Page 10 of Waiting for Her

“Max?” Addi whispers quietly, the sound reverberating off the walls as I take a deep breath, my hands finding their way to her stomach, cradling that little bean I know will be so loved when they get here. “Max?” she asks again as I rest my forehead against hers, a soft chuckle leaving my throat as the baby moves under my touch. Addison gasps, her hands coming up to rest on top of mine as a slight smile graces her lips. “The baby only ever moves for me.” Her words are soft, barely audible. “Drew hasn’t even felt it yet,” she admits, smiling.

Even the baby knows how much I love them.

We’re silent for a second, her hands on mine as I stare into her eyes, silently telling her everything I want her to hear. But I know she needs the words and so I decide to jump headfirst, not caring about the consequences, the possibility that this could ruin everything we have together. Right now I don’t care. Right now, I need her to know how I feel.

“That kiss was something I’ve thought about every day since I left for college,” I say before chickening out, her eyes widening at the admission. I pull my forehead from hers, needing to see her eyes when I say what I’m about to say.

Addison

I couldn’t have heard him right. There’s no way the man standing in front of me, cradling my stomach and looking at me like I hung the moon, is the same man I’ve been in love with for years.

I must be dreaming. I must have fallen asleep at the kitchen table and I’m dreaming that Max is standing in front of me, about to profess his feelings for me. Those dark-blue eyes connect with mine and for a breath, I wonder if I could actually be this lucky. I open my mouth, about to say something, but he shakes his head, smirking as one of his hands cups the side of my face as I close my eyes and lean into his touch.

“I need you to hear this, okay?” he asks softly.

I nod, not saying a word, afraid I’ll ruin the moment.

“I’ve been falling for you every day for the past twelve years and before I take this any further, I need to know where you stand. Right now, all I want to do is kiss you, touch you, and tell you just how much I want you. But if you don’t feel the same, if you don’t want me to say and do those things, I need to know right now.”

My mouth opens, supposedly to say words, but they’re stuck in my throat.

“Because if you tell me to leave, I will. I promise.” He takes a breath as his finger rests underneath my chin, lifting my head so his gaze meets mine. “But if you don’t?”

I take a breath, craving the desire pouring off him.

“If you don’t, then I will kiss you again, and this time I don’t think I will be able to stop.”

Fucking hell. The images that statement just conjured up are causing every hormone to blaze to the surface and I close my eyes, needing to compose myself before I try to jump him.

“What about the baby?” I ask before thinking, cringing when that knowing smirk flickers to the surface.

“Addison. I know I’m not the father. But that doesn’t change the way I feel about you.”

I take a shuddering breath, his words washing over me. I’ve spent over a decade wanting nothing more than to hear those words from his lips, and yet right now I can’t fathom why he would want me when I’m carrying another man’s child.

“Are you sure? I know you didn’t sign up for this, but I’m a package deal now…” The uncertainty in my voice gives away just how vulnerable I feel right now, but the second my eyes collide with his, I see the panty-melting smile I’ve loved for most of my adult life, I sink back into the wall, my knees weak.

“You and this baby are mine. If you’ll have me,” he whispers before his lips take mine once more, kissing me with all the pent-up passion of the last twelve years. “Damn,” he mutters against my lips as my fingers entwine in the loose strands of his hair. “All I want to do is take you upstairs and show you just how much I love feeling your hands on me.”

His lips leave mine, traveling down my neck as his fingers dig into my hips, pulling me as flush against his chest as I can get with a belly between us.

“Then why are we still down here?” I breathe, my head tilting back until it hits the wall behind me.

His tongue darts out, licking a trail up to my ear as I take a shuddering breath when his lips graze the shell of my ear.

“As much as I would love nothing more than to take you right here, right now, I know you’re exhausted. You and this baby need sleep.” Max smiles, kissing my lips lightly before taking my hand and linking our fingers as he leads me upstairs.

“You’re seriously putting me to bed?” I ask, dumbfounded.

I haven’t had sex in months and I’m practically gifting my body to him and he wants me to sleep? His head nudges sideways, motioning for me to get in, but I stay rooted in place as I watch him walk around my king-size bed and pull the covers down on the side of the bed that hasn’t been used in God knows how long.

“You’re sleeping in here?” My hands begin to shake, not prepared for what this means for us, and the lines we’re suddenly crossing after one night of passionate kissing.

Before I can freak out, Max smiles, walks over to where I’m standing, and takes my hand in his, sitting on the edge of my bed, and I do the same.

“Are you okay with me sleeping in here?”

My heart begins to beat so hard I swear Max could hear it if he listened close enough. Am I ready for this? I know I’ve dreamed about this man for years, but dreaming and dealing with reality are two very different things, and right now my brain and my heart are at odds.

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