Chapter Forty-Three
Kip
When we make our way inside, every eyeball is staring at us. I have my arm around her. I’m completely drenched and trying not to shiver.
“Everything okay?” Elizabeth asks.
“Yes,” Brooklyn says. She grabs my hand and leads me toward the basement. “We need to talk though without getting frostbite.”
Everyone nods and follows us with their eyes.
She shuts the door to the basement. When we get downstairs, she says, “You need to change. I’m going to wait by the fire.”
I nod and walk into the bedroom. I can’t believe how much my life has changed since a few hours ago. I throw all my wet things in the bathroom and change quickly. When I come back out, she’s warming her hands by the fire. I stand beside her and do the same.
“It doesn’t change our problems,” she says quietly. “We live far apart. We aren’t in a relationship.”
I turn to her and grab her hand. “I will talk with you about this, I promise. We will figure everything out, but let’s not talk about it tonight.”
She looks surprised.
“I’m not avoiding it. I just think we’ve had enough emotional heavy lifting for the night. Plus I owe you an orgasm.”
She laughs. “I’m glad you haven’t forgotten.”
I grin. “I’m a man of my word.”
Her face is so beautiful in the soft light of the fire; my heart’s about to pound out of my chest.
As she inches her hands closer to the fire, she scrunches her face up like she’s just remembered something. “Do I really taste and feel different, or were you just saying that?”
I raise one of my eyebrows and respond. “Yes, you do.”
“Is it bad?” She looks worried, her eyes growing wide.
I drag my hands over my face and shake my head. “No. It’s not. I’ve never felt anything like it.”
“In a good way?” She’s chewing on her bottom lip.
“Yeah, in a good way.” I turn so I’m facing her. “You’re so hot and wet.”
My dick is hard again just thinking about it. Her face reddens slightly.
“You must have been pretty mad at me to stop,” she says, and one of the corners of her mouth turns up slightly.
“You have no idea.” I shake my head again, and then I groan. “I can’t believe I didn’t piece it together sooner.”
Her face grows a shade darker red. “Well, I didn’t piece it together for a while either.”
“Really?” She’s still watching the fire, holding her hands out in front of the flames. She flicks her eyes over to me. “Declan figured it out.”
“What? How?”
She covers her face with her hands. “I started crying when I held Ansley for the first time, and I’d thrown up every time I’d seen him for weeks.”
“Ah.”
“He and Will made me take one of Liv’s pregnancy leftover tests. They wanted me to call you right away, but...”
“But what?”
“I just wasn’t ready. I’m sorry. It was a lot for me to process.” She pauses for a second and then says softly. “And I was still furious with you.”
That feels like a punch to the gut, but it’s what I deserve. She doesn't wait for me to respond, continuing, “I didn’t know how you’d react either.”
I just nod slowly. It could have gone better, but here we are.
“Have you been to the doctor yet?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “I have an appointment on Wednesday. I'm nervous.”
“Can I go with you?”
Surprise flashes across her face. “Of course.”
“I’d like that.”
She turns to the side and lifts her shirt. I stop breathing for a minute.
“I’m showing a little.”
I laugh. “No you aren’t.”
“Yes. Look at this, it’s a little bump.” She runs her hands over her stomach, and my heart nearly burst out of my chest. “All of my pants are too tight.”
“It looks like you had a big dinner.”
A big smile spreads across her face. “It’s only the beginning.”
I lower myself to my knees and press my lips to her stomach. “I can’t wait.”
She’s smiling down at me, and then I slide my hands between her thighs and start to rub her. She groans and runs her hands through my hair.
“You came so hard earlier. I thought you might have passed out.”
“I think I did.”
“I had no idea being with a pregnant woman was so damn sexy.” I tug on her pants, pulling them down.
“I didn’t either,” she shrugs. “Oh my god, I’ve been having the craziest sex dreams. I swear I came the other night in my sleep.”
I groan and lean into her.
“What happens in your dreams?” I ask, my face is still pressed against her bare legs.
“You’re fucking me.”
I groan again as I pull her panties down.
“How?” I ask.
“Literally every way possible.”
I laugh. “I can do that. I can make your dreams come true.
“Thank god.”
I pause for a moment and look up at her, “Will you take your shirt off for me? I’d really like to see you.”
She nods and lifts her shirt over her head. My breathing hitches when I see her.
“Fuck.”
She blushes.
“Why are you blushing?” I drag my hand over my mouth and chin.
“I’m embarrassed.” She reaches to cover herself with her arms, but I pull them down.
“Don’t.”
Our eyes lock.
“You’re stunning.”
“It feels like someone else’s body.” I run my hand over her stomach softly, and she sighs.
“It’s yours, and I’ve never been more attracted to anyone in my life,” I say.
Her eyes fall to the tent in my pants. “You still owe me that orgasm.”
“Like I said, I’m a man of my word.” I take her hand and pull her down to the ground with me. I grab a blanket from the couch and lay it beneath her. She pulls my shirt over my head, and then I reach for the back of her bra.
“No.”
I freeze.
“I’m sorry. Don’t take it off. It’s too painful right now.”
“I’ll look and not touch,” I say as I press my lips to her neck. She leans her head to the side and sighs.
“Take your pants off. I need you to finish what you started earlier.”
As I’m getting out of my pants I say, “Are you ready for me?”
She grabs my hand and puts it between her thighs. She’s drenched.
“Jesus Christ,” I whisper.
“How many times are you going to make me come tonight?” She whispers breathlessly as she pulls me on top of her.
“As many times as you want.”
When we finish, we lie silently by the fire for a few minutes, my arms wrapped around her, her head on my chest. Finally, she whispers, “Let’s go to the bedroom.”
“You ready for more?”
She just grins up at me.
“You’re insatiable.” I lean in for a kiss.
“You have no idea,” she says before pressing her lips to mine.
––––––––
I’m sneaking out of the house the next morning.
“Going somewhere?”
I freeze when I hear the President’s voice. I really didn’t want to run into anyone this morning, especially not him.
“Yes.” I turn to face him.
“Coming back?” His eyes are dark.
“Not to the cabin.”
He’s holding a cup of coffee in his hands, gripping the mug so tight that I’m surprised it doesn’t shatter. “Did you tell her that?”
“I left a note,” I answer.
“A note?” He takes a step toward me, his nostrils flaring slightly.
I hold up my hands. “I’m not leaving her. I just need to go home and sort out a few things.”
He pauses, studying me like I’m a puzzle.
“I’ll be at her doctor’s appointment on Wednesday. I have a few loose ends to deal with, so we can make some decisions.”
He nods slowly and then says, “She has a support system. If you aren't up to the challenge, she’s got family to...”
I cut him off. “I am up to the challenge, and this is my family now.”
This is the first thing I’ve said that he seems to want to hear.
“Okay.” He walks toward me. I’m not sure if I should brace for a punch to the face or open my arms for a hug.
He pats me on the shoulder. “We’re here for both of you then. You have my direct number. Don’t hesitate to use it.”
“Thanks.”
He nods and walks away without another word.