Page 26 of Amor Prohibido

“Twenty-one in three months.”

He cursed and stood abruptly. I snuck a peek at him and, judging by the way his body was taut and primed, he was ready to bolt again.

“Fuck, I forgot how much younger you are. Makes me feel like a dirty old man for Christ’s sake.”

I scoffed, because damn, his body was the furthest from an old man’s that one could get.

“Does anyone know about...” He paused to search for the right words, and I rolled further to watch him flounder. “…Our situation?”

“Just Mama and Papi. Darren doesn’t know yet. And only Mama knows you’re the father.”

His lips pressed into a firm line while he nodded.

I made a show of flicking the duvet over me and hunkering down. “Look, I know you’re wanting to get the hell out of here. Go. Honestly. I’ll be fine. There’s nothing else you can do to help. I just wanted to let you know…”

The relief on his face cut deep. While I knew Jace well enough to know he would support me in any way he could, I also knew he was in it for a good time, not a long time. He simply wasn’t one for commitment.

“I hate leaving you like this, Jax, but I need to clear my head right now. Please call if you need me in any way. Even if it means you’ve managed to wedge yourself between the toilet and sink again. I’ll come help you out, okay?”

“Okay. And Jace?”

“Yeah?”

I felt my lower lip begin to tremble again. “I’m sorry.”

For a second time, he gathered me in his arms and a tiny sliver of me melted. After letting out a stress-laden sigh, his tone turned.

“So am I. Especially for putting you in a situation you didn’t choose.” He paused and avoided eye contact. “Are you… arewe,going through with… this?”

“Thisbeing the baby?”

He nodded.

“Yes.”

“Okay.” He didn’t sound upset or angry. Resigned, yes, and maybe partially relieved. He kissed the top of my head, then stood. “I’ll flick the lock on my way out. Do you need any food before I go?”

I feigned gagging, which made him snicker. “I’ll grab you a box of crackers.”

“Sure, whatever.” I didn’t have the energy to tell him that dry, brown, salt-coated squares were the last thing I wanted.

A soft smile graced his handsome face when he returned and set the box on my bedside table.

“Call me for anything,” he reminded me, picking up my hand and giving it a brief, reassuring squeeze.

I clung to him for a second before he slipped from my grasp.

And just like that, I was back to being alone and not knowing what to do with myself.

NINE

JACE

Fuck me sideways. The evening chill hit me as soon as I whipped open the front door. I set my hands on the porch railing and gripped hard, hanging my head while focusing on each inhale and exhale; forcing my racing pulse to slow the hell down. I was an asshole for walking out on J, but I needed a fucking breath.

Darren had always said my dick would get me into trouble one day. But with his little sister? That was a twist we hadn’t seen coming. I was in the shit in more ways than one. Not only had I broken the bro-code and had a massive beat down from Darren coming my way, but I also had to face the music with our families… Yeah, I was in deeper than deep shit.

The fucked-up thing was that I never used to look at Jax twice, but now I couldn’t get her out of my head. I wanted an encore. To run my hands through her silky hair again and have it tickle my chest as she straddled me. The noises she had made when I sank into her… they fed a dirty part of me that craved to taste and feel all of her again. I had no idea when she transformed from a mouthy teenager to a sexy, curvaceous woman. All I knew was that she felt so goddamn perfect and smooth in my rough, calloused hands.

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