Which has been the biggest irony of my life ever since I met him.
Ever since he made me dance for him in the woods.
The villain I fell in love with somehow acts like a hero.
And maybe that’s why it didn’t occur to me. That he’d put me in jeopardy like that.
As soon as I realizethis, I realize something else too.
I realize that he pulled out in the end.
I mean, I knew that. Irememberthat. I felt him come outside of my body but I hadn’t grasped the real importance of it. Thetrueimportance of him pulling out.
It was smart, yes, but more than that, he did it to protect me.
He did it to keep me safe.
Even after I asked him not to, he protected me that night in so many ways.
As if he knows what I’m thinking about, he says, “Not that it did much good, did it?”
Before he glances down again and my belly feels warm at his comment.
Heated and alive.
“Reed,” I say, and he looks up.
Thank God.
I don’t want him looking at my belly.
Not right now.
Not yet.
“You know what else happened that night, don’t you?” he asks, studying me. “Besides me taking your virginity.”
The quickening in my belly grows.
It grows to epic proportions and I feel this absolute stark need to touch it.
To cradle my flat belly.
Just because he’s watching it.
Just because he’s waiting for me to say something. When I don’t, he asks, “Is there something you want to tell me?”
My chest starts to heave and the craving to touch my belly reaches the sky.
The answer to his question almost bursts out of my mouth and shocks me. I didn’t think that this would be my answer. I swear I didn’t.
I didn’t think my answer would be yes.
Yes, yes, yes.
Thereissomething that I want to tell him.
There is.
