We sat down.
“So, if I agree to this, what’s to say you won’t back out?” I felt my stomach lurch into my throat.
William didn’t answer. He popped the top on one of his beers and drained half its contents. “You love Seana?”
“More than anything.”
He finished off the remainder of the beer and started on another one. “Then you’ll agree to do this for her, and I’ll give you what you came here for.” He meant it. The conviction of his tone told me so. A maid appeared, bringing us food, but William waved her away. His brow was furrowed with intent.
I opened my first beer. I brought the bottle to my lips and let the cold, gold liquid drain into my mouth and down my throat.
We didn’t say another word until we’d both finished three beers. The buzz felt good and eased my frustration back into a small corner of my mind. “Any other surprise requests you want to drop on me?”
“Just one more. Greg.” His hand trembled, which surprised me.
I wasn’t sure that I would ever consent to him being the DNA provider for our baby, but I also wasn’t sure I couldn’t. Seana needed to be a mother more than anything. If I failed to agree, I’d lose her to another man who might have some willing relative, or to remorse and misery.
A black cat jumped on the middle of the table. His coat was shiny, and the feline stole a glance at me before sauntering up to William.
“Bennie, you know better than that.” And with that he placed the black cat on the ground.
The wine and beer had softened the edges of my thoughts. “How long have you had him?”
“A very long time,” he said.
“You mean his genetic code has been corrected?”
“Yes, but it was years before it became illegal for animals,” William informed as he rubbed the purring feline’s back. “Heather loved him.”
His affection for Bennie was clear as he continued caressing the cat. A bird landed on the potted orange tree, temporarily commanding the feline’s attention.
“I want the baby to be conceived through normal biology,” William said flatly.
It took me a few minutes to absorb what he was asking. Artificial insemination was the law. Or so I thought. “That’s not allowed.”
He bent his head closer and lowered his voice. “There are loopholes for people with the right kind of connections.”
“And the right kind of bank account, I suspect.”
“That, too.”
“What about the vaccine?” My mind spun like a top. All men were sterilized at birth. Only when they were approved to provide DNA to a woman would they get the injection that allowed them to procreate. “We can’t get one until we have a legal death.”
“I can get it early, as long as the death comes no more than a couple of days later.”
“You want to fuck my wife? How do you expect me to deal with this?”
“I knew the moment I saw you two that you were different. Monogamy isn’t the norm these days, nor is it expected. But with you two, it has been, right?”
“Yes.” I knew that current society frowned on such archaic notions of commitment.
He nodded. “I know I’m asking a lot, but so are you. I wanted a child as much as Heather, sometimes more. Since your very existence is because of her sacrifice, it’ll be like Heather and I are part of this new child’s life. Listen, I’m not asking that I do this alone. I want you there when the child is conceived. I believe Seana would need you there, too.”
William’s words pierced through my resistance. He deserved a child. What difference would it make if I was or wasn’t the bio-dad? I’d get to be a part of the child’s life. “It’s Seana’s decision. Not mine.”
“I know, but she will only agree to it if you do.” William’s use of persuasion was evidence enough of how important this was to him.
“Insemination seems so much better,” I countered.
“Better, maybe? Or maybe it isn’t.”
Bennie began rubbing against my bare legs, having a hypnotic effect on me. I felt my body relax. I grinned as I imagined William having wizard powers and using his familiar to bewitch me.
I downed another beer. William got up and placed two more bottles in front of me.
“Why do you care how she gets pregnant?” What difference did it make if his only desire was to be a father? Did he have other motives?
“Heather was conceived naturally, as was I. It was only made illegal fifty years ago. Before then, few people opted for insemination. Besides, with doctors running the show, you never know who the dad might really be.”
I recalled a news expose I’d seen about a sperm bank employee intentionally switching his semen for several would-be fathers’ semen. “Well, if the baby comes out as perfect as you, what more could we ask?”
I held Seana’s trembling hand.
“Greg, this is too much to ask of you.” Her eyes darted to William’s closed bedroom door then back to me.
She and I had talked for two days about William’s offer. I knew she wanted to go through with it but kept pulling back worrying about what it would do to me. She knew that I liked our monogamous relationship, old-fashioned or not. But it didn’t matter. It was time for me to step up and be the man she deserved. Besides, William had been fantastic to her… and to me, giving us free rein of the house, but also allowing us time alone to discuss everything. No pressure. And Seana was attracted to him. That made it easier for me. In fact, I’d let myself imagine watching them fuck, and instead of jealousy filling me up, I was aroused.
I squeezed her hand. “Nothing is too much for me when it comes to your happiness, sweetheart.”
I opened the door. Wearing a white cotton robe that only our host could make look chic, William sat on one of two chairs positioned to the left of the large bed. Candles flickered throughout the room. Soft music played through hidden speakers.
Seana’s knees buckled, but I caught her in time to keep her from hitting the floor.
“I’m really going to have a baby? The doctor told the truth?”
An hour earlier, William’s personal physician had given all of us shots. Seana’s shot was to ensure her fertility, William’s was to reverse his sterility, and mine was to keep me calm. I thanked God for my shot.
“Yes, sweetheart.”
Giant tears flowed out of her eyes. “Thank you, Greg.”
I lifted her up into my arms. “William, are you ready?”
“Place Seana on the bed.”
I complied.
William stood and walked next to me. He put his arm around my shoulders. “Listen to me, I will help you both. You’ve been on this journey for so long, holding on to every little thread of hope you could find. Now, your dreams will become reality.”
Seana smiled and tears streamed from her eyes and down her cheeks to the silk pillowcase as her pent-up anxiety melted out of her. William touched her cheek. Strangely, I didn’t tense. His tenderness towards her gave me solace.
“Seana?” I said as gently as I could.
“Yes, honey?”
“Are you ready?”
“God, yes.”
I watched her squeeze her thighs together. Her feminine scent lured me closer.
“We better get her out of those clothes, Greg.”
I nodded, and we both stripped her of every bit of fabric that covered her beautiful flesh. More arousal rushed into my cock at the sight of her heaving perfect breasts and the droplets on the outside of her pussy.
“Greg, now we strip for her.” William tossed his robe to the floor.
Seana’s gaze fixed on his dick, standing at full attention. When she bit her lip, I shucked my clothes in an instant. I was committed to seeing this through, all the way. Leaning down, I kissed her. Her tongue darted over my lips, and we deepened our mouth embrace.
Ending our kiss, I traced the curves of her sides, enjoying the feel of her soft skin. “Tonight is about you, sweetheart. And about our new baby.”
Her eyes filled up once again. “I want this, but I’m nervous.”
“Seana, we’re here for you.” William threaded his fingers in her hair. He leaned in and kissed her.