Page 7 of Wine & Whiskey: Everything for You
“It’s too early to really see anything yet. So, I fell in love with a white circle wiggling on a black screen.” Her hand glides through the water, cupping bubbles before letting them trickle through her fingers. “I had a little bit of a scare when the doctor couldn’t find the heartbeat.”
Her voice cracks with worry, making every nerve flame in his body. He slides his palms to her shoulders and turns her around. “What?”
She nods, a tight smile unable to conceal her anxiety or relieve his. “But everything should be fine. She ran some tests, and my levels are good. I have to go back tomorrow to check them again.”
He may have fucked up at the beginning, but he won’t miss anything else. Her belief in his support will never be in question. Especially when they both fear what neither one wants to say. “I’m going with you this time.”
Some of the apprehension churning in her eyes dissipates as her face brightens. “I was hoping you would. I want you to be a part of everything.”
“I’ll always be there. I promise.” He lifts her onto his lap with her legs straddling his and slides a finger under her chin, tipping up her head. “But no more secrets, okay? Always come to me no matter how scared you are. That’s the only way we won’t end up like that again.”
“Okay.” Her gaze drops, and pink flushes her face. “I blackmailed Evan.”
A few seconds pass before he fully comprehends the three words she confesses. He can’t hold back from laughing. Not that the asshole didn’t deserve it, but he never expected his sweet angel to go rogue without him. “I can’t believe it. How?”
She fidgets against him, curling her hands under her chin before wrapping them around herself and brushing over the bruises on her arm. “I told him I would have him charged with assault and ruin his practice if he didn’t drop the charges against you and Max.”
His humor instantly dies. The marks were bad enough when he thought they were from Carter, who received his punishment, although not nearly severe enough. What kind of motherfucker manhandles a woman, especially one who’s pregnant? Fucking shit. He should have fucking killed that bastard when he had the chance. He takes a deep breath and relaxes his furled fists, unwilling to show her his fury. She’s had enough drama for a lifetime, let alone today.
“I couldn’t let him punish you because he was mad at me. I had to protect you. I know you would have done the same for me.”
Blown away. No other way to describe it. She pushes herself beyond her limits to save him from himself. Yet, he can’t let her force herself to be something she isn’t. Not for him. “I would do anything for you, but I don’t want you to be like me. I’m not a person you should imitate.”
“Yes, you are.” She brushes her hands across his biceps, making his muscles twitch. Without realizing it, she tempts him with both her touch and her words. “Being with you has made me stronger. I feel like I can do anything now because of your love.”
Unable to comprehend how she feels anything other than pain from him, he sighs and shakes his head. “It’s hard for me to believe that. All I do is hurt you.”
Her lips part, and she pauses before she speaks again, but her voice still comes out as a whisper. “I know I’ve hurt you too. But not anymore. We’re letting that go and only focusing on the good things in front of us.”
“Yeah, that’s right, sweetness. Only good things.”
She wraps her arms around his neck, nuzzling his shoulder. He strokes her back again, cementing their agreement. Protecting her from what she doesn’t need to know about in his fucked up world ensures she receives all the happiness she deserves.
After a few minutes, she stares up at him. A playful smile twitches on her lips. “One more thing.”
“What?”
“You’ve got bubbles on your head.”
He swipes at his hair before leaning down to her. “I love you.”
“I know. I love you too.” Gentle kisses press against his lips, growing more urgent as his body responds to her touch, betraying the gentleman he tries to be for her.
An involuntary shudder shakes his body from her hand trailing down his chest to the throbbing between his legs. He blows out a long breath, trying to cool the fire she stokes in him. A cocktail of guilt and desire burns from his lips to his groin. Only a bastard would take advantage of a woman who’s been through hell from his own hands. “Wait, sweetness.” His voice thickens with longing he can’t disguise. “Are you sure it’s okay? What about the baby?”
“We’re fine. After everything with…” Her deep breath ends in a whisper, “I’ve missed you, and I just want to feel normal again. Like us.”
This time she holds out her hand, and he’s at her mercy for whatever she needs from him. He follows her out of the tub, leaving trails of watery bubbles across the tile. After leading him into the bedroom, she pushes the gray comforter out of the way before stretching out across the cool, white sheets. Her joyous laughter fills the room as he nestles between her legs, placing kisses across her stomach. “Your sweet mommy protects both of us. Otherwise, that son of a bitch would be dead for trying to keep you from me.”
“You know, you’re going to have to stop swearing before the baby comes.”
“Fucking hell, she asks a lot.” He smiles against her silky skin, breathing in an intoxicating mix of lilacs and raspberries. “But for her, I’ll try to do better.”
“Okay, that’s enough. I’m ready for my adult time now.”
He keeps his lips pressed against her abdomen and looks up as her fingers curl around his ears, trying to tug him toward her. “Blackmail one guy and you think you can boss everyone around, do you?”
She raises her eyebrows, giving him her most serious expression. “Yes.”
