Page 97 of Castings & Curses

Eric hadn’t warned me his house was practically an estate. Maybe he was the groundskeeper? Oh, hell, what was I going to do if a maid answered the door?

I was saved that indignity, Eric opened the door.

“Paise?”

I blinked and sucked in another breath. My heart had already been thumping pretty damn hard, this was stupid. But damn if Erik didn’t look good. He wasn’t wearing anything particularly sexy, just, well, anything he wore was going to be sexy since he was.

Words vomited from my mouth in a rush. “This is going to sound stupid, I know I shouldn’t be here. I’m as pregnant and fat as a freaking whale, and these hormones have me all out of whack. And you said yourself you were interested in finding out about this climbing fascination. And I won’t take it personally if you say no. My libido is off the charts, and I know as soon as I have this kid I won’t be interested in sex for like years, but right now, I could crawl out of my skin—”

Silently, he hooked a hand under my upper arm and dragged me against his chest. I didn’t stop talking until his mouth was on mine. Warm lips, wet tongue, I sucked at him as he pressed his lips against mine.

Eric pulled away from the kiss and closed the door behind me. I turned and watched it. It was a big, heavy, old door, and it was closed, with me on the inside. I blinked up at him.

“I can’t believe I just came here for a booty call.” It was as if I had been possessed. I flushed and covered my mouth.

Eric took a step back, his shoulders slumped. “Are you changing your mind?”

Nervous laughter bubbled out. “You weren’t gonna. Were you? I mean, I’m huge. I’m so not sexy. This is embarrassing. I should go.”

“Paisley.”

Damn, my name on his tongue sent shivers up my spine, down my thighs, and settled right in between at my core.

“What did you think was going to happen? A beautiful woman comes to my house late at night and announces she wants to have sex with me. And while that’s not something I’m used to happening, I’m pretty sure I’m not gonna up and say no. But I thought you wanted to go on a date first?”

“So you’re willing? Me being huge and everything, not a problem?”

“You’re pregnant. I seem to recall that’s not a condition that makes sex impossible. Well, unless your doc has said no.”

I shook my head. This wasn’t a high-risk pregnancy, and Dr. Booth hadn’t said anything.

“You’re capable, I’m interested. And we can get to interesting positions right away.” That little half grin he gave me made things in my body quiver. I placed a hand against my lower belly. Yep, that was me quivering, not the baby thrashing about.

“So you aren’t repulsed that I came here tonight?” I still wasn’t sure where the chutzpah that got me here came from, or where it had gone to now, that I arrived.

Eric slid his hand into mine. It was warm and large, and damn if he wasn’t leading me upstairs.

And what stairs! This was one of those grand staircases that curved along the round wall of the entry hall. This house was something.

“Hardly. You made the first move. I’m not going to let that slide.” He paused halfway up the stairs. “That sounded creepier than I meant.” He dropped my hand and turned to look down at me. As if he wasn’t already crazy tall, the stairs had him towering over me.

“It was kind of weird of me to make a pass at a pregnant woman to begin with. Even knowing there is no man around, and why. Knowing someone else put that baby in there. But, damn if I don’t want a shot at it too.” He took a step-up, turned around and sat. “That wasn’t much better, was it?”

I climbed a few steps and sat next to him. I leaned into his shoulder. He no longer smelled like the fire. He smelled good, even if his words weren’t exactly working.

“Want to try that again?”

“I’m attracted to you, even if you are pregnant. I don’t want you to think I like you only because you’re pregnant, and it’s some sort of fetish. I like your brain, I like your face, and your smile. I like how you talk to the girls on play dates, and I like how you talk to me. And yeah, I am glad you made this move, because I really had no clue how to ask a pregnant woman out on a date, let alone let her know that I would be interested in sex with her until her condition won’t allow for it.”

“You were actually doing a really good job of it, I thought. At least you kissed me like you did.” I blew out a long, low breath. “So you’re up for more than a few booty calls?”

Eric leaned back on the stairs and reached out to brush my hair from my shoulder. “I’m good for booty calls, dinner dates, play dates with or without the kids. And if you’re willing to be seen with me in public, I would like to be seen with you.”

“That sounds nice. I really like that. I’d love to go out on a date with you without the girls, but right now I’m really horny, Eric.” My laughter felt almost like crying.

He stood up, and then helped me to my feet.

“Then let's go take care of that, shall we?”

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