Sinful Ever After (Sinful Serenade Book 5) - Crystal Kaswell Page 0,37

and myself?" She blinks back another tear. "It's not that I don't want it, Drew. I do. I want to have a family with you. I want to have a little girl, and I want to buy her every damn princess dress in the Disney store. Or every superhero costume. Whatever she wants. I want to take her to the park, and to read my favorite books to her until she figures out what she likes, to tell her about boys, or girls, if she decides she prefers girls. I want to teach her to drive, to help her get ready for Prom, to see her graduate... I want all of that. But I can't do it by myself. And I can't ask you to quit."

"I know. We'll figure it out. Don't worry."

She laugh-cries.

Okay. That's a stupid suggestion. "You want me to run out and buy a test? So you know?"

"It's the middle of the night."

Fair point.

"In the morning," she says. "Or... I don't know. I'd rather wait until after the wedding to deal with this."

"You'll feel better knowing."

"Maybe."

I take a deep breath. "It's your body. I wouldn't tell you what to do with it."

"I don't want to have an abortion," she says. "If that's what you're getting at. But I do appreciate that you... that you wouldn't try to decide for me. This is bad timing, but—"

"Fuck timing. We'll make it work."

"How?"

"I'll do whatever it takes."

She's shaking, so I pull her closer. She digs her hands into my skin like I'm her only lifeline.

Fuck, no wonder she's frustrated. This is heavy. It's good, but it's fucking heavy.

"You're not doing anything to me," I whisper. "This is good news."

"Really?"

"This is great, sweetheart. I want to have a family too."

She looks up at me. "It's probably a false alarm."

I rub her shoulders until the tension in them eases. She sighs, relaxing into my body.

"It's probably nothing," she whispers.

But I can tell she doesn't believe that.

Chapter Seventeen

Kara

The ring of the alarm clock is cruel. Is it really time to wake up? My body has other ideas.

My mind is not at all inspired by the thought of anything that is not the bed. Especially with Drew's body in such close proximity.

The clock tells me it's ten. We're supposed to meet Meg and Miles in an hour. She needs help with her dress.

I'm not going to usurp her wedding, even if this is eating at me. It can wait a few days.

Drew grabs the offending cellphone and turns off the alarm. He rolls over so he's looking at me. His eyes meet mine. He's half-asleep.

He's cute tired.

"You can stay in bed, baby." I run my fingers through his hair. "I don't think she needs your help with a dress."

He shakes his head. "I'll go with you." He slides his arm around my waist and pulls me back into bed.

Then he pulls my body against his, my back against his chest.

He presses his lips to my neck. "My hands missed you."

Hell yes.

My back arches reflexively. I rub my ass against his crotch until I can feel him hardening.

"You carry the world around on your shoulders," he whispers. "Not gonna let you do that."

"Okay." This does feel like the world.

It's a good thing. A great thing. But it's terrifying.

"It's sweet you want to be there for your friend." He pushes my pajama bottoms to my knees. His voice gets low as he drags his fingers up my thighs. "You can take care of her if you let me take care of you."

"Drew," I breathe. "We're meeting them in an hour."

"I know. Close your eyes." He traces my scars with his thumb. "My hands have been fucking aching for you."

I press my ass against his crotch.

With his other hand, he pulls off my tank top.

I'm naked in his arms—I always sleep sans bra and panties.

His body is hard and warm. I need this release. I need this break. Everything is getting complicated, overwhelming.

I don't do overwhelming. I only do crumbling under the weight of everything overwhelming.

He rubs the spot where my neck meets my shoulders, one hand on each side of my neck.

Damn, the man really does have magic fingers. I sigh with pleasure. Bit by bit, every ounce of tension in my body releases.

"Drew," I groan. "Touch me."

His lips brush my ear. Then he's sucking on my earlobe. It sends a spark of desire straight to my core.

He drags his fingers up my other thigh, once again taking his time to trace each scar. The way