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CHAPTER 7

Author: Emma Swan
last update Last Updated: 2024-04-15 08:58:05

PRESENT DAYS (EIGHT WEEKS LATER)

This time, the trip from Tokyo to New York City has been way too long. Or maybe it seemed so, since the only thing he had in mind was seeing Rhiannon, talking to her. Two months without a single word from her had been way more difficult than he’d imagined.

“Face to face… Finally…” he mumbled. “This time I will get to you. This time you will listen and do exactly what I say.”

Paxton had been trying to call Rhiannon from his limo on the drive through thick rain from “Teterboro Airport” into New York City. When all he could get was her voicemail, Paxton had decided to stop by “King’s Wish” on the way to his office to confront her again.

He’d just pulled up at the curb outside the restaurant when Roberto, his private assistant, had called him.

“Roberto, you know you must call only if it’s a life and death matter…”

“‘It is… Sir, you must come immediately to the New York-Presbyterian Hospital.’”

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“‘It’s about
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    While pacing the waiting room, Paxton kept thinking of his conversation with Kieran. Well, he kept thinking of all the conversations they’ve had during the last few days. Kieran kept asking him about the trust fund, about the conditions to get those millions, about his allowance. “Oh God… That’s it! He did it for the ten million. He needed to get the money from his trust fund to help a friend… He told me that two months ago…” Had Kieran informed Rhiannon about all that money? Had he told her about what having a baby meant?“Of course he did. Getting married at twenty-five was the key to unlocking the Ridgway vault. And having a baby meant more money… A baby was the icing on the cake… A natural heir, a Ridgway heir, was the perfect answer for both Rhiannon King and Kieran…” Suddenly, Paxton felt cold shivers running up and down his back.“I must do something to stop her for good this time! She must be punished for cheating on my brother… For lying to me…

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  • HAVING HIS BABY   CHAPTER 9

    ‘I’ll do anything you want.’ Yeah, right! Paxton demanded her to stay with him stating he’d made a promise to Kieran… Since when did Paxton care about his brother’s wishes? He didn’t even know who Kieran really was, he knew nothing about his real life, about his dreams, about his private life. No, for Paxton it was all about money and control. So, staying with Paxton under the same roof, allowing him to ‘take care’ of her and the baby, was absolutely out of the question. Still, she’d agreed to follow him to Kieran’s loft just to get him out of her back.“Oh, Kieran…” she murmured. “I never should have listened to you! I wouldn’t be here, with that man. You and Santi would still be alive.” Hidden behind the closed curtains, Rhiannon was finishing getting dressed, while planning a quick escape. The cuts and bruises were still quite visible, but she was feeling a little bit better due to the pain meds, and her legs were

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  • HAVING HIS BABY   CHAPTER 10

    The limo stopped in front of Kieran’s loft in the Greenwich Village, or the Village, a neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan, the heart and soul of the American bohemian culture. They stepped out of the car and Paxton practically dragged her towards the main entrance of the building. Rhiannon chewed a nail as he jammed the key into the door. Maybe if she deliberately irritated Paxton, he’d decide looking after her wasn’t worth it after all.“I can’t believe, that as frequently as you saw your brother, you’ve never been inside his place before now,” she said. Paxton’s mouth tightened.“Shut up! You know nothing about our relationship.” ‘A small victory,’ Rhiannon thought and smiled.“Oh? Did I hit a nerve?”“Kieran used to have me to his place on the Upper East Side all the time,” Paxton snapped, “but for some reason, he didn’t want me dropping by anymore when he moved here. Usually, we met at my penthouse or somewhere in the city

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  • HAVING HIS BABY   CHAPTER 11

