Chapter Twenty
Beth stood in front of her bedroom mirror studying her body. She had tried to laugh off the scales in front of the girls at the mall today, but the number still stung. It had to be the late dinners with Nick, because otherwise she thought she had been eating really well lately. Since he usually stopped at the gym on the way home, it was usually around seven before they ate. Maybe she could start skipping dinner completely. She could just tell Nick that she was too hungry to wait, and he would never know the difference. He had been making comments on her small portions lately and she didn’t want him to know that she planned to miss a meal. It was unreal how when you’re fat the world seems interested in every bite you put in your mouth, and when you lose the weight, they still seem just as interested.
First, her parents wanted to make sure she didn’t eat too much and blow up, and Nick wanted to make sure she ate enough. Would there ever be a time in her life when no one gave a damn what she ate? Why couldn’t she enjoy her pregnancy like other new first-time mothers-to-be?
She was excited and nervous about being a mother. When she could rise above the panic of gaining weight, she thought a lot about the type of mother she wanted to be. One thing she was certain of, she would never be as cold and distant as her mother. Her children would be allowed to have dreams and they would have the childhood that Suzy and she had always dreamed of.
She heard the door slam in the other room and she quickly stepped away from the mirror. It wouldn’t do for Nick to think that she was worrying about her weight. She didn’t want him to be suspicious when he didn’t see her eating.
Beth walked back into the living room as Nick tossed his keys on the table and dropped his gym bag on the floor. She could feel her heart kick into gear as her eyes slid hungrily over his body. Athletic shorts hung low on his lean hips and narrow waist. His biceps glistened with sweat and his tank top outlined his muscular chest. Oh, girl, you are in trouble. There is no way you can settle for cuddling again tonight with that sitting next to you. When did you become obsessed with sweaty guys? Shouldn’t you want him to shower first?
Cocking a brow at her, Nick asked, “Hey, princess, what do you want for dinner?”
“You,” Beth moaned. “I mean . . .”
With a grin, he asked, “Could you be a little more specific?”
Beth walked over to him and slid a hand across one of his hard butt cheeks, giving it a firm squeeze. “Is that specific enough for you?”
Giving her a sexy grin, he said, “I’m still not clear on your meaning.”
“Hmm, well, let me make myself a little clearer for you.” Leaving one hand on his ass, she brought her other hand in front and found him rock hard against the flimsy material of his shorts. She traced her hand up his shaft, gripping him firmly. “Get the picture now?”
Heat blazed in his eyes as he pushed himself against her hand. “Oh, yeah, I’ve got it, baby, and I would be more than happy to give it to you.”
Nick lifted her suddenly and laid her on the table, knocking his keys to the floor. He jerked up her skirt to her waist and, through her panties, he cupped his hand over her mound. Feeling the moisture on the fabric, he gave her a rakish grin. “Someone has been waiting for me to get home.”
Beth could only moan as he continued to caress her through the fabric. She bucked her hips against him, wanting his fingers on her bare flesh, but he continued to deny her. He stroked along her slit, edging the panty-covered tip of one finger inside her. Beth groaned deeper in frustration. He only chuckled. Then, frustrating her even more, his hand left her completely and wandered up to unbutton her blouse. He pulled her bra down and her br**sts spilled from the top of the cups. He moved in tighter between her legs, rubbing his erection against her core as he took one puckered nipple inside his mouth and nipped it lightly with his teeth. Pain and pleasure converged as his teeth and tongue worked her ni**les. Each tug on their sensitive peaks caused an answering surge of heat to blaze through her sex.
He lowered his head to her ear and ran the tip of his tongue around the shell. Then he whispered, “Is this what you had in mind?”