Ripped - Cassia Leo Page 0,35

me touch your butt to get your attention,” she says, reaching toward me.

I shake my head. “I fucked up,” I reply. “It’s as simple as that. But that’s not what I’m worried about. Whatever kind of disciplinary action the committee hands down to me, I can deal with. What I can’t deal with…”

I pause as I consider telling her how Lindsay wants me to retire after this year. I should tell her, since her job depends on me not retiring. But I can’t. If I say it aloud, that will make it real. And I’ve already made my mind up. I’m not quitting.

Lena’s eyes search mine for the words I’m holding back. “You can’t deal with what?”

I shake my head again. “Nothing. It’s nothing. I’ll hit you up later. Get some rest.” Before I can stop myself, I plant a kiss on her forehead. “Shit. Sorry. I don’t know… Forget it. I gotta go. Good night.”

She laughs as she opens her front door. I jog back to the cab, eager to get away from that awkwardness. But the instant I’m in the backseat, I’m dreading the awkwardness that’s sure to come when I tell Lindsay I’m not retiring.

Fuck. In less than two days, my life has become a giant clusterfuck of bad decisions.

The moment I step inside the dark house, I smell something I’ve never smelled before in this house: baby powder. The soft, powdery scent pulls at my insides and I realize I can’t lay this news on Lindsay tonight. Not after she’s spent the past ten days taking care of two children while she’s almost eight months pregnant with twins. God, what the fuck is wrong with me? It’s like I’ve completely lost my ability to make sound decisions. I’m so fucking confused.

I turn on the light in the kitchen and head for the cupboard to grab a tumbler. Lindsay walks in as I’m pouring myself a glass of water from the pitcher. She squints at the lights as she makes her way toward me. Her golden-blonde hair is sticking out on one side, and just the sight of her makes me feel better than I did before I walked into this house.

I set my glass down on the counter as I reach for her, placing one hand on each side of her belly. “Hey, baby. Sorry if I woke you.”

“You didn’t wake me. I was just lying down waiting for you. Are you okay?”

I stare into her blue eyes. “You’re carrying a litter of humans inside your stomach and you’re asking if I’m okay?”

She flashes me a lopsided grin. “I’m serious. You don’t look good.”

“Thanks,” I reply with a laugh as I step around her so I can brush her hair aside and lay a soft kiss on the back of her neck. “You, on the other hand, look good enough to eat.”

She lets out a puff of laughter. “I don’t think so. I’m ready to pop. I don’t think I’m going to make it the full thirty-seven weeks.”

Thirty-seven weeks is considered full-term in most twin pregnancies. I was a little unnerved when Dr. Billings revealed this fact to us, but I figure he’s done this a few times. He must know what he’s doing.

I slide my hands forward, one of them cupping her breast while the other rubs her belly. “Billings said the babies should be perfectly healthy if they’re born up to six weeks early. You’re in the clear.”

She sucks in a sharp breath as my hand slides down the front of her panties. “There’s something I have to show you upstairs,” she murmurs.

“Can it wait?” I whisper in her ear as I find her hot button.

She reaches forward, grabbing the edge of the kitchen counter for support. “The nursery is finished,” she pants.

I swirl my finger around her clit as my other hand pulls her panties down and unzips my jeans. “Did you get the ultrasound while I was gone?” I ask as my pants fall down around my ankles.

She gasps as I rub the tip of my cock along her swollen folds, using it to massage her clit. “I did, but I told them I didn’t want to know the sex.”

Once she’s good and wet, I drag my cock up her slit and glide into her. “Oh, fuck,” I grunt as I slowly bury myself deep inside her. “You’re so fucking tight right now.”

She whimpers as I slide my hand back between her legs. “I can’t,” she begs, moving my hand away. “I