Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75414 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75414 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
To be fair, I was clinging to him like he was the only thing keeping me from plummeting to my death.
“Why?” I asked, still not ready to let go.
“I’ll be right back,” he assured me, turning his head to press a quick kiss to my temple.
Still reluctant, I released him, surprised by how sore my legs and arms felt, making me realize just how tightly I’d been gripping him.
He slid away, walking into the bathroom and half-closing the door for a moment.
True to his word, he came right back, still gloriously naked, his gaze taking me in as he rounded the bed, then slipped in next to me.
He reached for me, turning me to face him and scooting closer until his forehead met mine.
“I was worried it was too soon for something like this for you,” he told me. “But someone wise told me that I had to learn to trust you to know what’s right and stop making decisions for you.”
My lips curved up at that.
“So, not only is your dad a great cook, he’s very wise too.”
“That about sums it up.”
“He’s right,” I said, my fingers moving out to trace over his skin. “I’ve had enough of men making decisions for me.”
“Yeah,” he agreed. “I should have thought of it that way.”
“Well, you are now. That’s what counts. But… but I wonder if you’ve thought this through.”
At that, he pulled back far enough to watch my face.
“How so?”
“Well, I mean… I can only do casual for so long, y’know? And that’s fine. I mean… it’s… great.” It was world-freaking-changing, but I wasn’t ready to admit that yet. “But, pretty soon, I won’t be able to be, you know, selfish like that anymore.”
“Oh.” His face was unreadable, save for the serious set to his brows. “Loll, babe,” he said, letting out a snort of a laugh. “Believe me, I’ve given that a lot of thought.”
“And?”
“And I wouldn’t start something with you if I didn’t think I was willing and capable of being involved with the baby when it comes. You’re a package deal. Can’t have one without the other.”
My heart fluttered at that.
But I wasn’t ready to get too far away with myself just yet. After all, it wasn’t just me I had to worry about anymore. And my past did suggest I didn’t always make the best choices when it came to men.
Better to be safe than sorry this time around.
“Okay,” I agreed, nodding.
To that, Nave’s brows pinched. “Okay?”
“I just wanted to make sure you’d thought about a possible long-term. But for now, let’s just see how it goes.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Nave
The words Let’s just see how it goes after what had to be the most meaningful sex of my life had been, admittedly, a little jarring.
Especially because I was ready to be in. All in. A little starter house with a nursery and room to grow kind of in.
That said, I had to understand where Lolly was coming from. She’d just barely gotten away from an ex who’d controlled every aspect of her life for years, who literally kept her captive and incapable of starting over without him.
Or so he thought.
She probably felt like she had to look at every man like he was potentially just wearing the mask of kindness and care, looking for any possible cracks in the veneer, any proof that her worst fears might be realized.
She had to worry about the baby now too. About what situations she was getting him or her into.
I couldn’t take it personally.
And, hell, even if I was taking it personally, I couldn’t really blame her for looking at what I brought to the table and being unsure.
She met me when I’d been doing illegal shit for shady people. She found me again as an arms-dealing biker. I represented danger as much as safety. And as much as I knew I had everything I needed, an outsider wouldn’t see what I had to offer.
Just a room at a clubhouse. No home base of my own. A history of partying and casual sex.
Not exactly a poster for Boyfriend of the Year. And damn sure not father material.
She couldn’t know what I knew about the men in this club. About how, yes, they lived and partied and fucked around hard. But when they found their woman, their loyalty and devotion were absolute. There wasn’t a bad husband or father in the bunch.
“That’s a serious fucking look for eight in the morning.” Fallon came into the kitchen, making a beeline for the coffee pot.
“You’re here early.”
“I got a kid who fucking volunteered to work at Hailstorm this summer. Guess who gets to drive them all the way up there every morning.”
“At least you know you don’t have to worry about them there.”
“That’s true,” he agreed, turning with his cup to look at me. “So, what’s with the lines?” He gestured to his own forehead.