Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 87940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Kiera tugs on my hand and I look down at her. “Why don’t you head out and I’ll give you a call later?”
I don’t want to go. There are way too many things left unsaid. Too many decisions to make. And honestly… I want to fuck my girl. Nothing about her being pregnant has lessened my desire for her and it might even make her a little hotter.
I don’t have time to break down that thought and psychoanalyze myself, but probably the real reason I don’t want to leave is that I’m afraid her brother will talk her into something contrary to my best interests. I know he won’t ever insert his will into her decision to keep the baby, but he might just give her an earful as to why she shouldn’t be with me.
“I’ll be fine,” Kiera says, pulling me out of my uncertain thoughts.
As I stare at her, taking in the steel in her spine as she readies to talk to her brother but the red eyes and nose from crying, I realize there’s no way I’m leaving her alone.
“I’m staying,” I say, tightening my grip on her hand and leveling a look at Drake that dares him to make me leave.
Kiera turns to me, puts her hand on my chest. I don’t look at her right away, instead keeping my glare focused on her brother. But then she pats me above my heart, which is still galloping over the turn of events, and I finally drop my gaze to her.
“I need to talk to Drake alone,” she murmurs low enough so only I can hear. “I need to straighten things out with him so that’s one less thing we have to worry about. Mind giving us some time? Maybe you can come back in a few hours with food. We can talk some more.”
I don’t want to leave her, but I also respect that she should have privacy to heal this rift with Drake. And she is inviting me back and asking for food, so it’s not like she doesn’t want to see me.
Plus, I should probably step away from her for a hot second and think about the future for myself. I’ll call my parents… either one will do as I’m equally close to both. I could call my brother. I only know I’ll need their support and they’ll give it to me without question.
I don’t care if it burns her brother up or not, but I put my hand on the back of her neck so I can show Drake that I’m involved with his sister. With just a bit of pressure, I force her up to her tiptoes. I don’t kiss her because that would be too easy and instead press my forehead to hers. “I’ll be back in two hours. Text me what you want to eat. Also, be waiting naked, okay?”
She nods her head against mine and then pulls back, a genuine smile aimed at me. “Okay.”
CHAPTER 20
Kiera
“What in the hell is going on?” Drake says as soon as I close the door behind Bain and I actually feel sorry for him. He sounds like a child who has lost his parents in a huge store and can’t find them. “I feel like I’m going crazy.”
I lean against the door and face my brother. “I’ve been seeing Bain for a while now.”
“I specifically forbade every teammate from even looking at you. And that fucker Hillridge went behind my back.”
“You don’t own me, Drake. You can’t tell me who I can and can’t see.”
“I didn’t tell you. I told Bain and he betrayed—”
“I came on to him.”
That stops the tirade and Drake blinks at me. “What?”
“I came on to him. At the Christmas party and then again on New Year’s Eve. He didn’t stand a chance.”
“You’re making that up,” he says with exasperation.
“So what if I am?” I exhale, already exhausted by the distressing upheaval with Bain. So I just cut his legs out from under him. “I’m pregnant.”
Drake’s jaw drops, but he doesn’t say anything.
Part of me feels bad for dropping that bomb so I gentle my tone. “I found out last night. I just told Bain about fifteen minutes before you walked in the door, so you kind of caught us in the middle of an emotional conversation.”
“Jesus,” Drake mutters and takes two steps to the right so he can flop down in an armchair. “How did I not know you were seeing each other?”
“No one knew,” I reply as I walk onto the couch. “Well… Brienne knows. And Danica.”
“Brienne knows?” Drake explodes but immediately drops it down ten notches. “And she didn’t tell me?”
I sit on the end of the couch, curling my legs under me. “I asked her not to.”
“Why not?” Drake demands.
Kiera sweeps out her arm dramatically. “This is why… your attitude is crappy.”