She needed the rest, because tomorrow was going to be a long day.

Chapter Eleven

Something hard poked against Liz’s butt. She blinked her eyes open, smiling as she recognized immediately what it was.

She vaguely remembered Gavin waking her up last night as he carried her to bed. She had practically sleep-walked through brushing her teeth and taking off her clothes before falling into bed and right back to sleep.

She did, however, remember that before she’d utterly passed out, she’d been rubbing his cock, making promises that her worn-out body had obviously been unable to keep.

This morning, however, was another matter entirely.

She wriggled against him. “Is this my early morning Christmas present?”

“Yes. How do you like it?”

“Mmm, I love it.” Her breasts tingled and her pussy quivered as she anticipated him sliding his cock inside her.

And when he did, she was wet and ready for him, her body quaking as he entered her.

They made love slowly, Gavin easing in and partially withdrawing. It was a perfect way to wake up. And when he reached around to strum her clit with his fingers, she arched into his hand, letting him coax a delicious response from her. Tension coiled all too easily and she climaxed with an unabandoned cry, Gavin coming at the same time.

He held her, kissing her shoulder and stroking her hip as they settled.

“Merry Christmas, beautiful,” he said.

“Merry Christmas.” She got up and turned to brush a kiss on his lips. “I’m going to go take a shower.”

“Okay.” He grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. “I’ll get in after you’re done.”

She went into the bathroom and closed the door, then turned on the shower. She was waiting for the water to heat up when a sudden, overwhelming burst of nausea hit her out of nowhere. She was shocked when she threw up, then held on to the counter when she stood, feeling weak, shaky, and utterly bewildered.

She brushed her teeth, rinsed her mouth, and climbed into the shower, ready to dash out just in case it happened again. But she managed to make it through her shower without incident.

When she got out, she wondered what the hell had just happened.

Surely . . .

No. It couldn’t be, could it? She counted back weeks. She’d had a period . . . sort of. Maybe a day, and it was light, which wasn’t like her, but she’d figured it was stress. In a hurry, her fingers shaking, she dove into the cabinet for the store of pregnancy tests she kept on hand. She ripped open the package, wondering whether or not to even attempt it. If it wasn’t what she thought, she’d end up with the worst Christmas ever.

But she’d drive herself crazy wondering, so she might as well get it over with. She peed on the stick and set the timer on her phone she’d left on the bathroom counter last night, hoping Gavin wouldn’t walk in on her. To be on the safe side, she locked the door. This way, only she’d be disappointed, and he’d never know.