Page 31 of Caught By A Cowboy

Istir the eggs in the pan and look away when I feel another nausea attack. The room is crowded, the boys are being their usual rowdy selves and I swear it's far too hot in here.

“Miles, could you prop open that door or something?” I ask, lifting the huge pan of eggs onto the heat mat in the center of the table. He gets up and lets in some cool air and I feel a little light-headed as I step back from the table.

“Ya good?” Jace looks concerned as he takes his place at the table.

“Couldn’t be better.” I manage a smile. I can’t admit that I feel sick, it’ll get his hopes up and then he’ll make me do a test. I’m not ready for that yet.

“I forgot coffee.” I turn my back on the table and grab the percolator from the machine, and when the waft of it hits me, I have to quickly put it down and vacate the room. I dash out the backdoor that Miles just opened and head around the back of the house, bracing my palm against it as I bring up the contents of my stomach.

“Mad–”

“Stay back, don't look at me.” I hold up my other hand to place a barrier between us. The last thing I want is for him to see me with vomit in my hair.

“Don’t be stupid.” He marches up behind me, scooping up my hair in his big, strong hands and gathering it at my nape.

His free hand strokes the arch between my shoulders as I spew up a little more onto the ground beneath me.

“You’re okay,” he tells me while I take a few breaths and compose myself. Straightening up, I turn around to face him and when I see the grin on his face I want to knock his head off his shoulders.

“I’m glad you find my suffering so amusing.” I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand and glare up at him.

“Oh, darlin’, it ain’t your sufferin’ that’s making me happy.” He steps into my space and lifts me up from under my thighs. Pressing me into the wall, he shocks the hell out of me when he kisses me.

“Jace, I just–”

“I think we made a baby, Princess.” He ignores the fact my breath must smell like vomit and kisses me again.

“I’m pretty sure taking the test is simple,” I tell him when we’re in the bathroom. There's no way I could have held him off any longer and suddenly, that sick feeling in my stomach has been replaced with nerves. All the symptoms Jace has read about are there; my period is late, my tits feel tender when he touches them and now I’m throwing up, but getting it confirmed feels overwhelming. It’s not that I’ve changed my mind, if anything, my desire to be pregnant with Jace’s child has grown over the past few weeks. I just know there will be judgment from myparents, and I can’t blame them for that. Starting a family with a man you’ve just met isn’t exactly the most rational thing to do when you just dumped your fiancé of six years.

“I’m sure it is, but we need to get this right.” Jace lays the instructions out on the counter and pops the cap off the white stick in his hand.

“Hop on the seat.” He nods toward the toilet and I immediately start to laugh.

“You don’t honestly expect me to do that with you in here, do you?” I stare back in horror. Him seeing me throw up was bad enough, I will not allow him to watch me pee.

“Who d’ya think is gonna hold the stick? I told ya we are gettin’ this right.”

“Absolutely not.” I go to snatch the thing from his hand but he raises his arm so it’s out of my reach.

“Darlin’, the journey starts here, I’m not being in another room.”

“I think the journey started when you put your dick inside me without a condom on it,” I point out, stretching up on my toes and attempting to grab the stick from his hand.

“Mads, there’s every chance that my kid’s in there.” His voice softens as he lowers his arm, but keeps a firm grip on the test. “There’s nothing I want you to do without me, there’s nothing you need to hide or be ashamed of.” He starts walking toward me, forcing me to step back toward the toilet. Then sliding his other hand into the side of my yoga pants and panties, he slips them off my hips and guides me down on the seat.

“Why d’ya look so scared?” He smiles as he crouches in front of me and slowly parts my legs.

“This is just…it’s a lot to process,” I admit, as his hand reaches into the space between my thighs and he holds the stick in place.

“What if I get pee on your hand?” I bite my lip awkwardly and he laughs. “I’m a rancher, I’ve had a lot worse.”

“Jace, I am scared,” I admit, resting my forearms on his shoulders and closing my eyes.

“What ya scared about? I promised I’m gonna take care of you.”

“I know, and it’s not that.” I swallow thickly. “This is our first attempt and you’ve got your hopes up really high on this being positive. So, have I…What if it’s not?” I feel the nerves in my stomach flapping out of control.

“Then we get to have a whole lotta fun trying again but, baby, if you don’t pee for me, we won’t know.” His voice is calm and soothing, and when the hand he’s not holding the test with gently strokes my thigh, I allow myself to release.