Page 24 of Starry Night Kisses

Because, at this point, I don’t. I’ve resigned myself to that life, giving up hope a long time ago that motherhood was something I’d ever be able to experience. I stopped dreaming of having a kid the moment my ex-husband cheated on me.

“Evelyn, I want you to know that isn’t a deal-breaker for me.” Eric nuzzles along the side of my face again, kissing my cheek as he squeezes me to him. “If you don’t want kids, that’s okay. And if you do, there’s always adoption.”

Relief pours through me, warm, happy, and adrenaline-laced to the point where a giddy shiver makes my limbs shake. “You’d be okay with that? With not having a baby directly from you?”

“Baby, I’m okay with whatever you’re okay with.If you don’t want to go into detail about why you can’t have kids, you don’t have to, but just know that I’d never make you do something you don’t want to do. And if you decide that being a mom is something you want, there are plenty of kids who need homes. Just because a baby doesn’t come directly from us doesn’t mean it won’t still be our kid.”

I’m aware that this conversation is hypothetical and a little ridiculous, given we’ve only known each other for six weeks, but I’m elated by Eric’s answer and feel slightly silly that I made such a big deal about it.

As though Eric knows that, he guides my head to the side to look into my eyes. “I don’t know what your ex-husband did to you to make you so scared to talk about it. But you need to know that you will never have anything to fear from me, okay? I want you to tell meeverythingthat goes on in your mind. I want to know all your secrets and all your dreams. Because I’m going to make sure they all come true.”

“You are literally perfect. You know that, right?” I laugh through the thin sheen of tears that line my eyes.

“Hey, I’m just following your lead. Except for when you clearly need me to take control of the situation. Like the night you tried to sleep with that Nate guy from the SparksFly app.”

Alarms go off like giant red flags in my head, but my chest is surprisingly calm as I jolt forward and turn to look at him. “How do you know his name?And how did you know we met on the SparksFly app?”

Eric shrugs and shakes his head, feigning innocence. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yes, you do, Eric Adams!” I playfully swat at his arm as he knocks me back to the blanket and covers my body with his.

“Nope. You must have misheard me.” He kisses his way up my stomach over my thermal shirt, pausing between my breasts as he looks between them. “I’m about to become very acquainted with these,” he sighs dreamily, the biggest smile stretching his lips. “Hello, new friends.”

I laugh, the sound turning to a sharp gasp as he bends to nip at one through my clothes. But just when I open my mouth to encourage him to keep going, my stomach lets out a loud rumble.

Eric grins, gaze sliding to mine as he lifts his head. “Time for dessert?”

“I thought that’s what we were just about to have?” I reply with a lilt and an arched brow.

His gaze darkens, roaming over my body before he pushes to his feet and offers me a hand. “I brought chocolate lava cakes. I’ll indulge in more dessert later,” he states, pointedly looking between my legs.

“Sex and chocolate. This is turning out to be a perfect camping trip.” I don’t release his hand once I’m on my feet, tucking myself into his side because I want to feel every hard inch of him against me.

Eric laughs. “Oh, baby, you have no idea.”

evie

Eric wasn’t lying about indulging in more dessert after our decadent chocolate cakes.

He tastes like dark promises of sinful delight as he backs me toward our tent, fingers tangled in my hair while he devours my lips. My skin warms like I’m standing too close to the flame in the fire pit, even though we’re walking further away from the heat source.

“Are we really doing this in front of the dogs?” I joke when he pulls back to take a breath.

He chuckles. “No, we don’t need to scar the kids.”

I miss the warmth of his body immediately as he heads over to the other tent. Both Archer and Bagel are spread out in their bed, completely oblivious to the fuckery their parents are about to partake in.

Eric scratches both on the head. “Goodnight, you rascals. Archer, teach Bagel how to use the doggie door.”

The scene floods my heart with a feeling I canonly describe as lo—no. It’s too early to think of that word, and my brain is too muddled with the other L word—lust—to focus on anything else.

After he finishes saying goodnight to the dogs, Eric crosses the space swiftly, reaching to pull me back into his arms as he kisses me once more and directs me into our tent. “You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this,” he murmurs.

A whine of frustration escapes my lips as he pulls away to zip the door shut. Eric’s amused chuckles fill the heated space, sending intense flames to lick down my spine. “Patience, baby.” He cradles my face tenderly, blue meeting blue. “I have all night to worship you.”

“I want you now. I don’t want to wait.” My fingers fly to his jeans, scrambling to undo the button and yank the zipper down before lifting his shirt and roughly pulling it over his head.

If I could describe Eric in one word, it would be beautiful.

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