Page 57 of King of Temptation

In house or in office?

In house means that it’s off the books and discreet. A service we’ve had to use more than once.

In office. I message back. Appointment for Kim.

She injured?

I draw in a breath. I knew this question was coming. But I also know enough to know that Kim will need real medical care.

Missed her period.

Shit.

Yeah. There is nothing else to say. Not yet. And I’m not hiding or lying. I’ve done too much of that.

I get up from the bed, stretching. Kim’s still laying down but she’s staring up at me with these eyes like she’s just waiting for something terrible to happen. So I lean in and kiss her, morning breath and all. “Let’s take a shower.”

“Together?”

“Fuck yeah.” I know we’re not having sex. “You think I’d miss an opportunity to touch you, princess?”

She nips at her lip. “Look. We both know I might be pregnant. You don’t have to pretend that you still want me.”

I know what her deal is, what makes her hurt, which is why I sit down and hold her face in mine. “Kim. Look down at my cock. I still want you.”

I see her face flush at the same time she relaxes, her shoulders slumping. I know telling her that I still want to fuck her brains out isn’t much, but apparently, it’s enough.

My phone lights up, Roman sending another message. He’s booked an appointment for nine in the morning with a partner group of doctors that does prenatal care.

They have on-site ultrasound machines.

Sometimes I wonder where Roman and Mason came from. Luke and I are knock-head kind of guys, we get that from our fathers.

Except lately, I see why being someone like Mason is an asset. I pull Kim from the bed, lacing our fingers together as we walk toward the bathroom.

I’m starting to come up with a plan but I’m going to wait, hold off and get all the information first, and then I’m going to act.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Kim

The last hour has felt like a dream. Or maybe a nightmare.

I’m staring down a long strip of Ultrasound pictures, the little dot on the screen confirmation that I have made the one mistake I swore never to make.

I don’t cry. I think I might be dried out.

Leo stayed by my side all through the exam, his fingers flexing in mine when the doctor played the heartbeat out loud with this little microphone attached to a machine. “Here that?” She’d smiled at us both. “That’s the heartbeat of your baby! We can’t always hear them at this stage so that means your baby’s heart is really strong.”

I tried to smile back but all I could feel was sick dread.

Then they’d taken us for an ultrasound where the tech had told us that everything looked really good.

I look at the pictures in my hand, reading the words.

Kimberly Evingston

Approximate date of conception, July 14.

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