Six Weeks of Seduction by Ellis O. Day
WEEK THREE: THE APOLOGY
CHAPTER 59: SARAH
The bed moved and warm, strong arms wrapped around Sarah, pulling her close.
“Hmm.” She wiggled against Nick. She no longer dreamt of Adam, only Nick. “Is Kyle asleep?”
He kissed her neck. “Yep.”
“What time is it?”
“One.” His hand slipped under her shirt and rested on her belly.
“One? Kyle has to go to baseball practice tomorrow morning.”
“I know. We kind of got carried away.” He’d bought the latest video game system and games and the two of them had been playing since Maisie had dropped Kyle off after school. “He promised he’d get up with no problem.”
“He’s a kid. They always say that.” Kyle was going to be a crab tomorrow. “You’re going to have to make him take a nap. Not me.” Kyle felt he was too old to nap.
“A nap.” Nick sounded offended and then he kissed her neck again. “Actually, a nap could be nice.” His hand caressed her stomach. “It’d give us a little private time before Patrick and Annie come over.”
She couldn’t help the slight tension at the mention of his friends. She wasn’t sure she was ready to meet them. They might hate her or what if they noticed she was different?
“You’ll love them.” He pulled her closer. “Don’t worry.”
“I’m not good with new people.”
“It’ll be fine.” He kissed the back of her head. “I promise.”
She entwined her fingers with his against her stomach. “Okay.” She was trying to believe him, to trust him.
He kissed her head again. “I’m sorry about what I said.”
“What are you talking about?” She rolled onto her back.
“When we first met.” He leaned on his elbow, staring down at her. “I’m not going to lie to you. I meant what I said at that time or I think I did. I mean, if you’d gotten pregnant and had wanted to abort, I don’t think I would’ve thought twice besides paying. But if you’d kept it…I think…I hope, I would’ve been a part of that child’s life.” He brushed some hair from her face. “I was an ass. I know that now.” He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. “Because of you. Ethan told me that I’d grown up a lot since I met you. I didn’t agree until I realized what a dick I’d been.”
She stared at his handsome face, so earnest. She didn’t know what to do with this information. He wasn’t denying that he’d said and meant those horrible things but people changed. Adam had changed. He’d stopped loving her. Now, Nick had changed but he still wanted her.
“I…hope you can forgive me. Trust me. One day.” He kissed her hand again and stretched out on his back.
She was glad he wasn’t staring at her, expecting her to forgive him—to forget—right now, because she couldn’t. Tank nudged her, probably sensing the tension. She stroked the dog’s fur. She needed to say something. He deserved that much. “I’ll try. That’s all I can promise.”
He rolled over again so they were face to face. “Thank you.”
“It…it isn’t easy for me to trust, especially that.”
“I know.” He took her hand again. “I promise. I won’t ask about the condoms again. You decide when you’re ready.”
“If I’m never ready?” She wasn’t sure she’d ever be willing to risk that unless she was married and ready for kids.
His eyes dimmed a bit. “I’ll live with it, but…”
“But what?” Here it came. He’d try and persuade her. Try to convince her to see things his way.
“One day…you’ll have to do it without condoms if you want kids.” He swallowed, his eyes searching hers.
“I know.” She wasn’t ready to think about him and her that far down the line. Liar. It was the entire point of them living together. They were in a relationship and relationships moved forward to marriage and kids, at least for her they should.
His eyes dimmed a little more when she remained silent. “Okay.” He rolled onto his back, but his arm went around her, pulling her to his side.
She rested her head under his arm and her hand on his chest, feeling the beat of his heart. Did it belong to her? If it did, for how long?
