Mark laughed. “I didn’t mean it so simply. I mean that, once a day, take thirty minutes for yourself and do something that’s you. It’s all about perspective, Brenda. If you allow yourself to make everything about him, it will be.”“It’s not about allowing myself. I can’t help it. He’s the center of my world. Hell, he’s the center of my whole damn universe, and all I can do is hold on to his gravitational pull while I spin out of control.”“You can help it. Of course you can. It’s your decision, and you have control because you’re aware of it. You’re in the position where you can grab your addiction by the balls and deal with it.”“Is that professional lingo, Doctor? Grabbing addiction by the balls?”He half-grinned. “If it’s not, it should be. It’s a very

I nodded. “Will it hurt the baby?”“No, the illness itself won’t, but the dehydration can. Normally, I would listen in to baby’s heartbeat now, but since you’re so early, I probably won’t be able to pick it up.”I curled my fingers around Ivan’s and squeezed. Hard. “So what? How can you check?”“We’ll take you for an ultrasound at nine a.m. We took blood when you came in and I rushed the HCG results. The numbers put you at around nine weeks, so we’ll get a clear view of baby on the screen.” She stood. “The best thing you can do is get some sleep.”“I’ll try.”“And, Brenda?” She opened the door and stopped. “Don’t worry. Sickness is usually a good sign. It means you have high hormone levels and a healthy baby in there.”

“Without this bitch?” I shoved the IV forward.“No, you’re not taking it out. They only just changed the bag. You know they said they’ll take it out when it’s empty. Now sit down and wait a minute.”I sat in the chair he was just in and grumbled something I didn’t even understand. I didn’t actually think I said any words, just a bunch of awkward, annoyed sounds put together.Truth was, I knew I had to keep the IV line in. I knew I had to stay there until they say otherwise, but the problem with hospitals is that they’re not exactly relaxing. They’re too clinical and sterile. And boring. Completely boring.“Okay,” Ivan said, coming back in. “You can get dressed and come down to the shop with me.”“And how hard did you have to charm her for that?” I grunted, getting up.

His tongue swirled and skimmed across my body, tasting every inch of my skin. Each lick was like a blazing swipe of fire, searing into me, branding me to him. As Ivan travelled down across my stomach, he hooked his fingers in the sides of my shorts and pulled. “No knickers. Good girl,” he hummed against my hips. “Surprise.” My voice hitched as he pressed his lips to the top of my thigh. He smiled against my skin and removed my shorts completely. After discarding his own shirt, he bent down and bend my legs up. My chest rose and fell frantically, my breathing harsh. His fingers teased the inside of my closed thighs, working their way between them. But more than that, his breath on my pussy. Oh, god. I closed my eyes as he parted my legs fully and blew on me. I clenched everywhere, anticipation trembling in my legs. “This,” he murmured, kissing m