Okay, so yesterday, I posted two short chapters and although fluffy and cute, nothing really happens. So here's another chapter for you guys. LadyAyami, I'm thinking of you while posting this cause I felt so bad with the tiny little snippets I put up and you planned on reading on the road. I can't read in the car, I get super car sick. So yeah, I'm jelly!
Thank you, thank you betas Beej88, DarkenedHrt101, and SailorMoon489! Best cheerleaders ever! No seriously, two of them were in High School. I'll let you figure out which ones ;). Make sure you check out their pages! Beej88 just added to the collaboration me, Ninjette Twitch, and Revy has been working on for almost a year now, What Dreams May Come. Her chapter is called Ruthless in Heels! It is a fantastic work so please check it all out. If you are lost, it's call Wait on my page. DarkenedHrt has a few cute and lemony one-shots she just posted that are great reads. And SailorMoon489 has several works that are all amazing, although unfinished, hence why you all should follow and hound her on Tumblr lol!
Alright lovelies, sit down for this one cause I rock the boat. For more info on my works and updates, find and follow me on Tumblr. And not just me, I guarantee all your fave writers are on there. Think of it as just another forum to stalk and berate your faves into finishing that work you have been waiting on for months or even years now!
Chapter 11
Mrs. Moon must have noticed her melancholy, joining her for lunch these days. She appreciated the company but it was not the same. The two weeks spent alone with Darien had spoiled her, now wishing more than ever to have their afternoon 'naps' again. It was clear, Darien was still tired from the trip too, as was she, but neither could refuse the limited time they had together alone. She probably should refuse him, just so he could get some sleep.
Finishing her salad, Mrs. Moon took the plates away while she sipped on her glass of water. They both looked at one another when they heard the front door open and shut in a hurry. Standing, Mrs. Moon came to her side just as Darien appeared, out of breath.
"Darien? Are you alright? Is something wrong?"
She was at his side in an instant, him still puffing away trying to catch his breath. "I will let you two have your privacy."
Mrs. Moon wore a smirk she tried to hide as she fled. Looking back at her husband, she waited for him to give her his eyes and his answer. "Everything...is fine...Serena….I just...missed you."
Helping him take off his coat, she found his shirt wet with sweat. "Did you run here?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"So I could have….as much time as possible….with you."
He was watching her, gaging her for something but she just took his hand and pulled him away. "Come, let us get you out of those sweaty clothes."
OoOoO
Sitting in the middle of the bed, Serena remained in his lap her arms and legs wrapped around him. His legs were under her while his arms around her. They were both still catching their breaths, holding onto one another tight. The sun brightly shining through the windows had the sweat on her body glistening. It was one of the many things he had missed about seeing her mid day.
Slack against him, she pushed slightly away, finding his eyes. "You should eat something."
"Okay. Lay back on the bed."
She smacked him, not so gently, on the shoulder. "I am serious! You need something filling!"
"I will have you know I find it very fulfilling!"
She was shaking her head at him, "Darien, I am going to start refusing you if you do not take better care of yourself."
"And you? Are you taking care of yourself?" He looked her over, spying for any loss in weight but found none. "You skip almost as many meals as I do but I cannot tell."
She smacked him again, even harder. "That is not the kind of thing one says to his Wife!"
Tossing her back on the bed, he quickly climbed on top of her before she could get away. "Forgive me, lover. What is it I am supposed to say?" He roamed over her again with his eyes and was thankful not to see any difference in her body. "How about, you look as beautiful as always?"
"That is better. Thank you."
Brushing the back of his hand down her cheek, he continued down until her nipple brushed the back of his hand. Filling his palm, he held a breast in his hand and started rolling its pebble in between his thumb and forefinger.
"You seem to have gained a little weight here though." Her head was back in the pillows from his touch but popped up at his words.
He had just gotten her nipple in his mouth when she pulled away, getting out from under him and off their bed. "That is enough now. Get dressed and go eat while you still have time."
She was putting her clothes on in a rush while he came to sit on the edge of the bed to watch her. "Is this you refusing me?"
Throwing them at him, his pants hit him in the face. "Yes! I am officially telling you no more sex until you eat!"
"Calm down, Serena…"
"Darien. I may not have lost weight but you have! Since returning from Paris you have lost weight and sleep and it is all because of me." She stopped, coming to cup his cheeks and sweetly stroke them. "Paris was wonderful, Darien and I loved every minute of it just as you did. But we are home now and we cannot expect things to stay the same as they were on Holiday."
