The mother of his children.
And he had no idea how she felt about him.
He knew she at least liked him. They were friends—close friends—long before they’d made love. Made babies. But that didn’t mean she loved him. She’d been engaged to another man. Willing to pledge her heart and life to someone else only hours before she’d let Tris kiss her that first time.
She wiggled against him and his cock perked up with interest. That particular part of his anatomy had never been disinterested to begin with. Nope. His nether regions were as interested in Cov as a starving lion was with a fresh kill. How he’d kept from jumping her was anyone’s guess and a fucking miracle.
When she wiggled again, he couldn’t hold back a groan.
She stilled instantly. “Sorry. But…”
“What?” he ground out through clenched teeth. He wouldn’t push himself on her but suddenly he was perched precariously on a tightrope of restraint.
“I have to pee,” she whispered into his chest.
He laughed. Of course she did. It was the one truly predictable thing about her.
“It’s not funny.” He couldn’t see it but he heard the pout in her words.
“You’d think it was if you knew what had been running through my mind while you did your little need-to-go dance.”
Her hips bucked forward, the swell of her belly pressing against his length. “I’m pretty sure I can guess what you were thinking.”
“Cov.” He couldn’t keep the apology out of his voice.
She pulled from his arms and met his gaze. “It’s fine. It’s not like I haven’t thought about it too.”
With that parting shot she disappeared down the hall. A moment later the bathroom door closed and he stood there, mouth agape, mind spinning.
Had she just implied she’d thought about having sex with him?
They’d cuddled, kissed. He’d held her hand and cupped her belly to feel the shape, connect with the babies but he hadn’t done any of that in a sexual way. Yes, their contact was intimate, the most intimate of his life, but it hadn’t been erotic or held any intent.
Not that he hadn’t thought about having her naked and under him.
Their sexual attraction—well his at least—was the pink elephant in the room. He saw it but ignored it. There was no way he could do that now.
He hadn’t wanted to pressure her, especially after the doctor told them her blood pressure was up. Except he still thought they should get married. More so now he knew the babies were his. He’d kept quiet, concentrated on making sure Cov got plenty of rest and the right food. It was the only way to stop himself from dragging her down to the court house and putting a ring on her finger and a signed certificate in her hand.
But now she’d pointed out the elephant…
It felt as though she’d thrown flammable liquid on his libido. In a flash it had gone from smoldering to inferno and he didn’t stand a chance in hell of putting this fire out.
***
For the second time in as many hours Covington watched Tris walk away. Oh, he wasn’twalking awaywalking away, but he was leaving her at Amanda’s. Again.
He’d delivered her to the book club gathering an hour ago satisfied she was in good hands and her blood pressure at an acceptable level. Not even a little bit high. She smiled remembering the look on his face. He hadn’t expected the reading to be normal.
The second reading—only minutes ago—showed it even lower in the normal range so he couldn’t argue the night out was too much excitement for her.
She’d nearly died when he’d waltzed into Amanda’s house five minutes ago. He’d scanned the room and as soon as his gaze locked on her, headed in her direction.
Tris had always been alpha and Covington wasn’t going to deny getting a little thrill out of it but having it directed at her? Holy hell. It was a wonder her blood pressure hadn’t gone through the roof.
It was certainly spiking now while she watched his jean-covered butt strut out of the room. She sighed. Suddenly wishing her pressure had been up so he’d insist on taking her home with him.
Karina’s laughter drew her gaze.