    Suddenly his hands were in her hair, stroking the dark silken waves resting on her shoulders. His fingertips followed the sensuous curve of her neck before he cupped her chin and lifted her slender face to his, his touch as gentle and seductive as it had been that night. Frantically, because it would be so easy to lose herself to the emotions that blazed in his eyes, Rhiannon fought to resist him. If only Paxton had a heart. If only she could truly depend on him and didn’t have to be afraid of how she felt. Her skin burned and her knees went weak. He had only to touch her to make her yearn for him. Had there been a night since she’d seen him last that she hadn’t ached to have him hold her like this and make love to her once again? To look at her as he was looking at her now, with eyes that devoured her, adored her?“Pax…” she murmured when the craving became too much to resist. Rhiannon arched her back and opened

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  • HAVING HIS BABY   CHAPTER 12

    When Rhiannon cried out again and then, drawn by his warmth, cuddled against him, Paxton hardly dared to breathe for fear he’d startle her. Then, her hand slid across his thigh and a flame went through him. In an instant, he was as hard as a rock. With her soft body lying against him, it was much too easy to forget why he should dislike her, much too easy to remember the heat of her response.“Pax…” she whispered. “Pax...”“I’m here,” he said, worried that he’d awakened her somehow.“I’m... pregnant... I wanted to tell you... but I didn’t know how. You were mad…”“It’s okay.” He looked down at her. Her lashes were shut. Paxton relaxed when he realized she was only talking in her sleep.“I know about the baby, darlin’,” he whispered near her ear. “It’s alright. Everything is going to be alright. I’ll take care of you.”“Oh, Pax… I wanted so much to tell you… I wanted you to be happy about it. As I am…”“I am happy about it.” Paxton was happy his

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  • HAVING HIS BABY   EMMA'S APPRECIATION NOTE

    Hey, Y'all!!!!! First of all, I wanted to thank you all for the incredible support and motivation you've offered me since I started this story. You've been nothing but ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. You gave me back the will to ride again the creative rollercoaster of writing. I'm extremely grateful to each and every one of you for it. I tried to publish something yesterday, but I'm experiencing some internet problems and I had to press 'pause'. Still, this little break was a blessing in disguise, offering me the possibility to give the drafts another look and do a much better editing. (you, guys, deserve nothing but the best). I'm preparing for this weekend 3 or 4 chapters (I haven't decided yet) for you to go through. So, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, be patient with me until tomorrow and I promise you won't be disappointed with the result. Thank you so much again! Baci & Abbracci, Emma.

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    The moment she found herself in front of the “King’s Wish” main entrance, Rhiannon knew asking Paxton to take her there had been a huge mistake. She felt an intense wave filled with rage, frustration, pain, and sadness hitting her, submerging her soul, mind, and body. Was she trapped in a strange time loop, doomed to repeat the same mistakes over and over again? “Oh, God…” she whispered, feeling a little dizzy. “Are you alright?” he asked slowly and placed a hand on her arm, trying to give her his support. “Is it the baby? Do you need something? A chair? A glass of water?” Her breath had locked in her throat as Paxton watched her closely. A bit annoyed by his sudden care and concern, after the bad things he kept telling her since the night of the accident, Rhiannon nodded and took a little step away from him. “Don’t do that, please. I’m fine. I can take care of myself, dammit. I don’t need a babysitter.” “Rhiannon,” he warned in a low growl, “stop acting lik

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  • HAVING HIS BABY   CHAPTER 14

    After ten long minutes of talking on the phone, Paxton joined her. He had a frustrated expression on his face. Maybe it had to do with Kieran’s funeral. Or maybe, because of her, he had to postpone some of his personal activities.“Is everything alright?” she asked.“Yes…” Paxton replied, taking a sit at the table. “It was the funeral home. Some last-minute changes. Nothing for you to worry about.” Rhiannon nodded slightly.“Paxton… Uhm… What about Santi? Do you know anything about him? I mean, the funeral…”“It’s been already taken care of. The funeral, the trip to Mexico, everything. His parents want to bury him there.”“Oh… I see.” In life, Kieran and Santiago were two peas in a pot. They were so in sync, so caught up in each other. They were more than best friends, they were more than lovers. They were two halves of the same whole: Kieran couldn’t live without Santiago and vice versa. So, hearing about two separate funerals was so painful, so abnormal

