Page 55 of Amor Prohibido

“Am I hot?”

I gagged on my mouthful. “Christ, J. Isn’t that something you should talk to Lozza about?”

She angled her body toward me, hunkering down for an all-out chat sesh. “Serious question, Jace. I know what Lozza’s answer will be, but I want to know from a guy’s perspective. Now that I’m pregnant, am I still attractive? Because I really don’t feel it.”

I debated about making a joke, but vulnerability simmered in her eyes. Studying her tight expression, I swallowed the wad of bacon and waffle and cleared my throat.

“I went back for more, didn’t I?”

“That’s not what I mean, and you know it. I’m talking aboutnow,” she huffed, jabbing a finger towards her abdomen.

Oh, fuck it. Truth, here we come. “Straight up, J. You’re just as smokin’ hot as ever,andyou’re beautiful. Being pregnant doesn’t change that. In fact, for some reason I can’t explain, it makes you even more attractive and sexy to me. Don’t ask me why, it just does.”

I shifted awkwardly and shovelled a load of food into my mouth and chewed with determination. My normally cool body temperature spiked, and I fought the urge to look away from her. Instead, I kept my gaze locked with hers while continuing to mindlessly eat.

Jax swallowed loudly, and a small waver of a smile tugged her lips. Her eyes,fuck,her eyes had darkened like the sky when heavy rain was on the way, and her voice came out with a trembling murmur.

“You’re just saying that.”

I dropped my tone. “I don’t just say shit like that for the hell of it. I didn’t even say shit like that to any of my past girlfriends.”

Her breath quickened and there was no doubt in my mind she was on the same wavelength as I was. Only, neither of us was willing to make the first move. If our togetherness wasn’t as fragile as it was, I would have tossed our plates, pulled her onto my lap, then kissed her senseless.

Instead, I started chowing down again, not tasting a damn thing. I had to get my lust back in check before I ruined everything between us. I needed to think long term. There were babies who needed a decent father figure without adding a strained relationship with their mumma to the mix.

I could still feel her eyes on me as I focused on chewing while willing my dick to stop being a needy fuck-wit.

“You’re staring, J,” I said without a sideways glance.

Snapping her mouth closed with a huff, she adjusted her legs and tucked them further under her, then flicked the berries around her plate with her fork.

“I like you, Jace. A lot.”

“Feeling’s mutual, J. Now eat up before those babies of mine prematurely reject the food I’ve cooked for them.”

NINETEEN

JAX

The way Jace looked at me mere seconds ago made me want to kick the plate from his hands and offer myself up in its place. I didn’t know if he was doing it on purpose or not, but that smoulder combined with his rough, low voice made my insides melt. Waffles be damned, I wanted to hear more of what he had to say.

It was as if someone had turned up our dial of magnetism, heightening the pull and drawing us closer. And now, with him sitting next to me with a plate covering his hard-on, there was no ignoring his sex appeal. The combination of his raspy, rapid breathing, dilated pupils and wild, hazel-green irises made it easy to read his thoughts loud and crystal clear.

I brazenly stared at him until the moment he called me out. Now I couldn’t even bring myself to steal the quickest glance in his direction. Subtly squirming in my seat only added to the friction and arousal between my legs. Steadying my breath was impossible now that heat ached deep in my core and burned on my cheeks.

“You right there, sweetheart?”

“Just feeling a little sick again,” I lied.

“You’re not going to want more bacon, then?”

I snickered as he hovered a hand over the bacon plate. “God, no.”

He quietly cheered, which made me smother a smile.

“So, what are your plans for today?” he asked around his mouthful.

I slapped the couch. “Today I’m staying right where I am at this moment.”