Page 163 of Vegas Heat

I’ve never held a baby this small before.

I’ve held very few babies in my lifetime, in fact.

I’ve never changed a diaper.

I’ve never understood that new baby smell people talk about. I’ve never wanted much to do with babies at all, really.

But having Cooper hand over this little bundle feels like it changes everything.

“How old is she?” I ask, smiling down at her as she looks up at me.

“Two months,” her mother says.

Two months.

God, two months ago I didn’t even know Cooper. It’s sort of amazing how much has changed in my life in such a short time. I went from a single girl about to start her senior year of collegeto thinking about how I want babies and marriage and a future with a man twelve years older than me.

Life moves at an alarmingly fast rate, and I want to cling on and enjoy the ride with Cooper.

I glance over at him as I hold the baby, and I see it there in his eyes.

The same things I’m feeling.

Is this real life? I’m not quite sure, but I’ve never experienced a pull like this before. Heisexperienced, and he’s never felt it, either.

Whatever the case, one thing is for sure.

It’s time to start rethinking the priorities and expectations I’ve outlined for myself. I don’t want to jump into anything without thinking it through first, but I’ve had the last six weeks to think it through.

And I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life than I am about a future with Cooper.

I reluctantly hand back Olivia, and Cooper asks if he can talk to me for a minute out in the hallway. We head out there together, and then he presses his hand to the small of my back and guides me toward the elevators. We get in, my brow furrowed as I wonder where the hell he’s taking me, and I’m about to ask when someone else steps on, too.

Damn. I was hoping we could make out a little.

We get off on the level where we parked, and he guides me toward his mom’s car. He gets into the backseat instead of the front, and he pulls me in next to him.

“What the hell was that back there?” he demands.

My brows knit together. I have no idea what he’s talking about, and I can’t tell if he’s angry or joking or…something else. “What was what back where?”

“You being all sexy holding that baby like you wanted me to put one in you. Don’t you look at me like that if you’re not ready,because I will fuck you right here, right now, and get the ball rolling.”

I gasp a little, and I shift as his words press an unbearable ache between my thighs. “I, uh…” I pause as I try to collect my thoughts, but the fact is I was thinking of a place we could screw and suddenly we’re out here in the privacy of his mom’s car. The backseat has tinted windows, and he parked sort of at the end of a row, and it wouldn’t be that hard for me to get on top of him. I shake the thought out. “I don’t know what I want, but I do know I want you.”

He leans over toward me, and then he shifts us so he’s hovering over me. His lips drag along my neck. “I want you, too. I want a future with you, Gabby. I want everything, and I feel like it’s all within our reach.” His mouth moves over to mine, and he kisses me like he’s starved and my mouth is what’s going to give him sustenance.

He doesn’t have much room, but somehow he manages to drive his hips to mine. “I don’t have a condom, but I need to feel you.”

“I don’t either, and the pull out thing worked last time.” My words are breathless against his lips.

“It’s risky,” he warns.

“I know.”

He won’t come inside me.

We’re fine.

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