“We are going to be home as soon as we can,” my dad promised before saying, “I want you as safe as possible. Just think about it as helping the boys.”
“Helping them?”
“Yes, because if you even scrape your knee, they’re fucking dead.”
I had a feeling he wasn’t joking.
When the conversation was done, I could tell the tension my parents were holding onto eased a bit. I don’t think anyone would have been mad if I had chosen to handle this a different way, but I also knew my boys wanted me with them. I felt my lips tip up at that. Actually, I was almost positive that Yates wouldn’t let menotbe with them.
After I changed into a pair of dark jeans and a sweater that fell off my shoulder, I looked around, trying to find Yates, realizing that the bedroom suite had an entire section to it that I hadn’t seen. I walked through an archway towards the far wall and came into a balcony-like space that was framed by large, iron-framed french doors. Immediately, I smiled, finding Yates sitting at a table, reading through something on his tablet.
The estate grounds were a gorgeous green, and I noticed that it always seemed to be right on the edge of possibly raining. A soft wind brushed over me as I inhaled the fresh air, feeling a jolt of energy that far surpassed anything coffee could have offered. I let out a happy hum, reaching my arms above my head.
“You look beautiful.”
Yates’s words were soft, and the warm affection he regarded me with made my cheeks turn pink.
Instead of answering, I sat down on his lap, and he immediately wrapped an arm around me. “Eat up, bunny. We are going to be busy today, so I want you to get something in your stomach. Especially with all the medicine you’re taking.”
“Oh, that reminds me—”
Yates reached into his pocket and pulled out two bottles, making me smile at how freakin’ prepared he was. When he also put my birth control on the table, I offered him an arched brow. He shrugged, apparently not thinking it was weird or inappropriate at all that he’d totally gone through my stuff.
After taking the first two pills, I popped open my birth control and felt my eyes widen slightly, running my finger to the ‘Monday’ column. Three. Three were there that shouldn’t be. Lord. I felt my throat tighten a bit, instantly thinking about King and me in the car. Would he be upset?
“Dahlia.”
I looked at Yates, who was watching me with confusion. “What’s wrong, bunny?”
Nibbling my lip, I showed him the birth control. “I missed three pills, not including the one I took today… Obviously we were traveling, and then I was sleeping—”
“Unconscious and recovering,” Yates growled, “not sleeping.”
“Still,” I murmured, “I didn’t take them… and King and I, we…”
“Bunny.” His fingers tilted my chin. “What are you worried about?”
Was it that obvious?
“I didn’t mean to have unprotected sex, and I know King made a joke about pregnancy…” My throat tightened again. “I’m just worried he will be upset.”
Yates chuckled, making me scowl, his eyes lighting up with mirth before he leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to my lips. “Bunny, you have absolutely nothing to worry about.” I watched as he picked up his phone and my eyes widened in horror. I tried to lean forward to grab it, but his large arm blocked me.
“What’s up?” King asked, familiar voices in the background.
“Dahlia just realized she has missed three birth control pills because of everything that has happened, and she’s concerned you will be upset at the prospect of her actually becoming pregnant—”
King’s warm chuckle instantly had everything inside of me relaxing. “You there, princess?”
“Yes.” My answer was short, and my voice was a bit wobbly.
“What did I tell you after we slept together the first time?”
I sighed. “That you would be okay with me going off my birth control?” I had a feeling this is where he would have taken it. “But this is different, King. This is a real possibility—”
“That I love. A possibility that I love. I will always take care of you, Dahlia, no matter what happens. The idea of you getting pregnant is an extremely appealing one, so do not worry about me being upset. Okay?”
“Okay,” I agreed, feeling loads better.