Scrubbing my hand over my face, I blow out a deep breath in an attempt to calm my sudden overwhelming feelings. I’ve just had two life-changing revelations in the span of five minutes. I need another drink stat.
“Be back in a minute,” I mumble as I jump up and scurry into the kitchen before I lose my shit in front of the woman I know damn well I’m going to marry.
I place my hands on top of my head, pacing from the fridge to the dining room table and back, while my mind swirls. What are the odds I’m bemoaning my single status and the perfect woman shows up on my doorstep? Actually, I don’t even care, but man who would’ve thought?
A grin I can’t even begin to smother spreads across my face. I’m sure I look like the Joker. Fuck, I need to get my shit together, or she’s going to think I’m crazy and run back out into the snowstorm instead of staying here with me.
I’ve just about gotten myself under control when the lights flicker before going out completely. I wait a moment to see if they’ll come back on, but after a minute they’re still out. Shuffling through the kitchen so as not to run into anything, I feel my way to the drawer with a flashlight in it for just such emergencies. Switching it on, I make my way back to Everlee, still where I left her in the recliner.
“Looks like we’re going to have to make our own entertainment now.”
A chuckle escapes before a grin overtakes my face. “Oh really? What did you have in mind?”
“Oh, I-I-I d-didn’t mean…” Her head shakes as she stutters, cheeks so pink I can see the color in the dim light.
I shoot her a wink. “Just givin’ you a hard time, but seeing how the power’s out, we are going to have to cuddle up in front of the fire to keep warm. Hope you don’t mind sleeping on the floor.”
Chapter Five
Everlee
The moan which falls from me as I dream startles me awake. My eyes blink open as awareness sets in. I go stock-still when I realize I’m tucked into Brooks’ side, his arm wrapped around my back anchoring me to him. My arm is thrown across his chest, and my leg is nestled between his.
This was definitely not how we fell asleep. Brooks had pulled out a large foam cushion and several blankets and comforters to create what turned out to be a quite comfy makeshift bed on the floor in front of the fire. We talked until we fell asleep or, more likely, until I fell asleep on him.
Not to say he bored me, but I was tired from the day’s events, and the pregnancy is making me want to sleep more and more. Brooks is easy to talk to, and there has been none of the awkward small talk one usually goes through when meeting someone for the first time. It’s as if we’re old friends getting reacquainted.Though I have never felt attraction like I do with him with any friends, or even any boyfriends in the past.
The urge to pee has me contemplating how to extract myself without waking him up, seeing how I’ve glommed onto him. I start to ease my leg from between his, but my knee brushes against his dick in the process. I inhale sharply when I feel the hard length pulse beneath me.
“Mmm, now I could get used to waking up this,” he murmurs against my scalp, sending goosebumps that have nothing to do with the chilled air over my body.
His hand skates along my torso until it hits my hip, pinning me to him. I can’t help the whimper which falls from me at being pressed even closer to his hard body. In this position, his thigh is cradled against my pussy, and it pulses at the contact. I’m torn between enjoying the moment and jumping up and running away.
His right hand slides into my hair, gripping it at the base of my skull before tugging gently to bring my head up. Our eyes meet for the briefest of moments before his mouth descends upon mine in a melding of lips which goes from sweet to heated in seconds. My head spins as I clutch his shirt, while he expertly claims me in a kiss I swear I feel in my very soul.
His hand on my hip slips beneath the hem of my shirt, and I jolt from the touch of his rough hand on my skin. He groans when my knee brushes his erection again. The hormones I’ve been suppressing surge to life at finally getting the attention my body has been craving.
I’m about ready to rip my clothes off when I feel a flutter in my belly that has nothing to do with hormones, at least those of the sexual variety. I rip my mouth from his and jerk upright with a gasp, hand on my stomach.
“The baby just kicked!”
He sits up with furrowed brows and a frown. “Wait! You’re pregnant?”
I nod with a cringe, not only because I was just making out with one man while pregnant with another man’s baby, but at the accusation and hurt in his voice. With all that we shared last night, I conveniently left out the tidbit about being knocked up, even though he shared how he was struggling with Austin and Kayla having a relationship and feeling left out. I just couldn’t bring myself to share my own current life-changing struggles. I was enjoying the way he looked at me so much I didn’t want it to change when I told him about the baby.
I guess I called that one correctly because now he’s staring at me like I’ve grown a second head.
His eyes narrow. “And the father?”
My shoulders rise and fall with a sigh as I stare at my lap, where my fingers twine in the edge of the blanket. “Don’t know. I haven’t seen or heard from him since he slammed the door in my face when I told him about the baby. It was a drunken mistake on both our parts, but apparently it was horrific for him to have knocked up a fatty. Suffice to say, I’m on my own.”
“What the hell?! Who the fuck does that?”
The vehemence in his voice has my gaze jerking to his. I swear I see steam coming out of his ears as if he’s affronted on my behalf. This wasn’t the reaction I expected.
I shrug again. “We’re better off without him if that’s the kind of man he is.”
“Damn right you are. How far along are you? You don’t look pregnant, but you felt the baby kick? That takes a while, doesn’t it?” His anger calms, and he becomes inquisitive as he fires off questions.
