I lifted a shoulder in a half shrug. “No, I was too far gone both times to even think about it. But it didn’t bother me to think about having sex without a condom like it would have in the past. The thought of being linked to you for life with a baby… I’d be okay with that.”
Her eyes widened. “Don’t take this the wrong way, okay?” I nodded, already expecting what she was about to say. “Babies are great. One day, I would love to be a mom. But that isn’t anytime soon. Please tell me you understand that. I have to finish college, and my mom is sick right now. Although she acts like she can take on the world single-handedly, she’s going to need me in the coming months.”
“But you’re not saying no?”
She nodded. “I’m not saying no. Maybe we can revisit later down the road.” She crossed her arms on top of my chest and rested her chin on them, a smile lifting all the way to her beautiful eyes.
I combed my fingers through her hair. “A baby would be a big distraction right now. And we should wait until we’re married…” Her head snapped up again, her mouth falling open, making me laugh. “What? Did you think I would just let you be my baby mama and not put a ring on your finger?”
“Baby mama,” she repeated with a snort. “That just sounds so weird coming out of your mouth. But no, actually, marriage hadn’t even crossed my mind. We haven’t even known each other that long. And yet here you are, talking about putting a ring on it and making babies. Slow down for a second and let us enjoy being a couple first, Sheriff.”
“I can give you all the time you need on the whole baby subject, Lexa, but on this, I can’t.” I skimmed my thumb over her bottom lip. It was still swollen from when she was sucking my dick so damn good. “I know it’s quick and it’s insane, but I also know I’m going to love you for the rest of my life.”
“Ben…” She bit her lip, hesitation evident on her face.
And that only made me panic. “Don’t say no,” I pleaded. “We can compromise on this. You don’t have to answer me yet. I’ll wait until after your mom is done with chemo, and then I’ll propose.”
The hesitation disappeared, and she released her lip so she could grin down at me, making it easier for me to breathe again. “You really are insane. But I love you. And I know that I will love you for the rest of my life.”
Hearing her repeat the same words I’d said to her only a moment before eased the panic, and I flipped her under me. “Say it again,” I commanded as I thrust into her soaked pussy.
She grinned wickedly up at me. “Say what?”
“Lexa,” I growled, nipping at her neck.
“I love you,” she moaned as my teeth sank into her shoulder. “Oh fuck. I love you.”
Chapter 23
Lexa
The pounding on the front door pulled me from a deep sleep. Groaning, I lifted my head, noticing Ben wasn’t in bed beside me.
The pounding came again, and I jumped to my feet, irritated by the intrusion to my sleep. If it was one of my family, I was going to throw them down the stairs.
Except for Mom. I wouldn’t throw Mom down them, I reasoned. But Dad or Max, yeah, they were going down the damn stairs.
The room was dark, and I didn’t know where any of my clothes were. While the person at the door continued to pound away, I stumbled to the closet and grabbed the first shirt I touched. It was an old T-shirt from the feel of how soft the material was. I pulled it over my head, but I wasn’t a dainty little thing, and it just barely covered my ass, even though it was baggy. Stumbling around a little more, I found the dresser and pulled out a pair of Ben’s boxer briefs.
I pulled them up as I walked through the living room, and no sooner were they covering my ass than I was jerking the door open. “What?” I snapped, before my eyes adjusted to the setting sun and I realized who was standing in front of me.
Mrs. Davis.
Shit.
I cringed and stepped back, ready to slam the door and run and hide in embarrassment. After what had happened the day before, this woman finding me dressed in her grandson’s clothes with wild sex hair and no bra was not how I’d wanted our next meeting to go. Especially now that Ben and I were officially together.
“Hello, Lexa dear,” Hannah Davis greeted in that sweet old-lady kind of voice, and all the manners my mom and aunts instilled in me surfaced in a heartbeat.
“Hello, Mrs. Davis. How are you, ma’am?” I was able to mumble loud enough for her to hear, while looking anywhere but at her.
The sound of a vehicle pulling into the parking lot below caught my attention, and I nearly passed out with relief when I realized it was Ben. He opened his truck door and stepped out, carrying two huge bags from Aggie’s.
“Gran,” he greeted with a scowl as he climbed the stairs. “What are you doing here?”
She pressed her lips together, her shoulders lifting in a small shrug that looked vulnerable to me. “After yesterday, I felt like I owed you an apology in person, honey. You and Lexa both, actually.”
As soon as he reached the top of the stairs, I snatched the bags out of his hands, barely noticing the smell of the mouth-watering food as I muttered I would put the meal on the table.