The Surrogate Read Online Penelope Ward

Categories Genre: Alpha Male, Angst, Contemporary, Forbidden Tags Authors:
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Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 96833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
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“What’s up, Sigmund?” he said when he answered.

“We have a problem.”

“Actually, I can guarantee you my problem is bigger. I was just about to call you.”

Alarmed, I slowed my car. “Everything okay, mate?”

“No. Not in the least.” He let out a long breath into the phone. “I mean, everyone is healthy. Nothing like that. But my biggest nightmare just happened.”

“Don’t scare me. What the hell is going on?”

“Remember the little baby girl Felicity is carrying that we’re naming Britney?”

My stomach dropped. “Yeah?”

“Well, apparently, she is a he. They made an error during the earlier ultrasound. We just had a follow-up, and it clearly showed a little knob this time.”

Holy shit. “A son? Congratulations! Why are you upset? This is monumental news. Now your family name will continue.”

“I was hoping my child could avoid the stressors I had growing up. This poor little guy is the next Duke of Westfordshire, and he doesn’t even know it.”

“I doubt you’re going to put the same pressure on him as your father did you.”

He sighed. “True, but there are some pressures inherent to the title. They’re unavoidable.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Your mother must be over the moon. All she’s ever wanted was an heir.”

“I haven’t told her yet. I’m not in the mood to experience her satisfaction. Let her think it’s a girl for a few more days.”

“How is Felicity taking it?”

“She’s handling it better than I am.”

“You’ll get used to the idea. How many more weeks do you have to go?”

“Just two. I truly don’t understand how this happened. He was breech, in a weird position, for the last ultrasound, so they couldn’t see clearly. He finally turned around this time, and there was his willy.”

“I feel for you, mate, but this was meant to be. And it’s kind of nice knowing the Covington name will live on.”

“Well, thank you. I’ll admit, I’m excited to have a son despite my fears.” He sighed again. “Anyway…what was the problem you called about?”

My lack of self-control seemed trite now. “We don’t have to talk about it.”

“Sigmund, what’s going on?”

“Something went down between Abby and me.”

“Something...”

“Well, more specifically I went down.”

“Ah, you devil. Wow. I wasn’t sure you’d go there.”

“My face between her legs, you mean?” I shook my head. “I should be shot for that.”

“Don’t tell me you’re beating yourself up for something that was bound to happen?”

“You act like I couldn’t have stopped it. I have free will.”

“It was pretty much inevitable. It shouldn’t be a surprise to you.”

“I don’t know how to feel. On one hand, I’m a prick for taking advantage of the situation. On the other…I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.”

“Well, now that you’ve gone there, why would you?”

“I have many good reasons to stop before things get even more complicated. But the truth is, I can’t expect her to be celibate for nine months any more than I could expect myself to be. Since I don’t like the idea of her being with another man while she’s here, this was the best solution.”

“Ah, so this is about finding a solution for her and not about your intense attraction to her that’s been obvious from day one…” he mocked.

“It’s all of the above, alright? But mostly about my lack of self-control.”

“Am I allowed to tell Felicity?”

“I’d prefer she not know right now—unless Abby decides to tell her. The fewer people who know, the better.”

“Alright, then.”

I pulled into the driveway. “I’ll let you go. I’m just arriving at the inn.”

“Ah… A trip to the inn in the middle of the day. Whatever could that be for?”

“Lavinia is making her stew I can’t pass up.”

“Better not let the stew get cold, then.”

I chuckled. “Goodbye, cousin.”

***

Abby and I spent a G-rated afternoon hanging out with Lavinia, and now I was counting the minutes until our sweet innkeeper went to bed. Lavinia had insisted on playing cards after dinner, which was like torture, really. All I wanted to do as I looked at Abby across the table was touch her. Kiss her. Smell her. Taste her. None of which I could do with Lavinia here.

I still wasn’t sure how I was going to handle things this evening—whether I’d sneak into Abby’s room or ask her to come to mine. Or maybe I’d opt to do nothing at all. I didn’t want to be presumptuous. But based on the way she’d screamed in pleasure the other night, it seemed safe to assume she might want a repeat. Ever since the night she’d spent at my apartment, I’d been craving a repeat. I’d actually been craving much more, and I was unable to concentrate on anything else.

When Lavinia finally went to bed, Abby also went upstairs—without saying anything to me. I got the impression she was intentionally making me sweat. After I shut off the lights on the ground level, I followed them upstairs, still not knowing what to do. When I passed Abby’s room, I knocked lightly. There was no answer. I slowly opened the door to find she wasn’t inside. Down the hall, I could see light under the door of the main bathroom.


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