Kace (Shattered Souls MC 3)

“I can’t stay here and raise a baby with someone like you,” she shouts, tears running down her beautiful face.

The words hurt more than they should. I’ve lost the fight in me as I sink down on the couch. She’s going to leave with my baby and I’ll never see them again. The pain is unbearable as I dr

op my head in my hands. I shouldn’t be surprised she’s leaving, that’s how it always ends. This time though, it hurts more than it ever has before.

Chapter 6

Ivy

I stare at Kace, confused by the sudden change. One second, he’s yelling and throwing shit, the next he looks ready to break down. Obviously, this is all a shock, but I’m trying to do what I think is best for me and the baby. Being here means being around the club and the violence and I don’t want that. Harper told me I need to talk to Kace about it, but I’m finding it difficult to do that right now, considering he just threw a glass at the wall.

“What are your plans for the baby?” he quietly asks, dropping his hands from his face. His deep brown eyes search mine, showing a bit of sadness or vulnerability, I’m not sure. But the stitches and swollen face keep distracting me, reminding me why I need to go back to California. He asked a question though and I need to be an adult.

I clear my throat, trying to find my voice. “I haven’t really thought about it. If you’re asking if I’m keeping it, yes. That’s all I know right now.” My stomach flips and I silently beg it to settle.

“Stay here. I can help you while you’re pregnant and after the baby is born, I want to be in his life. I want to be a father. Give me a chance, Ivy. Let me prove to you that staying here is the better decision. He’ll have two parents here,” he says, playing with his lip where his lip ring normally is.

Tears sting my eyes listening to him. I don’t want to be guilted into staying here. I need to do what is best for me and the baby. I’m not entirely sure staying here is best. I’m also not sure living so far away from Kace is best either. If my mom would’ve kept me away from my dad, I would’ve resented her. Especially knowing he wanted to be in my life. I can’t stop the tears before they roll down my cheeks.

Kace moves to his knees in front of me, grabbing my hands. “Move in here. It’s a huge house, I know it needs a lot of work, but I was planning on doing it anyway. It will be all brand new before he’s born. There are three bedrooms upstairs, so he can have his own room. Let’s do this,” he says, wiping my tears with his large thumb.

“We aren’t a couple, Kace. I can’t just move in here and play house. We have a lot to figure out, I know that, but I’m not gonna play house,” I say.

“Is that what you want?” he asks, searching my eyes. I tilt my head in question and he squeezes my hands. “To be a couple?”

I close my eyes, stopping his penetrating stare. If he would’ve asked me that six months ago, I would be falling into his arms. He’s too late and being a couple because I’m pregnant is ridiculous. But being here with him, having him so close to me, it does things to me. My skin tingles where he touches, my heart races when he speaks, and my panties get wet when he’s close. It’s confusing and considering my hormones are all over the place I don’t trust myself to make any logical decisions right now.

I open my eyes and Kace’s immediately collide with mine. The look on his face is fucking heartbreaking. He knows what my answer will be and I hate to be the reason he looks so defeated. I reach a shaky hand and place it on his cheek, careful not to touch any of his wounds. He tilts his head slightly, leaning into my small hand. “Kace, we can’t be a couple because I’m pregnant, you know that. You told me you weren’t looking for a relationship, this shouldn’t change that.”

He slightly nods his head and removes it from my hand. I miss the connection immediately, but he surprises me when he pulls my legs to be closer to him. He leaves his hands resting on my hips and it’s hard to concentrate on anything else. My mind goes back to the night we had sex and how indescribable it was. Being this close to him, having his hands on me, it makes me burn with a need to feel it all again.

“Let me take you on a date,” he says. His deep voice does things to me that I can’t even explain, but it’s his question that has me speechless.

I bite my lip as I look down at the leather chair. My hair is curtaining my face, making me feel a little more hidden in this moment. My heart is pounding, but I feel nervous as hell. I sigh and look up at him. “You’re just asking me that because you want me to stay. I have obligations in California that I can’t just ignore, Kace.”

“I get that. I’ll go back with you; help you get it all sorted. I’ll take you for a date in California,” he suggests.

“No, you aren’t coming back to California with me.”

“Why?”

The California Ivy and the Vegas Ivy are two completely different people. I don’t want to mix the worlds. It fucked up, I know that, but I can’t help how I feel. The thought of Mia meeting him makes me equally nervous and excited. I mean on one hand who the fuck wouldn’t be jealous, wanting to be with him? He’s gorgeous, insanely built, and covered in stunning artwork. He’s a bad boy and it’s sexy as hell. But on the other hand, I feel like both of us would be judged and as fucked up as it is, I don’t like being judged. There are no guys that look like Kace where I live and I’m not sure if they would like him or fear him. Hell, I don’t know which I feel.

“Kace, I don’t even know if I’m coming back.”

“Why are you making this so hard?” he asks, standing up taking all his warmth with him.

I sigh and wrap my arm around my non-existent belly. It’s becoming a habit. “Because I’m scared,” I whisper, deciding he deserves the truth.

“Scared of me?”

“Scared of what you’re mixed up with, scared of being pregnant, scared of being a mom, scared of falling for you, scared of being destroyed by you. I’m scared of everything,” I cry out.

He pulls me up and before I can question it, he slams his lips to mine. The shock only lasts a second before I melt into him. My head is telling me to stop, but my body is begging for more. He deepens the kiss and I’m reminded just how skilled he is with his tongue. His hands travel up and pull my hair slightly, making me moan in his mouth. Heat pools between my legs and I try squeezing them together to give myself relief. He knows how to play me and that thought is like a bucket of cold water.

I break the kiss, pushing on his shoulders. “Kace, stop,” I say, keeping my focus on the very old, nasty carpet.

“Ivy, you decide what you want and when you know, let me know,” Kace says, walking into the kitchen.