    Last Updated : 2024-04-22

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  • HAVING HIS BABY   EMMA'S FINAL THANK YOU NOTE

    Hey, Y'all!!!!Another romantic adventure came to an end. It has been such an interesting ride. It has been funny, sad, frustrating, tearful, annoying (Yes, I've said it!), but all in all, it has been the most fulfilling writing experience I've had in the last eight months. The plot came out of nowhere, pushing me to give birth to this love story. In no time, Rhiannon and Paxton took over me, and... the rest, as they say, is history. I saw all your comments, and I've seen how much some of you enjoyed the story. Nonetheless, a few of you had some slight issues with some parts of it. In my defense, all I can say is... I've tried my best to please everybody, and I'm sorry I let down some of you. But think of it this way... This story is a figment of my imagination. These are my thoughts, my ideas, and, unfortunately, they might not match yours all the time. Please, don't hold it against me. I'll do better next time. Speaking of... next time, I'm planning to start a new story in a coupl

  • HAVING HIS BABY   CHAPTER 46/EPILOGUE

    Rhiannon walked into the bedroom where Paxton was already lying on the bed. Propped on his elbow, he watched as she started preparing her clothes for the next day, and the glitter in his eyes told her what was to come. Her breath hitched in her throat. Rhiannon never got tired of that look. It was tender and possessive. It was dark and loving. It was all the things that made her feel cherished beyond measure.“Undress for me, darlin’,” he said in a quiet voice. “I want to see you and our baby.” She smiled, and obeyed gladly. Her hands slid to the buttons of her shirt. Slowly, she pulled away her clothing, letting the shirt and then her pants drift to the floor until she was clad in only her panties and bra. Then, she reached behind her to undo the clasp of her bra. The straps slid over her shoulders and the cups came away, baring her breasts to his avid gaze. They were much heavier now, and they were tender and swollen from her pregnancy. Paxton

  • HAVING HIS BABY   CHAPTER 45

    When the intercom buzzed for the tenth time, Paxton got to his feet, swaying slightly. How many shots of scotch had he had? On unsteady feet, Paxton crossed the room that was littered with newspapers and business magazines and answered his intercom.“‘Paxton… It’s me, baby. It’s Tori.’” What?! Why was she here? “Go the fuck away!” he exclaimed.“‘Baby… let me in. I want to talk to you about Riccardo…’”“No need! Keep him and stay away from me!” He cut the connection and poured himself another scotch. Then, Paxton slumped onto his couch again and tortured himself with more memories of Rhiannon. Rhiannon with her cute baby bump climbing on top of him… Rhiannon all covered in chocolate pudding… Rhiannon sleeping peacefully in his arms…“What the fuck are you doing, you loser?” he yelled at himself. “Stop dreaming about her! She’s not yours! She’ll never be yours. You treated her like shit, accused her of

  • HAVING HIS BABY   CHAPTER 44

    With shocking, devastating suddenness their affair was over. ‘I love you, Rhiannon. I love that sweet baby growing up inside you… You two are what’s important to me…’ His words were still haunting her. Rhiannon stared up at her bedroom ceiling. Feeling lost and uncertain, she’d been staring at it for hours. Rhiannon had known she’d be hurt when he left her, but the pain that pulsed in the center of her being was too much to bear. It was as if all hope for happiness was draining out of her like blood seeping from a fatal wound. Hours later, when the sun turned the rooftops in her neighborhood bloodred, she got up, dressed, and walked out of her apartment, feeling heavy from her long, sleepless night. Hoping to clear her head, Rhiannon made her way toward the park. She wanted to be around noisy cars on their way to offices and schools, around people rushing to catch buses or subway trains. Near the park, she bought he

