“Would you prefer he sleeps outside?” she says, a bite in her tone.
“No,” I assure her. “He’s scared. He needs us.”
“I’m sorry,” she murmurs a moment later. “I didn’t mean to snap. It’s just…”
She trails off. Something tells me she doesn’t want to talk about this anymore. With a sigh, I lie back and close my eyes, knowing sleep isn’t going to come easily tonight.
“We’ll wake early tomorrow,” I tell her, a thought occurring to me. “I’ll drive you back to your place, you can pick up some clothes, and then I’ll bring you back. If you still want the job?”
“Yes,” she says with conviction. “Definitely.”
“You’ll be safe,” I go on. “Keep all the doors and windows locked. The glass is reinforced. If you’re worried about anything, I’m going to leave you some numbers to call. They’ll send a cop car to check out any disturbance as a priority.”
She reaches across Bones, her fingers gripping onto my hand. She holds on tightly, as though she doesn’t want to let go, as though she’s clinging on for support. I return her touch, laying my other hand against the back of hers.
“Thank you, Pearce. That means a lot. Do you think it’s really that dangerous?”
“Honestly? No. But I want you to be safe. You have to promise me you won’t open the door or the gate for anybody. I was an idiot last night. I disabled the fence alarm so it wouldn’t go off in the storm. It won’t be disabled tomorrow. Nobody will be able to trespass on the property without the alarm sounding. But… just in case.”
She gives me another squeeze. “Thank you for thinking of everything.”
I don’t reply. Any words I could summon now would give away the true source of my concern. As I clutch onto her hand, my mind sprints to the future when I’ll be able to reach over and smooth my hand over the swollen surface of her belly.
“Is it weird how normal this feels?” she whispers a few minutes later, her voice growing sleepy as the rain finally begins to slow down.
“Weird, unusual… special. That’s the word I like, Piper. It feels special.”
“I agree.”
She cuddles closer, laying her arm across Bones and placing her palm on my chest. My cock gives a twinge at her hand being on my body, my seed roaring as if demanding to know why I’m not pumping a baby into her right this second.
Bones sighs in his sleep, reminding me of the reason, and I do my best to push away the hunger.
Bones sits in the back seat as I wait outside Piper’s house. I asked her if she wanted me to come in with her.
I’m keen to officially meet her mother, to hopefully convince her I only have the best intentions for her daughter.
But when I mentioned that to Piper – not in those terms – she quickly shook her head. “I think it’s best if I just go in alone.”
The message was clear. Her mother hates me.
That wouldn’t necessarily be a problem if my only aim was to employ her daughter. But knowing where I want – need – this to eventually lead, it’s going to be an issue. I can’t propose to the woman of my dreams if her mom despises me.
A man should respect his woman’s family, should try to win them over wherever possible.
But without explaining that my intention is to be with Piper forever, to have children with her, to protect her and help her grow, how am I supposed to convince her mother?
I haven’t even told Piper yet.
Bones and I yawn at the same time, our eyes meeting in the rearview. He grins at me, as though reading my mind.
“Can you feel my obsession, boy?”
I’m not sure how much sleep I got last night, but it doesn’t feel like more than a couple of hours. My head pulses and my eyes ache.
But it’s nothing compared to how badly my manhood pulsed and urged me last night, especially when Piper started to make moaning noises in her sleep, as though trapped in a steamy dream.
Finally, Piper emerges, a bag over her shoulder. My lips can’t help but tug up at the sight of her. People say I look serious all the time – probably as a byproduct of my career choice – but there’s no way I could lay eyes on her without something positive flaring within me.
She’s changed into jeans and a hoodie, and a pair of sneakers, but it’s the way she moves, the shape of her body, her pure soul that triggers my desire.
Stepping from the car, I offer my hand for her bag.
She gives it to me with a smile.
But it’s one of her shy smiles, where she swiftly looks away, as though finding it difficult to meet my gaze in the bright daylight.