Page 205 of The Single Dads Club
She walked toward the mantel and snagged a large multicolored candle and a book of matches, then lit the match and made the candle glow. Taking the remote from me, she switched the channel to an indie folk station that hummed gently behind us.
“I should probably wear a dress in case we have to tell this story to our child one day, but I’m not going to change again,” she said, running a self-conscious hand over her T-shirt.
“You look great just the way you are,” I told her, and in the soft glow of the candle I could see her blush. “Okay,” I said. “Let’s find out.”
I started to swipe my thumb under the flap, but she held out her hand, panic in her eyes.
“Over here, over near the candle. And…can you hold my hand?”
I ripped open the envelope, then moved toward her, closing my eyes as I took her hand. She squeezed so tight, I nearly let out a low whistle, marveling at her strength.
“Come on, already!” she whispered harshly.
With my free hand, I gripped the paper inside the envelope.
“Okay. We’re—”
“Wait! Stop!” Bren practically screeched, and I turned to look at her, my heart thundering.
“Jesus, what? What’s wrong?”
“I’m not ready. I don’t want to know.” She shook her head. “You were right. This whole time. You were right. We need to give this a chance regardless of the baby and without fear holding me back.”
A slight smile tugged on my lips. “But the uncertainty. You said—”
“I know what I said, but first tell me, what are we? Are we together?”
I nodded. “That would be my choice.”
She swallowed hard, not meeting my gaze as she spoke. “Mine too.”
“So we are,” I said simply. “We’re together.” I folded the envelope, tucked it back in my pocket, and then leaned down to cup Bren’s chin. “I’ll follow your lead with this baby and you let me know when you change your mind, okay?”
She nodded, and then I closed my lips over hers, savoring the rush of pure need that flooded my body whenever I touched her.
“You make me happy, Bren. Being with you makes me happy,” I whispered. She rose on tiptoe to kiss me again, softer this time, and she stroked my jaw as she moved, brushing my stubble with her palm.
“You make me happy too,” she whispered, and I kissed her again, weaving my fingers through her hair until she sighed against my mouth, letting my tongue slip between her lips to tease her.
Gently I stroked her tongue, coaxing another little moan from her as I wrapped my other hand around her waist and pulled her closer to me, until her body was flush with my own and she could feel the hard length of my need.
With every passing moment, every deep breath of her sweet, sweet perfume, that need grew stronger, until it threatened to gallop out of control. Even in the space of an instant, I found myself aching to be with her again, throbbing with the need to feel her tight and warm around me.
But first, I needed to show her exactly how happy she made me.
“Where’s the bedroom?” I groaned.
She pulled away for a moment, her eyes hazy, and she pointed to the door on the far side of the room. “Do you have a condom?” she asked.
I nodded. I always kept one in my wallet for emergencies. “I have one. Just in case,” I said, and then I took her hand and led her into the small, cluttered bedroom. Once inside, she wasted no time in stripping off her clothes, ripping her shirt over her head with so much force it sent her hair cascading down her back.
“Slowly,” I said, taking another step toward her and gripping her waist. “Unless you want me to do it for you?”
I trailed my fingers along the smooth outline of her spine, then found the clasp of her bra.
I might have been exposed to the female form every day in my line of work, but that didn’t make my moments with Bren any less special. I knew it took a lot for her to share her body with me.
With a quick flick of the wrist, I released her from the confines of her bra and moved to rub the sensitive swell of her breasts and stroke the pretty tips of her nipples.
