I sigh as he wraps his arms around me. And then pulls the comforter overtop of us.
“I don’t know how it happened.”
“What do you mean?” I know that he’s about to make a joke out of it, and sure it would be funny but we’ll get sidetracked and if he wants to know what happened, I can’t explain it but in the fucked up reality of our situation, I feel like he has a right to know.
“I’ve been on the pill forever. And used a condom.”
“Are you sure he did? I mean, I know we’ve slipped up before.”
“I mean, I told him to. And he at least pretended to put one on. But it doesn’t make any sense. Why would he want to get me pregnant?”
“Really?” He laughs, looking over at me.
“What?”
“I don’t think you give yourself enough credit.”
“You also said I have terrible taste in men.”
“You do. This just further proves my point.”
“But…” I accidentally say a thought out loud and catch myself before I finish.
“What?”
“I have frequented your bed from time to time.” I say it even though what I told Darren before, I still believe.
He laughs as he leans into me, so close that I can feel the warmth of him on my lips. “That just further proves my point.”
“You’re not a bad guy.”
I make him laugh again as he shakes his head. “Baby, I am literally a criminal. I commit crimes all the time.”
“Just because something is a crime doesn’t necessarily mean it’s bad.”
He pulls away from me, putting the distance that I need desperately at the moment between us. “You can’t say things like that.”
“Why?”
He hesitates, like he’s arguing with himself over something something. “You’re marrying a detective.”
“Meh, semantics.”
“Why are you marrying a detective, Tatum?” I’m not sure what to say so I don’t I just look up at him, catching his eyes and shrugging. “You have options.”
“No, I don’t.”
His hand comes up and holds my chin, stilling my face and gripping just hard enough to tell me not to move.
“What are you doing?”
“I need to ask you something. And I need you to look me in the eye when you answer, so I know if you’re trying to lie.” I say nothing else, but wait for him to finish. “Does he hurt you?”
“No.” It’s a whisper, not because it isn’t true, but because I know it won’t always be true.
“Tatum.” Zane growls out my name so loud it makes me jump, and he quickly stands up, pacing the room.
“Zane, I’m telling you the truth. He hasn’t hurt me… physically… yet.” When I say yet, it stills him and he looks back over at me.
