Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 90772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
“Crap. That’s the Chinese I ordered,” Layla says hoarsely.
“I’ll take care of it,” I tell her and put her down. I walk to the door, open it up and see the young guy holding the food. I grab some bills out of my pocket and shove them in his hand, mumbling a “thanks” as I grab the food and slam the door in his face. I flip the lock, set the alarm, and then throw the food in the fridge. I stalk over to my girl as she watches me warily and pick her back up.
“I can walk you know,” she sniffles.
I ignore her protest and carry her across the room and down the small hallway to her bedroom. I can’t handle her tears and seeing her upset breaks my heart.
I take her into her room and set her down gently on the edge of the bed. I straighten and gaze at her small body. I feel my protective instincts overwhelm me.
“Cherry, baby, look at me,” I demand. I know she needs me take control. It’s how we work, and now is no different. She looks up at me with big watery eyes and it’s all I can do not to break down with her. These past months apart from her have torn me to pieces inside. Seeing her push me away is enough to end me. I reach down pull my shirt off. I need to get this fucking stink off of me, and get my girl’s scent where it should be – on me.
She looks at my bare chest and then back at my eyes. “Cherry, I will explain everything to you. I swear. But right now, you need to explain what you meant by ‘us’.”
She breaks eye contact and looks out the window. “Don’t pretend like you don’t know, Carter. I’m sure Saint went and tattled to you the day he found out. It’s fine. Whatever. The baby and I didn’t need you three months ago and we sure as hell don’t need you now.”
Her words send me over the edge and I fall to my knees in front of her. “Baby?” I whisper.
She looks at me, confusion written all over her face.
“You didn’t know?” she asks, tentatively. Hope creeps across her beautiful face. She reaches her hand out to touch me but then stops herself and lets it drop to her side. Seeing her stop herself from touching me hurts more than if she had smacked me.
For the first time in my life I feel tears well in my eyes. “A baby,” I whisper again and let my head fall in her lap. She’s wearing only a bathrobe and it comes undone with the movement. If this is going to be the first time in my life I cry, I don’t want her to watch me do it. I didn't even cry when I lost my parents. I wrap my arms around her waist and bury my face against her belly. “My baby,” I gasp, and feel warm tears on my cheek.
Layla starts rubbing my head and shoulders and I feel her starting to cry too. “You really didn’t know? God, Carter, I thought you didn’t want me. Where have you been? Why did you leave me? I’ve been miserable without you.”
“Cherry. Just give me a second to feel this. I’ll tell you everything. I just want to have this moment. Please.” I hear my voice crack.
I’m on my knees, holding her naked body to my bare chest for what feels like forever. I hear her laugh a little and sniff, and I know she’s enjoying this moment too. I move my head so my lips are against her belly and start to speak. “Hey, little guy, I’m your dad. I love you and your mom so much.” I kiss her soft belly once and lean back to look at her. She has a huge smile on her face and I finally feel like my world is complete. Who would have thought my path of vengeance would have led me to what was taken from me?
“‘Little guy?’ It’s a bit soon to know what we’re having, Carter.”
“A man can dream, can’t he? You’re here, so my first dream came true.”
Cherry rolls her eyes at my lame joke, but I know she’s eating it up. I reach up and rub her leftover tears away and kiss each cheek. I move my arms down and push her robe off her shoulders.
“Carter, wait. I want to talk first,” she says, and makes a move to cover herself up.
“Cherry, my love, it’s been three months since I tasted your honey. I’ll talk, but it’s gonna be muffled.”
Layla laughs and lets me finish taking off her robe. Once she’s completely naked, I stand up and get out of my jeans and boots as quickly as possible. I look at her beautiful naked body before me, and I notice something on her ribs.
“What’s on your side, Layla?”
I see the red spread across her cheeks and I feel like she’s hiding something. I get closer and move her arm out of the way, so I can see what’s on her perfect body. That’s when I see it. My name tattooed on her ribs in black ink.
“Oh, Cherry. Why would you mark your beautiful body with my name? I’m not worthy of this.”
“I got it the day I woke up and you were gone. I knew that no matter what you’d always be a part of me. I wanted to have a physical representation of what I carry in my heart.”
I lean down and kiss the tattoo of my name. I trace it lightly with my fingers and kiss it again. I know I don’t deserve this from her but seeing my name on her, knowing she put it there makes me feel ten-feet tall.
“Thank you, baby, I love it. And I love you.”
I move behind her and lie back in the middle of the bed. “Come sit on my face, Cherry, I need all of your sweet pussy on me.”