"I know. I miss being alone with you all day."
"As do I. But unless you want to give up your practice….?"
"No, I am afraid not. Sorry."
She gripped him tighter, "Do not apologize."
Her lips brushed his for a singular second before she released him and finished dressing. Leaving him to dress alone.
OoOoO
Darien was still sulking as he sat at the table, picking at his salad. Releasing a huff, she pushed him back in his seat and sat in his lap. "Are you going to continue to pout?"
He shrugged, "My Wife called me skinny."
Taking his fork from him, she shoved some of his lunch on it and held it out before his mouth. "Then do something about it, if it bothers you that much."
He smirked but took the offered food. Feeding him the entire meal, she remained in his lap a few moments longer, enjoying what remained of his lunch break. "Thank you, for taking care of me, my love."
Grabbing both cheeks in one hand, she squeezed his mouth together in a pucker. "If you refuse to take care of yourself, then of course, I will in your stead."
She placed a kiss to his pushed out lips and he started to tickle her, causing her to let go. He did not release her until she got out of his hold, jumping from his lap. He stood as well, brushing away wrinkles she had created and straightening his tie. Standing in front of the door, they said their goodbyes, her feeling oddly sad like it was more than a few hours. He held her tight to him, their lips pressed together in a far more chaste display than what they had committed minutes ago.
His hold on her slowly loosened and he pulled his lips away. "I am afraid I have to tell you to not get used to this. I may not be able to come for many lunches or even at all past today."
Holding in her sadness, she forced a smile on her face. "I understand."
Kissing her once more but harder, he left. With school on break, she had little else to do but wait for his return. Mrs. Moon was humming happily to herself in the kitchen, arranging a few flowers in a vase. She got a whiff of their scent and found she had to turn away abruptly.
Mrs. Moon saw her reaction and quickly tossed the flowers outside, taking hold of her shoulders gently. "I guess we cannot have flowers in the house for a while."
Feeling more stable, she released her nose and mouth, feeling confused by the grin Mrs. Moon had. "What do you mean?"
Now Mrs. Moon looked confused, "Child, have you not noticed?" When she shook her head, Mrs. Moon's smirk returned. "I have not had to assist you in your monthly confinement in a while."
"Yes…but that is because I have not been confining myself. Darien stays with me."
"If you say so dear."
OoOoO
His extended lunch break had chased off Ms. Beryl but he knew it was only a matter of time before she made her appearance again. It felt similar to sitting on a ledge that would collapse at any moment.
"Dr. Shields!"
He was almost too scared to look, one of the nurses getting his attention and pointing it elsewhere. The air he held captive in his lungs released when he found Serena on the other end of her finger.
"Is that not your wife?"
She was standing at the top of the stairs looking all around when she spotted him. A bright smile on her lips that he knew he shared, they met in the middle.
"What are you doing here?"
"Are you not happy to see me?" She made a fake pout and he grabbed her, hauling her the whole way to his office.
He was in the middle of shutting the door when he dropped his head, catching her lips with his. One hand on the door knob, the other on her cheek, he did his best to keep it gentle and calm. If he started a fire with her here, it would surely be heard around the practice when he put it out.
Keeping both his hands on her hips, he looked her over. "What are you doing here?"
She held up a small sack in front of his face. "Brought you lunch. Is that not what a wife is supposed to do?"
"Where did you hear that? Mina?"
"She brings Andrew his lunch everyday does she not?"
"They are trying to have a child."
Serena grew still at his words, causing him to worry at the look on her face, but she quickly recovered. "Come, let me watch you eat."
Holding her hand, not caring who saw, he walked her out of his office. They were still giggling at mock portrayal Serena did for him of George Bernard Shaw when they were interrupted.
"Dr. Shields?"
He cringed again at the voice but had no clue if she caught it. Serena did, giving his hand a squeeze in response. "You should go. I'll see you at home."
Glancing behind at Ms. Beryl, Serena did not fight him, giving his hand another squeeze before letting him go. He had intended on walking her out and sneaking a kiss before she left. Best laid plans as they say.
" , nice to see you again." He forced himself not to speak through his teeth as he said the words.
"I waited and returned the other day but you did not."
