A Bear's Baby (13 page)

Chapter Fourteen

“Looks
like you’ll have to put up with me,” Ash told Jenna. “Bear’s with Ava because
she went into labor this morning and delivery is imminent.”

“Should
we wait for Brady?” she asked as Ash helped her up on the table.

“What
can I say, other than he’s the most stubborn bear I know.”

Charlotte
knocked on the door and then walked in.

“I
thought I’d offer some moral support.”

“Any
news on Ava?” asked Ash.

“She’s
pushing hard as we speak,” said Charlotte.

“Okay
Jenna, you want to lift your sweater up and we’ll get things started here,”
said Ash, pulling the ultrasound machine over to her side.

Charlotte
poured some green jelly onto Jenna’s belly.

“Sorry,
I know this stuff is cold,” she said.

“Can
I hold your hand?” Jenna asked her.

“Sure
you can, but everything’s going to be okay.”

“Okay,
here we go,” said Ash. He put the wand on her belly and slid it over close to
her navel and then down.

“Everything
looks perfect. You want to take a look? I guess I should ask you if you want to
know the sex of the baby because it’s pretty obvious.”

She
hadn’t thought about it. Not knowing would give her something to focus on
during labor.

“Could
you cover it and let me look?” asked Jenna.

Ash
took a sheet of paper, covered part of the screen and then turned the monitor
around.

A
tear ran down her cheek. Her baby was beautiful. Little hands and feet so
perfect. Even if Brady didn’t want her or the baby she had enough love to give
this child for the two of them.

“I’ll
print two copies, one for you and one I’ll send over to Brady,” said Ash,
winking at her.

“He’ll
come around to the sensible way of thinking,” said Charlotte. “All the guys are
working on him.”

“There
was another knock on the door and the nurse she remembered as Mia looked in.

“Thought
you’d like to know Ava just had a girl, seven pounds, two ounces and masses of
gorgeous hair. She’s Nick’s double.”

“Tell
them we’ll drop by to welcome her into the world,” said Ash. “Okay Jenna. Everything
looks good so we’ll see you again next month.”

****

Brady
played peek-a-boo with Sophie. She’d laugh and then smile at him.

“You
are growing bigger every time I see you,” he said, dancing the bear back and
forth across his desk.

Ash
had told him that Sophie might need heart surgery soon, which was common for a
child with Down Syndrome. Brady’d be there for her, and for them if they needed
financial or any sort of support.

Maggie
knocked on his door. “This just arrived by courier for you,” she said, putting
it in front of him.

“What
do you think it is for Uncle Brady?” he asked Sophie who was now sucking one of
the plastic rings they were using for therapy for her. “Guess I won’t know
until I open it.”

He
ripped open the package and frowned at first, but then realized what it was. An
ultrasound image. He didn’t look at it but instead pushed it back in the
envelope and threw it in the bin.

Brady
looked at Sophie. He could swear she had the look of disapproval on her face.

“What?
It’s where it belongs. I’ll reproduce when I want to and not before.”

Now
she was looking like he was the meanest bear on the block.

“Don’t
you look at me like that. I’m not the one who did something wrong. Jenna did.
Tricking this bear into… No, I will not look at the image.”

He
glanced at Sophie again. Was she willing him to it, or what?
Brady pulled the package out of the bin and slid the image out and set it on
his desk.

Dear
God, it was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. He outlined the feet and
hands with his fingers. So perfect, and this was part of him. The head and
shoulders the legs and the, wow, he was going to have a son.

Chapter Fifteen

Her
opinion of bears was beginning to change. She rubbed her belly, feeling the
baby move around for the second time today. Ash had told her that was a good
thing. The group Brady and Ash were part of, was the nicest, closest-knit clan
she’d ever come across. Some of them dropped by to see her, and Bear and some
of the shifters had devised a plan that they thought would help Brady see
reason. She hoped they were right because as her belly grew, she became more
scared about the prospect of being a single mother. Yes, she had a career and a
home, but she hadn’t thought the lone parent thing over before she’d jumped in
feet first. Bottom line was she wanted Brady in this child’s life. In her life
too. She loved him. There, she’d finally admitted it.

Bear
was going to let her know what time Cole MacDonald would pick her up to take
her to the Lamaze class. At least if the plan backfired she’d have someone to
hold her hand and see her through her labor which she secretly was dreading.

The
partner to be was perfect, Bear told her. An intelligent, tall and handsome doctor
who specialized in fertility issues. Part Kodiak, part grizzly, women drooled
over him, and best of all he’d gone to school with Brady. The two of them had
always competed, not only with grades or sports, but who got the most shifter
girlfriends.

Supposedly
bears were downright jealous creatures.

She
hoped the plan worked.

****

Brady
downed his beer in three large gulps. Nick passed around the photo of his baby
daughter, April Renee. He took a quick look, trying not to be overly
interested. She was cute in her pink frilly dress and matching booties with the
bows tied to their fronts.

