'
A gentle kiss woke Ellie the next morning. Tom crouched at her side of the bed, smoothing her hair from her face as she smiled up at him sleepily.

"Good morning, sunshine."

"Mmm. Morning, Daddy," she murmured sleepily.

"There's someone here I want you to meet." He leaned forward, pressing his lips against her forehead. "Hop in the shower and get dressed, will you darling?"

Taking in his crisp white shirt and dark jeans, she propped herself up on her elbows and nodded. Apparently this was someone worth donning clothes for.

"Who is it?"

"You'll see," he winked.

With a pout, she playfully grabbed the collar of his shirt, dragging his mouth down to hers and eliciting a groan from Tom. She sucked his tongue between her lips, whimpering for him as her arms wrapped around his neck. With a reluctant grunt he pulled away, tongue darting out to lick his lower lip as he smirked accusingly at her.

"None of that, sweetheart. Get your beautiful arse in the shower."

With a sigh, Ellie nodded and untangled herself from the sheets, shooting him a sulky smile before swinging her feet over the side of the bed and padding to the bathroom. When finished, she returned to his room to find the belongings Frank gathered from her apartment spread out on Tom's bureau. She blew her hair dry, put on a small amount of makeup and slipped into a printed dress that hit just above her knee. In a small act of defiance, she neglected to finish her outfit with shoes. She kept her feet bare, despite Frank having grabbed several pairs of both flats and heels.

Quite satisfied with herself, she wiggled her rose-painted toes before stepping out of Tom's bedroom and peering around the corner into the kitchen. At the table, across from the Tom sat a clean shaven brunette in a well-tailored suit. Both men had steaming cups of coffee in their hands as they chatted. The stranger's crossed leg looked reserved compared to Tom's comfortable splayed-legged sprawl, but based on how at ease they seemed, they knew each other well.

As if sensing her snooping self, Tom glanced up and caught Ellie's eye.

"Darling, come here. I want you to meet my friend and publicist, Luke."

Suddenly shy, Ellie briefly made eye contact, offering a small smile as she treaded to the chair at Tom's side. He easily intercepted her, drawing a gasp as he pulled her into his lap. Cheeks blooming with color, Ellie struggled for a moment until Tom's hands tightened threateningly on her hips as he wrapped them around her middle. Uncomfortably Ellie cleared her throat, shooting him a tiny glare before fixing her gaze on the man across from her. To her irritation Tom placed a triumphant kiss behind her ear. She could feel the jerk smiling against her skin.

"Ellie, this is Luke. Luke, this is my girlfriend, Ellie."

When Luke extended his hand, Ellie demurely shook it.

"It's nice to meet you."

He returned the nicety, his accent identifying him as British. Luke looked young. Definitely younger than Tom, but likely older than herself. Though he had kind, warm eyes, his posture had changed since she'd appeared. His back was ramrod straight and his shoulders squared. He gave her a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. She caught his gaze lingering on her belly and instinctively she placed her hands over Tom's.

Luke paused for a moment, his gaze flicking back and forth between Ellie's swollen tummy and Tom's rather pleased expression. The publicist cut to the chase.

"The baby is yours?"

Ellie blushed, angry at the implication that the baby could be another man's. Though the question was clearly meant for Tom, Ellie answered.

"Yes, the baby is his. I'm past ten weeks which means I can submit to a paternity test. I don't want money, I don't want publicity and he won't let me sign any nondisclosure paperwork. I already tried," she said smoothly in one breath.

Luke was visibly stunned, his brows raising in surprise at her candid declaration. She could feel Tom chuckle against her hair. Luke narrowed his eyes.

"You find this humorous, Tom?"

Immediately his arms tightened around Ellie and she was fairly positive she heard him growl.

"No, Luke. I merely find Ellie's honesty refreshing."

His lips pressed against her cheek and Ellie pushed him away in exasperation.

"Stop that," she muttered, looking back to Luke.

"I have no interest in drama. Tell me what you need from me and I'll do it."

"Leave him."

Ellie froze, her face blooming with angry heat. First off, she'd already tried pushing him away. Secondly, who even says that? Just as she was taking a breath to fire back, Tom cut her off.

"She tried, Luke. Several times. I pursued her rather… aggressively," he said with a grin. However, for his next statement, his face grew serious again.

"When she told me about the baby, I refused to allow her to leave. I wouldn't let her go then, and there's no way in hell she's leaving me now, Luke."

