Another

By the time we made it to the end of the driveway, we were both laughing.

“Wow, you really went for it,” Carina said.

“Had to make it convincing. And what about you? I almost felt real concern from you for my poor eye.”

“Yeah, right.”

“Come on. Admit it; I even had you going. The poor father of your child would have to wear an eye-patch. Our baby would have to grow up believing I was a pirate.”

“The horrors. We’d probably have to lie and hide you away. We lost him at sea,” she said with an exaggerated frown.

“Don’t let her convince you, Peanut,” I said in the direction of Carina’s belly like if I leaned over a couple inches, the baby would be able to understand me. “Daddy would be the coolest pirate you’ve ever known. I’d make eye-patches a new fad.”

When I parked in front of her building, her head was thrown back, her smooth neck exposed. Her hands resting atop our child as she laughed. She was beautiful.

“Thank you for coming tonight.”

“Any time, Bergamo.”

She got out and was surprised to find me on the sidewalk waiting for her. “You don’t have to walk me in.”

“Of course, I do. I’m worried for your health in those heels.”

“I should stop wearing them, but they make me feel powerful.”

“Trust me, Carina,” I said, holding the door open for her. “You are more than powerful, heels, or not.”

I rested my hand against her back, walking her to the elevator. She didn’t press the button, instead, turning to me with pinched brows. “So, you and your parents don’t get along so well?”

I looked away, a little embarrassed she picked up on the tension. Did she agree with them? Did she think I was unreliable and wasting my time too? “Yeah, I’m a poor little rich boy,” I said, brushing it off as a joke. “They just weren’t there often, and I missed out on having a family for the family holidays. Mostly it was my nanny and me, or I was with Erik’s family.”

She reached out to hold my hand, bringing my eyes to hers. “I can see why being here for the baby means so much to you.”

Her wide, blue eyes pulled me in like a magnet. Her understanding had me stepping close, brushing her dark hair behind her ear. “Just trying to keep up with Wonder Woman,” I breathed the words, hoping she could feel them on her mouth since we stood so close.

“Ian,” she whispered.

I licked my lips and knew it was all over when she stared down at my mouth and did the same. Closing the small gap between us, I kissed her. We both moaned, and I wondered if she remembered how good it was the last time we kissed. There was no hesitation—we went at each other like it was what we’d been waiting for since we first saw each other again.

Her lips welcomed mine like pillows, so soft and eager. Her hands moved under my arms to my back. I dug one hand into her hair, desperate to hold her to me. Her stomach bumped into me, and I gently held her close as my mouth ravaged hers.

Her nails scoured my back like she wanted to claw through my clothes, and I pressed my tongue between her lips, groaning when hers met mine halfway like she was as eager to remember my taste as I was hers.

Time meant nothing as we stood in the foyer of the apartment building, losing control one second at a time. I needed to get her upstairs. I needed to feel more of her. I just needed her.

The elevator dinged, and Carina pulled back, her hand covering her mouth like she couldn’t believe what we’d just done, and she needed to feel her swollen lips to prove it.

She stepped back as the doors slid open and looked up at me with wide eyes. A guy I wanted to curse at for breaking the moment stepped out, his eyes glued to his phone as he left.

“That was a mistake,” Carina breathed, shaking her head. “I’m sorry. It’s—it’s the hormones.”

“Well, your hormones can take advantage of me any time.”

My joke broke the tension, and she laughed. But the color was still high in her cheeks, and her lips were still swollen from mine. Even if she wanted to pretend it didn’t happen, the evidence was all there.

“Goodnight, Ian.”

I wanted to push her to talk about it, but even under the desire, I could see her exhaustion. Working all day and then dinner with my parents was a task for anyone, let alone a pregnant woman. So, I let it pass. For now.

“Goodnight, Carina.” Before she could step away, I leaned down and placed both hands on her belly, pressing my mouth close. “Goodnight, baby.”

Then I released her and stepped away, loving her wide eyes and heavy swallow. She stepped into the elevator and continued to stare as I backed away.