that made her giggle. Then he’d set her down and say, “You’re such a good girl, Katie. I’m counting on you to keep an eye on the boys while I’m away, because your mom is feeling poorly again.”

He couldn’t quite meet her eyes on that last part. If it had bothered him that the boys weren’t his blood kin, that his wife couldn’t keep her legs together when he was away and was about as useful as a pressed penny, he’d kept it to himself. So, she’d followed his example, stood straight and kept going on the memory of those arms holding her tight.