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)
“I can’t believe I slept that long.”
“You probably needed it.” Hale sat beside me and ran a gentle hand down my back. “Are you hungry?”
My belly felt hollow and achy. “I’m starved.”
“Do you want me to have Marta whip up something light like soup?”
“No. I want a pizza with black olives and meat. Slightly burned.”
He drew back. “You sure about that?”
“Yeah. Make it sausage. And see if they can put some of those banana peppers on it. The spicy kind.”
“Right.” He pulled out his phone and called in an order.
Remington made a quick goodbye before heading to the airport with Alphonse. The house was always different whenever Remington was away. Miles hung around and joined us in the kitchen, as did Raoul, Marta’s husband. As much as I was a part of the Davenport family, I was also a part of the service family, and I loved how easily Hale infiltrated that tight-knit group because he knew my work family was important to me.
I ate my pizza while everyone else enjoyed takeout sandwiches and appetizers. We laughed and told stories. Marta picked on Hale in that sweet, adoring way a grandmother would. Hale’s real grandmother, who was on his mother’s side, was in a home in New Jersey. She didn’t remember Hale anymore, so it was nice that he had this connection with Marta, who had been an employee of the Davenports for more than three decades.
When we got home, Elara was passed out. I wasn’t tired due to my long afternoon nap, so I showered and found Hale reading over work stuff in bed—something we generally forbade.
“Um, are you working? It’s ten o’clock.”
“I just wanted to look over this contract—”
“Hale.”
He met my stare, reading the warning in my eyes, and shut off his iPad.
“Thank you.” I climbed into bed.
It had been weeks since we had sex, and I was beyond ready to put aside my procreating miracle status to return to moonlighting as Hale’s naughty little wife. I took my time moisturizing my growing body, taking special care to hit all the areas where stretchmarks were known to scar. Then I gave Hale the look.
“Goodnight, baby.” He kissed my forehead and shut out the nightstand lamp.
I frowned, unsure what just happened.
Did I smell? Was I not putting out the right pheromones? Maybe I was reading the room wrong. This pregnancy had me all jacked up.
Easing under the covers, I recalculated. Husband—check. Baby asleep—check. Showered and smelling fresh as a daisy—check. What the hell did I forget?
Rolling to my side, I faced him and dragged a seductive finger down his shoulder. “Hi there.”
He opened his eyes, smiled, and kissed my nose. “Sweet dreams.” Then he shut his eyes again
I frowned. “Hale.”
His eyes opened. “Yeah?”
“Why aren’t we having sex? You haven’t touched me in weeks.”
He drew back, a little taken off guard by my bluntness. “That’s not true.”
“Uh, yeah, it is.”
“I touch you all the time.”
“Well, you haven’t been inside of me in weeks. I’m developing a complex.” Seriously, how was he managing it? “Since we started dating, you’ve always needed frequent sex. What’s going on with you?” It was his fault I was horny. Before Hale, I was content to never have sex—ever again. He conditioned me to be this way. “I have needs, too, you know.”
Oh, God. Why were my eyes tearing up?
I quickly turned away, but it was too late.
No, no, no. This wasn’t a crying moment. This was a strong, confident woman moment. I was doing the big girl thing and expressing my needs.
“Baby, I’m sorry.” I flinched when he touched me, but only because any show of gentle concern when I was leaking led to more leaking. “I guess I was just trying to give you space while your body adapted to all this—”
“Gah! Don’t try to be all understanding, Hale! And can you not touch me right now?” I angled away from his comforting caress before I started sobbing uncontrollably.
“I’m confused. Do you or don’t you want to be touched?”
“Of course, I want to be touched. Just not…that way.” Did he ever hear of just fucking?
He sat up and turned on the lamp. “Rayne, I need you to be a little more clear. What do you want?”
“I told you to have sex with me, not get all comforting and sweet. Can’t you see I’m an emotional mess right now?” My voice pitched as more tears spilled. “God, this pregnancy has my hormones all over the place!” I snatched a tissue from the box and blotted my eyes. “And now I’m sad!”
“Baby, take a breath.”
“I can’t. My nose has been stuffy for weeks!” I blew into the tissue, but nothing came out. I just sounded like a dying elephant. “I’m the most unsexy woman in the world right now. No wonder why you don’t want to have sex with me!”