Page 22 of Reed

His sandalwood scent wraps around me in the small space, and a flash of his strong arms pinning me to the bed while he thrust his thick cock inside me has me squirming on the spot. The way his abs contracted with each thrust.Oh, sweet Jesus. No, Gia.

He clears his throat, and I tilt my head, my mind scrambling to play catch-up while he continues on. “I’ve had the results.” He swallows thickly. “I can help out financially, bu-but I’m just not sure about anything else.” Dragging his hand through his hair, he exhales heavily. “Fuck,” he says, as if pissed with himself.

But not as pissed as me. He’s not sure about anything else? I clench my teeth. Great, so I’m doing this alone. I hold my hand up to stop him from speaking, and his head rears back.

Clearly, the man is not used to anyone putting him in his place. “I don’t need your help financially.” He wrinkles his pompous nose and scans the small kitchen space, but I ignore him. “I’ve already raised one child without a father, and as much as I wouldn’t have chosen to do it this way again, I’m more than willing to.” I lift my chin and glare into his eyes, giving him no reason to doubt my strength.

“You said one? Is that one of the other kids’ dad?” He motions toward the door, and the front door slams shut. I temporarily close my eyes.

His words replay in my mind, and I open my eyes. Oh no. He thinks… A loud laugh erupts from me, and my eyes water while Reed stares at me with an open mouth like I’m a madwoman. When I finally pull myself together, I swipe the tears from the corners of my eyes, then find Reed staring at my tits. Instead of acknowledging the heated gaze, I push it aside and put him out of his misery.

“I have one child, Reed.” I hold up my finger. “One.”

His handsome face contorts in confusion.

“Tyson”—I throw a thumb over my shoulder—“is my husband’s best friend. He’s in the Army, where he met Jaxon. He’s a close family friend who’s been an amazing support, nothing more. He stays over when he’s on extended leave and helps with Bryce. Plus, he brings Chester with him, and when he leaves, he will drop him with his mother. Bryce loves dogs, and honestly, since Jaxon passed away, it’s helped to divert his attention.” Every muscle in his body relaxes on my words, and I don’t know what he’s more grateful for: Tyson being a family friend or the fact I only have Bryce and not a dozen children, which I’m sure he suspected.

“When did Jaxon pass away?” He winces, and I push the strands of my hair away from my face and lean back against the counter for support.

“Six years ago,” I state.

He scans my face. “Fuck, and you’ve been living here.” He shakes his head, and I swear I want to snap it from his judgmental shoulders. “And your son is how old?”

His questions surprise me, especially given he has shown no interest in my life or our baby’s until now. To be honest, I assumed he wanted nothing to do with us, given his previous outburst.

“Bryce is nine, almost ten.”

Staring down at his feet, he nods, then his eyes lock with mine, and I swear I can see into his soul. His vulnerability flashes across his face, and it remains there, allowing me to see him at his weakest, and I clutch my hand to my chest at the thought.

“I’m so sorry about everything I said to you, Gia.” He swallows thickly. “Really sorry.”

A lump gathers in my throat at the emotion in his tone, and as much as I want to tell him it’s okay, I can’t. I refuse to be a pushover.

Instead, I raise my chin. “It was uncalled for.”

“I know that.”

I lift my hand to stop him, and I’m surprised when he snaps his mouth shut.

“You don’t ever call me a whore again.” The way in which he used those words toward me cut me to my core.

This time, he rolls his lips, as if to disguise the smile, and I wonder if he’s remembering how I begged for more of the words that fell from his filthy mouth. But I won’t be drawn in to his playful demeanor. “I mean it, Reed.”

“Understood.” He nods; all signs of jest erased.

“And I’m a lot of things, but not a liar. Don’t ever accuse me of that again.” My eyes bore into his.

“Of course.”

Without warning, a swift kick comes from within my stomach, and I settle a hand over the movement. “So, you’re going to be a father.” I tilt my head, waiting for his reaction. “And you don’t know if you can be involved?”

He drags a hand through his hair and looks up at the ceiling, then after a deep sigh, his gaze lands on me, and the look of vulnerability makes my heart twist once again. “I’ve never wanted to be father. I don’t know how to be one.”

His words cause a slice of pain to shoot into my chest, exposing a hole so deep it bares my very core, leaving me breathless.

“But I think I’d like to try to be there for you all. I just—” His Adam’s apple slides down his throat. “I don’t know how.” The fact he said “for you all” tells me he means Bryce too, and that hole becomes deeper, but this time, with longing.

“Believe it or not, there’s not an accurate guidebook to parenting, Reed. The real thing is nothing like what is written. I didn’t have a clue about babies when I was pregnant with Bryce.”

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