Part 28 (1/2)
Memphis's grip on her hips tightened as he stood making Kennedy cry out in surprise and tighten her legs around his waist to keep from falling.
”You heard the woman, Luke. We're going to school-after I teach her a few things.”
Kennedy laughed and looked down at his grinning face, shaking her head.
”You don't have time for that. The cla.s.s starts in an hour and-”
”I have plenty of time.”
”And there's traffic.”
”I have time.”
Memphis was halfway to the bedroom when the doorbell rang, stopping him in his tracks with a groan.
”How much do you want to bet that's Vanessa?” he grumbled, leaning Kennedy against the wall as he pressed his hips between her legs.
Kennedy dropped her head back and cursed the plans she had made with her friend yesterday.
”We're . . . going shopping.”
”Shopping can wait.” Memphis palmed her a.s.s and she half laughed-half moaned.
”Shopping can wait, yes. Vanessa waiting, though? Not a chance.”
The doorbell rang again.
”Ignore her,” Memphis said, distracting her with his hands.
Sounded like a very good idea only . . .
”f.u.c.k, Memphis, she has a key. Remember?”
He groaned again just as the pounding on the door started and the m.u.f.fled warning yelled, ”I'm giving you two minutes to get decent and then I'm coming in! We have important things to do today.”
”We can always lock the bedroom door.”
”Luke busted the k.n.o.b the other night when he kept jumping up on it.”
Memphis laughed and shook his head. ”We need to get that dog some obedience training.” Reluctantly, he set her on her feet, brus.h.i.+ng one of her stray black curls away from her eyes. ”Tonight.”
Kennedy nodded and stood on her toes to place a quick kiss on his lips before disappearing into their bedroom to dress. By the time she emerged, Memphis had started the dishwasher and cleaned up the kitchen.
Vanessa was standing next to the counter, pulling apart pieces of French toast and stuffing them into her mouth. ” 'Bout time,” she mumbled around the food. She swallowed and looked at Memphis where he was squatted on the floor trying to get Luke's leash on.
”You have as much trouble tying down that dog as you did tying down my girl,” she teased.
Memphis stood, finally having won the leash game, and flashed Vanessa a s.e.xy grin, his mischievous eyes gleaming.
”That's what you think. Kennedy actually likes being tied down. Or up.”
”No, no, not hearing this!” Vanessa cried, covering her ears with her hands and closing her eyes as if she were afraid they were going to give her a demonstration.
”You two are ridiculous.” Kennedy shook her head but her smile gave away just how amusing she found them.
Memphis wrapped his arms around her and whispered promises of picking up where they were interrupted later that night before giving her one last kiss and heading out the door, Luke happily trotting along behind him.
”I knew you two were kinky,” Vanessa said as soon as the door closed and they were alone.
Kennedy arched an eyebrow in her friend's direction and smirked. ”Are you telling me you and Joe aren't adventurous?”
Vanessa pursed her lips but remained silent.
Kennedy laughed. ”That's what I thought. You don't make four babies by having a stale love life.”
Vanessa and her husband Joseph had gotten on the baby train and forgotten to get off. Blessed with a daughter three years ago, they also had eighteen month old twin boys and Vanessa was currently three months into her third pregnancy.
”Speaking of babies, let's go!” Vanessa cried, clapping her hands together and beaming. ”I have to pick up the kids from daycare by noon, so I'm on borrowed time.”
Kennedy hesitated just long enough for Vanessa to lose some of her enthusiasm.
”What?”
”We can go another day if you have other things to do. Or I can go by myself. It's not a big deal. I shouldn't need you there to hold my hand.”
Vanessa gave her a knowing look.
”It's okay to be scared, Kennedy. I don't have any plans today so don't worry about that. But if you want to do this alone then you should.” Vanessa reached out and squeezed her hand. ”I'm here for moral support in whatever way you need me to be.”
”Ugh!” Kennedy dragged her hands through her hair, pulling on the roots. ”Who would have thought this would be the hard part?” She shook her head and dropped her hands. ”Forget it. I'm just being silly. Let's go.”
”Are you sure?”
”No, but let's go anyway.”
Twenty minutes later, Kennedy was trying to fight off an anxiety attack of mixed emotions as they stood in an aisle at their local shopping center.
”Oh, look.” Vanessa said, picking up one of the little boxes. ”This one gives you smiley face.” She turned the box around to read the back and then frowned. ”Never mind. It's for ovulation testing only.”
Kennedy watched her put the test back as the fear turned her stomach and started to expand into her chest making it hard to breathe. Fear and panic chased away any excitement she should feel right then. All she could think about was the last time she was standing in the spot she was at that moment and how it had ended.
”Maybe I should wait,” she whispered, taking a step back. ”Maybe it's too soon.”
Vanessa s.h.i.+fted, blocking her view of the pregnancy tests and placed her hands on her shoulders.
”Kennedy, look at me.” More panic until Vanessa cupped her chin and made her focus. ”It's going to be okay, Kennedy.”
The rea.s.surance did nothing to stop the fear that filled her.
”You don't know that,” she whispered, tears suddenly stinging her eyes as she thought of everything she could possibly have with Memphis.