"Yes I took a long lunch."
Ms. Beryl looked around him and he followed her stare. Serena was still there, having been found by Raye the two were conversing happily. With school on break, the two of them most likely had not seen one another in a while.
It warmed his heart to know Serena had close friends. "Who is that woman? A new nurse?"
He had almost forgotten his current impediment. "No, that is my wife."
"Oh? She's….young."
"Turned 19 last month."
Ms. Beryl looked as though she was thinking something over, a smile slowly growing on her face. "I see."
He led the way into a room, watching Serena shrink from his sights. "What is bothering you today, Ms. Beryl?"
Without a word from him, she sat on the bed in the room and instantly hiked up her skirt hem. "It's my thigh. I keep having stabbing pain in it."
Her hands on the fabric, she held her thigh up in the air, splitting her legs apart slightly. This was not the first time he had had to examine a woman like this and not the first time it had been Ms. Beryl. He thought nothing of it, stooping down to take a closer look.
"Have you lost weight Doctor?"
He gently touched the afflicted area, not taking his eyes off his task. "My wife says I have so it must be true."
Suddenly, she grabbed his hand and tried to press it to her sex. He pulled free in an instant, backing away holding his hand like it had been scalded. As it very nearly was.
"Ms. Beryl what are you doing?"
Her hem was still bunched up almost to her waist as she smirked up at him. "You tell me you have been married for a year but this is the first I have heard of it. Then I find it was not only arranged but that you are married to a child? Poor, poor Darien, no wonder you have lost weight."
"Regardless of what you may think, I am a married man…"
"That's alright. I do not mind."
"I do!"
"Darien…"
"Dr. Shields."
She stood, holding her skirt up so it did not drape over her legs as it should. "Dr. Shields, I only mean that….I do not mind waiting until you divorce. Or not waiting."
Pulling her dress up higher, he kept his eyes on her face, her grin slowly fading the longer he refused to look at what she 'offered'. "Ms. Beryl, my marriage was arranged by me and my wife when we were children. Even though only married a year, I have been faithfully waiting for her to turn 18 to marry her. The only reason you have never heard of her is due to you not listening as I have spoke of her for far longer than a year. She is the only one I want. The only one I love. So much so, that I have been skipping meals just to spend more time with her. She came here today just to make sure I ate so please do not misunderstand my relationship. I love my wife." Her face twisted and screwed into a scowl, angry tears flowing down her face. "I think you should find a new doctor."
OoOoO
"Can you believe it? She is gone for good!" Mina blurted.
Lita looked between them all, "How is it she even knows that and we do not?"
She shrugged, Amy turning pink from the conversation while Raye took a long sip of her tea.
"I know because my husband told me so!"
Lita looked right at her now. "Did Dr. Shields say anything to you to confirm this?"
Shrugging again, Lita frowned. "Darien and I do not discuss work matters such as those. It really is none of my business."
"None of your business? Serena the woman made a pass at your husband!" Lita was turning very red.
Raye patted her knee in comfort. "And now she has to seek out a new Doctor. I think that says it all."
Crossing her arms across her chest, Lita sat back and pouted. "I still think she should know about it."
"Darien probably did not see it as newsworthy or something worth bothering Serena with."
Mina offered her a strong smile and Amy cleared her throat. "Can we discuss another topic? Serena, how was your trip?"
"Oh it was wonderful. Paris is such an amazing city! You all must travel there yourselves at first chance!"
They all gave some kind of sad excuse but she did not deter her from telling them all the things to do and see while in Paris. She did not, of course, tell them how much time was spent in their hotel bedroom, but the thought of it had warm blood creeping up into her cheeks.
The clock in the hall rang out and Mina jumped to her feet. "Oh my, is that the time? I need to get home!"
The others rose as well, not as quickly, but all made their exit and promised to do it again soon. "You should all come over for dinner next week! Raye and Mina, bring your husbands!"
Planning on working out the details later, she shut the door behind them tight, deciding to nap until Darien got home when a knock came to the door. Sure it was just one of the girls, she beat Mrs. Moon to it and swung it open wide. Only to find Sloan on the other side.
"What are you doing here?"
"What glad tidings you give. Is that the proper greeting these days?"
He pushed past her and inside, Mrs. Moon standing near to keep him from going any further into the house. "What is it you want Sloan?"
"I want you to come to your senses and leave with me."
