“I’m going to have a baby.”
Chapter 18
“I’m going to have a baby.”
Nathan froze in a state horror-filled petrification for several seconds as he processed Tara’s words.
Finally, the statis broke as his brain blared alarms and he went into crisis mode. He tried to jump off the bed, but ended up sort of rolling off the side, falling on his ass.
“Nathan!”
Tara leaned over, and he almost head-butted her as he scrambled to his feet. “I just electrocuted you! I just…I electrocuted a baby?”
His skin was numb, the edges of his vision had gone gray, and white noise had replaced any intelligible thoughts.
He was going to vomit. Or pass out. Maybe both.
“Nathan, no, wait?—”
“Obstetrician,” he blurted out. “I think one of the other Doms is an obstetrician. I heard him talking about baby stuff in the parking lot.” Nathan skidded around the bed, grabbing for his pants. “The sneakerhead. What’s his name?”
Tara was on her knees in the middle of the mattress shaking her head. She reached for him, her fingers just brushing his arm as he raced for his clothes. He felt sick at what he’d just done to a pregnant lady.
And not just any pregnant lady. Tara. His Tara.
She’ll be a great mom.
That thought made him pause, because while it was true, it was seriously unhelpful right now.
“Nathan, look at me.”
“I’m going to go get a doctor. Then I’ll take you to the hospital. Maybe they have an ultrasound machine here. Is ultrasound a kink?” The words came out so fast that they ran together.
Tara lunged, wrapping her arms around him. He grunted as she managed to pin his arms at his sides, her face pressed against his shoulder blade. Tara tugged once, and he resisted. He needed to go find her a doctor.
Tara slid off the bed, still hugging him. As she pressed against his back, he swallowed hard as emotion slammed through him.
With a grunt, she threw herself backward onto the bed, still holding him. The move was so unexpected that he lost his balance and fell with her. He ended up with his feet on the floor, his upper body half on the mattress, half on Tara.
“Nathan, I’m not pregnant,” she wheezed.
The ringing in his ears subsided. Tara wiggled out from under him. Kneeling, she braced her hands on his shoulders and leaned over, her dark hair a closed curtain around their faces.
“I’m not pregnant.” She smiled but it was tinged with sadness. “I’m sorry I phrased it that way.”
She wasn’t pregnant. The sick dread in his stomach eased, and he took his first real deep breath.
“I’m not pregnant,” she said again.
“Shit, Tara. I thought I’d just electrocuted a baby.”
“I know you know that’s not how that would have worked.” Tara’s tone was a lovely combination of exasperated and amused. “Even if I were currently pregnant.”
“Don’t try and be logical while I’m having a fucking heart attack.” Nathan was only half joking.
Her lips twitched up into a true smile. “I’m sorry I gave you a heart attack.”
Nathan sat up, Tara easing back as he did, though she kept her hands on his shoulders. He turned to face her, pulling one knee up on the bed. As his panic subsided, the questions started to pile up.