Page 35 of Shattered

Delusional.

As I was about to circle her clit with my thumb, she shot off the bed.

“Please tell me you’re joking, Alek,” she cried.“I’m not on the pill.”

She shook her head so fast, as if her movements alone would rid her of her current circumstance.“No, no, no,” she repeated, her hands gripping her long hair in frustration.“This can’t be happening.”She stopped her tirade and suddenly locked eyes on me.“I don’t want children.Ever,” she forcefully declared.

Granted, I knew she would react to the fact we hadn’t used protection, but the more she went on the more I started to feel…offended?Not even sure if that was the right word or not, I jumped off the bed and closed the distance between us.Holding out my hands, I tried to beckon her to me, but she wasn’t having any of it.In fact, she backed up, looking more like a wounded animal than a woman caught in an unpredictable situation.

“Don’t,” she whispered, taking another step back.

My face fell.I knew she was worried, scared even, but there was no reason for her to react in such a way.

“Sara, come here.”She moved further away.“Sara,” I called.“Come. Here.”

Fight or flight.

She was certainly ready for flight.

I caught her wrist as she was about to bolt into the bathroom.The fact she was completely naked did nothing to detract from how frightened she was.

The mere look in her eye told me she needed a minute alone. I let go of her hand and she ran into the bathroom, slamming and locking the door behind her.

I knew most women wouldn’t wish for their lives to change without their utmost planning, but she had to know I’d be happy and would be there for her one hundred percent.She’d never have to worry about expenses, or healthcare or any of the other worries which plague women.

Ifshe even ended up pregnant.

There was a huge chance nothing would happen.I’d never gotten a woman pregnant before.Hell, I could be sterile for all I knew.

You’ve always used a condom before, jackass.Don’t be so dramatic.

During the midst of our argument, I’d heard the front door open and close.Ourdisagreementhad obviously forced Alexa to give us some privacy.

Muffled cries sounded from inside the bathroom.I knew I had to try to persuade her to come out, or at least open the door so we could speak.

“Sara.Baby.Please don’t be upset, honey.We’ll work through whatever happens.I’m here for you, sweetheart.I love you.”

I chose then to express my feelings for her yet again because it was what she needed to hear.Hell, it was what I needed to say.I wanted her to remember I wasn’t going anywhere, that I did, in fact, love her and was only too happy to speak those three words out loud.

The door whipped open so fast I had to take a quick step back.“If you really loved me, you wouldn’t have put me in this predicament,” she yelled.

“Is the mere thought of carrying my child that frightening?” I asked, trying my best to convince her to talk to me instead of putting distance between us.“I know we’ve never discussed having children, but you act as if it would be the worst thing to bring my baby into this world.”

She remained silent, her face warring between being angry and panicked.Minutes passed with us simply staring at each other, no closer to ending our argument.Is this even a fight?

Reaching down, I gathered my clothes.Not wanting to do or say anything I’d regret later on, I decided it was best for me to leave.

She bridged the gap between us, reaching out to touch my arm.Her face was suddenly calmer, her breathing not as erratic.“Please, don’t leave,” she said.“It’s not all your fault.I’m just as responsible in this.I…I just…I don’t know,” she confessed, looking more confused than before.

I wasn’t going to lie and say her reaction didn’t hurt me, but she’d stolen my heart when she’d started to cry.

Gathering her in my embrace, I kissed the top of her head.“What’s the matter?Why are you so upset?You can tell me.”I pushed her away from me so I could look into her face.Her anger had disappeared, but worry and fear shone bright.

After taking a deep breath, she relaxed in my hold.“I didn’t mean to offend you, Alek.In another life, I would be ecstatic to have your children.But in this life…it’s just not possible.”

“I don’t understand,” I implored.“Why?”

Taking another deep breath, she revealed her reasoning.“I could never bring a child into this world knowing there are people like Samuel out there.Too many of them,” she whispered.

---