Page 162 of Forgot to Tell You Something

I wipe my tears with the heel of my hand. I didn’t realize I was crying. “Then she insulted my parents and said I was foolish to believe that you’d marry me.”

“That’s it, I’m canceling the whole damn deal. I’m not playing this game with her anymore.” He bolts upright and I grab his arm.

“Stop. I know you’re mad. I’m mad, too.”

“I’m beyond mad, Tally. I’m fucking livid.” He shakes his head, his lips a thin line. “I should have known after my chat with Charlotte today that she would pull something like this.”

“Your chat?”

Please be honest, Owen. I can’t handle anything more.

“She made a last-ditch attempt at reconciliation.”

“Trying to convince you to leave me, right?”

He grabs my upper arms, forcing me to look at him. “Don’t you believe a word she says. Promise me.”

“That’s just it. I don’t know what place I hold in your life.” There, I said it. Finally. “I can’t be certain you’re not just with me out of some sense of obligation.”

Owen rolls me onto my back, his hulking frame positioned on top of me. “Little lady, we need to get a few things straight. Charlotte is my past, and no amount of finagling on her part is going to change that.” His long fingers lift the edge of my shirt, exposing my baby bump. “You are my present, Tally.”

His hands stroke along the sides of my abdomen, cupping my stomach. “God, you’re beautiful. Just look at you, carrying our baby. This baby is my future. You and Nugget are my future, Tally. Not Charlotte. Never Charlotte.”

My fingers caress his scalp as he presses kisses to my belly. “I needed to hear that, but I will grant you a paternity test. Ouch!” I snap as his teeth sink into my breast.

“I don’t need a paternity test. What I need is to put a ring on this finger and lock you down for life.”

I chuckle, even as a wave of heat courses through my body. “I already told you I’m not expecting anything.”

“Well, how about I give you everything and shock the hell out of you?” He nuzzles my neck, smiling when I release a soft squeal. “I have the ring. You want to see it?”

I push at his chest, my eyes wide with a mixture of disbelief and anticipation. “You do not.”

“I do. I’ll go get it.” He pushes off me, but I wrap my arms around his neck, giggling as I pull his mouth to mine.

“That’s the worst proposal ever.”

“True. But I could show you the ring and then plan a kick-ass proposal. Does that work?”

“No deal. I want kick-ass, or you get no ass.”

“Is that a fact?” His eyes darken as his hand slides down my back, delivering a firm smack across one cheek. “I’d like to negotiate the terms.”

“Hmm,” I purr, grinding my hips against him. “I suppose I can hear your side.”

Owen’s hands slip under my ass, lifting my hips against him as he teases my opening.

I whine, desperate for the feel of him inside me, but once again, the man gets off on hearing me beg.

“What do you want?”

My eyes narrow as a seductive smile flits across my mouth. Two can play his game. “You. On your back. Now.”

I straddle Owen, easing myself down his length, my body stretching around him. I ride him with deep strokes, my nails ripping down his chest as I grind against him. His hands grip my ass so tightly that I know he’ll leave bruises, but I need this. We need this.

Owen flips me over, hammering into my body, driving deeper with every thrust. I lock my legs around his waist, arching my hips up to meet him, my body tightening around him.

“Tally—”

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