“I don’t know. I was debating even going. I’d made the appointment back when I first started working for you. The plan was to talk through my options and maybe even look at some sperm donor applications, but …” She looked away as her cheeks reddened. Finally she shrugged and faced me. “Now I’m not as worried about it. I know I can still have a baby down the line when I’m ready, and that’s enough for me.”
“I’m glad you got some answers. I was worried—” I cut myself off with a wince. Shit, I hadn’t meant to go there.
Briar frowned. “What were you worried about?”
“I don’t know if worried was the right word, but some things were implied during my meeting with Jayne, and I worried you were ending a pregnancy.”
“Wow.” Briar didn’t blink for a long moment. She just stared at me.
“Yeah.” I swallowed thickly. “I mean, I’ve always been an advocate for a woman’s body being under her control. Autonomy. Whatever. But I just… I was worried.”
“Wow.”
I scrubbed a hand over my face. “That’s all you have to say? Just wow.”
“I don’t know what to say. I’ve never been in a position to have to make that decision. Last time I was pregnant, I really, really wanted the baby. And if the appointment had been for that this time…I think I’d still really want it. Your baby, I mean.” She stared at me for a moment then winced at whatever she thought she saw in my expression. “Not to say that I think abortion is wrong. I think any woman should get to choose what she wants to do with her body without anyone else weighing—”
I cupped her face in my hands, ending her babbling. “I’d want you to keep it too.”
“Oh, wow,” she whispered.
I couldn’t help but smile at her third or fourth wow of the night. If I had my way, it wouldn’t be the last. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about something else. I’m afraid our little agreement isn’t going to work for me anymore.”
“Oh.” Briar sat back, pulling away from my touch.
I had to bite my cheek so I wouldn’t smile. “It’s just that, I’ve…how did you put it when we were putting our rules together? I’ve caught feelings for you, so I don’t think our arrangement is going to work for me anymore.”
Briar’s eyes widened, and she seemed to hold her breath for a moment. “You’ve caught feelings for me?”
I nodded, still biting my cheek. “I’m sorry. I know that goes against the rules we set, so maybe we can think of some new ones? If that’s okay with you.”
“You jerk!” Briar pushed my shoulder. “I thought you were breaking up with me!”
I cracked up. “Sorry. Not really.” I laughed. “I love to tease the people I love.”
The smile fell off Briar’s face. “You-you… Oh my god.”
“Shit.” I closed my eyes and winced. “That wasn’t how I wanted to tell you—”
“You kinda already did.” Briar’s arms came around me. “Or does the fact that you caught feelings for me mean something other than love?”
“No, it’s, I’m…” I shook my head. “I’m really screwing this up.”
“Just say what you’re feeling. There’s never anything wrong about that.”
“I love you, Briar.”
Her eyes shined as she blinked away tears. “I love you too, King.”
And then we were too busy doing other things with our mouths to say anything else.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Briar
I swear I floated for the next three straight days. King and I were like teenagers anytime we were alone together—all over each other, whispering our feelings between passionate moans. I seriously don’t think I’d ever felt this good. Just pure, unadulterated happiness.
I was so transparent, even his mother noticed and commented on it.