Page 91

“Tell me you knew that,” he prompted.

“I knew that,” I repeated back dully.

He was shaking his head, still looking at his phone. “I can’t believe you. I still can’t believe what you tried to do. You knew better.”

He was repeating himself at this point, and I knew he was just venting now.

“Okay, I found it, here it is,” he said, “We just need our IDs to fill out the applications for the license in person. There’s no waiting period. We can be married at the courthouse by this afternoon.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

CARTER

She paled suddenly. “I think I need to lie down.”

My heart seized up in trepidation, but I didn’t hesitate. I’d picked her up and had her halfway to my bed before she was done speaking.

I had her spread out comfortably, shoes off when I realized she was already sleeping.

I was concerned. Was this normal?

I sat at her hip and stared at her for a long time. Eventually I couldn’t help myself I laid a heavy hand on her belly.

It moved under my hand. Startled at first, I snatched my hand away, then tried again. Another movement and I knew it was my child in there, reacting to my touch.

It was barbaric and far from what I’d promised her mere minutes before, but I just sort of lost it. I have no excuse, aside from an overwhelming sense of ownership and need.

I started stripping her out of her work clothes while she slept on. I got her bare and laid both hands and my cheek softly against her belly. I stayed like that for a long time, tears running unchecked down my face and onto her warm, soft skin.

I was only roused out of my strange spell of comfort and grief when I felt her hand touch my hair softly.

“I thought you weren’t interested in laying a finger on me,” she spoke in a quiet voice that I couldn’t read.

“Apparently, I lied,” I said, sitting up. “I didn’t know that when I said it, but there it is.”

I stared down at her, swallowing a heavy lump in my throat. I couldn’t read her face either, but she wasn’t saying no.

I stroked her breasts. “Your body’s changed,” I told her in a thick voice.

“I’m fat,” she said, and looked suddenly like she wanted to cry.

I bent down and sucked a plump nipple into my mouth, one hand going down to finger her slick folds. “You’re beautiful,” I said against her skin and went back to sucking.

I straightened to meet her eyes again. “I want you,” I said thickly and pushed a finger inside of her.

“Why?” she asked on a gasp.

That stopped me. “I don’t understand the question.”

“Why do you want me? I’ve seen your type.”

I stared at her, finally getting the picture she’d been trying to show me since I’d picked her up. “You’re jealous of Jovie,” I accused, far from displeased with the notion.

I played with her clit.

“Is that her name?” she asked in a pant. “That woman you were with? Is she your girlfriend?”

“You left me, if you’ll recall,” I said mercilessly. It was all her fucking fault. “You wanted me to move on.”