Page 78 of Secret Twins for My Ex's SEAL Best Friend

Her eyes widened slightly. “I didn’t know that.”

“I didn’t know how to say it without sounding like a hypocrite,” I admitted. “Maybe there is no way to say it. It does make me a hypocrite.”

“You’re not a hypocrite,” she said softly, letting me off the hook.

I took a breath, holding her gaze. “I don’t care anymore. I want you.”

Her lips parted slightly, but she didn’t say anything, and the boat rocked gently as the gondola operator guided us through the dark water.

“Corinne told me something this morning,” I said after a moment, breaking the silence. “There’s this boy she has a crush on—”

“You told me. Benny,” she chuckled, putting her hands behind her head and looking up at the sky. “That’s a good crush name.”

“Right. Benny. Still can’t believe my daughter has a crush. Anyway, apparently his parents are divorced, and he has two stepparents. He told her he has two Christmases, and now she likes the idea of a bonus mom.”

Delia smiled faintly, tilting her head, encouraging me. “It made me think,” I admitted, my voice low. “That could be a good thing for her. Having someone around who knows what to say when she has a crush. Someone like you.”

Delia looked at me, her expression softening. “Robert…”

“I’m serious,” I said, my voice steady. “I know you’re young, and I don’t expect you to want the same things I do. I’m not asking you to be her stepmom today. But I need you to know that I’m here for you. And I’ll do anything for you and that baby. I’m not going anywhere.”

She held my gaze, her lips curving into the smallest of smiles. “I believe you.”

When the gondola docked again, neither of us moved right away. We sat there, the boat swaying gently beneath us, and I realized how much I wanted her—neededher—to know how serious I was about all of this.

“Come back with me,” I said gently, reaching for her hand.

Delia hesitated, her eyes searching mine. “Are you sure? Isn’t Corinne home?”

“She’s at a friend’s house, celebrating.” I smiled. “Sleepovers on a school night aren’t something I usually do, but she earned it.”

She laughed. “So you’re a strict parent, how’d I know?” She squeezed my hand gently and nodded, a quiet “Okay” slipping from her lips.

When we got back to my house, I didn’t take her to the kitchen this time. I led her upstairs, into my room, and for the first time in a very long time, I let someone in—truly in.

We undressed in silence, her eyes bright circles of white in the quiet darkness. For a moment, we stood a foot away from each other, admiring each other’s bodies as they came into focus, fuzzy outlines at first, then finally, distinguishable forms.

She stepped forward first, her hand reaching out and tracing a finger down my chest to my stomach. It was a shock of coldagainst my warm skin, and I shuddered at the chill. I grasped her wrist and pulled her into me as I sat down on the edge of the bed.

Her steps staggered toward me until she dropped into my lap, straddling me with her strong legs. I could feel her stomach pressing against me, and for the first time since she’d told me, I felt like I really understood what it meant that she was pregnant.

I looked at her stomach and ran my hand over it in circles. Her skin was so soft, gentle, and naked, like innocence itself.

Keeping my hand pressed against her abdomen, I looked up at her and whispered, “My baby is really in here?”

She answered with a kiss, a kiss that felt purposeful, tears crashing down onto my cheeks. I wiped at her cheeks with my thumbs, kissing her back with the same intensity.

Inhaling deeply, I ran my hands up her back and over her shoulders, holding her tightly. I could feel her heart pounding in her chest, and I could feel the heat from her pussy in my lap, the wetness just grazing my cock as she rocked back and forth.

I pulled her hair back out of her face, into a ponytail, so that I could hold her face while our tongues touched. Delia wrapped her arms around my head, holding me so closely that I could barely breathe except to smell her scent, the watermelon shampoo.

I reached down and grabbed her ass to lift her up and plop her down on my member, and she let out a small gasp, her eyes widening a fraction then rolling up to the ceiling.

We continued our embrace, our kiss deepening as she rocked on my cock. She let out small moans of satisfaction as I pumped into her from my seated position. My hands gripped her shoulders, pushing her as far down onto me as I could.

“Delia,” I groaned, grabbing her face, “I will always be here for you.”

Her face turned as I kissed down her neck, and with every kiss, I punctuated a word, “I. Will. Never. Leave. You. Needing.”

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