Page 51 of Beautifully Reckless

“Can I…” I trail off, unsure of myself. What the fuck am I doing?

Abbey’s dark eyes snap back to mine, brows raised. “You wanna feel?”

“No… that’s weird, right? Just forget—”

“You can feel it,” she rushes out, and my gaze drops to her bump again.

I shouldn’t do this.

It’s emotional torture.

What if I touch her and my PTSD kicks in again and I have a flashback?

What if all I see is Hope, lying dead in the dirt?

What if I hurt her?

Sweat prickles along my brow, my heart hammering so fucking loud it’s all I can hear.

“Cam, if it’s too soon, I totally get it,” Abbey whispers, and fuck, her soft voice slices straight through my panic, grounding me.

She’s like a siren.

“I would never expect you—”

I cut her off with a finger to her lips. My eyes drop to where I touch her, and she gives me a gentle smile, like she’s telling me, without words, that it’s okay. That everything is alright.

“I’m gonna touch you now, Angel,” I rasp, and fuck, you’d think I was talking about touching her intimately by the way her nostrils flare and eyes heat.

I feel it too, my body reacting like we’re about to cross another line.

Sliding my hand away from her lips, I shift my focus back to her belly.

She’s not overly big, but it’s obvious she is pregnant.

She’s undeniably beautiful.

Shifting her hand out of the way, like silent permission, I hover my rough hand over the fabric of the tee before gently pressing it to her.

“You might not feel it,” she whispers. “It’s obvious to me, but I don’t know if it’ll be to you.”

I remain silent, my hand splayed across her pregnant swell. The sight alone is enough to remind me just how fucking fragile she is.

Then I feel it.

My eyes snap up to hers, and her smile, fuck, it’s the most genuine thing I’ve ever seen.

“You felt it?” she asks, and I nod.

“Yeah. It wasn’t strong, but it was there. Unmistakably.”

She glances back down, placing her dainty hand over mine.

“I know it’s hard to fathom why I’d want to keep him or her… after how I conceived,” her big doe eyes flick back to mine, “but I have to give this baby a chance, Ringo. I justhaveto.”

“I know.” I offer a small smile, knowing she means every word, and knowing she’d do anything to protect that kid. No hesitation.

Abbey drops her head back into the crook of my neck, yawning.

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