Chapter 29: Shopping for Clothes and College Funds

“Does this feel right to you?” I ventured to ask.

Brennan rose to his feet, his hands finding mine, pulling me up to stand with him.

His smile was radiant, his eyes glistening as they welled up with unshed tears. He blinked, a single tear escaping and tracing a path down his cheek, soaking into his shirt.

His hands found their way to my back, pulling me in until our bodies were pressed together. His lips found mine in a tender kiss.

“Grace,” he murmured between kisses. “Yes.”

In one swift motion, his arm hooked around my waist, lifting me off the ground. My legs instinctively wrapped around his waist as he carried me towards his bedroom.

This morning, I’d been uncertain about our future, but now it seemed my worries were unfounded. I allowed myself to relax into the idea of Brennan and I being together forever.

Brennan gently laid me down on the bed—already treating me with such care, despite my barely noticeable pregnancy. My desire for him was growing with each passing moment, my body tingling with anticipation.

“I won’t break,” I giggled, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him closer. He complied, his lips meeting mine in a passionate kiss.

I tugged at his clothes, managing to remove his shirt without unbuttoning it. I tossed it aside and let my hands roam down his back. He shivered, pulling away with a playful shake of his head and a smile on his face.

“Promise me you’ll never leave again,” he pleaded.

“I promise,” I assured him, knowing in my heart that it was a promise I intended to keep.

Brennan’s fingers found the hem of my shirt, pushing it up and discarding it as quickly as I had his.

“I don’t think I can hold back,” Brennan confessed, his face flushing.

“I don’t want you to,” I replied. “I’ve missed you. I’ve missed us.”

“Well,” Brennan murmured, fumbling with his pants, “let’s fix that, shall we?”

I reached down, unbuttoning my jeans, while Brennan continued to undress. It was a clumsy, teenage-like moment, both sweet and desperate.

Once we’d managed to shed our remaining clothes, Brennan shifted on the bed. I placed my hands on his shoulders, his skin warm and smooth beneath my touch.

He looked at me with a wide-eyed expression I’d never seen before. His body was trembling, as if he were cold, but the room was far from chilly.

His lips met mine, gently at first, then with increasing urgency. He positioned himself, almost entering me, then paused.

Then, without a word, he closed the distance between us, hopefully for the last time.

We moved together, urgently, as if I’d been gone for years instead of weeks.

I could tell Brennan was close to the edge. His breath was ragged, his kisses frantic. His need for release was palpable, and it was all I could focus on.

“Let go,” I whispered.

“Grace,” he grunted. “I need you.”

“I’m yours.”

“Promise?” he asked softly. His hand moved between us, his fingers teasing me. I arched my back, the sensation intense. I could feel an unexpected climax building within me.

I moaned, unable to control myself, but it wasn’t what Brennan wanted to hear. He stopped, his lips brushing against my earlobe.

“Promise?” he repeated.

“Always,” I replied, desperate for his touch. “And forever.”

He started again, and we moved together. Connected in the most intimate of ways, and for the first time, both of us knowing exactly where we stood.

Before either of us could stop it, we were both swept away in a wave of ecstasy. My climax washed over me, intense pleasure followed by intense exhaustion.

I closed my eyes and Brennan moved. He said something, but I was too tired to respond.

***

When I woke up, Brennan’s room was dark. I glanced at the alarm clock. A couple of hours had passed.

I slid off the bed, pulling Brennan’s sheet with me.

I left the room, wrapping the sheet around my body. I yawned as I sat down at the table, watching him in the kitchen.

“You let me sleep,” I murmured.

“You were tired.” He smiled. “I’m trying to make dinner. Might have to admit defeat and order pizza.”

I got up and walked into the kitchen. Brennan was attempting to make Spaghetti Bolognese, and it wasn’t half bad.

“Don’t be silly, it looks good.” I smiled.

“If you say so.” He chuckled, setting down the ladle for the sauce. He turned and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close. “My sheets look good on you.”

I blushed, I’d only grabbed the sheet because I hadn’t wanted to search for my clothes. He kissed me softly before returning to the pot of boiling pasta.

I returned to the table and sat down. Almost immediately, Brennan’s phone, which was on the table, started to ring. I glanced at the screen and smiled. It was his mom.

