Page 73 of Mister Stark

My nauseous stomach let up and Daxon’s caress soothed my backside. He ran his hand in slow circles as I leaned against the toilet and waited for some strength to come back. He just sat there behind me in silence and listened to my body relax.

Daxon, recently the man who was my enemy. The man who I thought wanted me gone. A man so cruel and ruthless who only put his business first. But yet so kind, thoughtful and complex.

There was so much more to Daxon Stark and I saw it first hand as he handed me a towel to clean my mouth. He let go of my hair and brushed the strands behind my ears. His hands cupped my face as I tried to turn away, and he made me look at him. His kind eyes shone into my soul, and I never wanted to come back from it. I could stay lost in them forever because this was the man Daxon truly was. And he was incredible.

The pads of his thumbs caressed my face, and I was sure my breath stank, but he didn’t care. He laid his forehead against mine and the quietness was everything. He was everything, and he softly brushed my lips.

“Feel better, princess?” He asked me against my mouth.

“Yes, much better.” I breathed against his lips.

He pulled back and scooped me back into his arms. “Good, because I’m staying whether you like it or not.”

I wanted to refuse and put up a fight, but I didn’t have the strength for it. I didn’t care to be alone when I was like this, and it would be nice to have company. Being pregnant and sick was a chore. The extra help would be nice.

“Okay, daddy.” I giggled softly as he laid me on the couch and covered me with a blanket.

“I wonder why you are so sick?” Daxon pondered as he stood up straight and looked down at me. “It has to be the food at that greasy restaurant. I’ll put in a complaint first thing in the morning.”

His concern was touching, but I knew the true reason for this dreadful sickness. The sickness would soon go away and turn into back pain. Next, would come swollen feet and the need for this baby out of me. But he couldn’t know the truth.

No one could.

“No, don’t worry about it.” I sighed and lied to him. “It’s probably just a bug I picked up.”

“Well, regardless, I’m staying here until you’re better and I’m going to make you some peppermint tea.” He said with determination and headed towards the kitchen. “Where do you keep your tea bags?”

I heard cupboards open and shut. A rustle of utensils and random sounds from the kitchen behind me. He tried to navigate my kitchen with a mission to soothe my queasy belly, and it was the sweetest thing.

I giggled and answered without another thought. “They are in the pantry.”

The pantry...

Oh, no!

My brain reeled into overdrive and pushed my pregnancy brain aside. The lack of sleep and sickness had finally taken its toll. I had forgotten about my prenatal vitamins in the pantry and Daxon was about to stumble upon them.

I threw the blanket aside and shot off the couch. I rounded around it to confront him and steer him away from the one thing that could give this pregnancy away. He couldn't learn the truth and I needed to hide it at all costs. Not like this.

“You know I think I made a mistake and...” I blurted out in panic.

But it was too late.

There was Daxon, and he held the bottle of prenatal vitamins in his hand. He looked down at them as he read the label and the surprise sank in. He peered in my direction and back at the bottle of supplements to help with the baby’s development. The prenatal vitamins I took to help me have a safe and healthy pregnancy.

“Why the hell are these in your pantry?” He asked as he stepped closer to me and narrowed his eyes.

“I-I...” I stammered, but no words came out.

He caught me, and the secret was up. There was no way out of it and no matter what lie I came up with, he knew the truth. Daxon Stark wasn’t stupid and far from it. He was wise and had already had a child. He knew exactly what those meant.

“You’re pregnant?” He breathed in disbelief and looked down at my swollen belly.

“Yes, I am.” I sighed and held my breath.

“How could you keep this from me?” Daxon asked as he walked closer still and fell to his knees.

His reaction shocked me as his hands touched my belly, and the moment was tender. He caressed my swollen skin and my hands found his hair. They ran through the silky strands and tears touched my eyes. The delicate moment had touched me in a way I never thought possible because I didn’t realize he was capable. Capable of caring for this baby and it wasn’t even born yet.

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