Ellie didn't have the heart to look smug as the other man's face threatened to fall. She supposed he was just doing his job, after all. Though it wasn't like she didn't have Tom's well-being at heart. Looking between the pair for another moment, Luke cursed and set his coffee cup down harder than necessary.

"Damnit, Tom."

Ellie could feel Tom's hard muscles tense beneath her as his hand started absentmindedly rubbing her belly.

"This is very different, Luke. In fact, this couldn't be more different," he stated, comparing his relationship with Ellie to his shenanigans over the summer.

The publicist sighed and rubbed the back of his neck as he glanced out the window. The busy streets of Los Angeles offered him no help.

"When you said you wanted me to fly out so you could tell me your good news in person, this isn't what I expected, Tom."

Tom shrugged and sipped his coffee. Before putting the cup down, he offered some to Ellie, who shook her head.

"Caffeine," she murmured.

"Ah. My good, responsible girl."

Such an endearment usually soothed her, but in front of Luke it only made her blood pressure rise. The man clearly wanted her out of Tom's life, and Tom acting like a lovesick fool wasn't helping the situation.

Setting his cup down, Tom cleared his throat.

"She's having my baby, Luke. Nothing will change that. You and I have known one another a long time, and as my publicist, I wanted you to know first. Not even my family is aware of our situation." He kissed Ellie's temple, her flushing cheeks forcing her to look away from Luke, who raised a brow. "I did this as a professional courtesy, Luke. You're damned good at your job, and I want to make this as easy as possible for you. But the circumstances are not going to change, no matter how greatly you dislike them."

With a sigh, Luke crossed his arms across his chest as he warily eyed the couple. He'd never seen Tom act so ridiculously. Not even with the singer. With this girl, he was calm, but simultaneously wound tight. Both adoring of her and fiercely protective with his hands over her stomach and his quickly coming to her defense. Tom had never had a woman that needed protecting before, but, then again, he'd never gotten anyone pregnant prior to Ellie. Nor had the nauseatingly cordial man ever spoken so tersely with him, he thought offhandedly. Luke pulled his glasses off his face and pinched the bridge of his nose as he squinted his eyes shut.

"Fine," he sighed. "How do you want to move forward, Tom?"

"I want to announce the pregnancy." He was interrupted by a gasping and sputtering Ellie, but he continued. "Use whatever style of media you think best. She's showing enough that people are going to notice, and I'd rather address it before the tabloids start speculating. Name her as my partner. You can disclose that she's moving to England with me."

As the words settled in her ears, Ellie stiffened. She stared at Tom in disbelief, then smacked his chest with a thoroughly satisfying whack.

"I am doing no such thing!" Her words were bellowed into Tom's face. For the second round of her outburst, she turned to Luke. "I am doing no such thing. I am staying right damn here." She wheeled back around and grabbed Tom by his shirt, glaring furiously at him. "How dare you? And how dare you do this in front of someone I don't even know! Let me down!"

She squirmed irately from his lap, digging her nails into the skin of his hands, which were still secured around her little belly, until he released her. Despite her bare-footedness hardly making any noise, she still made a show of stomping to the kitchen and getting a glass of water. Panting in anger, she shook her head at Tom as she sipped. He looked innocently back at her. Reluctantly, her gaze moved to Luke. Sure that he was going to accuse her of using Tom, she was dreading his what would likely be an expression of scathing disdain. The publicist studied her for a minute, but his face remained blank. Then, the corner of his mouth turned upwards. He looked to his client.

"She's good for you, Tom."

Her partner smirked and nodded, tracing his index finger along his lower lip.

"She is."

Ellie fumed.

"She's also pissed," she interjected.

Tom chuckled and Ellie slammed her glass down. Her nose stung as tears threatened to fall. When she wiped at her eye, Tom rose and glided gracefully to her side.

"Oh, sweetheart. Don't cry. I've been meaning to talk to you about this. I know it's a lot to take in." Annoying Price Charming that he was, he swept her off her feet and returned to his chair where he held her like a child as she buried her face against his neck, completely ignoring Luke who had started gathering his things.

"I'll be at my hotel, mate," he murmured. "Give me a ring next week. You finish filming Tuesday?"

Silently, Tom nodded as he stroked Ellie's back. Looking torn, Tom tried to rise but Luke shook his head.

"I'll show myself out. Despite the circumstances, it's good to see you… happy, Tom."

Ellie couldn't tell what Tom murmured, but as the door shut she relaxed completely. She mumbled against his skin, fighting the urge to bite him.

