Page 24 of Master B-0999 (Garden of the Gods)

“What is this? Is this the regular clinic too? I…don’t understand.” Or maybe the anxiety was coming back a million-fold for reasons I was terrified to suddenly face.

“I have no idea if this is the only clinic. This is just the one they told me to come to.”

“Oh.”

“Does it matter? You were ready to kill me to be here weeks ago.”

His words had me tearing my gaze from a couple heading in. “That was different. That was before I knew the truth. I assumed I was because the timing aligned. Had I been, I would have protected it no matter the extent. I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I know I said this before, but you can’t have our child’s life unless you plan to take mine as well. We’re a packaged deal…if ever you decide. That will never change.”

“You’re going to make the best mother there is.” He smiled, pulling me in to briefly press his lips to mine. “I wasn’t sure I could do this, but how can I not with it being you having my child? I’m going to teach her everything. She’s going to be the smartest—”

“She?”

“I suppose it could be a boy, but I don’t think so. I have this feeling. I saw her that night when I was staring at you, sleeping. I saw what we could have. What she could be. That’s why I got scared. It was so real.”

“Master Nine-hundred-and-ninety-nine. Fc-thirteen-fifteen.”

Edward stood, gripping under my bicep to lift me. I was still staring. Still not sure exactly what he was saying. Surely, he was speaking of the future and not now.

“I’ve already put in an order for baby name books. And I think my mother still has the bassinet from when I was a child. I’ll bring it here. I think we can keep the baby here with us the first few weeks. I’ll have to read the contract again. I might be wrong on that. Let’s not think about that right now. You wouldn’t believe all the baby stuff out there. We’ll look together. We’ll pick a theme that’s gender neutral, just in case. God, you’re going to look so beautiful when you start showing.” He paused as we approached the nurse, only leading me faster as we began to follow her.

“You’ve already ordered books? For her? For the child you want to have?”

“Our child, Madeline. The one here.”

We entered a room, and I couldn’t have spoken if I wanted to. His hand brushed over my stomach, and his words still weren’t settling in.

“Master, if you’d like to take a seat in the chair, I’ll just need to assess your slave.”

“Madeline. That’s her name. And she’s my wife, not just my slave.”

“Of course. Madeline, can you step on the scale?”

My stare went from Edward to the nurse as she went to stand by a monitor and keyboard. I stepped on, ignoring the numbers that flashed on the screen. My eyes went back to my Master. To hell with the nurse and protocol. My pulse was beating so hard, and my throat was damn near closing at the uncertainty. I was here for weeks alone. I could have prepared. I could have had that time alone to adjust.

“Do you mean right now?” I immediately glanced to the woman in the room. “I’m pregnant right now?”

The nurse turned to my Master, not saying anything as we both waited.

“Madeline, honey, I had to make sure. To think everything through.”

I stepped off the scale. “You lied to me? You didn’t think maybe I needed that too?”

“The doctor offered me options.”

“I’m sorry.” My hair bounced around my shoulders as I shook my head, angrily. “Did you just say he offeredyouoptions?”

“I own you, Madeline. That’s just how it works here.”

My trembling hand covered my mouth. I would not break again. I would not fall apart.

“Is that why I’m here? You made a decision without asking me?”

His brow drew in. “I’m not terminating the pregnancy if that’s what you’re afraid of.”

“Was that even an option?” Furiously, I wiped the tears. “Could we have not talked about this before now? You asked me to marry you. Honesty, Edward. Why didn’t you tell me then? What were you waiting for?”

“Youwantedthis. I thought you’d be happy.”

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