Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87990 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87990 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Of course, he’d breeze right over the Remington stuff. “She’s my daughter, Hale. I do it because I love her, not as a favor to you. Now, can we go back to everything else I said and have a real discussion?”
He bolted out of his chair and paced the bathroom like a caged lion. His fingers forked through his hair, leaving it abnormally tousled and standing on end.
“I can’t stand it when you’re upset with me. Tell me how to fix this.”
Fix it? He was the one who started it.
Maybe this wasn’t even about Remington, but Hale was so used to blaming him for the problems in his life that he naturally went there.
“Hale, do you even know what I go through every month?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, this part of trying is more than just having sex for me. Every few weeks, I pee on that little stick, and my heart gets broken—over and over and over again.” Saying the words aloud brought the pain of the last fifteen months to the surface.
No matter how many times I told myself it was no one’s fault, I still piled most of the blame on my shoulders.
“I sit on the toilet and I cry. Every month.” Tears welled in my eyes now as I considered how many times I prayed and made promises, only to be disappointed again and again.
“Rayne.” He dropped to his knees and rubbed my shoulder. “Baby, please don’t cry.”
I sniffed and wiped away my tears. “The worst part is knowing that I have to disappoint you.”
“Baby, you could never disappoint me.”
“Just once, I wish that test would be positive. Just so I could see you beam with pride.”
“You don’t have to be pregnant to make me proud, Rayne.”
“I know.” I wiped my eyes, ready to get out of the bath and go to bed. “And I’m not telling you this to make you feel bad. But if you want to know where my stress comes from, it’s that. You’re so perfect and used to getting everything you want. It’s incredibly stressful to be the one letting you down.”
“Come here.” He pulled me into a hug, careless of the way I dripped all over his clothes.
“I’m sorry,” he rasped, pressing a kiss to my lips. “I was a complete prick today. The thought of you crying over any of this…” His jaw ticked and his eyes glazed. “I never want to hurt you.”
I nodded, accepting his apology. “I know that. This is just…life. Nature’s complicated.”
“But this is about us. I should be there with you when you take the tests so you never have to go through any of this alone. I want to be there. I’m so sorry I haven’t been.”
“It’s fine—”
“No. It’s not fine. When I say we’re in this together, I mean it. I promise to do better. And you’re right. I need to work out my shit with my father.”
I drew back in surprise and studied his eyes. “Really?”
“Really.”
I owed him an apology, too, but I was so blown over by his admission and promise to try where Remington was concerned that I could hardly think of what else I needed to say. This was tremendous progress.
I turned his wrist and checked the time on his watch. He had roughly one hour before he really needed to get moving.
“Hand me a towel,” I whispered.
He opened a towel and helped me out of the tub. After he gathered me in the plush fabric and dried me like a child, he lifted me into his arms and carried me directly to bed.
I shivered and pulled him down with me. “I love you, Hale.” I pressed my lips to his.
“I love you, too, baby,” he whispered against my mouth as I loosened his tie.
His hands traveled over my damp skin as he kissed a trail down my stomach. My fingers raked through his hair, pressing him lower until his mouth was between my thighs. The warm lick of his tongue had me arching into him and closing my eyes.
Hale could be demanding in bed, but he was never selfish. He always saw to my pleasure first.
My heels dug into his back as I writhed and moaned. The slow climb of my climax was a languid build that spilled over me in soft delight.
When my shivers calmed, I pulled off his shirt and pulled him in for another kiss. My hands fumbled at his belt as I urgently tried to get his pants off. “Take these off.”
As soon as he stripped off his clothes, he was filling me—slow, deep, and divinely passionate. My nails scraped down his shoulders as he kissed my neck. When he found that sensitive spot by my ear, my toes curled, and my legs trembled.
“Don’t go,” I breathed, pleading for him to stay.
“I wish I didn’t have to.”