Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 25833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Jason throws his hands in the air like a guilty criminal being arrested by the police, in this case me.
“Listen, Lucy, it’s rare, but those things can sometimes reverse themselves–”
“Yes, I know that,” I snap. “But I don’t think that’s what happened here.”
Jason pauses and gives me a look I’ve never seen before. It’s almost suspicious, with his chin up, looking down at me.
“Oh? And what do you think happened, Lucy?”
I take another step closer, and the smell of his aftershave hits my nostrils, triggering my scent memory and dumping even more feelings on me like a torrent of unexpected rain.
“What I think, Jason, is that you lied.” I stare straight into his eyes, projecting a confidence that I’m not even sure I have at this moment. “I think you haven’t had the snip. I think you came in me knowing you would get me pregnant! Why you would do that? I don’t know. But that’s what I think happened.”
Jason nods slowly. He slides both hands into his pockets and turns away from me, pacing the foyer as though deep in thought.
My heart is racing. I knew there was going to be a confrontation when I got here, but my body is reacting even more intensely than I thought it would. I’d forgotten just how tall Jason is. How broad his shoulders are. How thick his arms are. I know he’d never hurt me, but he’s so imposing, and I’m just this tiny girl shouting up at him with this very serious accusation.
“That’s what you think happened, huh?” Jason asks, slowly stepping forward. “That I impregnated you, Lucy? That I took you as mine the way a wild male beast would take his mate?”
His caramel brown eyes stare down at me, hypnotic, filled with power.
“Are you telling me it isn’t?” I reply.
I force myself to keep my eyes on his. To not break his stare. But it’s so hard. I know I’m imagining it, but it’s like I can feel his child moving around in my stomach as our eyes remained locked to each other.
Finally, his lips twist into the slightest hint of a smile. An impish smile. A knowing smile.
“Well, Lucy, you’re right. That’s exactly what happened.” A gasp falls from my lips. He reaches out with speed and snatches me by the hips and pulls me to him. “I lied. I’ve never had the snip, and I would never have the snip. I came in you knowing what the consequences would be.”
“Jason–”
“I bred you, Lucy. It was my plan all along.”
His words hit me like a punch to the chest. All that accusing, and he just comes out and admits it? “But…but why?”
“Because, Lucy. I want you. I need you in my life. And I knew that this would be the only way to get you and to keep you.”
This time, his words are more than a punch; they’re like a spear through my heart. I can’t believe what I’m hearing. I’m also sure I can feel his child stirring in my belly. How can this be happening right now?
“You…you can’t be serious, Jason.”
“I told you one lie, Lucy,” he replies. “But I promise you I will never lie to you again. I am absolutely serious.” He reaches down and places a gentle hand on my baby bump. Despite the fact that I’m angry, confused, and overwhelmed with emotion right now, I like how it feels.
“Jason, how could you ever think that would be okay? How could you ever do that–?”
“I did it for you, Lucy.”
“For me!?” Something inside me snaps. I shove him away from me and scream, “Do you have any idea what my parents are going to do when they find out about this? Zack proposed to me tonight!”
“And that, Lucy. That is why I did this,” Jason replies with a smile.
My head is spinning. I press my hand against the wall, starting to feel light-headed. “What are you talking about?”
“Your life, Lucy. You’ve had it all planned out, but you’ve it planned all wrong. You’ve been living for everyone but you. Your parents, this boyfriend you don’t love.” He moves back to me and slips a possessive arm around my waist. I don’t know why, but I let him. “You want to be a lawyer because your dad says you should. You want to marry Zack because your mom says you should.”
“Jason, I…”
“But you need to live for what you want, Lucy. Not what everyone else wants.”
I can’t believe what’s happening. But I know it’s a good thing he has an arm around me because my legs are going weak. “And I want you? That’s what you’re telling me?”
Jason smiles that dashing smile that even now, I simply can’t resist.
“You’re telling me you don’t?”
I stare up at him. God, what a day this has been. My pulse is racing. All I wanted to do was come home, go upstairs and take a shower, then crash down on my bed and go to sleep.