Page 80 of The Baby Bargain

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All my breath leaves my body.

All my blood leaves my brain.

My heart—

It's a mess.

I want to help Ariel.

I want to fuck Ariel.

Hell, I want to give in to my primal urge to pass on my DNA.

But I need to be sure.

"Oh… I…" She reaches for the door. "I'm sorry. That was out of line. I won't—"

"What do you mean?"

"Do I need to explain the biology?"

My laugh is impossibly awkward. "No. What do you want?"

"I want us to—" She nods to her bedroom window. "I mean, not now. Well, it could be now. I… uh… I can make you one of those Moscow Mules. I can't have one. But you could."

"No." I suck a breath through my teeth. "What do you want from me?"

"You're saying yes?"

Fuck yes. Take off your dress, princess. I want to see that pretty cunt. "Will it be like with Bachelor Number Two?"

Her eyes go wide. "Dirty?"

My balls tighten. It's going to be dirty. That isn't a question. And it's not what I need to clarify. "Wham, bam, thank you ma'am?"

"Oh… well… you're my friend."

"Yeah."

"I wouldn't want us to stop being friends."

I nod.

"And, um, I wouldn't want things to get weird with Forest. I could… I don't have to tell him it's you. I can. But I don't have to."

"So you want to do this and part ways?"

"Well…" She chews on her bottom lip. "I know how you feel."

What?

"About Grace. You're still in love with her."

Usually, I'd agree. Today, the words feel wrong. My heart is empty, sure, but not because Grace fills it. Because she took it with her and I don't know how to get it back.

"That's good." Her voice wavers. "I mean, not for you. It kinda sucks for you."

I can't help but laugh. "It does."

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