“I’ll put it this way. When my back hit the mirror on the wall, it shattered.”
“And you were pregnant?” I ask again, as if that’ll magically change her answer.
“I was only ten weeks.”
“Stop,” I bark, probably a bit too harshly, since she flinches at my tone.
I exhale a sigh and take her bruised wrist in mine, caressing the marks. “Stop defending him. He doesn’t deserve it.”
“I know he doesn’t. I just…” She lifts her eyes skyward, and I notice tears welling beneath her lids. “I guess there’s a part of me that thought I deserved it.” She hesitantly drags her gaze to mine. “That I still do.”
“Why would you ever think that?”
She doesn’t say anything.
She doesn’t have to.
I know exactly what she’s thinking.
Of course she’d still blame herself for what happened to me.
But I can’t have that on my conscience. Not anymore.
“Listen to me, Haley.” I cup her cheeks, forcing her eyes toward mine. “It wasn’t your fault. And you certainly don’t deserve to be treated the way that asshole treated you. Hell, the way I treated you, too. I don’t care what I have to do to make it up to you, but I’ll spend the next year trying to figure it out.”
Her intense gaze lingers on mine for several protracted moments, as if searching for something.
Then, with a sudden urgency, she crushes her lips against mine.
The second she does, all thoughts of doing some permanent damage to her ex disappear. All that matters is making her feel good. Giving her what she wants. What she needs.
What I need, too.
I grip her hip and pull her toward me. But the damn center console’s in the way, preventing me from feeling her. Sensing my frustration, she crawls over it and straddles me, sensually rocking her hips into me.
“What are your plans for the rest of the day?” I pant as I leave a trail of kisses from her jawline to her neck.
“I need to design a cake,” she replies, throwing her head back, giving me better access. “You?”
“I was supposed to meet with my lawyer to work on my official offer for Grady.”
“Sounds important.”
“Very.”
My hands roam over her curves, up her thighs, and ghost against her panties. When I feel how wet she is, I clench my jaw, my erection throbbing against my jeans.
“But I have a better idea.”
“What’s that?” She circles against me harder, and it takes everything in me not to whip out my dick and tell her to ride me.
“We both take the day off and see if I can give you even more orgasms than I did last night.”
“Do you think you’re up for it?”
I thrust upwards forcefully, showing her just how desperate I am for her.
“I’ve always enjoyed a challenge.” I waggle my brows. “But if I’m being completely honest, being with you isn’t a challenge at all.” I pull back, meeting her eyes. “It’s the most natural thing I’ve felt in a long time.”