CEO Stepbrother's Surprise Baby

Chapter 19

Natalie

I wake up feeling dizzy. It's been two weeks since my dad and Cynthia left for their honeymoon. I've spent every night either studying or watching Netflix with Noah.

It's been a good two weeks, and I'm happy that my dad and Cynthia will be gone for at least three more weeks. It will give me more time to cuddle and spend time alone with Noah.

We haven't really talked about what we are, and we haven't had sex. Noah has been too tired from his games and midterm exams. He usually comes home to fall asleep with his head in my lap. Not that I mind—his presence is enough to make me happy.

I get up from bed. Noah is out for his weekend run, and I should walk down to get breakfast—

My thoughts vanish in a puff of smoke when I suddenly bend forward and royally puke all over the freaking floor. Dear Lord, have I caught the stomach flu or something?

"Fuck..." I'm crying, and my throat is parched, like the desert of the freaking Sahara. "I need water... So thirsty..."

I walk toward the bathroom and hear someone enter the bedroom, gasping at the puke.

"Natalie?" It's Noah. "Are you alright?"

"No, don't come close to me... I think I've caught the stomach flu or something... It feels like I'm about to die..."

Noah doesn't listen to me. The gentle giant appears in the doorframe, eyeing me with concern over his features. It's unfair that Noah can be so hot and sexy when I feel like a reanimated corpse.

"Are you sure it's the stomach flu?" Noah asks carefully. "Like, you don't think you're pregnant?"

Noah's words send panic into my head, and now I can't figure out what to do. I freeze and watch my face pale in the bathroom mirror as a response to my brain processing his question.

A baby inside of me?

Pregnant?

I'm gripping the sink—I wouldn't be able to stand if I let go.

"Pregnant?" I croak. "But... I'm still in college, and I don't know what I'm supposed to become. And we ate step-siblings—"

"Shh..." Noah hugs me from behind, kissing the back of my head while his hands stroke my breasts. I'm wearing one of his oversized t-shirts. "Calm down, will you?"

I swallow thickly, allowing myself to lean against Noah's chest. My chest is rising and plummeting. I don't know what to do or say. If I'm pregnant, then...

Shit, what am I supposed to do?

"The timing isn't right..." I whisper, and a tear races down my chin before another follows it. "But is it wrong that I want to... If I'm pregnant... Then I don't want an abortion..."

Noah's face softens, and I cover my face with my palms. I'm afraid of what he will say. I'm being stupid—we aren't even a couple, and maybe I'm not even pregnant!

"Look at me, Duchess."

I don't face Noah. I can't. My palms are glued to my face to protect myself from his blue eyes. If Noah would say he wants an abortion, I'm sure it would kill me on the spot. I want to keep the baby.

I sob. "Just tell me what you want to say..."

"Do you want a baby?"

"Don't put me on the spot like that!" I cry. "We aren't even sure if... Fuck, Noah... We need to get a pregnancy test... When do those even work? What week is this? Shit, my period is late, but it's always been irregular, so I didn't think about a pregnancy..."

"I think it's been around six weeks since we had sex the first time, perhaps even seven weeks?"

"Are you sure?"

"No," Noah breathes a laugh into my hair. "But if you're pregnant, it's not the end of the world. We would make it work, right? You can take a break from your studies while I provide for you."

I freeze. "Provide for me?"

"And the baby."

His words ignite warmth—so much warmth. My hands fall from my face, and I gaze into Noah's blue eyes. His expression is affectionate. My heart squeals in my chest, causing a great need to kiss this gorgeous, beautiful man.

"You would want to keep the baby?" I can hardly believe the words myself. I need Noah to confirm them.

Through the emotions circling in my chest, I lift my head to look at Noah, really take him in. His lips curl into a smile. He doesn't seem worried at all, not one bit concerned.

"Yes. Why are you acting like it's such a surprise? I love you, Natalie. I've loved you from the first moment I saw you, and there won't be anyone after you. I will love no one else."

My heart flutters. I realize that a sane woman in my position would tell Noah that they love him back, especially since that is the truth. But I'm not ready to say those words. Instead, I'm melting, and his muscular arms tighten around me, keeping me standing.

"So, if you want me, we will make this work." Noah rubs his nose against my head. He inhales the scent of my shampoo, hugging me with his heartbeat hammering against my back.

"We shouldn't get ahead of ourselves," I whisper. "We have to get a pregnancy test, and after finding the result, we can talk about the future. It's no good talking like we have a clue when we don't know if I'm pregnant yet."

"True," Noah kisses me again. "I could drive to the pharmacy right now if you want? Frank can cook you breakfast in the meantime. Even if you're nauseous, you still need to eat and drink water."

I breathe a laugh. It's still weird having a butler in the household, and even though Noah isn't technically my boyfriend, he is willing to do everything to keep me happy.

Noah is a good man, and I'm deeply in love with him.

"You're spoiling me. If I keep living with you, I will forget how to live by myself."

Noah's lips curl, but his eyes remain closed. "Is that a bad thing? If I'm the one you want, you better get used to having money because it's a shame not to use it, Duchess."

I place my hands over his arms. "I don't like to take things for granted."

"I'm not going anywhere," Noah whispers into my ear. "I'm not your mother, neither am I your dad—I'm a poor fuck desperately in love with you, Natalie Gracen."

Goosebumps prickle over my skin and I smile at our reflection. Noah is so much taller than me that we look comical together. We aren't a beautiful couple that would make it to the cover page of a magazine. But there is so much love in his gaze that it makes me melt.

"You should drive and get that pregnancy test before I push you down into the bed. I'm one second away from tackling you."

Noah chuckles. "That wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, but I should fetch the pregnancy test first... Sex later?"

I smile. "Lots of it."