Reed was sitting at the kitchen table reading over some notes when Natalie came in an hour later. "Hi," he said cautiously.

"Hi."

She strode over to the refrigerator and opened the door.

"There are some leftovers from last night if you want a quick snack before we head out."

He watched her as she took the containers out and put them on the counter, grabbed a plate out of the cupboard and filled it, then popped it into the microwave. When the timer went off she took her plate to the table and sat down.

She ate in silence for a few minutes and Reed tried to gage her mood. When it was evident she wasn't going to say anything he said, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything to Max. We agreed and-"

She looked up then. "No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have reacted that way. I just...My emotions seem to be all over the place these days."

Reed let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "It's your hormones. They say wild mood swings are common during the first trimester."

She gave him a curious look. "Who told you that?"

"I read it."

"You read it? Where?"

"I bought a book on what to expect during pregnancy," he said carefully, worried that his statement might trigger another outburst.

"You did?"

"Yes. You're the one who's going through all the changes. I thought I could be a part of that by knowing what was happening to you."

Natalie abandoned her plate and came over to where Reed was sitting. She threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. "That is so sweet," she said and kissed him.

"I swore Max to secrecy. He's not going to say anything about the baby. Not even to Nicole although he's not happy about that."

"Thank you. I know you want to share the news with everyone but if we could just wait a little longer I'd really appreciate it."

He sighed and nodded in agreement. "All right." He stood and put his arms around her.

She kissed him again.

Reed kissed her back and slowly drifted his hands over her body.

Natalie's response was to slip her hands under his shirt and pull it over his head.

"We're going to be really late for the barbecue," he said and lifting her into his arms, strode toward the bedroom.

"The hell with the barbecue," she responded in a muffled voice as she placed hot, wet kisses on his bare chest.

He groaned with pleasure and when he could take no more of the sweet torture he lifted her chin to capture her lips with his own.

They reached the bedroom and he lowered her to the ground. Slowly he slid the straps of her dress away from her shoulders. Reaching around her back he unzipped the dress. It slid to the ground and for a moment he just stared at her, fascinated with the subtle changes that had already taken place in her body from the pregnancy. Her breasts were fuller and her abdomen had the slightest swell to it. He let his fingers glide over her in lazy circles. "God, you're so beautiful." He groaned and touched his hands to her face.

She smiled brilliantly. "I love you," she said and raised her hands to cover his.

He kissed her again slowly, sweetly, and with infinite tenderness and he felt her give herself to him completely.

Without warning he infused the kiss with passion. Her response ignited a fire in him so intense that he pulled her into full contact with him so there wasn't an inch of space between them. His need for her almost overwhelmed him, so it was with shaky fingers that he unfastened the clasp of her bra.