"Why do you pull this shit?"

"Pull what shit, sweetheart?"

"You're so presumptuous. It's hot, except for when you decide I'm moving across the damn ocean. Which I am not doing."

Tom pushed her shoulders back so he could look at her. She narrowed her eyes, which prompted him to kiss each lid until she smiled.

"Stop."

"I can't, my good girl."

With a giant sigh, Ellie rested her forehead against his chest. After making sure Ellie was thoroughly fed for the morning, the pair spent the next two hours arguing about withdrawing from school, which had just passed into the second half of the semester, leaving her family, and her overall sovereignty. Nothing was accomplished in terms of making decisions, but at least everything was out in the air. Exhausted from their AM activities, Ellie dragged Tom back into bed for a few hours of sleep.

x

Tom woke to Ellie sleepily grinding on his thigh. One of her legs was draped over his and she wantonly rubbed her core against him, uttering such quiet little grunts and moans that it was as if she was trying not to wake him. He gave a raspy chuckle and wrapped an arm around her middle while tucking his leg firmly between hers and moaning as he felt how wet her cunt was against the bare skin of his thigh. She cried out softly, her hooded eyes flitting to his face as he rocked her.

"Daddy," she whimpered, thrusting her hips as he guided her.

"Do you need something, little girl?"

"I'm throbbing," she whined.

"What is, baby?"

She uttered a quiet whine again, looking away and squirming.

"I can't fix it if I don't know what's wrong, he crooned against her ear. "What's throbbing?"

She chewed her lip and looked at him with uncertainty. She wasn't nearly as proficient in talking dirty as he was.

"Between my legs," she whispered.

"Show me," he ordered.

With a shiver, Ellie untangled herself from his limbs and sat on the bed next to him with her knees pulled to her chest. Hesitating just for a moment, she leaned back on her hands and spread her thighs for him, revealing her pregnant belly and swollen, dripping pussy.

Tom groaned, sitting up to roll off his boxer briefs and firmly stroking his cock as she looked up at him with wide eyes. They'd become incredibly familiar with each other's bodies over the past few months, but sitting there with her legs wide open and her growing tummy exposed, completely revealing herself made her blush and avert her gaze.

"Ah, ah. Look at me, Ellie."

With a whimper she obeyed, reluctantly bringing her eyes to his.

"You belong to me, remember? That divine little cunt is mine to look at. And your belly. Fuck."

Ellie's pussy contracted. The fact that her naked body was enough to reduce such an educated, eloquent man to profanities was a heady concept. She reclined further on her elbow and experimentally rubbed her stomach for him, earning a strangled groan. He leaned forward and slipped each hand beneath her spread knees and hauled her to him so that her slit was close enough to his cock that he could rock against her.

"You're perfect," he grunted, thrusting his hips as he leaned forward to run his hands over her middle. She trembled, struggling against him to move closer in order to impale herself on his thick, straining cock.

"Daddy, please, I need you," she sobbed softly with a thrust of her hips.

He growled, reaching down to grasp his cock to run the tip along her slick slit. They both moaned, Tom's head dropping back as he worked the head of his length back and forth along the folds of her cunt.

"I know you do, sweetheart. I'll make it better."

Slowly he eased into her, pausing to relish in the tight, sweet wetness of her heat. Her pathetic whimper brought him back, prompting him to give a gentle thrust of his hips. She made a frustrated noise, arching up off the bed at him.

"Patience, Ellie. There are some things we have to discuss before I can soothe that aching little cunt of yours."

She gasped, brows furrowed in the effort it took to form such a simple question. "What?"

"School. We will talk about England tomorrow."

She groaned, lashing out at him with a foot and almost losing her balance. He caught it and gave her ankle a threatening squeeze before letting it fall back to the bed.

"You will finish the semester," he said with a firm thrust.

Ellie nodded with hesitation, wary of his pre-orgasm persuasive skills.

"And then you will take a leave."

Panting, she obstinately shook her head and he began to pull out of her.

"No! Daddy, no," she whined, begging him not to stop.

The poor girl keened as he roughly pumped his hips again. She realized that with her little belly in the way of her sitting up, she was mostly powerless in this position. Which was, of course, likely planned. Bastard.

"I could get one more semester in before the baby," she gritted.

Tom sternly shook his head, giving her a punishing thrust that earned him a whimper.

