Page 37 of Surrogate for the Bratva
Her melodic laughter was just what I needed to hear. “Killed? Maybe I’ve just shut him up with my body.”
I groaned and rolled my eyes. “If so, you can keep those details to yourself.”
“What would be the fun in that?”
I knew Kelsie was just giving me shit because that’s what we did, but I also knew they’d both not-so-secretly crushed on each other for years. “It’s mean to torture a pregnant woman?”
“Meh,” she shouted like a game show buzzer. “Try again.”
I sighed at her antics, but I couldn’t stop smiling. “Okay fine, sleep with him if you must but if you share the details with me, I’ll be forced to talk to him about those details, making sure his technique is sound and that he’s giving you sufficient orgasms.” I laughed out loud at her shocked gasp because we both knew that was the quickest way to annoy Jacob.
“Ugh, fine. Whatever.” We shared more laughter, and it felt good, pretending as if everything was normal when it was anything but normal. “How are you? Is pregnancy kicking your ass yet?”
“It’s not great,” I admitted with a heavy sigh. “But I keep telling myself that this is for a good cause. Two people are getting what they need out of this deal and that’s what matters.”
“You matter too, April. Dammit girl, you matter.”
“I know and I don’t mean to say that I don’t. I’m getting something out of this too, Jacob’s medical bills. He lives and that’s what I want.” I told myself that dozens of times each day because it was the truth. Mostly. Some days when I was feeling sorry for myself, it felt like too big a sacrifice especially considering my mixed up feelings regarding the baby’s father and the constant state of danger.
Kelsie let out another heavy sigh. “April, talk to me.”
I blinked, confused at the abrupt change in tone. “What? Talk to you about what?” Rather than answer, the call ended, and I stared at the phone in shock and disbelief.
It rang again seconds later only now it was a video call which made it impossible to lie to my best friend. “Yeah, there we are. Much better. It’s clear that something is up so why don’t we skip the dance and get to the good stuff?”
She was right and with her expectant gaze just one foot from my face I knew she could see every conflicted emotion as it flitted across my face. “Fine, I’ve been sleeping with him.”
“Him as in your super-hot mafia boss baby daddy?”
I nodded, unable to stop the slow smile that made the corners of my mouth twitch. “Yes.”
“And,” she asked with wide eyes. “How is the sex? I’ll bet he gives good orgasms and plenty of them too.”
The flush crept up my throat and my face before I could formulate an answer and my best friend laughed out loud. “Quiet,” I whispered as if that would make the rest of the mansion unable to hear her.
“Is it a secret or something?”
“No,” I sighed. “It’s not like that but it’s hella complicated Kels. It is so damn complicated and now, I don’t know.”
“Don’t lie to me,” she insisted. “You’re having feelings for him.”
It wasn’t a question but still I looked away and nodded. “Yeah, I think so. I mean it could just be the whole heightened emotions due to danger and hormones and incredible sex, but it’s… complicated. And dumb.”
“Why is it dumb? He’s gorgeous and wealthy and clearly, he thinks highly of you.”
I rolled my eyes at that last bit. “It’s dumb because we live in two different worlds, possibly different solar systems. And he chose me probably because he knew I’d do just about anything for the right price.” Which only made me feel like a whore for sleeping with him.
“Don’t even go there,” Kelsie demanded and pointed at me. “I know what you’re thinking and just don’t, okay?” she shook her head. “He could’ve hired anyone and probably for a lot less than the cost of Jacob’s medical bills. He chose you.”
“Yeah, sure.” I shook off the thoughts that tried to take hold and lead me stray. “Anyway, this is all temporary and that’s the main reason it’s dumb. This can’t last and it won’t, which means I have no business sleeping with him.”
“Except for the whole business of orgasms thing, I agree. It’s too bad you can’t just fuck him without feelings because it’s just what you need.”
Maybe Kelsie was right. “Even if I could do that normally, there’s pregnancy hormones and danger thrown in, making a mess of everything.”
She blew out a long breath and nodded. “Yeah, that does complicate things. But,” she began and stopped.
“Just spit it out.” I could’ve waited her out, but this way was easier.
