Tainted Heartbreak (Tainted Knights 3)

“Fuck,” he groaned, but emotion was thick in his voice. “She’s so tiny.”

“She’s right on schedule from what the doctor told me, but yeah, she’s going to be a tiny little thing. I was on the small side when I was born. My baby book says I barely weighed five pounds.” I leaned my head against his arm, tracing my index finger over the baby’s brow.

“What if I break her?” he muttered half under his breath, and my heart clenched.

“You won’t.” I stood on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “I promise.”

He wrapped his arm around my waist, anchoring me to him. Slowly, I dropped back until I was flat on my feet once again. The energy in the room was quickly changing, my body heating at the hungry look in his dark eyes.

“Dreamer,” he growled, and I quickly took several steps back, holding my hands up, stopping him before he could cross the space between us.

“We can’t, Cash. Sex is how we got in this mess in the first place.” My body was already aching, my clit throbbing with need for him. But I had to be strong. “I want to take things slower this time.”

“Baby, you’re already knocked up,” he reminded me with a smirk. “Pretty sure I can’t do that again for a few more months.”

Grinning, I took a few more steps back. “True, but I still think we should go slow. We haven’t seen each other in two months. Let’s get to know each other again.”

He stopped, a frown darkening his brow. “Dating without sex, is that what you want?”

“Yes,” I said with a nod. “Dating, with no sex…yet.”

“I can live with the ‘yet.’” He grasped my wrist gently and pulled me flush against his chest. “Doesn’t mean I can’t kiss you, though. Right?”

“R-right,” I breathed.

Slowly, his head descended until his lips grazed softly over mine. It was barely a touch, but it shot tiny zings straight to my core. I inhaled sharply as he lifted his head and winked down at me. “Go home and get changed, Dreamer. I’ll be over in an hour to take you to dinner.”

Chapter 22

Cash

An hour after kissing Amara goodbye at my door, I arrived at her apartment with a bouquet of red roses. I straightened my tie, the first time I’d worn one in years, and ran my hand over my hair before knocking on her door. I was more nervous now than I had been the first time I ever went out with a chick. There was so much at stake here. I couldn’t screw up again. I couldn’t lose her again.

Moments later, the door opened just enough for Riley to lean out around it. “Sup, douchebag?”

“Let me in,” I told her with a roll of my eyes.

“In a minute.” She tilted her head to the side as she eyed me from head to toe. “You clean up good, rocker boy. Never seen you in a suit before.”

“Amara wants to go on a real date, so that’s what she gets.”

“Wow, I’m impressed. Flowers and a fancy-dress dinner.” She stepped back, allowing me entrance into the apartment. “Come in, I guess. She’s still getting ready.”

“How’s the new roommate?” I asked as she led me into the living room. Sitting on the couch, I glanced around at the few pictures of Riley and Amara from their years of friendship spread around the room. There was no sign of the new roommate, or of the old one.

“She comes and goes at all hours. I’m not sure where Emmie found the chick, but she pays her bills on time and she doesn’t mess with me, so I’m cool with her living here.” She folded her legs under her as she took a seat on the opposite end of the couch. “Heard you’re going to have a daughter. You freaked out yet?”

I grimaced but told her the truth. “I’m panicking hard, but I’ll get used to it.”

“I’m sure you’ll be fine,” she assured me. “Love her like you love Amara, and you shouldn’t screw it up too badly.”

Her assertion actually made me feel better. Love her like I loved Amara. That would be easy.

“Want something to drink?” Riley asked as she stood. “Hard to tell when Pr

eggo will be ready.”

“I’m good.” As she went into the kitchen, I got up and went to Amara’s room. The door was slightly ajar. I knocked before pushing it open.