"Not," he grunted as he snapped his hips, "With appointments." He panted for a few beats. "It's too stressful."

Ellie's tried to stay strong but her eyes rolled back as he became rougher, his pelvis hitting her clit and that little bundle of nerves buried in her cunt just right. Her jaw bobbed as she tried painfully hard to retort, but could only manage a single-word answer.

"Fine," she gasped.

"Good girl," he murmured, stroking her hair from her face.

Gently he pushed her shoulders back, forcing her to recline completely on the bed. She went willingly, knowing she had a better chance at coming if she complied.

"You're so agreeable when I'm inside you," he crooned down at her as he cradled her legs in his arms, each bent at the knee and began to rut into her with a growl.

Ellie humphed to the best of her ability but it was weak—Tom was buried inside her to the hilt, in her defense. He surveyed her for as he thrust, taking in her lush breasts and the swell of her tummy and felt his shaft harden even more, if possible. He pulsed inside her, groaning as he looked down.

"My little Ellie," he rumbled. "So reluctant to obey Daddy until he's buried inside her," he purred. "When you're on your back beneath me, I bet you would do anything Daddy asked of you, wouldn't you?"

Ellie stilled, her brows lowering in concern as she tried to process what he was saying. She grew wary, trying to sit up until Tom stopped her with a firm hand on her chest.

"Relax. You're already right where I want you," he soothed with a few thrusts. "It pleases me that when I have you like this, I can make you do things you wouldn't for any other man," he smirked. "Only for me, isn't that right, my little whore?"

Ellie felt her cheeks flush. He was completely right. When he had her on the brink of exploding, she'd agree to practically anything as long as he allowed her to come. She gave a shaky nod, her muscle control completely shot as he continued driving into her.

"Say it out loud, baby."

Just to make life more difficult, he increased the rate and force at which he pumped his hips. Ellie gasped, her back arching as she let out a strangled groan.

"Yes, Daddy," she choked, desperately trying to thrust back at him.

"Good girl."

She utterly glowed at his praise. He may as well have given her a shot of alcohol; his approval gave her that warm, fuzzy feeling that she'd so grown to crave. She moaned, her lids lowering as she concentrated on the winding coil deep in her pelvis. She couldn't hold off much longer, and she needed permission before she was too far gone to ask for it. Her request was breathy and it took several attempts, but eventually she voiced her request.

"D-Daddy," she panted, "Please may I come?"

He looked down at her sternly, his lips pressing into a thin line as he studied her.

"For now, no more school once this semester is over," he panted. "Is that clear, little girl?"

"Y-yes," was her whined response. Just as he was about to correct her, she fought to construct the second part of her agreement. "D-Daddy."

Tom couldn't help but smirk down at her. His girl was trying so hard to be good, but she simply couldn't help herself.

"You take my cock so well, Ellie."

With a high pitched whine, she did her best to arch her back to the best of her ability, which wasn't far. Tom gave a breathy chuckle as he fought to appear stoic and unaffected, though both of them knew he was far from. He stared down at her, silently forcing her to maintain eye contact as he began snapping his hips at a brutal pace.

"Come for me, Babygirl."

With a shriek Ellie clutched the bed sheets until her knuckles turned white as the spring in her lower belly broke free. Wave after wave of pleasure surged through her body until she couldn't think anymore. All she could do was feel as Tom fucked her through her powerful orgasm. As she came down, she whimpered as aftershocks made her tender cunt throb around his pistoning cock, causing him to grunt with effort. After a moment, he lost his resolve and his hips stuttered as he cried out, filling her tight pussy with his come.

Panting heavily, Tom sat back on his heels, wiping sweat from his brow as he gazed down at Ellie. Once he could breathe again, he leaned back over her, his hard, muscled stomach coming to rest against her raised belly as he caged her head between his bent elbows, propping himself up. His breath puffed against her neck as he lowered his lips, pressing kisses along her collarbone, shoulders, chin and eventually her face. Her eyes fluttered shut and she twined her arms around his neck, hungrily pulling his mouth to hers. She moaned softly, teasing the seam of his lips with her tongue until he allowed her access. Lazily their tongues danced as their lips met, earning a contented sigh from Ellie.

Slowly, Tom pulled away, pressing several chaste kisses to Ellie's lips as if he couldn't quite bear to leave her mouth. She smiled, curling into him as he rolled off of her. Wiggling until her head was resting against his chest, her ear positioned over his beating heart, she let her lids flutter shut.

"Thank you, Daddy."