Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 92782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
“I could sit here and tell you one story after another about things she did to me, that both of them did, but I try not to think about it. I learned a long time ago that dwelling on the pain they’d caused makes me bitter, and I don’t want to be that person.”
I stood there, trying to find a way past the guilt, shame, and horror of what all I’d said to her. How I’d treated her clawed at my fucking soul. Words were lodged in my throat. I couldn’t think of an apology that was good enough.
She took a deep breath and shrugged with a beautiful yet sad smile on her face. “That’s my story, Liam. Thanks for asking.”
Fuck. I wished she’d just thrown a brick at my chest instead.
“I can’t …” I started, then shook my head. My voice was hoarse.
Unfamiliar emotion I didn’t know how to process worked its way through me, and I was lost on how to maneuver around it. Trying again, I took another step toward her, and it seemed Ozzy was trusting me to go near her now.
“There isn’t a sufficient apology that would make up for what I said and how I treated you. But I am sorry, Liberty. Real damn sorry.”
She nodded, her smile softening. “I can see that. You aren’t looking at me like I’m something you wish you weren’t stuck with anymore.”
I winced. Had I done that? I hadn’t realized it.
“I should have come back last night. I should have called or texted.”
She dropped her gaze to her lap again. “Selena called, and she’s hard for you to turn down,” she said, trying to sound flippant.
“I told you I didn’t go to Selena’s. I was at the club all night.”
She glanced back up at me. “You didn’t?” she asked, sounding relieved.
I shook my head. “No. I wouldn’t do that. I didn’t want to do that. I wanted to come back here and fuck you again. I’d thought about it all damn day. But we can’t do that and get this all confused.”
She bit her bottom lip for a moment. Her tears had dried up. My eyes drifted down to the tube top she was wearing. It was bright blue and didn’t cover all of her stomach. It looked like her tits were in danger of popping out from the top at any moment.
“I don’t know,” she said softly. “We are having a baby together. It would help if we liked each other. Not a relationship or anything. I know you don’t want that, but while my body is dealing with all these pregnancy symptoms, it seems you’d be the best option to help me with them. It doesn’t have to be more than that.”
I stared at her. She seemed nervous as she waited on me to respond. I’d just sent her running to her room, crying, like a bastard. Was she really suggesting we fuck while she was pregnant? Could I trust that she wouldn’t get some emotional attachment to me?
Bigger question was, did I want her to not get attached because the idea of her forming a deeper need for me caused me to have a greedy craving for it? For her to want me. Rely on me. No matter how foolish that was, it was there, raising its head in all its possessive glory.
“Are you saying that we can fuck, that your cunt is mine to take care of, and we can live in this house together while I make sure you have everything you need, and when this ends with us sexually, we can still be friends? Raise a kid together without any bitterness or regret in our relationship?”
She nodded, her eyes no longer red-rimmed, but guarded. As if she didn’t believe I’d agree. Right now, I wanted to strip her bottoms off and bury my face between her legs until she came on my tongue several times. I didn’t want the memory of her tears and broken sobs. But she needed to know I respected her too.
“I’d kill anyone else that touched you,” I admitted. “If pregnancy makes your pussy needy, then I’m the only one allowed to take care of it. The one thing between us that has never been an issue is sex. You are without a doubt the best fuck of my life. But for us to end up as friends, we need to also build a foundation.”
“Okay,” she replied. “We could start with having dinner together.”
“You hungry, darlin’?” I asked, an amused grin curling the corners of my mouth.
She lifted a shoulder. “A little. Are you?”
“I’ll order us something. What do you want?” I asked.
She turned and slid off the bed, causing Ozzy to hurry to her side. “No need to order anything. I made dinner last night. It’s all in the refrigerator. I just need to heat it up.”