With a wicked grin, I climbed on top of him. He was still hard, and I angled him back inside of me.
“You may own me, Flynn,” I said, leaning down so my hair brushed his face. “But that means I get to own you, too.”
His smile was slow, full of heat and want. “Own me, Barrett. For the rest of my life.”
Chapter11
FLYNN
Barrett pulled awayfrom my side and sat up. I gently grasped her arm and attempted to haul her on top of me.
She sniggered and collapsed against me for a moment.
“I just wanted to get us a blanket,” she said, kissing my lips.
“We could move upstairs to a bed,” I suggested. “It might be more comfortable.”
“You sound old, Flynn.”
Barrett’s eyes were clear and free of turmoil. I swept a damp curl away from her cheek. “Do I need to prove to you how young I really am?”
Her grin was cheeky and impish. “Yes. I think you should.”
I laughed and gently swatted her backside. “Be quick about it.”
She got up and went to retrieve the blanket she had discarded and dropped to the floor in our haste to be with one another. She favored her right leg, and I was instantly contrite. “I should’ve taken you upstairs.”
Barrett looked at me over her shoulder as she grabbed the blanket. “Why?”
“Your hip.”
“My hip is fine.” She came back, then laid down, nestling herself against me, and pulled the blanket over us.
Her fingers trailed over my chest before settling her palm against my heart. I covered her hand with mine.
“Explain something to me,” I said after a few minutes of silence. “If my vasectomy failed, how have you prevented pregnancy?”
She paused before admitting, “Birth control.”
“I see. You kept that from me, too.”
“If I told you why I was on birth control, then the truth would’ve come out. I just…didn’t know how. I wish you didn’t know,” she said softly. “I wish I had been able to grieve on my own and move on. I didn’t want to burden you with this. I thought I had dealt with this. Truly. And then a few months ago…”
“Is that why you wanted another baby? Because you feel like the miscarriage is somehow your fault and you want to rectify it?”
“Itismy fault,” she said. “I was pregnant. And then I wasn’t.”
“It’s not your fault,” I stated.
I knew she didn’t believe me. I wouldn’t be able to assuage her guilt. Only she could do that.
“You didn’t tell Ash,” I said suddenly.
She looked at me. “No. I didn’t. But how did you—”
“Because she was just as confused about your behavior as I was,” I admitted. “She didn’t understand why you wanted another baby, and she didn’t understand why you left in the middle of the night. You face your problems, Barrett. You’re strong, but you ran. I understand guilt eating you alive. But you should’ve shared it with me.”
“I should have.” Barrett winced.
