Page 69 of Keeping What He Wants

He dragged his mouth from hers. “I want to tell you something before I change my mind.”

Ryker turned and grabbed the birth control packet she’d left on the dresser. Holding it up, he met her eyes. “If you were serious about wanting a baby, we can trash the pills right now.”

She gasped. “I thought you didn’t want kids.”

He shook his head. “It’s not about me anymore. I doubt I’d be good at parenting, but if this is something you want, I’m okay with it. One, anyway. The idea of three makes my stomach queasy and my head dizzy.”

She walked toward him. “You are an amazing man.”

“I don’t know about that.” He stared at her a moment, smoothing his finger along her cheek. “I want to make you happy. Above all else, you deserve to be happy.”

She looped her arms around his waist. “I am. I love you more than you could ever realize.”

“So is that a yes?”

Having a baby was a big step. Some parts about it scared her. If Ryker really didn’t want one, then she didn’t need to force him. He didn’t really even like kids.

“Are you going to take care of it? Feeding, changing diapers, reading books, playing, disciplining… There’s a lot that goes into being a parent.” She pursed her lips. “Giving up sex because our child is afraid of monsters and doesn’t want to sleep on their own is part of it.”

He was silent for a long time, obviously contemplating the picture she’d painted. It was on the tip of her tongue say that they could talk about it later. Nothing had to happen tonight, and big life decisions didn’t need to be made in a hurry. But he tossed her pills in the trash, distracting her from saying anything.

“I’m down with it if you are.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “Even the no-sex thing.”

Laughing, she said, “It hurt to say that, didn’t it?”

“A little bit.” He held her to him, resting his chin on her shoulder. “Okay, a lot. Please tell me it’s temporary.”

She laid her head against his chest, enjoying the feel of him against her. “It is. It only lasts about eighteen years.”

He pressed his lips to her forehead. “You’re busting my balls again.”

They held each other for a while, simply enjoying the intimacy. She closed her eyes and pictured them with a child. She wanted a little girl and knew without a doubt their daughter would have Ryker wrapped around her little finger. She smiled as she thought about him holding their baby. He’d be a hands-on dad. When he cared about something or someone, very little deterred him from it. He’d love their child. She knew he would.

But the lingering thought of the club life mixed with their child swirled in her brain. He didn’t want his kid around it. He’d told her himself. So what did that mean for him? Them?

She pulled away. “What about the club?” He didn’t say anything, and she continued, trying her best to undo her dress. “You said you didn’t want your kid involved in that life. It’s difficult enough between me and you. What about our baby?”

He pushed her hands away and unzipped her dress. He pressed soft kisses against her shoulder, her neck. She smiled as he pulled the sleeves of her dress off her body and turned her around to face him.

“I’m thinking about dropping the club and taking up the position of being your love slave.”

She frowned. “What?”

Instead of responding, he kissed her. Ella held onto him as he slid her dress off her body. Beneath it, she wore white lace, and he pulled away for a second to take in the sight. “Damn.”

“You’re leaving the club?”

He met her eyes. “Not right now.”

“But…” He leaned in to kiss her neck, and she gripped his shirt. “Stop for a second.”

“No.”

She pushed him off her for long enough to catch his gaze. “Do you want to leave the Roaming Devils?”

His lips tilted slightly. “I want to fuck my wife.”

She scoffed. “Ryker.”

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