“It’s your mom,” I said softly.

“Answer it,” Brennan replied.

I walked over to the counter, grabbing Brennan’s jacket and slipping it on over the sheet before picking up the phone and swiping to answer.

“Good evening, Jaq,” I said softly. “Or whatever time it is there.”

“Almost one in the morning, but Brennan sent a message and I was up using the bathroom and—” Jaq paused, taking a sharp breath. “Grace! You’re back.”

I glanced over at Brennan. I wasn’t sure what he’d told her. He could have told her everything for all I knew.

“Yes,” I replied simply.

“I hope your time back home was rejuvenating.”

I grinned. Brennan hadn’t let his mom know that I’d left without plans to come back.

“It was. Actually, Brennan and I have something to share with you. But I’d rather wait until Sam is up. Can we video chat in the morning?”

I heard Jaq shifting, and Sam’s voice, though it was muffled.

“We can call back on Facetime,” Jaq suggested. “Okay?”

I glanced at Brennan, who was busy draining the pasta.

“Uh, yeah, Facetime sounds perfect.”

I hung up the call, got up, and strolled into the kitchen. A few moments later, the phone rang again and I picked up the Facetime call. Sam looked like he was still half asleep, and they were both obviously sitting up in bed.

“Mom. My text did say, ‘call in the morning, your time.’”

“I know, but I was curious. You’re both okay, right?” Jaq asked. “Have you set the date?”

I glanced down at my bare hand. At least she couldn’t see it.

“No, Mom. We haven’t.” Brennan chuckled. “But, uh… Well, remember when you wondered why Grace was feeling sick when you were here?”

Jaq’s eyes widened. I could see her excitement building before I heard her squeal. Sam, still half asleep, blinked sleepily at his wife, whose face was lit up with pure joy.

“What on earth?” Sam murmured.

“She’s pregnant!” Jaq announced, gently nudging her husband. “Right?”

I looked at Brennan. His eyes were glistening with tears, and he was grinning from ear to ear.

If I’d had any lingering doubts about his feelings towards the baby, they vanished as he nodded and confirmed his mother’s guess. His hand slipped over mine, and he gave it a squeeze.

“Oh, honey. We’ll fly back right away!”

“Mom, she’s not due for a while.” Brennan laughed.

“There is so much to plan!” Jaq responded. She was now sitting up straight. Sam was in the background, but in the dim light of her phone, I could barely see him anymore.

“We’ll have time to plan everything once you’re done with your trip,” I said softly. “We’re not going anywhere.”

Jaq nodded and leaned back. “I apologize. I’m just so excited.”

“So are we.”

“So am I,” Sam finally said. “Our first grandchild.”

I could hear the emotion in his voice as he spoke.

“It’s late for you guys,” Brennan said. “We’ll call tomorrow. We can figure out a better time then.”

Jaq and Sam both nodded.

We all said our goodbyes, and I put Brennan’s phone down on the table. He walked back into the kitchen and started to dish out our dinner.

“They’re not going to sleep, are they?” I chuckled.

“Are you kidding? My mom is probably already shopping for baby clothes, and Dad is setting up a college fund.”

I laughed. “If you’d told me any of this would be happening two months ago, I’d have asked if you were high.”

“It’s funny how life turns out,” Brennan agreed as he walked back over to the table with two plates full of food.

“This looks delicious.”

Brennan laughed. “I’m not sure I agree, but thanks.”

The pasta was pretty good. Brennan hadn’t given himself nearly enough credit. Once we were done, I started to get up to clear the table, but Brennan took over.

“Let me,” he said softly.

“I’m pregnant, not fragile.”

“I know,” he whispered. “I’ve just got something I want you to take a look at. See what you think.”

I frowned and looked at Brennan, who pulled out a folder from his briefcase. He placed it down in front of me and tapped on the cover.

It was a Wolf Industries folder. The kind Brennan usually used for hard copies of proposals, or work contracts.

“You want me to come back?” I whispered, before even opening the folder.

“Not as my PA,” he replied. “Read the file, Grace. And no pressure.”

I took a deep breath and opened the folder, and under the Wolf Industries letterhead, in bold print, it said:

~Contract for equal partnership in Wolf Industries~

~Mr.~ Brennan Wolf & ~Ms.~ Grace Reynolds.~