Page 24 of Tight End
Raiden’s hand rested low on my back during the elevator ride down to the lobby. Outside, a black cab was already idling at the curb. He opened the back door before I could reach for the handle and helped me in like I was made of glass.
“I’m not helpless,” I muttered under my breath.
As I scooted over, he shot me a look that was equal parts amused and infuriatingly stubborn. “Didn’t say you were.”
I shook my head with a sigh. “Still.”
He reached over and brushed a stray curl behind my ear in a gentle and unmistakably intimate gesture. “I’m gonna take care of you, Marissa. Might as well get used to it.”
My stomach flipped, only this time it was in a good way and not because of morning sickness.
The drive to the doctor’s office was quiet but not uncomfortable. Every so often, Raiden glanced at me, and each time the softness in his expression made my chest ache. He wasn’t nervous. Just focused.
They took us right back when we arrived at the OB’s office, and everything moved fast from there. Paperwork. Insurance. Raiden handed over his credit card for my copay and anything that wasn’t covered, before I even had the chance to tug mine from my wallet.
When the nurse called my name, he stayed right beside me the whole time. Even for my weight check, much to my chagrin.
“Next time, you’re going to wait outside of earshot for that part.”
He guided me to the exam room with a chuckle and waited while I filled a specimen cup in the bathroom. When the doctor confirmed the pregnancy, I exhaled a shaky breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.
“So it’s real,” I whispered.
Raiden’s fingers closed around mine. “Yeah, baby. It’s real.”
When I hopped off the exam table, the room spun so suddenly I swayed. Raiden’s arm was around my waist instantly, putting his quick reflexes to good use.
“She’s dehydrated,” the doctor explained with a frown. “The unfortunate byproduct of mixing jet lag, long travel days, stress, and pregnancy. Make sure she eats regularly, drinks plenty of fluids, and rests.”
Raiden’s jaw ticked as he nodded. “Will do.”
After she left the room, he helped me get dressed, not letting me stand on my own until I convinced him that I could. Even then, he kept one arm around me as we walked out.
“I’m fine,” I insisted once we were outside, though my legs still felt unsteady.
“We’re going to your place.”
My shoulders slumped. “I guess that makes sense since all my stuff is there. It’ll make it easier for me to rest before work tomorrow.”
“We aren’t going to be there long enough for you to lie down,” he warned.
I tilted my head to the side, my brows drawing together. “I don’t understand.”
“We’re gonna grab as much of your stuff that I can squeeze into whatever suitcases you have, and then you can rest as much as you want at home.”
Home?
I blinked up at him. “Raiden, I’m not moving in with you.”
“You are.” His tone left no room for doubt. “You’re not staying alone when you’re dehydrated and carrying my baby.”
“But—” I sputtered.
“You can argue with me in the car if you want, but you’re not gonna change my mind.”
My head felt like it was spinning. Only one day ago, I wasn’t sure if he was going to kick me out of his life forever, and now he was insisting I move into his penthouse. “I just don’t want you to rush into anything.”
“It’s not rushing.” Then his gaze dropped to my stomach, and his expression softened. “You belong with me. The baby just makes it nonnegotiable.”
