Page 82 of Make it a Double

“If you don’t want to work anymore⁠—”

Sawyer pulled back and narrowed her gaze. “I didn’t say that.”

I rocked my head back and forth. “I mean, you kind of did. All you have to do is say the word.”

Even though she was as stubborn as a goddamn mule, that was all it would take for me to wipe away all debt and bills with the snap of my fingers. She wouldn’t have to worry about anything other than safely growing our son. I reminded her of that fact every single time she complained about being tired or bored with her new position.

And every time, she shot me down without so much as a second glance.

As much as I wished she would listen to me, I didn’t want to push her. There’d been too many changes in her life recently. I worried that one more might be what causes her to break. It was my job to keep her together as best as I could.

“Talking to me about this before you’ve fed me is criminal. You know I’d agree to almost anything if you put something in my mouth,” she mumbled.

I snorted, unable to stop my mind from going someplace it absolutely shouldn’t. The only relief I’d found in the past seven months had been in my shower after a long day, or the occasional late-night urge when Sawyer came to me in my dreams. I hated feeling like a pervert lusting after her like that, but goddamn. I couldn’t help it. And knowing she was carrying my child had only made things worse.

“Let’s get some food in you then,” I said. “Why don’t you take a seat, and I will fix you a plate?” Sawyer tried to look around me, but I blocked her view and pointed behind her. “Go.”

“Fine,” she sighed, trudging toward the table. The moment her ass landed in the chair, she crossed her arms and stared at me.

I shot her a wink, bypassing the stove and heading for the air fryer instead. Her gaze bore into my back as I plated our meal. “Close your eyes,” I called over my shoulder. “It’s a surprise.”

“Honestly, Beckett… I’m so hungry I could literally eat everything in that fridge right now if you let me.”

“It’ll be worth it. I promise.”

When I turned around, I expected her not to listen. Color me shocked when both her eyes were squeezed shut. I walked over, setting our plates down before taking my own seat. “Okay. You can look now.”

Sawyer slowly opened one eye and then the other, peering down at the plates in front of us. Then she looked at me, and the smile she gave nearly took me fucking out. “Are you serious right now?”

I nodded. The look on her face was infectious. “Only the best corndogs for my best girl. I will admit, I can’t take all the credit. Olivia did tell me which ones were your favorite. Apparently, brand matters.”

She laughed, reaching for the mustard I’d set out on the table. Then she placed a large blob on her plate and dipped the first corndog in. I watched carefully as she took her first bite. She closed her eyes, moaning the moment it landed on her tongue. “Oh my god. This is so good.”

“Really?” I asked, following suit. I didn’t really think you could fuck up frozen corndogs, but just in case you could, I was going to cover my ass here. “I’m glad. I’ve kind of perfected it over the past few months.”

“You… have?”

“Yeah, I met this amazing woman last year, and she kind of got me hooked on them,” I said, taking another bite. “I’ve made them at least once a week ever since.”

Sawyer nodded once, her eyes growing glassy. She opened her mouth, but quickly snapped it shut, rolling her lips together instead.

“Sawyer?” I asked. My hand found hers above the table and gave it a quick squeeze. “Are you⁠—”

She was up and out of her seat before I could register what was happening. I moved, adjusting my body so she could sit on my lap. Her arms wound around my neck as she let out a soft sob. I had no idea what I’d said or done to earn this kind of reaction, but I just held her as tightly as she clung to me.

When she pulled back, she offered me a watery smile. “I think you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. And I don’t know what to do with that,” she confessed. “It’s fucking terrifying. I keep waiting for the curtain to drop, wondering when all of this will be over. But even then, I feel like I’d look out into the empty auditorium and see you sitting there in the front row with a fresh bouquet of flowers and that stupid, cocky grin of yours.”

I brought my hand up between us, cupping her jaw. “I know. I’ve been scared out of my mind for months now,” I chuckled, running my thumb across the freckles along her cheekbone. Her skin was so soft beneath my touch. “I’m glad you’re finally catching up. I’m not going anywhere. You and I are in this together.”

Sawyer scanned my face carefully before her gaze stopped on my mouth. Neither one of us looked away as we leaned in slowly. The moment our lips touched, it was like a bomb detonated. The restraint we’d been using had blown away in the aftermath, leaving only our barest desires at our feet.

Her tongue slipped past my lips as my hands landed on her waist. It was a slightly awkward position, but I didn’t give a fuck as her fingers wound into my hair and tugged. Sawyer panted as a low groan slipped free. I couldn’t help myself. She tasted like she did that first night we let things go too far.

Sawyer’s hands clamored for the hem of my shirt. “Off,” she moaned into my mouth. “Get this off.”

I reached behind my neck, tugging my shirt off with one clean movement. Sawyer leaned back and scanned my chest with blatant appreciation. She brought her hand up, running her fingers along my shoulders and pecs, and down my abs. “Holy shit,” she breathed. “You should be illegal.”

Before I could say anything, her mouth was back on mine. Suddenly, we were making out like one of those horny couples at the back of movie theaters. Our dinner was forgotten as she ground down against my hard cock.