She nodded. “Fine.”
“Boy or girl?”
She’d kept the gender of their baby to herself, wanting him to be the first person she told yet so afraid she’d never get the chance. Now she was bursting to deliver the news, but… “Not with an audience. I’d rather tell you and you alone.”
He glanced around at the wedding guests still gathered, pretending to be interested in the reception, but too close to be paying attention to anything but them.
“I’d like that.”
“All right. I have to have a glucose screening next week. You can come with me to that.”
He tensed. “There a problem?”
“I don’t know. The test is standard. I get woozy when I forget to eat, so…” She shrugged. “But I’m otherwise okay.”
“Forget to eat?” He raised a brow. “You won’t be doing that anymore. Do you feel okay now? Do you need food?”
He’d been in a foreign country for the better part of two months, dodging thugs and criminals as he plotted to single-handedly take down the overlord of a drug cell, and he wanted to know if she’d eaten? “Josiah brought me a snack after the ceremony, and I nibbled a little more during dinner. I just…haven’t been able to eat today for worrying about you.”
He cupped her face. “I love that you think of me, but don’t ever worry about me. My job from here on out is to take care of you.”
Brea didn’t think she would ever stop worrying about him, but the white lie would make him feel better. “Okay.”
Then he stood and hooked a finger under her chin. She blinked up as she followed his penetrating gaze. He stared down at her with something dark and dirty in his eyes. She shivered.
“It’s been a fucking month since I’ve touched you, and I’m dying to show you how much I appreciate you in that sexy-as-hell dress—”
“Sexy?” It covered her from her shoulders to her shins.
“Oh, yeah.” His thumb brushed her lower lip. “I’m looking straight down and I can see your lush tits. And it shows how much your baby bump has grown. But I need to see it naked. Touch it. Just like I need your pussy, too. And I need to fuck you so I can remind you that you’re mine forever. I need you now. Where can we go?”
Brea’s heart started thudding. Everything inside her tightened and tingled with desire. But she had one concern. “Everyone is already gossiping about us. If I leave with you, they’ll know exactly what we’ll be doing, and I’d rather not give them more fodder.”
Pierce shook his head, but he wore a fond smile. “Always the good preacher’s daughter.”
Warmth climbed up her cheeks. “Not always. You know that.”
“Yeah, you’re a bad, bad girl when I fuck you.” He was breathing heavily now, and his entire body had gone hard. “I’ll give you a thirty-second head start to find us some privacy around here. If you don’t, I’ll haul you onto the next available surface, shove your skirt up, and prove how much I’ve missed you. And I will give zero fucks about who watches.”
The warmth in her cheeks turned scalding, and she tsked at him. “You wouldn’t.”
He raised a challenging brow that dared her to try him. “I’m going to start counting now.”
Oh, goodness. He really would.
Brea jumped up and dashed through the crowd, past a frowning Josiah, then out of the tent.
Running across the dusty yard and up the driveway, she tore into the empty house and slammed the door behind her, panting all the while. She wasn’t sure where to go next. She’d only stepped inside long enough to get dressed and have her hair fixed. But she was excited. She was eager. And she was so wet. Pierce had always thrilled her. No use denying it.
Through the big window in the living room, she watched him march from the tent, his face full of resolution, and hop into his Jeep before he fired it up and skidded out in the dirt. Then he hit the paved road with a squeal.
Her heart dropped. He was leaving? Why? Where was he going?
Brea stood rooted in place. Had she misunderstood? Had someone tossed him off the property after she’d left? After everything he’d done so they could be together, she knew he wouldn’t simply walk away.
But one minute turned into two, then into five. After that, she had to face the truth. For some reason, he’d gone.
She bowed her head and tried not to succumb to confusion and more tears. Both were useless.
“How attached are you to that dress?” His voice suddenly rumbled in her ear and his hot breath spilled down her neck.
She gasped and whirled to face him. “How did you get in without me hearing you?”
“You really don’t know what I’m capable of. But you will.” He eyed her up and down. “Make a case to save the dress now or it’s toast.”