Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 162003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 810(@200wpm)___ 648(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 810(@200wpm)___ 648(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
The proof was in our current romp. I arched into his hand, eager and desperate for my release. I needed it so badly. Only Ryland could give it to me. It was never like this by myself, and I was damn certain it would have never been like this with anyone else.
“I know.” Ryland paused to kiss his way down my belly, and I wasn’t sure what he was talking about. Did I say that out loud?
“You know what?”
“It was never like this with anyone else,” he replied, cupping my belly with his hands.
The thought of him with someone else felt like a knife in my heart. I wasn’t naïve. I knew he had others before he met me. He was thirty years old. Of course, there were others. Probably a lot. But it’s something we never talked about. Now the orgasm that had been so close seemed like a distant afterthought.
Ryland had my legs spread wide, his eyes feasting on the most vulnerable part of me. He looked like he was about to dive in, but I couldn’t let him.
“How many others were there?” I asked, propping myself up on my elbows.
He stared up at me in disbelief. “You want to talk about this now?”
“Yes.” I clamped my jaw shut.
He shook his head. “Brighton, that’s not a good idea.”
“Well, that’s too bad.” My lip wobbled, and I was fully aware I’d boarded the crazy train as I got jealous over his past. This was definitely the hormones talking, but the fact he didn’t want to tell me made me think it was really bad. Like hundreds of other women had probably had him before me. I couldn’t stand the thought.
“Were you with anyone else while we were apart?” I accused.
“Baby, are you crazy?” he gave me his signature arrogant smile. The same smile that had probably melted panties off of countless virgins before me.
“Yes, I’m crazy!” I snapped. “I’m carrying your child, and it’s making me crazy. That’s part of the package, Ryland, so deal with it. Now give me an answer.”
The tears welled up in my eyes, and all humor faded from his face as he crawled up between my legs and captured my face in his hands.
“Brighton, it was all over for me the minute I saw you on that porch six years ago. Since you came into my life ten months ago, I have not been with another. Nor do I want to.”
“That still doesn’t answer my question,” I protested.
“You really want a number?”
“You know mine,” I told him. “How is it fair that you get to know mine, but I don’t know yours?”
Another grin broke out over his face, and I glared.
“This isn’t funny.”
“I know, I’m sorry.” He smothered down his amusement. “But in all fairness, you’ve only been with me. So it’s pretty much a given that I would know your number.”
As soon as he said the words, his eyes clouded over, and he looked like he was considering something else. “Unless there’s something else you need to tell me.”
“Don’t get all broody and possessive of me now.” I shoved against his chest. “Especially when you don’t give me the same courtesy.”
“I’m not fucking around, Brighton,” he snarled. “Have you been with anyone else?”
I smiled up at him in return. “Tit for tat, Ryland.”
He looked like he wanted to belt the shit out of me. I was sure if I wasn’t pregnant, he probably would have.
“You know what I’m thinking.” He leaned closer and fenced me in with his arms. “Your ass would be so sore tomorrow if you weren’t carrying my baby right now.”
I smoothed my palms up and down his biceps and watched the frustration dissipate from his eyes. It surprised me how quickly it had gone.
“You can spank me,” I offered. “If it makes you feel better. I don’t care, so long as I get a number.”
“I’m not spanking you because you like it too much.”
I frowned at his words. “You’ve hardly even marked me since you’ve been back inside of me. Don’t you want the world to know I belong to you anymore?”
“What’s gotten into you?” he rocked back onto his heels and sighed.
“I told you,” I whined. “I’m cranky.”
He moved up beside me, patting the space next to him. “Come here, cranky girl.”
I went, of course. The way I always did. He kissed my forehead and stroked my hair, my face pressed against his heart.
“Before I tell you this, I need you to promise me you aren’t going to get upset, Brighton. I don’t need to lose any more time with you over something that’s in the past.”
“I won’t.” It was a complete bullshit lie. Of course, I was going to get upset.
“There were five others before you,” he admitted.
His grip on me tightened, and I released a breath. “That’s it?”