Page 104 of Before I Loved You

“When it comes to you and me, yes, it absolutely does.”

We both laugh as he grabs me a sparkling water from the fridge and then clutches my hand to lead me back into the living room, but I stop when I notice my Mt. Everest pile of bills on the center of the island is missing.

“Paul, did you move my bills?”

“No.” He shakes his head. “I took care of them and then threw them out.”

My mouth opens wide. “Come again?”

“I took care of your bills.” He shrugs and then sits on the couch.

“You…you can’t just go around paying people’s bills. Those were my bills. I was going to…eventually pay them. Someday,” I add, trying to sound pissed about this when really, all I feel is relief as an invisible weight lifts from my shoulders.

“And now you don’t have to.”

“I don’t understand.” I shake my head, taking a few steps until I stand between his legs. “Why?”

His hand gently grips my wrist, pulling me onto his lap. “Why would I take care of bills pertaining to you and our baby? It seems kind of obvious to me.”

I shake my head. “I’m just not used to this.”

“Used to what?”

“Being taken care of,” I whisper. “It’s a lot to wrap my head around.”

He ghosts his lips over my ear, sending a chill down my spine. “I’m always going to take care of you and our baby, whether financially, mentally, or physically, so I suggest you get used to it.”

“I’ll try,” I murmur, picking up another piece of a quesadilla.

After eating all the food I can fit in my stomach, I curl up against the couch, facing Paul.

He leans back, placing his arm on the back of the couch, and, with his other hand, pats the top of his thighs. “Let me see your feet.”

I cock my brow. “You got some weird foot fetish I don’t know about?”

He chuckles, shaking his head. “Give me your damn feet, woman.”

I stretch my legs out, placing my feet on his lap as he reaches for one of them. The moment his thumbs dig into the sole of my foot, I can’t help but moan out in pleasure.

“Oh my God.” I tilt my head back. “This is amazing. Can you do this every night?” I ask, completely teasing.

“How about I let you choose every night how I’ll make you moan? Deal?” He grins with a wink, sending a blush over my cheeks.

“Deal,” I breathe.

We sit like this for a few minutes in silence as he continues massaging my feet. It feels very domestic and natural. But above all, it feels right.

When he finishes, I pull my feet back, tucking my knees against my chest.

Paul’s fingers reach out, tenderly brushing against the hem of my shirt. “So, are you ready to tell me why you kept your pregnancy a secret from me?”

I swallow the lump in my throat, anxiety trying to strangle me from the inside out.

“You promise you won’t be mad?” I ask timidly.

“I won’t be mad.”

“And…you won’t leave?” I whisper.

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