know it,” I say, leaning against it with my ankles crossed while pretending to brush something off my shoulder in a show of cockiness. I really shouldn’t bait her, it’s just...I can’t help myself. Her little fight-backs are always such a turn-on.
She slowly stands to her feet, giving me a little Alexis-attitude. “Yeah, well that can change.”
I waste no time and bend down, gently sweeping her off her feet and placing her upon the bonnet of the car. “No. It. Can’t. Change,” I reaffirm, before taking her head in my hands and pressing my mouth to hers.
The remnants of her toothpaste coat my tongue as I thrust it into her mouth, possessing it like it’s mine. Well...it kind of is mine; she is mine.
My possession of her tongue forces a moan to escape her which brings a smile to my face. I love it how she reacts to my touch.
Sliding one hand to the back of her head, I pull her closer, prompting her tongue to delve deeper.
My cock springs to life, encouraging my thoughts of making love to her before our appointment. But I know we can’t, we shouldn’t. Well, not here, anyway. The thought of anyone seeing her in the throes of passion does not sit well with me. Only I get that privilege.
I reluctantly separate our adjoined mouths and rest my forehead against hers. “Come on, we need to leave before I strip you naked and run my tongue right down your centre. Believe me, the thought is crossing my mind.”
Her mouth drops open, but she then shuts it again and smiles, refusing to budge and displaying a cheeky grin on her face.
“I’m serious. Come on,” I say, taking hold of her hand and shaking my head in amusement. Alexis, when pregnant, is insatiable...horny as fuck...as randy as a rabbit. Hell, she almost wears me out...almost!
Not before long, we are in Dr. Rainer’s office, Alexis lying flat on the examination table and the ultrasound image of our baby swirling around on the monitor. Her hand is gripping mine with an intense clasp as we wait for the sound of a heartbeat.
She won’t admit it, but I know this is hard for her. How could it not be? It wasn’t long ago that we were both here staring at a similar image, that image being Bianca. If fate hadn't decided to be cruel and malicious during that time, Bianca would now be approximately four months old.
I take a deep breath, push aside my sad thoughts and smile at my fiance. I have to be strong for her, because God knows she is forever putting on a brave face. What Alexis has experienced in the past eighteen months is more than most would experience in a lifetime. Her continuous strength and resilience blows me away, together with her ability to take on life’s ruthless challenges and not only meet them head on but to somehow find a way to conquer them. When all is said and done, Alexis is simply amazing, and I thank my lucky stars every day that she has agreed to become my wife. Not only that, but she is carrying my second child, and her two children —Nate and Charlie—have accepted me as their stepfather. I couldn’t be more proud.
The rhythmic sound of popping filters through my ears, bringing my gaze back up to the screen. It really is such a wonderful tone, a reassuring one.
Hearing our baby’s heartbeat, Alexis lets out the breath she has been holding and tilts her head to flash me one of her earth-shattering smiles.
I lean down to give her a quick kiss. “Everything is fine, my love.”
She nods.
Dr. Rainer records a few measurements on the screen then turns to me and Alexis. “Baby’s heart beat is still strong at 140 beats per minute. And his or her measurements are consistent with gestation—“
“His? Or hers?” I ask, probably a bit too eagerly.
“Do you really want to find out?” she questions with a curious smile, seemingly to know that I do and Alexis does not.
“Yes, although Mummy here,” I gesture to my not so happy looking fiance, “does not. So you can whisper it in my—“
“Alright! Alright!” Alexis blurts out, clearly frustrated. “I want to know, too.” She crosses her arms over her chest in a show of reluctant surrender.
I can’t help but smile. She looks so damn adorable, and I knew that she would eventually cave in. She hates secrets with a passion, especially when I’m the holder of the secret in question.
Gently grazing my knuckles down the side of her face, I smile at her triumphantly. “You know, you really don’t have to find out. I promise I won’t tell.”
“Screw you, Bryce Edward Clark. I’m finding out the sex of our baby.”
I laugh out loud. “Well, there you go, Dr. Rainer. We both want to find out.”
“Very well. I’m fairly certain I know baby Clark’s gender already. However, I want a better angle just to be sure. Alexis, I’m going to move the ultrasound wand further down and apply a firm pressure. This will help get a better view of baby’s genitals,” she explains.
Dr. Rainer does as she has just informed and pushes into Alexis’ lower abdomen, causing her to wince.
“Are you alright?” I say with concern, glaring at Dr. Rainer.
Alexis squeezes my hand. “Yes, I’m fine. I just need to pee...desperately.”
I let out a sigh of relief and am thankful Dr. Rainer didn’t see my unwarranted look of displeasure.
“I’m sorry, Alexis, I know this is uncomfortable for you.”
“Yeah, you can say that again.”
“Okay, nearly done. You do know this is not 100% accurate, don’t you?” Dr. Rainer informs us, her eyebrow raised.
“Yes,” we both answer simultaneously.
“Good, okay. There we go.” She presses a few buttons which freezes the image on the screen. “Say hello to your son. You’re having a little boy.”
Alexis gets up on her elbows while I lean in closer to the screen.
“There,” I point to the screen. “He sure is, and he takes after his father.”
“Bryce, that’s your son’s leg,” Dr. Rainer states with a condescending tone.
“Bryce,” Alexis says, grabbing my attention while choking on her words and trying to push back her tears. “We are having a boy. That’s our son. Look at him.”
I glance back at the screen.
On our way back to City Towers, I start to think about all the things I can organise, change, and get ready...like our son’s room. The renovations and re-build of the penthouse are not far from completion, there being probably only a few more weeks before we can move back in. After our ordeal with Gareth, I’d tried to convince Alexis to consider moving into a house by the bay, or in the suburbs—wherever she wanted. But she’d wanted to remain at City Towers, assuring me that it just ‘felt right’, that it was ‘home’; our home. Not wanting to argue with her decision—because let’s face it, it was a fucking brave one—I instigated repairs, renovations and a re-build almost instantly. In the meantime though, we have been residing in the presidential villa.
Sadly, pretty much everything on the first floor of the apartment was ruined by the explosion and subsequent fire. The upstairs bedrooms had sustained water damage but no clear structural impairment. Mainly, the devastation was only cosmetic, although, Charli was absolutely shattered that her 4Life memorabilia was destroyed. Little does she know that I have arranged replacements and plan to surprise her with them when the