“She’s
sleeping almost all through the night so at least Ava and I are getting more
sleep,” said Nick, pulling out yet more photos. The next photo was of Nick
cradling her and Ava looking at both of them.

He
swallowed. Would he ever have his photo taken with his son? Even get the
courage to hold him?

“So,
Bear, I hear Cole MacDonald is back in town and is now Jenna’s birthing coach.”

Brady
looked over at Aiden as he spoke. Not only had the mention of Jenna had got his
attention, but the fact his arch rival was going to be her birthing partner,
made his ears perk up.

“I
introduced him to Jenna and he jumped at the opportunity,” said Bear.

“That’s
great for both of them,” said Liam. “Weren’t you two on the same soccer team at
school?”

Brady
took a while to answer. “Yes, we were.”

“You
might have guessed the women are already lining up for him,” said Bear.

Brady
tapped the coaster under his beer glass.

“So
he’s going to be there at the birth?” asked Dane. “I wouldn’t miss that for the
world, seeing the head emerging and then the baby being placed on your wife’s
belly.”

Brady
couldn’t stand this any longer. He jumped up.

“I
know what you guys are up to, and it’s not going to work. In fact, I have to go
because I have a date and I think this might be the one.”

“Okay,
see you around,” said Ash.

The
guys continued with their conversation. They hadn’t taken the bait that he’d
moved on. Shit, the thought of Cole being Jenna’s coach, being the first person
to hold his son. Over his dead body.

****

Cole
MacDonald was cute and she did see all the other women looking at him. Even the
other pregnant women eyed her with envy as she sat on the mat with his arms and
legs wrapped around her.

“Okay,
Jenna, take a nice breath in, hold it and then blow it out in three little
puffs,” he whispered so close to her ear that it made her hair move away from
her face.

She
followed his and the instructor’s lead. She was determined she was going to
have no painkillers or medication. This baby was coming out au natural.

“He’s
here,” whispered Cole.

Jenna
knew who he meant, but didn’t see Brady at first. She finally saw him peeping
through the window.

“Same
old Brady. Most competitive bear you could wish to meet. Okay, let’s give him
something to be really worried about.”

Cole
moved his hands all over her belly. “Come on, Brady, come and get your mate,”
he said. “Yeah, that’s right. I’m touching your mate and your baby.”

“Is
he still watching?” asked Jenna.

“He’s
watching and even from here I can see he’s red in the face. I wouldn’t be
surprised if he doesn’t shift right here and challenge me to a fight.”

She
hadn’t seen Brady as a bear. Maybe she should see one of them in their bear
form just so she’d know what to expect if she was to win him back.

“You
know what I think we need to do? We need to go shopping for a crib, changing
table, and baby clothes and see if he follows us. I know he will.”

“You
really think this is going to work?” she asked.

“Won’t
be long before he comes sniffing at your door.”

****

Jenna
had stalked him once. Followed him to the dance class so it seemed only fitting
that he followed her. Her and fucking Cole. They were heading into Baby World.
He tapped the steering wheel.

His
date had been a disaster. He’d thought of Jenna constantly. He’d wanted sex so
bad that he thought fucking Daisy until they both couldn’t walk would be the
answer, but it wasn’t. For the first time in his life he’d been looking at a
pussy and couldn’t get a hard on, He’d left in a hurry.

Jenna
was all he wanted. She was his mate. He spied them inside the store. Cole was
holding up a pink baby dress.

“It’s
a boy, jackass,” shouted Brady, not realizing a young couple were walking by
his car and that his driver’s side window was all the way down.

“Sorry,”
he said, lifting his hand to them. “Rehearsing lines for a play.”

All
this had let to frustration, embarrassment, and now another bear was moving in on
his mate, and his territory. He scooted down in the car seat as they left,
packages under their arms, laughing and smiling as they headed back to Cole’s
car.

Brady
waited for them to leave and then headed into the store. He walked up to the
desk.

“Yes,
sir, can I help you?” asked the assistant.

“You
sure can. I want the top of the line of everything you have delivered to this
address by tomorrow.”

He
wrote down Jenna’s address and slid it over the desk. He pulled out his credit
card. “I also want the biggest teddy bear you have placed with the order. Oh,
and throw in some blue baby outfits. Only top of the line items for my son.”

****

Jenna
knew that everyone was getting her ready for motherhood. Today she’d been given
the task of looking after Christopher and Lilly’s daughter, Kaitlin. Lilly had
given birth to an eight pound five ounce boy earlier that day. Christopher said
he’d be along later to collect her and they’d go to the hospital so she could
met her brother who he’d said was the best looking baby in the world. He kept
saying “I have a son” with pride and love in his voice.

“You
want to share a pizza with me?” Jenna asked Kaitlin as they drove up to Jenna’s
townhouse.

“I
like the one with sausage on it.”

“Then
you’re in luck because it’s definitely got that.”

