Page 12 of Hale to Pay

Page List


Font:  

What in the world?

I curse when I realize my problem. My brain switched the hero and heroine with Caerwyn and me. Damn him, his heroism, and his sex appeal. My body reacts to him in foreign ways.

I was only nine when they moved away. He had no bearing on my life. And when he’d pop in and out of the years, I’d never see him. He was the Hale people remembered fondly but hardly saw. The wedding was the first time I’d seen him as an adult. Now, I’m at home thinking about the cocky bastard. He saved me. At least his return to the island was good timing.

A baby. I’d dismissed the theory almost as soon as I heard it, but my hormones are questioning my brain’s decision. Despite my thoughts, my feelings want what he’s offering. I’ve never doubted I’d have children; I just didn’t think it’d happen so soon...

“Nawl. Nope. Hell, nawl,” I mumble as I dial his number.

I’m putting an end to this bullshit right now. My brain shouldn’t be hyper focused on something I’ve never had.

“Hey, Caterpillar. That was fast.” His sexy, deep voice rakes over my body in sinister ways. “Did you realize my ass would look better naked?”

My speech dies on my lips and my brain says fuck it.

“You’d have to marry me.”

I cup my mouth in surprise, that is not what I meant to say. All these arranged marriages must be messing with my head. My phone pings to announce Caerwyn’s video chat request. Once the cameras connect, I find him lying in bed, hair mussed, and his naked chest is on display with his first two abs visible. The light from his lamp plays off his body and gives his eyes a dark blue hue. The arousal I felt from reading triples.

“Care to say that to my face?”

Gah. His voice.

Reaching deep, I find the boldness he seems to pull out of me. I don’t want to retract what I’ve said. It may not be conventional, but I’d take a trip down that aisle if it lands me in his bed. Karessa and Esme are no virgins, but I’ve always loved the idea of losing my virginity to my husband. If Caerwyn wants me to have his child, it means he’ll get what no man has ever gotten from me. He’d have to marry me to get it.

“The LeClaire women are not baby mommas. You want my DNA; you have to marry it.”

“In other words, you want a lot of dick.”

I blink at him a few times until my brain can formulate an answer.

“How did you get all that from me stating my condition?”

Caerwyn sucks on his bottom lip, there’s something predatory about the way he looks at me that isn’t present in public. It’s as if the nice guy is a guise for the sexually corrupt guy underneath.

“To be my wife means we fuck anytime and any way I want.”

I shift in bed to a new position to hide my blush.

“Um...doesn’t that apply in most marriages?”

“You don’t get it. I love sex. Dirty sex. It’s a steep learning curve, but I have no problem taking you from a virgin to my special freak.”

He chuckles when my mouth falls open. I’ve never told him about my virginal status.

“How did you know?”

I feel him looking through me. “It’s obvious to me. The way you move is naturally sensual, but it lacks the knowledge of a man’s touch.”

I’ll be damned.

“Uh...and even with this, you want me to have your baby?”

“Being a virgin doesn’t make you defective, it just means you haven’t learned any bad habits.” He moistens his lips. “I get to teach you everything I know.”

Oh, damn.

He’s really good at melting my mind. I circle back to the part of the conversation I can handle.


Tags: Francesca Penn Erotic