Page 52 of Fierce Protector

Ledger’s refusal to step aside and let her go it alone was a stumbling block. But it was also a bit…refreshing.

If given an out, how many sperm donors would take it and never look back?

Each minute she spent with him, her respect for him grew. She saw him as a person, a man. A damn good man.

Somebody she would want in her child’s life.

In her life.

The realization stole her breath. Hand fluttering upward, she pressed her fingertips to her mouth.

He braked. “Are you gonna be sick, baby? I’ll pull over.”

That Ledger was so tuned into her every action on top of all the other reasons for her to fall for him tormented her even more. She didn’t have time to devote to a relationship. Her career took over her life, and when the baby came, she’d struggle even more. A man like Ledger required time and attention. How much longer would he stick around after he realized she was too busy to give him what he needed?

When he did inevitably exit her life, she’d be aching for him for another reason.

Chapter Eleven

As Ledger navigated the narrow lane winding through the pines that circled the foothills, he took it slow and easy. Demi’s stomach was so easily upset, and he really wanted to make sure she had a great time on their date.

Their first date.

That sounded odd considering the place they were at in their relationship. They were going to be parents.

If anybody had told him this months ago, he would have called them a lunatic and walked away.

Demi was nestled in the seat, no longer looking like she might be sick. She drank in their surroundings, from the tall pines to the steep mountain that hovered over the location where they were going to swim.

He waited for her to see the pond. The pool fed by mountain springs wasn’t easy to spot, being tucked behind trees, the surface reflecting the mountain and sky.

When she saw it, she latched on to his arm. “Ledger! This is where we’re swimming?”

“Pretty, isn’t it?”

“Pretty? It’s amazing!”

He stared at her profile—her smiling lips and the pleased flush cresting her cheeks. “Yes, you are.”

She whipped her head around, jaw agape.

Unable to stop himself, he cupped her cheek in his hand, leaned in and kissed her.

At the first brush of his lips, she moaned out and melted into the caress. Damn, she was so responsive.

And bare underneath that cute little sundress. He’d hardly been able to keep his hands off her. The hem rode up her toned thighs. Another inch or two and he’d get a peek at that gorgeous pussy he wanted to spend more time on his knees worshipping.

By the time he climbed out of the vehicle, his cock was so stiff it made moving difficult. Demi jumped out and opened the back door.

She stopped. “What is that?”

He knew what she was referring to. He just hoped she didn’t see it until their date was over.

She swung her gaze from the back seat to him, and then back again. “Is that my bag?” She snatched it up and unzipped it. Her head snapped up. “It is! Why did you pack a bag for me?”

“Because you’re not going back home tonight. You’re coming to the she-shed with me.”

Setting a hand on her hip, she gaped at him.

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