“It didn’t make any difference?” I grab her and haul her against my chest, smashing my lips against hers. Every ounce of my anger and hurt goes into that kiss. Her arms fling around my shoulders as she arches into me and meets me lunge for lunge.
As her hands burrow into my hair, mine rove up and down her back and ass as I try to imprint every curve of her body into memory. It’s pointless to try. She’s already infused into my soul like she’s a living, breathing part of me.
When her leg hooks around me and she grinds on my thigh, what little restraint I had remaining snaps. I walk her backward to the sofa and fall on top of her.
I savor every gasp and moan as they come out of her mouth while cupping her breast. My blood thrums in my veins. More. I need more. I slide my hand under her shirt and skim along her flesh.
Shit. What am I doing? We’re still at the exact same place we were. I pull up and stare into her desire filled eyes. Her chest heaves as I take in the pink of her cheeks and the plump perfection of her lips. Every inch of her is molded perfectly against me.
“I didn’t go see Amanda that night. I know I never said I was going to see her because I’d already turned her down. IfSpencer or Kaleb said it, I don’t remember, but I know I didn’t say it. I went to my mom’s house that night and we talked for hours about you, and how things would change if I asked you out.”
She licks her lips. “Your mom hates me.”
“No. She hates that you chose Spencer over me when I finally got up the nerve to go tell you how I felt. And the only reason I was there to see it was because I stopped to get your favorite cake as a peace offering.”
“I didn’t choose Spencer over you.” She swats my side. “I’d never choose him over you. He took me home, went downstairs to hang out with Kaleb, and I never talked to him again.”
I rest my elbow on the cushion beside her and stroke my hand down her face. “And I’d never choose Amanda over you. Or anyone else. I’m not going to say I was celibate after I went back to college. I was angry, so there were several months of pointless hook ups, and then I woke up and realized I wasn’t going to find what I was looking for with meaningless sex. So, I stopped. I told you the truth when I said I haven’t been with anyone in nearly three years. I haven’t.”
She runs her hand over the stubble on my cheek. I lean into her touch as a part of the hurt from the past shatters and falls away.
It all finally makes sense. The full version of the night in the kitchen pushes forward, past all the anger and feelings of betrayal I experienced. She was looking at me like I hung the moon, and my ability to resist her was gone. Just like this moment. Right now. But I couldn’t see straight because my stupid pride was in the way.
Fuck. I’ve wasted so much time. I stare into her eyes, relishing the warmth in them. The acceptance and forgiveness mixed with desire. “I’m sorry I pushed you away that night, but in that second, I was afraid of what I’d do.”
“You really bought me cake?”
“Yes, your favorite kind. Triple chocolate cake.”
Her eyes blaze as she remembers the second time I bought her cake. And the delicious way I served it to her.
When her leg brushes along mine, she arches into me and smiles. “Exactly what did you want to do to me that night?”
“Do you think your mom would mind if we snuck over to her house and I showed you?”
Her laughter eases the last coil of anger in my gut. “Probably.” She winks saucily. “Luckily, I have an island.” Her face grows serious. “I’m sorry I kissed Spencer. You were the one I wanted to be with. Not him. I’m sorry I–”
“Let’s not dwell in what could’ve been.” I place my finger against her lips. “But I don’t want to have sex with you.”
“Come again?” Her eyes narrow into slits, causing me to smile. I love her feisty side.
Oh, I plan to come again. I rock into her, giving her a faint hint of what’s to come but not until everything is out in the open.
After I give her lips a quick kiss, I cock my head sideways. “I want to fuck you like a broken screen door, but I want so much more than that from you. I want to date you. I want a relationship with you. I want you to spend every night in my arms.”
“Shit.” She scrambles upright and out from under me, knocking over the bag that’s beside her head.
One of those newborn outfits with the snaps in the crotch falls into the sofa beside her. My heart drops to my feet. The entire end of the sofa is littered with baby stuff.
A cold sweat breaks out on my forehead. She said she hadn’t been with anyone in years. I fling upright to a seated position. There’s no way she could know she’s pregnant already. Is there?
A father? Holy hell. I swipe my hands on my jeans as she rubs the back of her neck. “Um…. Is there something you’re not telling me?”
Chapter Fifty-Four
Emily
This sucks. Jake is finally at the point where he’s ready for a relationship, says he wants to be in one with me, and now, I’m dropping a bomb on his lap. A baby bomb.
