Bound, Chalen D. [notion reading list txt] 📗

him. “Thanks.”

“Did she answer?”

“No.” He took a bite.

“Then go over there-“

“She told me not to.”

“But you’re calling her and she said not to.”

“I’m afraid of her.”

“Man up!” Alex said. “She’s going to be your wife one day damn it.”

“Excuse me.” Morgan said to the woman at the front desk. “My name is Morgan McPhee-“

“Mr. Maxwell said if anyone by that name comes by to send you right in.”

“Thanks.” Morgan went to the office.

“You love her don’t you?” A voice demanded inside the office.

“Of course I love her.”

Morgan knocked on the door.

“What?” They both said.

Morgan slowly pushed open the door.

“Make this right.” Alex pointed at his younger brother.

He touched Morgan’s shoulder and left.

Carson swallowed the lump of bread in this mouth. It went down slow.

“Morgan.”

“I’m not here for anything.”

“I didn’t think you were.”

“I don’t need your money.”

“Okay.” Carson was confused.

“I just thought you had the right to know, and that you don’t have to be around.”

“What are you talking about?” He was utterly confused.

“I’m pregnant.” The words burned her throat. “I thought you had the right to know.”

Carson had dropped his sandwhich.

“Bye.” She hurried from the office.

Morgan took the elevator to the underground garage. She locked her door and rested her head on the steering wheel. That was not the reaction she was expecting. When she told the man she loved she was pregnant she wanted him to be happy. And she did love Carson. Oh how she loved him. There was a knock on the window and she jumped, honking the horn. She looked up at Carson.

“Open the door.”

“No.” She said from inside.

“Stop being stubborn and open the damn door Morgan.”

Morgan unlocked the door, and Carson yanked it open. He pulled her out of the car and hugged her.

“I don’t care if you hate me.” He said stroking her head. “But I love you, and I’m not letting you do anything on your own.”

Morgan relaxed into him. This was what she was hoping for. She loved this man damn it, and there was no way out of the contract anyways. Was there?

“I can do it myself.”

“But you don’t have to. Not anymore.”

Morgan pushed away from him.

“What’s wrong?”

She bent at the waist and threw up.

“Shit,” Carson pulled her hair into a pony tail.

She only tossed up a mouth full.

“I’m sorry.” She popped a piece of gum into her mouth.

“It happens.”

“It’s so gross.” She said. “I feel sick a lot.”

“You need to be watched after.”

“I’ll stay with my Mom.”

"No you’ll stay with me.”

“I will?”

“Please? I need to know you’re safe. It’s been driving me crazy. And I miss Puppy.”

“Liv named her Belle.”

“Then I miss Belle.”

“I still call her Puppy.”

“Then I miss Puppy.”

She smiled. Carson missed that smile, and now he was seeing it in person.

“You look like shit.”

“So do you.”

“Oh Thanks.” She muttered.

“I have a guest bedroom set up.”

“But I like your bed.”

He smiled, “Then you can have my room. Anything you want.”

“Can I go home and get clothes?”

“Can you take my car and leave that death trap here?”

“I guess.”

He handed over the keys, “I’ll see you at home.”

“Home.” She nodded.

She got into his car and drove to her house. She picked up some clothes and snapped on Puppy’s leash. She was too heavy now for Morgan to carry her. Too many damn chees balls. Her and Belle had turned into emotional eaters over the last month. She drove the seven miles to Carson’s house. Puppy seemed excited to be home.

Morgan grabbed her bags and opened the door for Belle, who jumped out and ran to the front door. Morgan pulled out her phone.

“Hello Beautiful.” Cason answered.

“Which ones the house key?”

“Just put your thumb up to the knob.”

“Okay.” She said suspicious.

Morgan touched the knob with her thumb, and the locks turned.

“That’s creepy.”

“I’ll be home soon.”

She hung up the phone and set all her bags on Carson’s bed. She flopped down. She missed this bed. She missed his bed. She missed him. She went to his closet and grabbed a Hoodie. She slipped in her arms and inhaled his sent. Belle cocked her head.

“Don’t look at me like that. You sniff butts.”

Belle dropped her head.

“I didn’t think so.”

She zipped up the jacket and went down stairs. She was hungry. She opened the fridge. Empty. She was debating whether or not on going to the store when she heard a beep outside. She hurried to the door and saw Cason shut his door. She pulled open the door and walked barefoot onto the porch.

What a sight he though. His Pregnant Morgan on the porch barefoot. He didn’t think she’d come so that’s why he installed a track device into his car and handed it over.

“You bought a new car?”

“I had to get home somehow.”

“I’m hungry, and you have no food.”

Belle shot out of the house and right at Carson. She cried and danced.

“Hey girl.” Carson bent down. “You’re not a puppy anymore!”

He  went up the front steps and leaned in for a kiss. Morgan looked down and he stopped. She followed him inside and he went to the kitchen. He grabbed a pot from a box and rinsed it.

“Why don’t you have food?” She asked.

“I’m never here.”

He poured cereal into the pot poured in some milk and stuck in two spoons.

“Dinners served.”

“Yum.” Morgan muttered and took a bite. “I’m pregnant. I need protein.”

”I’ll go shopping tomorrow.” He pointed at her. “I see you kidnapped another Jacket.”

She looked down and pulled it closer. He loved this woman. Twenty-three was young to get married but he was about to drag her ass to Vegas.

“Can I ask why?”

“The other one doesn’t smell like you anymore. I wanted a new one.”

He crunched his cereal once, and looked at her. She was so Beautiful. He wanted to see his ring on her finger again.

