Page 74 of Risk

I shake my head. “If you think I would see you differently because of what happened when you were a child, or even what you think you might be because of genetics, or even what you’ve done, then you don’t know me at all.”

He glances down at the countertop and drums his fingers on it. There’s a beat of silence. “Are we okay?”

“We’re okay.”

He risks a glance up at me, his eyes scanning my face. I guess he’s looking for the confirmation on there and not from my actual words. He must accept what he sees because his gaze lightens and he nods once.

“I’ll go down to my truck and get the boxes with your bedroom stuff and start unpacking.”

“I’ll unpack those,” I’m quick to say. They’ve got underwear and some vibrators that I definitely do not want him seeing.

“Okay, I’ll carry them in. You want me to order some dinner?” he asks as he walks away from me.

“I could eat something.” I can always eat something nowadays.

“What do you want?”

I don’t even have to think. “Thai.”

He turns, a smile curves his gorgeous mouth. “I love Thai.”

I know.“Then, Thai it is. Do you have a menu?”

“Top drawer in the kitchen. You have a look and then let me know, and I’ll call it in. I already know what I’m gonna have.”

TWENTY-SIX

I’ve been living here with Kaden for a few weeks now, and so far, it’s been going well. We get along really well. We like the same TV shows and movies, so there’s no fighting over the remote. Although I do have a TV in my room, but I like being around him. He’s easy to be with.

What isn’t easy is that I’m at that point in my pregnancy where my hormones are surging—mostly south of the border. I’m horny pretty much all the time, and no amount of time with my vibrator or clit sucker is taking the edge off.

I need to be fucked, but it’s not like I can go and pick up a random guy to sleep with. Weirdly, the thought of having sex with another man while pregnant with Kaden’s children feels like I’d be cheating on him. Which is stupid. I know this, but I can’t seem to stop thinking or feeling that way. And my body is starting to change. When you’re growing not one, but two humans inside of you, things get bigger much sooner, and I’m not sure I’d feel comfortable with a random stranger seeing menaked—and there might not even be a random stranger who would want to have sex with a pregnant woman.

Truthfully, I want Kaden. I’m comfortable with him. He’s the hottest man I’ve ever seen, and I know he knows how to fuck. Incredibly well. So, a lot of time is me trying to pretend that I don’t want to jump his hot body, rip his clothes off, and ride him like my own personal fucktoy.

My days are easier, not because the horniness is gone, but because Kaden’s usually at the gym, so the temptation of him is abated. Thoughts of sex are definitely reduced because I’m either in class, working on papers at the library—usually with Aaron—or working a shift at the diner. My boss wasn’t happy when I told him that I was pregnant, just made a huffing noise and told me that being pregnant wasn’t an illness so I’d better not try to skip out on my shifts because he wouldn’t pay me sick pay or maternity pay—the asshole.

I could really do with another job, but I’m not sure how many employers would be willing to hire a pregnant woman.

I’m sitting at the kitchen island, on my laptop, searching online for part-time jobs that I can apply for. Balboa is asleep next to my laptop, purring softly. I hear the elevator ding and then the sound of Kaden’s footfalls as he walks down the hallway toward me.

“Hey.” He smiles, putting a bag down on the counter, and then starts getting out fresh fruit—oranges, half of a honeydew melon, grapes, apples, bananas, and kiwis.

“You making a fruit platter for fifty?” I ask, a teasing smile lifting my lips.

He gives me an unamused look. “Nope. It’s for you. Fruit is good for you and the babies. Each fruit has the different necessary vitamins that the three of you need.”

“That’s a lot of fruit for me to eat.” I laugh. “I know I’m consuming more these days, but even I won’t get through all that.”

His cheeks flush, and I love the look on him because I’ve never seen him embarrassed before.

“Maybe I did get a bit carried away.” He bites his lip.

I feel bad for teasing him, so I reach out my hand and place it on his arm. “I like that you got carried away. Shows how much you care about the babies.”

His eyes lift and hold mine. “I care about you too.”

I feel my heart rate begin to increase. My skin starts to flush. And that throb that’s a permanent resident between my legs rears its head and starts to pulse harder.

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