Mrs. Moon took a step but she waved her off. "I am not going anywhere with you. This is my home."
"Serena, you do not have to pretend that you are happy here. I know you and I know that it couldn't be further from the truth."
She huffed, a loud fake laugh coming from her in the form of a bark. "What do you know of truths? Or of me?"
"I know all about you! Remember I have known you almost your whole life."
Mrs. Moon put a hand on her shoulder and she gently brushed her away. "You only knew me from 14 and on. We never knew one another as children."
"How can you say that?"
"Because it's true! What is not true is you! You were never my Prince and we never met when I was a child! You lied to me!"
He shifted his weight on his feet, his guilt making him dance before her. "It was not a lie! You remembered me because it is true!"
"I remember meeting someone but it was not you! It was Darien! It was always Darien! You lied to me for years! Why?!"
"Because I love you!"
"That's not love! And if it is then I do not want it, not from you!"
He took a step closer, getting dangerously close to her and Mrs. Moon's presences returned. "You loved me regardless. Me! Not this man this…"
"My husband? My Prince? This man is all the things you are not and more to me!"
His hand went up as if to strike her and Mrs. Moon caught it before it fell. Sloan ripped it from her hold with ease but still backed away. "You were meant to be with me! You loved me and I loved you!"
"I loved a lie! I do not want to be with you. Can you understand that!"
"You should not be with this man either. Your father and I will still help you get away from him, we can still get your marriage annulled…"
"Are you listening to me? Do you ever listen to me? I told you months ago I did not want an annulment and that I loved my husband! That has not changed."
"You still do not see do you?"
"It matters not, an annulment is impossible now."
He stared blankly at her a moment, his jaw clenching as it hit him. "You are lying."
"No that is what you do, not me."
He shook his head, staring at the floor. "It does not matter, we can tell people you never consummated. No one has to know."
Stomping her foot, she got him to look at her again. "Listen to me and listen well. I do not want to leave my husband. Not now, not ever. Even if I did, I would never lie, that is not who I am. There is no lying about this anyway, it is impossible."
"It is not impossible…."
"It is as the proof of our consummation grows inside me now!"
Silence fell over them, Sloan's face twisting like he had something sour in his mouth. Something he wanted to spit out. "You mean…"
"In a month or so, everyone will know we have consummated. My body will tell all."
Sloan was still seething silently but looked ready to pop. She did not know what that would look like but she did not want to find out. Going quickly to the door, she wrenched it open and held it so, not saying a word but making her message clear. He was hesitating and it looked as though he was not going to leave at all.
Mrs. Moon took a brave step towards him. "I think you should leave now."
His approach was slow, glaring at her the whole way. She did not understand, he was the one who lied, who never listened to her or cared about what she wanted. Why was he the one upset?
He was finally at the door but he stopped right in front of her. "So this is the life you have decided on?"
"For the hundredth time, yes."
His hand rose, this time to touch her and she stepped back from it. Dropping it quickly, she breathed a little easier, even though he still stood far too close and was not walking out her door. "So in the end, Serena Badar chose money over her heart? You are just as shallow as the whores on Bleeker street."
There was no warning, Sloan's face disappearing roughly from her sight. It took a moment for her brain to catch up, Sloan stumbling down the steps and Darien now standing in the doorway. "Do not come to my house again. And stay away from my wife!"
Sloan got his barings, looking up at Darien from the sidewalk and glaring. "And here I thought he trusted you?"
Darien took a step and she grabbed his arm to keep him from getting any closer to Sloan. "I do trust her you ass. But anyone who threatens and calls my wife a whore deserves to be thrown out on his face and never seen again. Now leave before I report you! And never show her your face again."
Her heart was beating uncontrollably and she truly hoped it would be the last time she ever saw Sloan. Darien kept watch, making sure he left before gently pushing her back inside and locking the door. He had her gathered into his arms right after the click of the lock.
"Are you alright?"
She held tight to his shirt, her bits of bravery wearing off and leaving her with shaky knees. "I am fine. Sloan would never hurt me."
"He tried to!"
Mrs. Moon stood off to the side, watching the two of them. At her words, Darien tried to pull away from her. "I am going to kill him."
She held tight, keeping him from leaving. "No, Darien, please. Let us just...let it go and move on with our lives. Please."
