Page 73 of Bound

Another week passes with Jax’s mum still recovering in hospital. He told us of her warning, about Julian’s reign of terror being far from over, and to watch our backs. We remain on high alert, the tension surrounding us as we wait for his next move.

Jax visits his mum every day after school, somehow managing to keep up with his studies too. I would be woefully behind if the guys didn’t keep on my arse, making me sit down to study, even though some days I can barely keep my eyes open.

I’m approaching what I think is my twelfth week, sitting in the library with Willow when she leans over to whisper in my ear.

“Have you had your twelve week scan yet?” she asks, jerking me awake after I almost fall asleep in my calculus book.

“Huh?” I ask on a yawn, rubbing my eyes.

“You know, the scan you get at twelve weeks?” she questions me, brows raised.

“Ummm…” I trail off with a cringe, my hands fiddling with my pencil.

“You have seen a midwife right?” I bite my lip and her eyes roll so hard I’m surprised they don’t get stuck. “Bloody idiots! The lot of you!” she hisses, packing up her stuff, then standing to do mine. “Come on,” she orders, grabbing my hand and pulling me to my feet.

“Hey!” I whisper-yell as she drags me from the library, my converse squeaking on the floor. My feet are just too achy at the moment for my beloved Irregulars, plus none of the guys will let me wear heels because of the baby—le sigh. They said something along the lines of an increased chance of falls and how it’s not safe for either of us.

She manhandles me all the way to my dorm, holding her palm out when we get there.

“Key,” she demands, and I can see a fire in her eyes that lets me know she’s pissed. I obey, trying to placate her, which doesn’t seem to work as she throws the door open once she’s unlocked it, pulling me inside before slamming it shut.

“What the fuck?!” Loki exclaims, jumping up from the sofa, Ash and Kai doing the same.

“What the fuck is right, you prick!” Willow snarls, finally letting go of me. I watch wide-eyed and she strides towards him, getting all up in his grill. She looks ridiculous, like a tiny fairy going up against a giant, but she doesn’t let that stop her, poking her finger into his chest. I wince, knowing how much that hurts from past experience. “I don’t know what kind of shit is going on with you guys, but you need to get your heads out of your arses, and take Lilly to a fucking midwife! She needs tests, and a scan to check that the baby is okay. Plus regular checkups and shit!”

Loki stands there, jaw clenched as his cheeks flush. Heaving a sigh, he brings his hands up to run through his hair, then turns to look at me, his eyes pained.

“Fuck, Lilly, I had no idea,” he says, and I shake my head trying to tell him that neither did I.

“Of course you bloody didn’t! You’re an eighteen year old guy for christ’s sake!” Willow says, throwing her hands up. She turns to Ash, who stands there with a gleam of respect in his eyes as he looks at her. “Get on it, Vanderbilt,” she orders.

One perfect, black brow arches, his lips twitching with amusement that she probably doesn’t spot, otherwise she’d be spitting mad again. He reaches into his suit trousers pocket, pulling out his phone and scrolling until he finds what he’s looking for. Looking up at me, he brings the phone up to his ear.

“Dr. Richards? Yes, It’s Asher Vanderbilt here,” he says, cool as always, holding my gaze as he speaks. “My fiancée needs to see an obstetrician, do you have someone on your team?” He pauses. “Yes, thank you, we are very excited, but needless to say this is news of the utmost confidentiality.” He says the last part in a hard tone, almost threateningly, and I wonder if he has something on this doctor that he doesn’t want shared. “Tomorrow at ten is perfect. We shall see Dr. Kent then. Thank you.”

Ending the call, he bypasses a smug looking Willow to come up to me, hand cupping my jaw.

“I’m sorry I didn’t think of this,” he whispers, swallowing thickly. “I’d never willingly put you or the baby in danger.”

“I know, Ash. You weren’t to know what I’d need,” I tell him, placing my own hand on top of his, but I can see the regret and determination in the hard steel of his eyes.

“But I should know, and I will give you everything you need and more, my love,” he whispers back, brushing a light kiss against my lips that gives me all the shivers.

“I’m coming too,” Loki says firmly, and I look to see he’s also stepped up to us. “I want to be there and I don’t give a fuck how it looks.” Ash just nods, looking over at Kai, who lifts his chin. “I assume Jax will want to be there as well,” he says with a sigh, but not like he minds all that much. “Kai, email administration will you.”

“Right,” Willow pipes up, and I must admit I’d kind of forgotten that she was here.Worst friend ever. “Now that that’s sorted, go run my girl a bubble bath, give her something yummy to eat, and then an early night.”

I love the way she bosses the guys around, and I love that when it comes to me, they all jump and do as she orders, Loki giving me a quick peck before heading into the bathroom, Kai coming over to do the same before heading to the kitchen.

“I’ll see you later, babe,” she tells me, nudging Ash out of the way so that she can give me a hug. “Let me know how it goes tomorrow, yeah?”

“Hashtag-obvs,” I chuckle, squeezing her back tightly. “Thanks, hun.”

“Always, boo,” she replies, planting another kiss on my cheek before sweeping out of the door. I am starting to really love that girl.

“She’s growing on me,” Ash declares, taking my hand and leading me to the bathroom. I chuckle, moaning as the smell of my favourite lavender, marjoram, and geranium bubble bath fills the air.

Ash kneels down, undoing my Chucks and helping me to slip my feet out of them. I can hear Loki swirling the water around, and know that he’ll be getting the perfect temperature for me as Ash starts to undress me, helping me out of my berry red Lucy and Yak dungarees, yellow cotton t-shirt, and lacy bra, and French knicker set until I stand before him naked.

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