Chapter 29

I haven't felt this at peace since… well, since our last night together, but he won't share a bed with me, and it takes getting lost in this movie to not obsess over it. He probably hates it as much as me, but he's respecting my boundaries and my career with the production company. We're still attracted to each other, and I treasure that little nugget as I lean into him.

When we're the only two people in the room, we might as well be the only two people in the world. I turn into a puddle of vulnerability around him. Sully is my ultimate weakness.

My phone dings, and I glance down to see a text from Raleigh.

Raleigh

Hope you're not mad I let him in, you both needed each other tonight. How is it going?

It's going well. You were right. Thank you. Text tomorrow?

Raleigh

You better.

What is he going to say tomorrow? He kissed my neck earlier. That's more than just friends, right? He bought me flowers—he remembered I like fresh flowers. What am I even doing right now with him? Playing pretend? Shit, I can't do a movie now. His touch is conflicting with his words, and I can't think about anything but us.

I grab the remote and pause the film.

"I want to go ahead and have that discussion now."

"We can talk tomorrow, Kendra. Let's enjoy tonight."

I shake my head. "No, it needs to happen now." If he's doing all this only for us to have it ripped away later, then I don't want him to spend the night. It's toying with my feelings.

He withdraws his arm from around me and angles his body toward mine. "Okay," he says, sighing. We stare at each other. I'm not sure where to start. Sully pushes up the sleeves of his white Henley. What we're about to discuss is the kind of mess you have to roll your sleeves up for. His corded forearms are tense. It's not a fair fight… He looks as nervous as me.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I never planned to keep it a secret forever, but I had no idea how to tell you."

He nods. "I forgive you. I'm sorry I wasn't here for you. You seemed distant. I should have pressed you to find out what was going on."

"Every time I thought about telling you, I thought about the impact it would have on our careers—"

"This is more important than a career."

I take a deep breath. "It's easy to say that when you've had a career. You're a retired hockey player. I didn't know how you were going to react. If it went badly, my career was the only thing that was going to get me through, the only thing that would allow me to keep this baby. I need this job to take care of a baby."

He crosses his arms. "What did you think I was going to say? Fuck you, you're on your own?"

"I had no idea what you would say! Our first night together you told me I was the only one you wanted to call you daddy. We're shooting a show with you dating other women, a show that is critical to your head coach contract. This baby could take all of that away. We already chose our careers over the possibility of a relationship. I was going to tell you."

"And what if I met someone on the show? You thought it was a good idea for me to fall in love before dropping the bomb that you're having my child? Then what?" Is that what's happening? Is he becoming serious with someone? "I call bullshit." He shakes his head. "I'm sure those things helped justify your decision to keep it to yourself. But it's not enough."

"I was scared!" I shout, rising to my feet.

"Why, Kendra?" His voice is calm. I feel like I'm being interrogated. It's not like this has been an easy secret to keep.

I throw my arms out to the side. "What do you mean why?!" Pretty sure it's obvious.

His eyes narrow in my direction. "Did you seriously think I would reject you?"

"No, I was afraid that you wouldn't! You're too selfless to leave me to do this alone. If I had told you, you would have quit. I didn't want you to be the reason you quit your dream. I didn't want you to resent me for robbing you of something you wanted so much. I thought I could wait, because at least then I wouldn't be taking away anything from you!" I take a deep breath and continue. "Your anger would fade over time. Eventually, you would forgive me. But if you regret your decision, eventually, that will turn into resentment—and that resentment would turn into hate. I couldn't live with myself if you hated me."

He hunches forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "It hurts that you think I could ever hate you… but you're right about one thing, I'm quitting the show."

"What? Sully, no! Did you not just hear a word I said?" I won't be able to forgive myself for this. "If you won't think about your career, then think about mine. If you quit, I'll be fired."

"I'll stay quiet about the pregnancy."

"It's more than that, if you quit, they'll tell me to get you back. And if I don't, they'll find a producer who can." I've seen it happen a hundred times. They will find a way to get him back. There has to be a way we can fix this.

He rubs the back of his neck as he stares at the floor. He knows I'm right. I can see him trying to find a solution, but there's nothing we can do.

"Just for now," I reassure him. "Please, Sully. Tell me you won't quit."

It's almost as if I see a lightbulb go off in his head. He sits up and raises a single eyebrow at me. We stare at each other, the devious glint in his eye is suspicious. Then he crosses his arms and leans back. "What's it worth to you?"

"What?" Blood rushes to my cheeks. Is he serious?

"What's your job worth?"

"You're going to blackmail me?" I don't recognize this version of him.

He shrugs. "I'll make you a deal."

Fuck him. "What?!" How dare he use my fear as a bargaining chip.

"I won't tell anyone, and I won't quit… but in exchange, you're going to give me a chance."

I exhale relief and throw my arms up and drop into one of the upholstered chairs. "Fine. Once we're done shooting and the contracts have expired, we can see each other."

"No. Now." He shakes his head. "Starting tonight."

"Sully. We'll get caught."

"Then don't tell anyone." He continues. "When we're at work, I'll keep my distance. But in private, you're mine."

The possessive way he says "you're mine" catches me off guard. Heat floods to my core. Holy hell. I shouldn't want to be anyone's dirty little secret. But for Sully? The idea kind of turns me on.

"What about the women on the show?"

"What about them?" he questions, exasperated. "You have nothing to worry about, Kendra. I know you see me staring at you on set." He crosses his arms behind his head, stretching his shirt over his chest, which only makes him look even more tempting. I see his stares, but I never let myself indulge in them.

