Page 41 of Another Round
Until I feel her lips on my drenched chest. Three times she whispers the word I need to hear, and I can’t hold back. Unable to control myself or my release. Blinded for a second from the intensity that overwhelms me from exploding inside of my fiancée.
“Another round sir?”
She’s funny and adorable. Radiant as she tops off my glass of bubbly. Glowing from the news I’ve assured her is good. Fucking excellent. Her father’s going to murder me but that doesn’t matter. All that matters is I got another fucking round in life. A second chance I never believed possible in love either. That only my gorgeous, amazing Evie has been able to give to me.
I run my finger over the row of twelve plastic sticks lying on the counter in front of me. She wanted to be absolutely sure, and with a dozen positive lines, we definitely are. I’m still chuckling over the clerk’s expression when we checked out. A trolley full of pregnancy tests and two bottles of champagne because I already knew we were going to celebrate even if she wasn’t expecting.
“What are you laughing about?”
“Just enjoying my turn to be the lush while you’re the bartender.”
Feisty as always, she gives me the eyebrow twerk and shakes her head. Feigning how insufferable I am when she really thinks I’m hysterical. “Bar’s going to close early if you don’t watch out.”
So damn beautiful I can’t stop wanting to touch her. I circle her tiny wrist with my fingers and yank her to me, halting her teasing.
Yeah I want to fuck her. God if I don’t always want to fuck her. But I need to be serious despite the booze saturating my body. “Sometimes it fucks me up how much I love you trouble. I know you think I’m half crazy, and I probably am, but it’s the heaven’s truth.”
“You are crazy, but I believe you.” Her tone turns solemn too. Burrowing into my chest with her fingers clutching my shirt with a ferocity that slays me. “And I love you too.”
Another reason I utterly adore her. She may be young and innocent—all the reasons that should probably keep us apart. But she’s also fiercely protective and devastatingly loyal to everyone she loves, which makes me unable to live without her. “I know you’re worried, but we’ll figure it all out. Everything’s going to be fine.”
“Just with my Dad and school and everything, I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
That’s the easiest answer of all. “I’m going to take care of you just like I always do.”
A simple nod and a soft kiss confirm she believes me.
“I’ll be right back.”
Soft lips brush my temple. My mind much too fuzzy from lack of sleep and the extra champagne she talked me into drinking. Double for her since she can’t have any. I crack open one eye, but relax and drift back to my pillow when the bathroom light flicks on.
I lay my arm across her side, warming her spot so she can slide in toasty warm like she always says she loves from my body heat. Smiling like an idiot in the darkness. Her side. Her spot. Her place next to me. When all I need is her here to be happy.
Her grinning face floats in front of me. Making me even more pansy arse knowing thatshe’shappy because of me. Bells ring from far away while she talks to me. Only I can’t make out what she says with the damn wailing in the background. I only want to see her, touch her, but my chest hurts because I know the annoying sound is some kind of warning. Some kind of problem tugging at me. Some kind of reminder telling me something’s wrong.
The alarm.
The alarm in the stairs.
Someone’s coming up the stairs.
Fuck! I bolt up and fling off the blankets, searching the room for her before I’m even off the mattress.
Not coming up the steps but going down.
She’s gone.
Gus’s gone.
My entire fucking world is gone.
I’m swearing and running and grabbing. My jeans and my gun. Jamming my feet into my shoes.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
A plea for each step. A prayer for each stair. A petition for each second.
I slam open the door, only to be pelted by huge drops stinging my face and torso. “Evie!”
