Page 21 of Kobalt

“I got in about a half hour ago and showered.”

I took in his casual appearance in a white-smoke T-shirt and some cobalt blue basketball shorts. He looked so sexy that I wanted to strip him and ride him hard. The sexual chemistry between us was off the charts, but we were trying to take things just a little slower this time. We hadn’t been sexually involved since coming together again, but I could tell that we were both ready and nearing our breaking point. I bit my bottom lip and pulled my gaze back up to his.

“Uhm, you want to eat first?”

“I’m good, babe. That big lunch you sent down to us earlier was perfect. I’ll eat a little later.”

“Mr. Harden, don’t you ever embarrass me like that again.”

“Like what?”

“You’re just gonna act like you didn’t show your behind in that barn by threatening those men?”

“I didn’t threaten them. I just told them what the fuck was gon’ happen if they messed with my baby.”

“You can’t put your hands on them. You’re a professional fighter.”

“People always get that shit wrong. I can and I will. Don’t test that theory, Kai. Let me catch you up in one of those niggas faces kee-keeing, and I swear it’s on.”

“First, I would never be in their faces kee-keeing, hee-heeing, or tee-heeing. Second, don’t tell me that you’re one of those.”

“I am.”

“You’ve never been a possessive type.”

“Not possessive, just territorial. I’m usually cool, but I don’t like the way them niggas was looking at you.”

“I won’t be wearing a muumuu, Kobe.”

“Fine. Just put on a big, long, thick wool dress next time.”

“Not.”

He chuckled. “What do you prefer, Gucci or Louis?”

“Either or. Why?”

“Fine. Looks like I’ll be buying you a bunch of sweats to wear.”

“You’re too much,” I replied, laughing at him.

“What did you want to talk about?”

My stomach clenched, and the smile dropped from my lips. I was sure that he felt the energy shift within me. “There’s something that I haven’t told you that you need to know.”

“What, baby?”

I ran my hands over my thighs and took a few seconds to regulate my breathing before I spoke. “Two weeks after you left the country, I started getting sick. I had been so busy with the grand opening, building my business, and establishing my client base that I hadn’t paid my body any attention. I thought something might be wrong, and I knew that I needed to go to the doctor.

“I still pushed it off because I wondered if it was related to me missing you. When I felt myself becoming tired all the time and always hungry, but couldn’t keep anything down, I went to the doctor and found out that I was seven weeks pregnant. I hadn’t realized that I’d missed my period. I was carrying our child, Kobe.”

His gaze narrowed as he stared at me, and I could tell that he was literally holding his breath. “What happened, Kai?” His voice was tight, and I could hear the rage vibrating underneath. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

My voice broke as I attempted to speak. “I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t want to be the one who came between you and your dreams. I kept telling myself that by the time I completed my first trimester, I would tell you. You would want to be here, but I didn’t want you to have to leave. I was trying to figure things out.”

“You didn’t have to do it on your own. I should’ve been here, Kai. I deserved to know and have a part in your decision.”

“My-my decision?”