Page 65 of Accepted Precedent
“It’s okay. I understand and embrace it. You and Andrew are… polyamorous? I don’t know what the right word is for what you two are. You hold enough space in your heart for more than one person. I’m okay sharing you, but you can’t have both of us at the same time… not anymore.”
I pull back to look at her. “Why not?”
“I don’t love him the same way you do.” Her soft smile reaches her eyes. “But my sister does. She’s in love with him, Mick. I can’t be intimate with a man I don’t love, knowing Kristin’s heart belongs to him. Remember how Andy said sex is just sex? That’s all it was for the two of us, but it’s not fair to my sister to continue.”
Everyone is hurting, especially Evelyn and Kristin. If I have to drain my entire bank account and liquidate all of my assets to free Evelyn and Andrew of their contract marriage, I’ll do it.
I reach for her hand, needing the promise I made with the ring I gave her. It’s missing. My chest tightens at the implication that she could be done with this—with us. “Where is your ring?”
“Oh, shit! I totally forgot! I took it off when it was snagging the gloves.” She scrambles out of bed and sprints to the bathroom,returning a few moments later. Slipping it onto her finger, she climbs back into bed, and I sigh in relief. “That was a close one. It would have ended up in a trash bag with the bloody pajamas!”
“Fuck, you’re adorable.” I pull her on top of me, breathing her in. “After I’m done, I’m taking you to breakfast. Then we’re going home.”
Evie straddles me, then pushes up with her palms on my chest. “Why do I think you’re going to tie me to your bed and never let me leave?”
“Who do you think you’re fooling? You love it when I tie you up.”
“Okay, fine, you caught me,” she teases, pulling her tee over her head and tossing it to the ground. I’m grateful last night didn’t dim her fire.
Sliding my palm up her chest, I pause at her heart, and she covers my hand with hers. A wicked smirk teases her lips as she lifts it higher to her throat. I squeeze gently and pull her to me until her lips are a breath from mine.
“I love you, angel. I’m done hiding in the shadows with you. I want you by my side… as my wife.” She kisses me, but there’s something sad with a hint of fear in it. As much as I’ll never get enough of her, I break our kiss to ask, “What’s wrong?”
She stills. “Nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
“I… No, it’s nothing. We just… We may have to stay in those shadows a little longer. I… I’m late,” she finally admits, pulling away from me.
Hope blooms in my chest. “Late? As in…”
“I don’t know for sure, it could be stress.”
“You’re pregnant? But weren’t you drinking last night?”
“No,” she insists, shaking her head. “I had the bartender make me a gin and tonic with extra lime, sans gin, so no one would question it.”
“You’re pregnant?” I repeat, softer this time.
“Yes, no, I don’t know.” She attempts to climb off me, but I hold her in place.
My mind can’t process it fast enough, and I ask again, “You’re pregnant?”
“Did I break you? I wasn’t going to say anything until I knew for sure.”
“No, love.” My heart grows three sizes and breaks at the same time—it’s a blessing, but the timing is absolute shite. “It’s mine?”
“Yeah, Mick,” she laughs, cupping my cheek. “It’s yours—if I’m actually pregnant. But maybe it’s a bad idea and we should…you know…”
My throat tightens. “Is that what you want?”
Evie shakes her head. “No.” Her single whispered word is the only sound in the quiet room.
I roll her into her back and settle between her legs. Evelyn could be carrying my child, but she’s not mine—at least not on paper. Neither of them will be. The temptation to claim my little angel, to rip off her underwear and slip my cock inside her, is overwhelming.
“You expect me to sit back and watch another man raise our child?” As much as I should resist, I slip her panties to the side and tease her clit with the head of my cock. “What do you want from me, love?”
“I want what you promised,” she rasps, gripping the back of my neck and pulling my lips to hers.