He calmed instantly, cupping her face in his hands. "Are you sure you are alright? You look pale."
She smiled at his tenderness. "I assure you I am fine. Just a bit of a shock. The last time I saw Sloan...I thought he was someone else to me. He was still talking of an annulment."
"Yes, your father warned me of this."
"He...he did?"
Digging in his front pocket, Darien pulled out an envelope, the letter postmarked a few days ago. Opening it, she skimmed it, the words 'crazed' and 'delusional' coming to the forefront. Things started to spin and next she knew she was in Darien's arms, him holding her from the floor. Mrs. Moon was frantic, Darien hushing and calming her as best he could.
"Get her some water and chocolate."
The letter was still firmly clutched in her hand, Darien setting her down in the living room. He forced it from her hold, taking it back from her. "I do...I don't understand. Sloan was…..normal…"
"According to your father, he never truly was. He suffered a tragedy Serena. When he was 14 his sister was murdered. He was sent to your father by his parents to get him away from it all. I think they sent him away too late." He crouched before her, taking her hands in his. "I don't think, when he took my identity, that he did it out of anything malicious. He no longer wanted to be himself. Losing you...forces him to be the man he was before."
"So...father never supported him and never agreed to help end our marriage?"
Darien's brows pinched together, "Why would he?"
"Because of Sloan and his lies?"
He shook his head, "I am sure your father knows better than to listen to him over me or you."
Mrs. Moon returned, water and chocolate in hand. "Why chocolate?"
Handing her the water, she drank most of it before taking the offered chocolate and biting. "Low blood sugar can cause fainting. Besides, I heard grassland Sprites love it."
He was smirking at her, both of them feeling much better. Twerking an eyebrow up at him, she held the chocolate up close to his lips. "What about brutes?"
"Hmmm...too sweet for me."
"Oh really?"
She was trying to force it into his mouth, him dodging her every attempt when Mrs. Moon let out a huff. "Seems to me like the two of you are fine."
Walking out after that, she used the distraction to place the chocolate in her mouth instead so when Darien turned back to her, she kissed him. Sliding the chocolate from her mouth to his, he let out a disgruntled groan and pulled away, chewing. "And just who is the brute?"
She giggled at the frown he wore, smacking his mouth in disgust from the thick, sweet candy he tried to swallow. "It is not that terrible."
Pulling her to him, he parted her lips with his tongue and tasted her, making an 'Mmmm' sound before releasing her. "It tastes better on you."
"Is that so?"
Bending over her as he stood, he continued tasting the chocolate on her mouth. She held tight to his shirt, even with his hands securely on the back of the couch beside her head. He made it down her neck and then stopped, falling to the couch next to her. A tug and a pull and she had his head resting in her lap, his eyes closed as she looked down on him.
Brushing fingers through his hair, he released a moan, encouraging her. A few moments passed in silence and she built up her nerve. "Darien...there is something I should tell you."
She waited for him to give her the go ahead, but it never came. Looking back down at him, she found him asleep.
OoOoO
People were slowly filling his house and although he recognized and liked most of them, he still was not used to so many occupying his home at once. But this was for Serena.
It was the first time either of them held their own dinner party and he loved how the event was making Serena glow. Mina and Andrew sat near him with him at the head and Serena at the other, although he would rather her sit next to him, it was not how it was done. Lita and Amy sat together while Raye and her husband, Craig, next to her. Craig...was an interesting fellow that much was sure.
And, of course, Mother was there with one of her friends, Mrs. Kenneth. "Serena dear you are looking well."
"I feel well Mother."
He had a feeling Mother was prying again.
"Classes will be starting again soon. What is everyone taking?"
Amy, ever the pragmatic, thankfully stopped any further discussion on the nature of his wife's health. With Mother continuously prying, he was going to have to talk with Serena soon. Mother too so she would stop putting hopeful ideas in everyone's head. She knew better than most his limitations, and yet she persisted.
"Um..about that…" Everyone grew quiet looking again at Serena. "I have decided to focus on Literature…"
"What? You're leaving us?!"
Lita looked beside herself, Amy trying to comfort, and Serena did her best as well. "I will still see all of you as much as possible at Darien's practice!"
"That's right, Serena can come anytime she wants. And all of you can come visit when you please as well."
Serena looked at him, them finding each others eyes, and a smile grew on her lips that had his heart skip a beat or two. She was just too beautiful tonight.
