Pierced Hearts (Southern Charmers 1)

“This is our life. Planned or unplanned, we’re going to be kick-ass parents.”

“Are you gloating?”

“Hell yes, I knocked up Darby Graham. Now, no one will ever be able to steal you away from me.”

Her lips twitched until she had no choice but to smile with a giggle. “You’re a crass caveman, but I guess there are worse baby daddies I could have chosen.”

“Damn straight. You think we can get off this cold tile floor so I can carry you to bed and show you how a caveman celebrates?”

“Well, seeing as the damage is done, no need to stop now.”

Just like that, my Darby was back. The weight of the situation wasn’t lost, but in true Darby fashion, she was ready to deal. I shifted out from under her, and when I was steady on my feet, I slid one hand under her knees, the other behind her back, and lifted her.

“How much time do we have until Miller gets home?” She skimmed her lips along the underside of my jaw.

“Don’t fucking care.”

“You know, I have heard that pregnant women want sex all the time. You better start working on your stamina.”

My eyes fly open, and I realize my hand is wrapped around my dick, stroking lightly. Dreams of Darby stopped years ago, but this morning, the memory of what happened next has my cock aching. The scene plays out vividly.

Her body naked, her thighs trembled against my cheeks as I ate her like a starving man. She writhed against my mouth, begging for more, and the sweet taste of her coming apart on my tongue was made even sweeter by the fact she was pregnant.

Crawling up her body, I knelt above her, sinking my cock into her soaking wet heat. Her muscles clamped down hard, tightening around me until I felt my balls ready to constrict.

Her eyes were locked with mine, bright with satisfaction and challenge. She was testing me, knowing from experience that I could barely hold out when she locked her ankles around my waist and squeezed my dick with her pussy, angling so I was deep inside her.

My strokes turn furious as I remember everything about that morning. Her moans, gasps, and screams so loud they shook the windows. Forgetting about the baby, I’d pummeled into her so hard I knew she would have bruises. It was wild, frantic, and crazy, with Darby demanding I give her everything I had.

A deep growl rumbles from my throat as I come, knifing up and feeling the streams hit my stomach.

“What the fuck, Pierce?” I bark into the dark room, unsure what the hell is happening.

Am I losing my damn mind? Jerking off in the dark to the memory of my pregnant girlfriend from over a decade ago? The same girlfriend that I’ve spent all this time trying to forget.

When my breathing returns to normal, I haul myself out of bed and go straight to the shower. There’s no way I’m going back to sleep. I go through the motions of my morning routine on autopilot, my mind replaying the conversation with Evin over and over.

I’m on my second cup of coffee, staring aimlessly at my fridge when the card catches my eye. It’s a handmade gift from Cole for Father’s Day three years ago. There’s a similar one from Maya when she was his age. I scan over all the keepsakes the kids made through the years that are plastered over the surface.

Going to Evin was a mistake. Instead of getting answers, I’m even more confused. He kept referring to his family taking care of Darby, never mentioning a husband or kids. I always assumed she moved on at some point. It hurt like hell to think of her with someone else, but I had no right to judge, considering the situation I got myself in with Connie.

No one outside our families knew Darby was pregnant. We hadn’t shared the news with our circle of friends. When she lost the baby, she decided not to tell anyone, saying it made it easier to move past the loss. That made our split even messier. Friends were forced to choose sides, and most of them chose mine, thinking she had turned into a fucking bitch. As much as I wanted to explain that she was going through a tough time, I kept my mouth shut.

She took off, and people tried to convince me it was for the best. Since I didn’t know why she left and had no explanation, it was easier to let them believe whatever they wanted. Nothing changed the fact that I was a wreck.

“Any favors I may have owed you disappeared the minute you knocked my sister up and then blamed her when she lost the baby.”

Twelve years have passed, yet it’s like time is standing still.

“Fuck me.” I drop my coffee mug in the sink and grab my keys. There’s only one person in the world who can answer my questions, and I should have started with her in the first place.