“Oz?” I scrunch my nose. He doesn’t give off the vibe of someone who would be called Oz. A small smile pulls at his lips.
“You never thought that nickname fit, precious. That’s why you always called me Dane.” He can either read my mind or he really does know me. I feel myself relaxing even more. “In you go,” he says again, but this time he doesn't wait for me to do it. He lifts me off my feet and puts me in the SUV like a doll that weighs nothing. He even pulls the seatbelt over me and tucks the bottom part low and away from my baby bump.
The simple act has a knot forming in my throat. I thought I was going to be doing this baby thing all alone. Dane slips into the driver’s seat before taking off. So many realizations start to flood me. I don’t even know where to start when it comes to this man. I hate that he’s a stranger to me.
“Did you love me?” I blurt out the question. “Oh God. Don’t answer that.” I put my hand over my mouth. Why the heck is that the first thing I ask? His deep chuckle has me stealing a glance over at him.
“I missed that blush. I know you hate it, but it’s one of the many things I do love about you.” He corrects my use of past tense.
“And I loved you?” He already said that in the bathroom. Along with his crude words about him and me having sex together. Of course we did. I mean, this baby didn’t come by way of immaculate conception.
“We would have been married by now. Four fucking months I’ve looked for you.” He shakes his head as he turns into the front of a hotel and proceeds to the valet. He’s been looking for me. I was so sure I’d been forgotten.
“Stay,” he orders me before he gets out of the car. I don’t know why I’m letting this man boss me around.
“I’m not a dog,” I say tartly when he opens my car door for me, offering me his hand. He gives me a smirk that has my stomach tightening. What the heck is this man doing to me? With only a few words and touches, my body responds to him in ways it never has to anyone else. Well, at least not in the last few months. Before that I have no clue.
“You may not remember shit, but my girl is still in you.” That makes me smile too. “We’ve already had this fight, and I won.”
“Wait. What?” I ask as we step onto the elevator, the door closing. He turns to face me, and his thumb begins tracing over my lips. I push down the urge to kiss his finger.
“You used to get mad when you thought I was bossing you around.”
“There is no thought. You were bossing me around.” That smirk is still on his lips.
“I can get a little possessive and controlling with you. In my need to keep you close. Not wanting anyone else near you. My jealousy is new to me. Only you’ve gotten that from me. I’m like a child with a toy, and I don’t fucking share.”
“Wow” is all I can think to say. He sounds almost obsessive when it comes to me. Here I was thinking no one was looking for me or noticed that I was gone. Now it seems that I’ve found myself going toward the other extreme with this man.
“You knew I only did those things because I love you and worry over you. You did what I asked because you knew it would put me at ease. I might be barking the orders, but you have all the control.” He leans down, brushing his mouth against mine. My eyes fall closed as his tongue pushes past my lips. I wrap my arms around him. This time I don’t hesitate before kissing him back.
“You don’t know what that means to me,” I say when he lifts his mouth from mine. “Since the moment I woke up in that hospital bed, I thought I was all alone. Just me and my little jelly bean.” I reach down to rub my baby bump. “Now you’re here wanting to take care of me.” My eyes sting with tears. It’s all so overwhelming and too good to be true.
“Don’t cry, precious. I’m never letting you out of my sight again.” I can tell from the look in his eyes he means every word he’s saying. That possessive and controlling side he said he has for me is definitely showing already.
Still the thought of who did this to me lingers in the back of my mind. The cops told me it was most likely the father of my baby. That doesn’t match up with everything he’s saying. I need to be careful and to remember that it’s not only my safety that’s at stake here but the safety of my baby. Regardless of how sincere I think this man is, I need to protect my baby at all costs.