“Thank you. I’m sorry I didn’t say it before. I love that you thought of me and wanted to do this for me. I don’t think I’ve ever really had that before.”
“Then I’m glad I did it because everyone deserves to feel seen and important,” she answered, holding on to his shoulders. She slid her fingers into his hair. “You’re a lot of things, Jeremy, but you’re also a man, and you’re human.”
He kissed her again, long and slow, and she gave herself over to the emotion of the moment. He’d asked her here so they could see where they were in their relationship. What if this could work somehow? What if there really was a happy ending? She tried not to worry about logistics. Those weren’t really what concerned her at this point. It was Jeremy, and whether they could parent together, if they could be together. A couple and a family.
Right now, all the signs pointed to yes, because he was threading his hands through her hair and she was reaching for the buttons on his shirt.
She was halfway down his chest when he put his hand over hers. “You sure?” he asked, a little hint of sexy gravel in his voice. “You have to be sure.”
“I’m sure.” She lifted her chin. “I want you. All of you.”
Including his heart. And maybe that wouldn’t happen today. But she hoped it would someday, because his was a heart worth cherishing.
CH
APTER ELEVEN
JEREMY HAD NEVER once been scared before making love to a woman, but he was scared tonight.
There was a lot at stake. A ton of possibility that could be the best thing ever to happen to him—or he could blow it and they’d be back to square one, just like they were in her office the day he’d discovered she was pregnant.
But more than that, he’d never before made love to a woman where his heart was involved, and it was with Tori. As much as he tried to deny it, she touched something inside him he usually kept locked away. And he’d let her get a glimpse of it. He didn’t like being that vulnerable.
She was standing in his room now, facing him, the soft light of a pair of lamps illuminating her pale skin. He moved forward, wanting to undress her, as scared as he’d been his very first time. Her gaze locked with his, her eyes warmed and her lips curved up in a small smile.
“Don’t be scared,” she said, as if she could read his thoughts.
“I want to see you.” His heart clubbed against his ribs as he reached for her sweater, bunching it up in his hands until it went past her waist, over her breasts, over her head. When her hair was free she shook it out, and he dropped the sweater. Her full breasts were cupped by a plain black satin bra, and her leggings came up over her bump. Holding his gaze, she pushed the waistband down until she was standing before him in the bra and matching underwear, the bikini elastic sitting low below where her tummy began to curve.
She was so beautiful. He could stare at her forever, marveling at how gorgeous she was and the awesomeness of her carrying their child.
“Are you going to touch me?” she asked, tilting her head.
He reached out and put his hand on her hip, pulling her closer, and lifted his other hand to her ribs, skimming over her thickened waist, his thumb roving toward her breast. Dammit, his hands were shaking.
She put her fingers on his face, guiding him to look her in the eyes. “I need to know, Jeremy. Need to know that this is still good and real. We have a lot to figure out, but most of all we need to decide how we feel about each other.”
“You think I have a choice? That I can decide?”
He was already a goner.
“Maybe decide is the wrong word. Maybe acknowledge.” Her fingers traced over his jaw, the fingernail scraping his stubble a little bit. “Me, here with you, like this... I’m acknowledging that I feel something for you.”
“I don’t take this lightly,” he murmured.
“Nor do I. So when you touch me...when you take me...know that I’ve made this choice tonight. Knowing the risks and wanting you anyway.”
He was afraid. Humbled. He almost considered not going through with it, and then she moved toward him, pressing her lips to the hollow between his shoulder and collarbone. He shuddered and closed his eyes, drinking in the sensation, the tenderness, the heat of it. Their time together in the summer had been nothing short of spectacular. With the news of the baby and walking on eggshells, he’d nearly forgotten. But not now. Not with her so close to him with his shirt spread open and their skin touching, warm and soft.
He let out a shaky sigh, then gathered her against him and shut out the world.
* * *
Tori rolled over and felt the sheets gathered beneath her armpits. They were silk, black silk, and caressed her body as she shifted to face Jeremy.
He was still sleeping on his back, his lips relaxed and his lashes resting peacefully.
She was wearing nothing but her bikini panties again, which she vaguely remembered pulling on before sliding back into bed and into his arms, falling into sleep.