Page 27 of Oh My Secret Christmas Baby
I see darkness flash across his eyes. It’s wrapped around each of his words too, like a snake, gripping on and not letting go until—Would he? As I stare into his eyes, I know he would without a doubt do whatever it takes.
“Have you ever had to make an, ah—” I cringe, trying to find a way to word this. “You know, like make a deposit of—” I glance down, but since I’m sitting sideways on his lap, I’m covering the area I’m trying to mention. Gah, I hate how shy I can be around the topic of sex, but I have spent most of my life avoiding it.
“Are you trying to look at my dick?” He smirks. Heat warms my cheeks, and I’m sure that he can see it with my fair skin. It always gives me away.
"Yes." I nod. "You know, like semen."
"So we're clear. You're asking if I've ever made a semen deposit." I don't know why he's finding this amusing, but it's better than being pissed. I nod. "No, why would I—" He pauses, and I can tell he's searching his mind. "As a matter of fact, I did. It was right after my accident. One of my scars sits low on my abdomen. They wanted to make sure everything was in working order.”
I had been wondering about that in the back of my mind. Why would Hollis have ever made such donations, or whatever they call it when you get money back for it?
"Well, rest assured. Your, ah—" I lick my lips, making myself lift my head. "Your swimmers are in working condition."
He stares at me, and I think for a second he thinks I’m crazy, but then a slow smile pulls at his lips before he throws back his head and laughs, his whole body shaking.
“You can’t be serious,” he says through a chuckle. I don’t understand his reaction, but my heart sinks.
“You think it’s funny?”
“I mean, on some level, yeah.” He shakes his head. I wiggle, trying to get up, but Hollis’ hold tightens. “You’re not going anywhere.”
“You’re laughing at me.”
“I am not laughing at you. I’m laughing at the fact that to get back at me in some weird convoluted way, Max would take the girl whom I’m fully sure he has an obsession with in some sense and impregnate her withmybabies. Essentially making her run to me. It’s like the best fucking Christmas present I’ve ever gotten. Do I send him a thank-you card? Maybe I should blow up more of his dealings.”
I put my hand over my mouth and then start to laugh too. “This is ridiculous.”
“Whatever it is, it’s still mine. And you know what? I don't think he ever thought you'd find out. If you did, it would beway down the line when you were already in too deep. The crazy motherfucker is playing a weird-ass long game. Does he think he's going to raise my ‘heirs’?” He makes quotes around the word. "Raise them and turn them against me in my ultimate demise like we're in some mob movie.”
Now it's me that's laughing because he's right. “When you put it like that—” Another giggle leaves me.
“Right now I’m only worried about you and how you’re taking this all.” His expression grows serious. “He’s a bastard for pulling you into this. You hadn’t planned to have children.”
“Yet, but I wanted them. I just thought it would be with my forever person, and we’d have a few cats and a white picket fence.”
“You want me to rip out the gates and put up a white picket fence?” The man is really rolling with this. I didn't think men like Hollis were real.
"The gates are fine, but the kittens really aren't negotiable."
"All right, two kittens coming up." He starts to stand.
"Sit down." I smack his chest playfully.
"Yes, ma'am." He drops his booty back down.
"But in all seriousness, I'm still worried about what claim he has."
"He doesn't." He makes it sound so easy.
"But there was a contract and?—"
"Candy." He grips my chin. "No one is taking you or those babies from me. I don't care what I have to do. All of you are mine.” There's that darkness again.
"I'm reading between your lines." I worry my bottom lip between my teeth. "That should scare me."
"But it doesn't."
"It doesn't." I nod in agreement. “It’s actually a little hot.”
