Page 447 of The Tempted

“That Bones, he’s a good guy,” I said hoarsely.

“Yeah, he is,” she agreed. “Some might say his friend is too,” she added, crossing her arms under her chest. “Why did you pay my doctor’s bill, Riggs?”

“It’s not a big deal, Lauren,” I argued.

Fiery blue eyes pierced me as she stalked toward me, closing the distance between us and shoving the palm of her hand against my chest.

“It’s a big deal to me! So is watching you walk up the stairs holding our baby’s picture in your hand. It’s huge for a woman who thinks she’s all alone and the only one who wants this baby.”

“What do you want me to say? You want the truth? It’s not going to change anything. It’s not going to make all the bad shit disappear, Lauren.”

“For once can we just stop talking about the club and all the bad things that can happen? I’m so sick and tired of letting that patch dictate our life,” she reached out and placed her palm against my chest.

“Just tell me what’s in here. Please,” she whispered. “It’s just us, just the three of us, give me this Riggs. I promise I won’t hold you to anything. I just need to hear it. I need to know that it all wasn’t lies.”

“The three of us,” I repeated hoarsely, laying my hand over hers. “Let me look at you, Lauren,” I said, as I took a step back and let my eyes travel the length of her, taking in all her changes, all her beauty.

“You’re so goddamn pretty,” I said, lifting my eyes back to hers. “Pea has your mouth,” I whispered.

“And your nose,” she replied.

I stepped closer to her, mindlessly taking her face in the palms of my hand and bent my knees so we were eye level.

“Thank you,” I said sincerely.

“For what?” she replied breathless.

“For being a great mom to Pea. You’re doing a great job, Kitten,” I whispered, as I touched my forehead to hers.

“I miss you,” she blurted. “I know you love Pea, Riggs,” she insisted.

Love?

The word wasn’t close enough to what I was feeling.

“For the first time in my life, I’ve got people that depend on me, and not just for support but for protection. Lauren, I can’t deal with that pressure. If something ever happens to you or the baby because of me—”

“Nothing’s going to happen,” she interrupted, placing her hands around my wrists. “Riggs, we’re okay, we just want you.

The last words she spoke were the ones that broke me; split me in two. I picked the man who loved Kitten and Pea, the man who wanted the family over the monster who sought vengeance. I covered her mouth with mine, giving us both what we wanted and damning everything else to Hell. She tasted like all the good things you wish for but don’t think you’ll ever have.

Her arms wrapped around my neck, pulling me closer, her belly pressing against me as she struggled to get us as close as possible. I pulled my lips from hers, letting my tongue taste her lips one last time before I lifted her into my arms.

“What’re you doing?” she whispered, as I cradled her, carrying her to our bedroom.

“Proving to you nothing was a lie.”

It was the only truth I knew.

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