Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 76364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
“And you didn’t meet anyone who could satiate the craving?”
I’ve seen the way women look at Pierce and talk about him. Any single—and most likely married—woman would gladly help him scratch that itch.
He wraps his arms around me, picks me up, and carries me into the shower. It’s not a large shower, but it’s spacious enough to fit both of us comfortably. After closing the curtain, he pushes my back against the wall. Despite the hot water, the wall is cool, and I gasp when I touch the cold tiles.
“I wasn’t looking,” he admits. “But then I saw you.” He tightens his hold on me, so our bodies are flush against each other. “And it was like the fire that had been dimmed was instantly stoked. My world was cold for so long. Then when I met you, I could suddenly feel the warmth whenever I was around you.”
At his words, butterflies swarm my chest. “It’s never felt like this,” I whisper, nuzzling my face into his neck to hide my shame.
“What do you mean?”
“With Trent, I never felt this want…this need. I loved him. I swear I did, but—”
“Hey,” he says, lifting my face and cupping my cheek. “What you feel for me doesn’t lessen or diminish what you felt for him. It’s just different. You guys were young and, from what you said, had many stressors… between him going to school and you having a baby.”
“Does it feel different for you? Different than the way you felt about Tanya?”
“So fucking different,” he says, stroking his knuckles down my cheek. “With her, it felt forced, but with you, it feels so damn easy. I want to be with you all the time. When I’m not with you, I think about you. It’s not just you, though. I think about Jordan too. I want to take care of you both.”
“Pierce,” I huff. “I don’t want you to feel bad—”
“Don’t even think about finishing that statement,” he says. “There’s a difference between wanting to help out of pity and caring about someone so much you want to be the reason they’re happy.” He frames my face in his hands. “I just want you guys to be happy, baby.”
“I am happy,” I admit, realizing I’m telling the truth for the first time in a long time. For so long, I was faking it, just trying to get through each day. Maybe my money situation hasn’t improved. But I’m living my life again…feeling again, because of Pierce. I don’t know what the future holds, but I know one thing: I want Pierce in our lives.
“Good,” he says, dipping his head and peppering kisses along my jaw and then across my shoulder. “Now, enough talking. I’m about to make sure you stay happy.”
“And how are you going to do that?” I ask coyly, knowing damn well how he plans to do it if the way he’s sucking on my neck is any indication.
“Orgasms, baby,” he demands. “I’m going to give you lots and lots of orgasms.”
“Why aren’t you asleep?” Pierce’s raspy voice fills the otherwise quiet house.
We’ve spent the evening bouncing between making love and talking, with some food thrown into the mix. After the third—or maybe it was the fourth—time we made love, we showered and climbed into bed, both of us spent. Pierce pulled me into his arms, and I laid my head on his chest.
We talked until he fell asleep, but instead of doing the same, I’ve been lying awake thinking about everything that’s happened today: Thinking I’d lost Pierce, him confessing his love for me, me admitting that I love him as well. And the most significant admission—Pierce saying he’d love it if I happened to get pregnant.
The crazy part is that the idea doesn’t scare me the way it probably should. I have no doubt he’d be a wonderful dad. However, what has my brain in overdrive is what comes with getting pregnant—or what is supposed to come with getting pregnant.
“I want to get married,” I blurt out, cringing when I realize I only voiced half of my thoughts. “What I mean is… I want to get married before I get pregnant again.”
Pierce rolls to his side, his fist resting under his temple, giving me his undivided attention as if he wasn’t just asleep a few minutes ago.
“When Trent died, Jordan and I were left with nothing. No car, no home, no money. We were young and never thought anything would happen, so we didn’t consider the future. The next time I get pregnant, I want it to be once I’m married and we’re financially stable.
“I know you mentioned being okay with me getting pregnant, but I don’t feel like either of us was thinking clearly. We were caught up in the moment. A baby is a lot of work, and I’ve already missed out on so much time with Jordan because of having to work. Plus, I still need to get through college.” I sigh at the thought of adding years of schooling to my plate, knowing it’s necessary but dreading it all the same.