Claim My Baby (Crescent Cove 2)

No. Just no.

“Yeah, that’s true. I hate to ask you to come over if he has something contagious, but he seemed sure it was self-contained and that you needed to be there.”

“I needed to be there?” I snapped my seat belt into place as she backed out of the parking space. “Why would I need to be there if he has the runs?”

“I’m guessing so you could watch the kids while we’re occupied? He mentioned possibly needing to go to the ER because he was losing his mind.”

I crossed my arms. “Alison, are you telling a fib? Is this just some story he’s concocted to get some nookie while there’s an available babysitter?”

“No. God, no. Hello, I just gave birth not that long ago. Trust me, that area has not been cleared for takeoff yet, no matter how much he’s cajoled me by saying he’ll be gentle.”

I had to snort. “If he’s gentle like his brother, then yeah, you better give it six months or so.”

She was quiet as she signaled out of the lot, and I figured it was because she was concentrating hard due to the snow.

“Is he pressuring you into rough sex? I’ve heard rumblings he has…proclivities.”

For a moment, I didn’t react. Then I started to laugh so hard that tears tracked down my cheeks. “First off, I haven’t been in his bed for weeks. Which I thought you’d gathered, considering my woe in that direction.”

“Yeah, I know that, but what about before? Was he pushing you down a path you weren’t ready for?”

“Considering the last time we slept together, I asked if I could tie him up next time, I’d say no.”

She gasped. Legit gasped loud enough I could hear it over the steady thunk of the windshield wipers. “He tied you up?”

“Yes. It was some kind of silky tie. No chains, I swear. Not that I’d be averse to those handcuffs he claims to own.” I wiped my tears away with my thumbs. “He did spank me though. Which I sort of loved.”

“Oh my God.” She cast me a quick look before returning her focus to the road. “You liked it?”

“No, loved it. Shocked me too. It’s too soon to say I’m kinky, but I’d say I’m at least kink-curious.”

“Hmm. I wonder if—no.”

“What?”

“I wonder if I’d like that stuff. We’re going to rent that Fifty Shades movie. You know how Seth gets ideas when he watches too much TV.”

That set me off laughing again. “Oliver doesn’t need to watch movies to get ideas. Though speaking of movies, have you ever gone on For Women By Women?”

“No. What’s that?”

“A porn site,” I said matter-of-factly. “Very educational.”

“You? Watching porn?”

“Something has to fill in when I’m not having sex. It’s like how I imagine a werewolf gets when he can’t find fresh meat. Once you’ve gotten the taste for it, you’re screwed.”

Ally laughed. “Is that why you bought maternity lingerie today?”

I chewed on my thumbnail. “Part of it. He asked me out a few weeks ago, as backassward as all of this is, and I haven’t answered yet.”

“Still figuring out what you want?”

“God, no. I want him. Us. The life we could have if he’s serious about wanting to make a go of this. But not marriage. Not right away. I don’t care how things look.”

“Not marriage? Are you implying he proposed?” Ally sounded incredulous.

“No. That’s the most ridiculous part.” Almost unconsciously, I reached for my bow necklace.