Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
“We could pretend that tonight never happened. You know, like before.”
“What’s not going to happen, Stella?”
“I’m sober.”
I should make her say it. I should make her spell it out, but those two words tell me everything I need to know. We’re adults. We have needs. It’s been so damn long since I’ve been inside a woman, and Stella, well, it’s been since the night she conceived Ada.
“You have to promise me, Stel.”
“I promise. I know we’re just friends, but it’s been so long, and I—need this, Mav.”
“Nothing changes. You can’t run from me. You can’t avoid me.”
“Yes, all of that,” she says, bending to kiss my abs. Her touch sends a spark shooting throughout my body.
“This is your show, angel. You take as little or as much as you need from me. Tonight, I’m yours.”
“I—I don’t know how to do this.”
“What do you mean?”
“Gah.” She drops her head so that her forehead is pressing against my abs. She mumbles something that I don’t quite understand.
“You need to tell me, angel.”
“Don’t want to,” she grumbles.
“Then this stops here.”
She lifts her head and expels a heavy breath that brushes against my abs. My cock twitches. “One time. I’ve had sex one time.”
Hearing it again still baffles me. She’s a fucking smoke show. “One time?” I ask for clarification, worried, I heard her wrong.
“Yeah, and guess what? I’m that cliché that got pregnant. We used protection, but….” Her words trail off.
“Sit up for me.” She does as I ask. Kind of. Instead of sitting so that I can see her, she straddles my hips, resting her hands on my chest. So, I sit up, bringing us face-to-face. “I know we’re friends, and this isn’t going to change that. However, I need to make sure you know that if that were to happen. If our protection fails, and you end up pregnant, I’m going to be there. In fact, I’ll be so there that you’re going to get sick of me. You can be my friend who’s also the mother of my child. I want to be there for every step, every milestone. I promise you, Stella. I’m not him.”
I feel anger like a fire roaring with flames at the way her ex has treated her and Ada. How could a man turn his back on his kid? Sure, you’re young and not ready, but guess what? You enjoyed the sex, and you knew the chances, asshole. One day, I’ll meet him, and I’ll be able to tell him exactly what kind of coward he is. Hell, I’m sure he already knows it. He’s yet to show his face in Willow River, which is where his baby girl has been for months.
“I know that. I’m on the pill. I was then, too, and we used a condom, but it was just one of those freak things.”
“I’m not him.” I have to calm myself down. She’s not accusing me. Hell, I’m the one who brought it up, but damn that fuckstick for abandoning them. Did he not understand the two treasures he had? They were his, and he let them go.
“You don’t need to tell me that, Mav. You’ve been there for me since the day we met. I was no one to you, but you still helped me. You stuck around, and that means more to me than you will ever know. I just—I’ve been busy being a mom, trying to keep my head above water. You make me feel safe. Secure.”
Warmth fills my chest, and I want to beat against it like a caveman so that I can make her feel that way. My hands cup her cheeks. “This is your night, Stella. You know you’re safe with me. Take what you need, with the confidence that I want you to do it, and if that same freak occurrence happens, I’ll be there.”
Nothing could keep me away from my kid.
“Kiss me.”
“My pleasure, angel.” I angle her head slightly as I press my lips to hers. She opens for me, giving me her trust. I slide my tongue past those sweet lips and explore her mouth. My hands move to her ass, where I grip her, rocking her against my cock.
“No. Mav, no.” I stop immediately. “I want you inside me.”
“I’m just getting you ready for me.”
“I’m ready for you. Believe me, I’m ready.” She moves off my lap and stands next to the bed. I watch with the glow of the moonlight as she tugs my shirt over her head and slides her panties down her creamy thighs. “Ada. We’ll have to be quiet.”
“Do you want to move?” I don’t want to. If this is my only chance to be inside this woman, I want it to be in my bed. A place where no other has been before her. Stella deserves that privilege.