“I have to shower.” She muttered sliding off a stool. “Come on.”

Belle stayed put.

“Trader.” Morgan left the kitchen.

“Good girl.” Carson said, handing over some cereal.

Morgan finished off her shower and tossed the towel over her shoulder. Carson was in the room pulling pants over boxers. He grabbed a shirt and looked at her.

“Can I help you Ms. McPhee?” He smiled.

“I’ve missed you so much.”

His smiled faded. She dropped her towel on the bed, and ran a hand over his arm. He froze.

“I miss the way your arms feel when they held me.” She ran a hand down his stomach, “I miss the way I could feel every muscle when you would pin me down.” She ran a hand through his hair. “And I miss the way your hair falls in your eyes.” She grabbed his arm, “And I miss,” Her eyes flashed to his, “The way you kissed the inside of my wrist.” She gave him a soft slow kiss not taking her eyes off of him. “And I miss the way you say I love you. I miss the way you would cook me beacon in the morning to wake me up. And how you took Belle out to potty when it was too cold in the morning. I miss that.”

“What else do you miss?”

“I miss this.” She hugged him, and looked up.

“Do you Miss this?” He slowly kissed her.

“I miss that too.”

He grabbed her face and kissed her hard. He picked her up, and knocked off some stuff from the dresser to set her down. He kissed her jaw, her neck her collar bone. He yanked off her shirt, and tossed it out of the way. He kissed along her bra, and then picked her up. They moved the bed.

“I love you.” He muttered.

“I love you.”

He kissed down her stomach and then stopped, putting a hand there. Morgan put a hand over his. He looked up and she smiled at him.

“It’s okay.”

He swallowed.

“I promise.”

She sat up and grabbed his face. She kissed him, and then slowly layed back. He gripped her hip and then Belle barked.

“She has to potty.” Morgan muttered.

“I got it.”

He let the dog out and then went back up stairs. Morgan was asleep in the middle of the bed with her hair fanned on the pillow, her eye lashes resting on her cheeks. He pulled the blankets over her and turned off the lamp.

“Stay.” She muttered.

He crawled in next to her, and she layed on his chest. This is what he missed. Her tired as all hell, and him being able to hold her while she counted on him to protect her while she slept. He stroked her cheek, and she settled in.

“I love you.” She muttered.

“I love you too Baby.”

 

Morgan stretched the next morning and smiled. Beacon. She headed down stairs. Carson was barefoot, no shirt in jeans at the stove. He tossed a slice of beacon to Belle who Caught it midair. Morgan hugged him from behind. He jumped a little then grabbed her hands.

“Good Morning beautiful. I went shopping.”

“So I smell.”

He pulled her under his arm. “I unpacked too.”

“What time did you wake up?”

“Honey its noon.”

“It is?” She asked. “I have to go to the office and check things out. Martie might need help.”

“Who’s Martie?” He asked, a hint of jealousy in his voice.

“Mr. Maxwell, Are you jealous?”

“Damn right I’m jealous. You’re an engaged Woman.”

Morgan looked down at her finger, and the ring winked at her. She grinned and hissed his cheek.

“Where’s the plates?”

“That one.”He nodded at a cupboard

Morgan set the table, “He’s my Co-worker.”

“Oh.” He nodded.

“Hey.” He looked at her. “I’m yours.”

He grinned. He loved hearing her say that. It was the first time.

“Can you do me a favor?”

“Anything.”

“Can you ask your Dad to stop threatening to kick my family out, please?”

He set the fork down and left the room. Soon he came back.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Anything.”

“Are you back with me for your family?”

“No.” She hurried to him and grabbed his face, “Look at me.”

He did, His eyes dull.

“I love you.”

He touched her stomach, “I love you.”

She hugged him and he dropped the fork again to hug her back. He damn loved this woman. A plate crashed to the floor, and Morgan dug her nails into his  shoulders.

“It’s okay,” Carson pulled back. “It didn’t break.”

“It still scares me. My Dad tossed plates when He fought with my Mom.”

“Did your Mom fight back?”

“Yes.” She grinned. “She threw stake knifes.”

“Did he hit you?” He asked and she lost her smile. “Is that why you asked me to not hit you the night you found out?”

“Yes.” She slowly said. “He had hit me, and so did my last boyfriend.”

“You never told me that.”

“You never talk about Caroline, the dog abandoner.”

He served the food in silence.

“It’s in the past. Why are you mad? You don’t know him.”

“I’m mad because he hit you. You’re mine to protect.”

“It’s in the past. I’m over it.”

“Well I’m not.”

Morgan walked to him and he pulled her onto his lap. She jumped as well for good measure.

“You should be.” She bit his neck.

“I thought you had to be at work.”

“Not anymore.”

“Well I do, and you’re distracting me from my breakfast.”

She looked at him, “You own your own building, can’t you be a little late?”

“Fuck.” He muttered.

He slid off the stool and carried Morgan up stairs.

 

Morgan had just turned in a report, answered ten help ads, and earlier went to a funeral with Martie. There was a taped off area were a dead body was found. They were headed there now. Morgan had a camera in hand. She took pictures in High school and Martie trusted her sneaky eye. They both snuck under the tape.

“Don’t go too far.” He warned her. “I don’t want to have to call the cops because I lost my partner behind yellow scene tape.”

“I won’t get lost.”

“Please don’t.”

She had gotten lost on the first trip he had taken her on. It took them an hour and a half to find her. She took some pictures and met Martie back at the tape. They headed back to the office after getting food and headed to the basement of the office which was turned into a red room. It took them two hours to develop the pictures between them. Then another two hours to