Page 39 of Expensive

My stomach sinks. If he wishes we could, that means we can’t, doesn’t it?

“My friend will keep us safe,” I promise.

“It isn’t that.”

Andrew is acting different than he was on Sunday. Is something wrong?

“What is it?”

He buries his nose in my neck and inhales deep. “I want to be with you so much.”

Does that mean he can’t be? Is he breaking up with me?

“Baby boy, please. Tell me what’s going on. We’ll deal with it together.”

He straightens and runs the tips of his fingers along my jaw and over my lips. “I didn’t mean for it to happen, I swear.”

“Mean for what to happen?”

He presses his lips to mine, clutching at my shirt so tightly I’m afraid he’s going to rip it.

I pull away from him. “Please tell me.”

He bites his lip. “I… well… I’m pregnant.”

I must have not heard him right. Even if we made a baby together last weekend, he wouldn’t already know. “What?”

“I’m pregnant,” he says, “The way I found out is a little complicated, but I’m absolutely certain I am. I understand if you’re upset. I know this isn’t what we planned, and it’s all really fast, but I…” he trails off, tears falling down his cheeks. “I’m so sorry, Timber.”

He’s absolutely certain he’s carrying my baby. I knew that was a risk when I took him bare, and selfishly, I didn’t care. In fact, I think there was a small part of me that wanted it to happen so we could stay together. What kind of alpha am I, that I would do something like that to him?

I guess I’m the kind of alpha he thinks he needs to apologize to for something I’m responsible for.

“I’m the one who should be sorry. I suggested we make love without protection. It was my fault.”

He searches my face. “Does that mean that you want me to… get it taken care of?” Tears stream down his face. “Maybe we could just talk about it. Please, Timber.”

I slide my hand along his cheek, brushing away his tears. “Of course we can talk about it. This is your decision. I understand that. And I will support whatever you choose.” I want to try to convince him to keep it. I want to drive straight to Manny’s house right now and demand that he find somewhere for us to go tonight so we can stay together as a family always. But it was my foolish decision that got us into this mess. It doesn’t matter what I want.

“Whatever I choose? What if I wanted to keep it?” Andrew asks.

My heart leaps in my chest. “Then that would make me very happy.”

He takes in a shaky breath. “It would?”

“Yes. I… have wanted a mate and a child of my own for a very long time. And to have that with you? Well, that would be heaven.”

Andrew leans into my touch like a cat. “Your mate? Like, your real mate?”

“In every way possible, yes. If you’d have me.”

He kisses me. Not gently like before. This kiss is all tongue and teeth. And I kiss him back, hope surging in my chest.

“If I was your mate, then I could be with you forever,” he says.

It doesn’t seem like he would mind.

“Yes, baby boy. Forever.” I nip at his bottom lip, then his chin, and I nuzzle the crook of his neck. “We could be a family. If you were willing.”

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