  • HAVING HIS BABY   CHAPTER 43

    He was standing in a chair, watching her sleeping peacefully in her new bedroom. After their last conversation in his office, Rhiannon had allowed him to help her get out of her old lease and move into the apartment he’d bought for her. She’d agreed to pay him the same rent she’d paid her previous landlord. Eight weeks had passed since she’d accepted his help. The dialogue between them improved substantially. Both were much more open with each other. He looked forward to every moment he had with her. She was everything he needed and desired in a woman but hadn’t known he had to have. Throughout those two months, Paxton put everything else on stand-by and gave Rhiannon his undivided attention. He wasn’t afraid of showing Rhiannon his soft side anymore. Paxton had told her things about himself she didn’t know, and he listened to Rhiannon’s story, before and after Kieran’s arrival in her life. Ever since her fall, Paxton wanted to create a differe

  • HAVING HIS BABY   EMMA'S NOTE

    Hey, Y'all!!!!This romantic adventure is slowly coming to an end. There are 4 chapters left. Currently, I'm working on the last 2 chapters. So, since I would like to publish all 4 chapters on the same day (May 26th or May 27th), there isn’t going to be an update on May 25th (Sorry about this, Dyvia Gupta. I hope you’ll understand). I know it's an ambitious project, but I've done it several times, so I'm absolutely sure I can pull this off.I would like to tag this book ‘completed’ on Monday, but I’m gonna need your help in doing so… To be more precise, I’m going to need your opinion on the book: if the story is really finished, if I need to add something else… etc., etc. So, leave a comment or a review with your feedback on the story. Because once I will write ‘The End’, I won’t get back on this story (editing an entire book months after is pure torture!) And last but not least, my gratitude to you all, for the funny comments, for your time and money, and your gems. Every single one

  • HAVING HIS BABY   CHAPTER 42

    Spiked high heels clicked impatiently on the wooden floor as Bridget Madison, Paxton’s realtor, pointed out the many charms of the truly lovely apartment he wanted her to move into.“Well, what do you think?” Bridget asked.“I don’t know…”“You already live in the neighborhood, so you know how wonderful the Upper West Side is. The people in this building are all young, hardworking professionals like yourself. Paxton wants you to have the apartment so badly he’s willing to meet the seller’s first price.”“What?!”“Believe me, sweetie. Paxton never goes to contract without negotiating. You have no idea how utterly ruthless he can be. I’ve seen it in person. Brutal and so damn hot.”“Oh, I have an idea.” A very good idea. That’s why she still felt wary about their relationship even though he’d been so transparent and so tender lately, coming home to her, enjoying their time together.“For a lower floor, the apartment is amazingly sunny.” Bridget’s

  • HAVING HIS BABY   CHAPTER 41

    This time, Rhiannon participated fully in the kiss, opening her mouth under his, raising her hands to rest them on the iron slabs of muscle on his shoulders. When his tongue met hers again, she dug her nails into his shoulders, making him groan with satisfaction. Paxton pulled her closer and she abandoned completely to that embrace. Sheer pleasure rose and surged through her body, blood rushing through her veins, her flesh sensitized and tingling with exquisite sensation at each brush of his body against hers. His lips moved over hers possessively, his tongue pushing past, taking languid tastes of hers as heat built and surged through her senses. Rhiannon was lost in the pleasure, lost in each taste of the wild passion she was given. Paxton’s mouth moved down the column of her neck, his tongue taking flicking tastes of her skin. He opened the bathrobe, revealing her breasts. A moan escaped her lips, an electric sensation racing through her at

  • HAVING HIS BABY   CHAPTER 40

    Paxton entered the kitchen, put the food case on the table, then walked out and started looking around the penthouse for her. He peeked in her old bedroom but the lights were off.“Stubborn woman…” he said slowly, returning to the living room. “I’m sure she went to the restaurant…” After her fall, with the help of her mother, Paxton had convinced Rhiannon to move back into his penthouse for a few days. So, once again, she was installed in his downstairs guest suite behind his kitchen. He was in the process of acquiring the first-floor apartment he’d mentioned to her a few days before the stairway accident, but Paxton hadn’t told her yet because he didn’t want to argue about it. For the past two evenings they’d spent the early hours after work together, and in an effort to gain her trust, he’d deliberately kept things light and friendly. What they had was still too fragile, so Paxton hadn’t touched her. He didn’t force her into doing anythin

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