“You don’t need to thank me every time I do something nice.”
“I read somewhere that reinforcing good behavior increases the likelihood of it happening again.”
“There are better ways to reinforce good behavior.” His raspy voice turns my insides into bubbling lava.
“As tempting as sex sounds right now, I don’t think I can move a single muscle.”
“I’ll do all the work.”
“Who knew you were so proactive?”
“They say practice makes perfect, so I’m trying to fit in all the lessons I can get.”
I laugh so hard, I’m afraid I might pee if I don’t stop. “You don’t need any more practice. Trust me.” For someone who has avoided women for God knows how long, Declan sure knows what he’s doing in the bedroom. Or office. Or shower. Pretty much anywhere that has a surface to fuck against is no longer safe.
“My ego thanks you, but I’m talking about practicing for a baby, not sex.”
My eyes widen. We haven’t talked about condoms ever since our conversation a couple of weeks ago when Declan walked out on me in the middle of our argument. Neither one of us has dared to broach the subject, so we haven’t stopped using them.
“Are you suggesting…” My voice trails off. I can’t even get the words out.
“I’m ready whenever you are to get started on your little soccer team.”
“Who said anything about a soccer team?”
“You did.”
“What? When?”
“If I’m not mistaken, I believe you said you wanted a whole minivan of kids.”
I’m not sure I’m even breathing as I speak up. “But we only agreed to one child.”
“Plans change.”
“You didn’t even want one child. How do you expect me to believe you want a whole soccer team now?”
“I do because it would make you happy.”
“That’s not why people should have children. They’re a lifelong commitment—”
He presses his lips against mine to shut me up. “Exactly.”
“But—”
He kisses me again, and my body melts into the mattress.
“We could have one kid or five, so long as you only have them with me. I’ll give you the minivan life, solely if you want it.”
“What if I’m not ready? What if this is all too much all at once and I can’t handle a new relationship and a new baby?”
His throat bobs. “Then we wait.”
“Even if it means holding off on you becoming CEO?”
“Even then.”
I’m hit with a wave of emotion so strong, my eyes glisten. A single tear slips down my face before landing on the pillow beneath me. Never in a million years did I expect to hear those words come out of his mouth.