He grinned at me, and it stole my breath. When Bran wasn't so serious and broody, he was absolutely stunning. "But you're thinking about it?"
I settled my head back down on his chest, deciding I could stick around for a little bit. "I had to lie to Harper again today."
I suppose it was a strange segue, but Harper was one of the issues that made sleeping with Bran wrong. That and the fact that I was in a business relationship with him.
"You mean about Dax?"
"Well, that too. When we’re together and talking about our lives, I’m not necessarily lying but I'm also not telling her the truth. I’m not telling her the bits that are the most important, like my new job is having her brother’s baby. She’s been a good friend and I hate that I’m hiding important parts of my life from her.” I lifted my head and looked at him. "After I came up with the idea that I was dating Dax, my first thought was how it would be a good cover when she starts to notice that I'm pregnant."
He scowled. I reached up and pressed my palm to his face. "Dax is not this baby's father. The point is if she thinks I'm dating, when I begin to show, she won't think it's yours.”
The scowl softened but I still saw pain in his eyes.
"You're the one that wants to keep me a secret. Like this baby is a dirty little secret."
I shook my head. "The baby is innocent. But this thing going on between you and me right now, or even just the fact that I agreed to be your surrogate, Harper isn’t going to understand. When I told her I was dating Dax, she was hurt and a little angry that I hadn’t told her. Imagine how much worse it would be if she found out about our deal or that I had sex with you."
His fingers thread through my hair absently. It was a gesture that sent warm tingles through my body. I wanted to sink into this sweet, gentle part of him, but it was too dangerous.
"Harper is a spoiled brat. I love her to death, but she's not very good at empathizing with others."
I shook my head. "I think she empathizes with me. She understands and sympathizes anyway. She offered to help invest in my company and if she finds out I decided to carry your child instead of letting her invest with me, her head will explode."
"If she doesn't understand the difference between getting a business investment that may or may not work out versus twenty-five million dollars free and clear, then she's not very smart or sympathetic. She should understand, considering the situation you've been in, that my offer is so much better because not only do you get money free and clear, but it's enough to start your business if that's what you want to do."
Right. And all I had to do was give up the child that was growing in my belly.
Bran didn't seem very understanding about that part of our deal. A part of me was angry that both of them felt money was the only means to solving a problem.
Then again, ever since my father disowned me, I’d believed that money was the answer to my problem. Wasn't that why I agreed to this deal? But all of a sudden, what I was doing for money was starting to feel very shallow.
"I just don't like that it feels inevitable that I'm going to lose Harper as a friend. For so long, she was the only friend I had. And I'm lying to her."
Bran wrapped me in his arms and rolled so that I was laying on my back and he was looking down on me.
His fingers gently brushed my cheek. "I get that this is not an ideal situation. I'm not trying to hurt my sister. You have to know my intentions are always good, even if they're overprotective. I don't want to hurt her, just like I don't want to hurt you. And I also get that the situation has gotten even more complicated."
I frowned as I looked up at him. "How do you mean?"
He laughed softly. "I wasn't expecting to be so attracted to you."
My chest filled with warmth had his words.
"All this time I thought the crazy zap I felt around you was irritation."
I smiled. "And it wasn't?"
He shook his head. He dipped down, sucking my bottom lip into his mouth and then releasing it. "Turns out this is sexual chemistry between us. Don't tell me you didn't notice."
To tease him, I shrugged nonchalantly like I wasn't sure what he was talking about.
He dipped down, this time biting my lip gently. "Couple weeks ago, in the pool when you jumped me and just now on the balcony when you told me that your pregnancy was going to make you horny, that was sexual attraction you were feeling."
"With you? With Bran Erickson, my nemesis, the bane of my existence?"
He laughed and it shocked me with how carefree and beautiful it sounded. "I used to call you the bane of my existence as well. And yet here we are."
He adjusted so that his hips settled between my thighs, his dick resting against my entrance.