Jenna
held Kaitlin’s hand as they rounded the corner. She stopped in her tracks.
There were boxes everywhere.

“It’s
Christmas again,” said Kaitlin.

“I
didn’t order anything,” said Jenna.

“Look,
there’s a huge gift card,” said Kaitlin, pulling a large envelope from a box.

There
sure was and Jenna’s name was written on it. She opened it.

I will be sending
two men over tonight to take all this into your house and set up the crib and
changing table. I also added a rocking chair. I’m told babies enjoy being
rocked while being breastfed which I hope is what you’re intending to do. I
will stop by tomorrow night to make sure everything is in place and to your
liking-Brady.

“Is
it your birthday?” asked Kaitlin.

“No,
not my birthday, but it sure feels like it.”

****

Brady
hadn’t heard from Jenna and he wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing. He
couldn’t blame her if she didn’t want to ever see him again. In hindsight, he’d
been a fool.

He
smoothed his hair down and rang her doorbell.

She
answered it within seconds which told him she’d probably been looking out for
his arrival. They stood there looking at one another for a few seconds and then
he looked down at her belly. He hadn’t seen it up close and it was round and
beautiful.
Perfection.
Brady reached
out and touched it. Jenna put her hands over his and made him hold her belly.

“He’s
been active again today. I take it the blue baby clothes mean you looked at the
ultrasound. I wanted to keep it a secret, but I guess now I can go and buy some
blue paint for the nursery.”

He
pushed her inside and kissed her. He could smell a heavy bear scent on her now.
He rubbed her belly again. He wanted to, and had to, make love to her. All bear
shifters had to when a mating had resulted in a pregnancy.

Brady
lifted Jenna up, moved himself around the empty boxes where the baby furniture
had once been housed, and headed for the bedroom. He placed her on the bed and
slowly lifted her loose smock top, he pulled down the maternity pants, and
there was the beautiful belly with its pregnancy mark on full display. Three
quarters of the way around. He knew that meant she’d be in need of sex.
 
He fingered it, feeling it’s raised bumpy
edges. He leaned over and kissed her belly right on the navel, taking in her
scent, and that of his son’s. She touched his hair, running her fingers through
it and making his scalp tingle, and his cock grow hard.

“I’ve
missed you,” he said.

“I’ve
missed you, too.”

They
kissed and then pulled away.

“Do
you like all the baby things I had delivered?” asked Brady.

“You
didn’t have to do all that?”

“Only
the best for my son. He’ll have top of the line everything. He’ll go to the
best schools. He’ll be the best bear shifter on the block.” He rubbed her belly
again, this time feeling his son kick inside Jenna’s stomach.

“You
feel that?” she asked, lying flat on the bed.

“I
sure did.”

“I
want to make love to you. And don’t worry. I checked with Bear and asked if it
was okay.”

Jenna
smiled.

“I
know what the guys were up to making me feel jealous by using Cole MacDonald as
bait.
 
Made me realize I almost lost the
best thing that ever happened in my life.”

He
pulled her maternity jeans and panties off her body. Next, he pulled her top
over her head and up her arms. She wasn’t wearing a bra. Her breasts were big,
and the nipples dusty pink and huge. He couldn’t wait to see his son feeding
from them.

Brady
ran his fingers over each nipple. They were hard and he couldn’t help but take
the right one into his mouth and lick. She tasted more bear than human right
now. That would change after she gave birth, but for now he soaked in the odor
and felt himself grow thick and hard.

He
pushed her thighs apart and danced his fingers upward into her curls. He
touched her folds and then felt her juice pour from within her. He put his nose
into the air. Brady pushed his finger gently inside her, hearing her draw in
her breath.

“Does
that hurt you now?” he asked.

“No,
your finger is cold.”

He
smiled. “I have something that’s very warm,” he said.

“Um,
let me guess what that is.”

He
got off the bed, stripped faster than it usually took him, and was between her
legs. He held his cock up and gently pushed it against her opening.

“You
don’t have to be gentle with me,” said Jenna.

“There’s
a big beautiful belly between us now,” said Brady, sliding deep inside her. He
lay on top of her while taking most of his weight so they could kiss and rub
noses. He’d start with her favorite thing of all. He let his cock vibrate
against her pussy walls.

“I’ve
missed this so much,” said Jenna.

He
felt her pussy grip him. She orgasmed in seconds.

“More
please,” she said.

****

Jenna
held the bedsheets as Brady pounded inside her. Yes, she’d finally convinced
him she wouldn’t break, the baby would be just fine and no, her multi-orgasms
wouldn’t cause her to go into premature labor.

In
fact, they were stronger and more exciting than she remembered. She turned over
on her side and rubbed her belly as he reinserted his cock inside her. He held
onto her while rubbing her navel as they bounced together. She really had
missed him for everything wonderful in her life. His wit, his companionship,
his touch, and the special way he made love.