How did I not see it earlier? How did I not know? I’ve been her fucking wingman for years and I never batted an eye. I wasn’t even a little bit jealous.
Now, it seems I’m making up for lost time because I want to go and find every single one of those guys, rip off their arms, and beat them with them. I know it’s irrational, I fucking know. I don’t have a leg to stand on when it comes to this, but my heart is thumping so wildly in my chest and this need is growing so big inside of me.
Rational is for someone else. Not me. Not anymore.
I have the taste of her skin on my tongue, and I can feel myself slipping away, getting lost in her. There is only one thing to do—embrace it and hold the fuck on.
“Justice,” I breathe against her neck, “I need your words.”
With the effort of a much stronger man, one not teetering on the edge of control, I yank my head away from the crook of her neck. I stare into her brown eyes and let her look at me, really look at me. I hope she can see the realizations I’ve come to in the last two days. I hope she can give me just a little bit of trust.
I hope she can see I’ll give her everything she wants and be happy to do it.
My voice is a low rumble, “Do you want a baby?”
“Yes,” she breathes out.
“I’m going to give you a baby, Justice, I promise. We’re going to do it the old-fashioned way. Our baby will be made from love. No test tubes. No plastic cups. We’ll let nature decide for now and if within six months you’re not pregnant, then we’ll get professionals involved and not feel badly about it because there is no shame in needing help.”
Her eyes get glassy with unshed tears, and it takes every ounce of control I have left not to kiss her until she’s moaning again. I’ve always hated to see her cry, but because my girl is strong, it doesn’t happen often.
“I need your words, Justice.” She bites her lip and my cock fucking leaks with the need to be inside of her. “I need to know if you’re all in with me.”
I don’t care if she thinks I’m just talking about making a baby. For now, it’ll be enough. Hell, I’m not even sure what I mean completely, but I do know this is the only way I can do this. It’s the only way I can give her what she wants.
Something inside of me unfurls with the need to lay offerings at her feet. If it’s what she needs to tell me yes, I’ll do it. My soul is screaming to take this woman, plant my seed deep inside of her, and make her mine. I’m not even sure what that means, but I know I want to find out.
“I’m afraid,” she whispers.
I untangle my fingers of one of my hands from the silky strands of her dark brown hair, the other staying firmly in place. I cup her face, loving the feel of her soft skin against mine.
“Why are you afraid? I thought this is what you want Justice. It’s your coal.”
“I want a baby,” she admits, “but what if the rest of it ruins our friendship?”
Her fear, her worry, sits like a stone against my chest. It could crush me under the weight of it, or I could alleviate all our concerns.
When it comes to Justice, there is only one choice.
CHAPTER 5
CORBIN
“Not going to happen, babe,” I gaze into her eyes and hope she sees my sincerity. “I won’t let it happen and neither will you. We’ve been friends for what feels like a lifetime.”
“I know, it’s why I’m afraid,” there’s a hitch to her voice that I’m desperate to erase.
“Ignore what your brain is telling you to fear. What does your body say?”
A crooked grin tips up one side of her pouty lips. “My body says to get on board and enjoy the ride.”
I let out a low, rolling groan and my cock gets impossibly harder. I press her against the wall with more force, caging her in and needing her to know what she does to me. The way her pupils dilate tells me everything I need to know.
“Your body has the right idea and so,” I grind against her, “does mine.”
She nods absently as much as she can with the grip I have on her hair. I lean into her and anticipation zaps across my skin. This is it, even before now with the way I’ve been touching her and kissing her skin, we could walk away. But after I do this, there will be no going back.
I slam my lips down on hers and kiss her like I’ve been thinking about for the last two days. Maybe it was longer if I was ready to admit that much. Does it really matter? We’re here now and all my senses are filled with her.