"Serena was going to have to stop her schooling soon anyway."
Even Andrew gave his wife a curious look, "And why is that, my love?"
Mina took in all the eyes in stride. "She is a married woman whose husband is in his prime. They will be having children soon."
She said it so matter of factly that no one challenged it, even though he wanted to. He kept his mouth shut knowing it was not the time or place for it. Either way, his palms were starting to sweat.
Raye was mid bite, looking over at Serena as she spoke. "Do you want children, Serena?"
"Oh of course! I want a lot of children."
He choked, his food not going down right, and Andrew leaned over to gently pat his back. All eyes on him now, he waved them off, pretending to not have the ability while the conversation continued around him. He was thankful when it turned to other topics than children, but he was still shaken. Never did he have that extremely important conversation with Serena and now she was stuck with him. So intent on keeping her to himself, he had ruined her chances of getting the life she wanted. And now he had no choice but to tell her...and wreck her dreams.
OoOoO
Their house finally empty, her walking Mother to and out the door with Darien right behind, she felt exhausted. Mother was giving her curious looks that had her wondering if she was see through. Or maybe her and Mrs. Moon had spoken recently?
A kiss to the cheeks and they were alone. Darien stood off to the side, looking at her but not touching her. "Is something wrong?"
He looked nervous, fidgeting. "There is something we need to discuss…"
"I have something to tell you as well."
The clatter of dishes rang out, reminding them they were not completely alone as their dinner party was being cleaned away. Holding out a hand, she took Darien's offer and he lead them both to his study. Her excitement was near its peak, struggling to hold the words in earlier at dinner. Soon she would tell him and then everyone. It was her reveal to him that she was the most excited for.
The study stayed dark for only a moment, Darien going in first and turning on the lamp on his desk. The dark wood was thick and sturdy, enough so that Darien was able to lean against it without recourse. Arms crossed over his chest, he looked hardly in the mood for the news she was going to give, but perhaps it would change his brood?
"Serena...what I have to say is….difficult."
She felt as though she might burst, unable to wait anymore. "Then….let me go first." He perked up a little, looking up and noting her mood as it compared to his. "I...am pregnant."
He stared at her blankly, not reacting at all. Not moving either as if in shock.
"Darien? Did you hear me? I said I am with child. Your child."
Leaving his chest, his hands flew to the edge of the desk while his head fell to look at the floor. A second later, she heard the pop of the wood from where he was gripping it so tight. Getting closer, she saw that his jaw was clenched tight as were his eyes.
"What….what is wrong? This is good news!"
"Is it? Maybe to you. But it shows your ignorance."
Her heart was beating painfully. Or rather, her heart was in pain as it continued to beat. "What do you mean by that?"
Tearing his eyes from the floor, he looked at her with so much malice, it stopped her heart for a moment. "Because my dear wife, there is no way that child is mine."
She felt light headed, her confusion and his unexpected reaction to her news making her breathe too much. "Of course it is yours! Who else would it be?!"
"That is the question now is it not? You see, Serena, I cannot have children."
"Yes you can. And you will, very soon."
"No I mean it is impossible. As a child, I had a bad case of German Measles. Surviving cost me the ability to father a child. So you see, what grows inside you, I did not put there. You have told the wrong man for that child is not mine."
The room was spinning and no amount of breath would make it stop. This was not going as she had imagined. And none of it was making any sense. It was Darien's child, it was. It was impossible for it not to be. Could he not see that? Regardless of what he was told, he had to be the father, it was physically impossible for it to be anyone else's.
His anger only grew with each word he had spoken and even with his glance elsewhere, she could still feel his complete disdain for her. "You think….you think it is someone else's?!"
"What else am I supposed to think? If you truly are pregnant than that is proof of your infidelity." His words were like daggers to her heart, sharp and poisonous.
Walking right up to him and ridding them of any and all distance between them, she grabbed his face and forced him to look at her. "I am telling you, Darien, you are the only man I have ever been with! I am yours, body and soul!"
His face slacked, a frown and sadness replacing his anger. "How can I believe that when the proof stares me in the face?"
The back of his hand gently grazed her belly, even with its shape unchanged and her dress hiding it, she knew if anyone could see the difference it would be him. "Darien…"
He pulled from her hold and pushed her away. Saying nothing else even as she left the room with her sobs.
