Page 164 of The Catalyst

Suddenly the knife is pulled from my pussy, and Oliver moves over me, pressing his chin into my shoulder.

“Why? You could’ve called me. Instead, you left school with no warning. Your friends were worried about you.”

My eyes water even more. “I don’t have friends. I just have you and Judy. She’s my friend, and you’re…well, you.”

“What about Martin?” he pushes.

“I don’t know. I think he’s avoiding me. I don’t know why.”

He sighs against my shoulder before he mutters, “You do have friends. Ro was worried about you. So was Shanti.”

“Not Nigel, though. He hates me. He’d rather see me dead than see me at all.” My voice cracks from that horrific confrontation coming to the forefront of my mind.

“What?” His voice is sharp with anger. “Did he say that to you?”

I can’t even bring myself to speak because of how much it hurts deep in my chest. Oliver unbinds my wrists before pulling me back into his arms and grips my shoulders, pulling me back until I’m sitting up.

“Why didn’t you call me? The school is far, and you fucking walked. Do you have any clue how dangerous that was?”

I wouldn’t call it dangerous, but sure, let’s go with that. The question at hand, though. Why didn’t I call Ollie? The answer is simple. “I didn’t think that…” I trail off as the lump rises back up my throat, my heart aching.

“What?” His fingers soothingly trail down my arm, but it doesn’t ease the pain in my chest.

“I didn’t think you’d want to hear from me.” My voice cracks, and his arms tighten, holding me so close to him that I wonder if he might absorb me into him to protect me from everything. “I know how things work. I was with Nigel, and…everyone only liked having me around because of their respect for him. Like the whole Casey thing. Once she and Nigel broke up, everyone acted like she didn’t exist. Plus, he’s out of jail now. You don’t have a responsibility to me anymore.”

A deep growl rumbles against my back as his lips trail along my neck. “You seriously thought I was around you for him? I’m around you forme, crazy girl. I don’t do anything unless I want to do it. The world is full of fickle people, but you should always know that if I’m here, it’s because I want to be. I went out looking for you because Iwantedto find you. I got into that truck hanging off the bridge because Iwantedto save you. I stayed in that hospital for nearly a week because Iwantedto make sure you were okay and didn’t wake up alone. You never have to ask if I want to do something because, if I’m doing it, there’s nothing I want more at that moment.”

His free hand smooths up the valley between my breasts and wraps around my throat as he kisses up the length of my neck.

A moan falls from my lips as he breathes in my ear. “And, if my cock is buried balls deep in your tight cunt, it’s because Iwantto fuck you more than I want to breathe.” He turns my face to his and slams his mouth down on mine, and with that one kiss, I can feel everything deep down in my soul. Everything is going to be okay because Ollie is right here. “Now, get back on your hands and knees. I need your pussy wrapped around my dick…now.”

He doesn’t need to tell me twice. Moving into position, I arch my back, and I barely have a second before he presses into me. A loud moan bellows from my throat as he grips my hair and ruts into me like he’s chasing the madness away by way of my body, and I am completely fine with that.

CHAPTER 64

BETH

Everything must remain a secret. I can’t risk Nolan finding out about this baby before I’ve fully decided what I’m going to do. This is all new to me, and I doubt Oliver has much experience with this, if any.

“You don’t have to come with me if you–” I trail off when he gives me a stern look before pulling his light gray thermal over his head. This man takes way less time to get ready than I do. He just throws on clothes and is ready to walk out the door.

I know he doesn’t like me asking him if he doesn’t want to do something with me, but I’d expect this to be something he’d avoid or just wants no involvement in.

Oliver doesn’t even so much as reference my pregnancy in conversation. I have no clue how he feels about this whole thing. Is he trying to ignore it, hoping it goes away? Maybe he secretly hopes it’s Martin’s baby?

Calm your horses, Beth.

“Let’s go,” he mutters before he grabs me, pulls me into him, and kisses me.

If anything is going to calm my nerves, it’s the possessive yet loving way he claims my mouth. Everything is going to be okay.

We leave the hotel room and make our way to his car. He doesn’t try to open the door for me, like nothing has changed at all. Has anything changed?

No, it hasn’t because even though we had crazy amounts of mind-blowing sex, we still have an expiration date, and we don’t even know if he’s the father of this baby. More than likely, he isn’t, but I don’t want to rule him out completely until a paternity test has been performed. That would be unfair to him and this baby.

Oliver and I had sex three times in two months. Until I have a roundabout conception date, I won’t be able to decide whether a paternity test is even necessary. For all I know, I got pregnant after Nigel asked me to move in with him. It’s possible that the blood test just picked it up early. I fasten my seat belt as I adjust my skirt. He sends me a confused glance before he chuckles.

“I’m perfectly happy staring at your panties while I drive, baby.”

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