Summoning Stone

Chapter 5

If not for the maddeningly persistent urge to pee, Tessa would not have gotten out of bed. She was so exhausted she nearly decided she didn't care if she wet herself. But, once she did roll up to sitting and her heavy belly settled on her bladder, she found the energy to scramble.

It was only ten feet to the bathroom, another two to the toilet, and she still dribbled before she finally sat down and felt sweet relief. At least she was already naked.

Tessa's relieved moan flowed straight into one of discomfort. Her hands rubbed over the bulge protruding from her abdomen, sliding from the crest beneath her breasts all the way to where it settled between her parted thighs. It moved a little as she panted, resisting every breath.

Hard and cold, it was like she was pregnant with a large stone. And overdue. Her belly was even tinged dark grey as though it had stretched her out so badly there was barely any flesh covering it. That was what it felt like, too. Her skin was sensitive. It didn't hurt to rub, but she was hyperaware of the touch.

She sat there for a while before she finally managed to grasp the will to hoist herself up. Not bothering with toilet paper, she just stepped right into the shower. It was taxing just to stand there, but the hot water felt good.

That she had expanded through an entire pregnancy in three days seemed to explain the aches and extreme fatigue. What she didn't know was: why? What was happening to her? And why wasn't she alarmed? Tessa knew she should be, but, instead, the more pressing concern was that she was hungry. Starving, really.

Wrapped in a towel, Tessa had no inclination to try to dress. Holding her belly to try to ease some of the strain, she waddled to the kitchen. She opened the fridge and peered at the contents, considering what she should eat. Then, she spotted a can of Pillsbury cinnamon rolls. Perfect.

While they were cooking, Tessa leaned against the counter. Towel tucked across her breasts, it fell open, unable to contain her new girth. The toaster oven was clicking behind her. If she sat down, she knew she might not get back up quickly enough and her desired meal would burn. So, she rested there, her hands alternately supporting and rubbing.

Bare feet on linoleum and the cold stone filling her belly, Tessa was quickly losing the warmth she had gained from the shower. She was therefore extra grateful for the hot, fragrant cinnamon rolls when they were finally ready. She dumped the icing onto them, squeezing the little plastic cup and scraping with a spoon. And then she just took the glass pan, cradled with a hot pad, and the spoon and went back to the bed.

She let it cool on the nightstand only so long as it took her to bring up Supernatural on Netflix. And then she steadily ate her way through all eight gooey cinnamon rolls. They were fantastic. Though, even as she was scraping frosting off the sides of the dish, she was aware that her squished stomach was protesting.

Sticking the dish on the nightstand, she eased down onto her side to try to alleviate some of the pressure. Grunting a little as she rubbed between the flaps of the towel, Tessa felt sure that if she tried to take too deep of a breath, she would burst.

***

This time, Tessa was already wake when he returned. The studio apartment was dark but for the light from her laptop. She had been alternating watching more Supernatural and napping. A box of crackers was abandoned beside her. Grazing seemed to go better than trying to eat a meal, which then made her feel like she might explode.

Her heavy-lidded eyes shifted toward the flourish of his sweet slate scent. The sidhe was standing at the foot of her bed. His grey skin melded into the shadows, but there was something glowing orange in his hand.

She tried to take a deep breath, knowing his enchanting scent would ease her, but she couldn't. What she did manage was released in a low groan.

The bed depressed as he lifted his knee onto it. Keeping the glowing object near his chest with one hand, he crawled with the other to the level of her hip. Tessa watched with apprehension, squinting to try to figure out what he was holding.