"You want to sneak around together." It's not a question.

"No. I don't want to. However, I suspect you will frown upon me proudly announcing to everyone I'm your baby daddy—but even if I'm not telling anyone, I want involvement in your pregnancy and life. I want to be present at the doctor appointments. I'll take care of the yardwork, or groceries, or whatever the hell else you need. We're going to pick up where we left off."

"I'm not sure that's possible," I say with a chuckle. "I didn't know I was pregnant when we left off ."

Smirking, he gets off the couch and stands in front of the upholstered chair, then crouches down on one knee. "Then I guess we have some catching up to do, don't we?" His hands cover mine, and he threads our fingers together.

I bite the corner of my mouth, imagining all the ways he plans to do that. Are we really going through with this? It's dangerous… and a little exciting.

"Are you here out of desire or obligation?"

He pulls me out of the chair, I straddle his knee, and his palms travel up my back until he's cupping my neck. "I'm not being forced. I'm here because I choose to be. I'm here because there is nothing in this world I want more. So don't ask silly questions you already know the answer to," he whispers against my mouth. "Do we have a deal?"

I smile against his lips and repeat his words back to him. "Don't ask silly questions you already know the answer to."

If he's willing to take the risk, so will I. Are we crazy? Probably. But we won't have to sneak around forever. I'm unsure how this will work out, but we'll figure it out. I just want to be back in his arms and hear him say I'm his.

His daring and mischievous smirk is sexy as hell. He covers my mouth with his and kisses me with everything he has. It releases all the tension we've been holding in for months. All the stolen glances and intense eye contact. I've been reliving all of our old kisses for months, and finally, I can stop living in the past. He's mine again. And I'm his.

"Do you still want to watch this movie?" he asks.

"I'm not married to it."

I slide off him and kneel on the floor. "Good," he says, unbuttoning my jeans and shoving them down. Next, he grabs my shirt and lifts it over my head. His eyes drop to my lower stomach. Does he notice the change? I assumed it blended in with my curves. I shield a hand in front of me, and he sweeps it away just as fast.

"Damn…" he mutters, his eyes locked onto me. He sees it. "Can I…"

"It's fine," I say with a laugh. "Pregnant women have sex all the time. It won't affect the baby."

He shakes his head, staring at my stomach.

"Did you want to feel…"

His palm hovers over me, and his pleading gaze meets mine.

Oh. Oh . "Go ahead." I nod with a smile. Maybe it's my hormones being out of control, but him wanting to touch my barely swollen stomach, that he made, nearly brings me to tears. I watch his face carefully as he presses his fingers to my belly. He swallows, moving his hand over the firm swell.

"Wow."

I'm struggling to understand his awed expression. "Is it weird?"

"No," he blurts, emphatically shaking his head. "Not at all… I love it, Kendra."

I raise my eyebrows. "Really?"

He lifts his eyes to mine. "Is it weird that it turns me on?"

"Stop it." I laugh and nudge his shoulder.

"I'm serious," he says, bringing a second hand to my belly. "You've always been sexy. But, like this? Fuck… I like you pregnant… A lot."

It's gotta be some caveman thing.

"This baby is mine."

Definitely a caveman thing.

He hooks his thumbs in my underwear and drags them down my thighs, peeling them from my slick pussy. "And you are mine."

His words take my breath right out of my lungs, and they rush to my head, making me dizzy. It must show on my face because the corner of his mouth tips up in a cocky smile. "You like when I call you mine?"

All I can do is bite my lip and nod. A lump forms in my throat as he tugs my underwear and pants the rest of the way off. He sits on the floor with his back to the chair. Then he pulls me until I'm on my knees hovering over his lap.

His thick fingers glide between my folds, grazing my clit. "You'll always be mine, baby girl." He yanks me forward and licks up my neck. "Say it back to me." My legs tremble as he rubs back and forth. I clutch his shoulders, never wanting to let go.

"I'll always be yours," I say with a shaky voice.

"That's right." He pushes two digits inside me and groans as he stretches them. It feels so good, it's been too long since he's touched me like this. I revel in the control he takes. He moves his palm under my thigh, holding it up and to the side, giving him more room. The obscene noises in the room grow louder as he works his fingers into me faster and faster. "So wet…"

"Oh my god." I drop my forehead to his shoulder and moan. My hips rock forward, needing more.

"Look at me, Kendra."

I raise my gaze, my brows knitted together. He looks at me with reverence.

"Good girl. Come for me, yeah?" His eyes are devious.

My nod isn't enough for him.

"Say yes, daddy ."

Goddamn. I stare into his eyes. His gaze is so needy, he's desperate for it. I recognize that desire and want him to fill me with it. He's manipulating my body in a million ways, but those blue eyes are begging for my submission. His chest heaves. He exhales through his nose, becoming impatient. I memorize his face; I want to remember him looking at me like this forever.

My lips curl into a smile. "Yes, Daddy."

The growl in his chest is possessive and untamed. I have the power to turn his world upside-down with two simple words—we each have the power to dominate the other. "Don't tease me like that, baby girl." He releases and focuses his thumb on my clit as he continues pumping in and out. I love that he's not being extra careful with me after finding out I'm pregnant. He's fingering me with the same fervor he used to. This is the Sully I need. I've spent months craving his roughness.

With shaking knees, I dig my nails into his back as warmth floods my entire body. Fuck, I can't hold it any longer. Just as I'm about to come, I'm tossed back into the upholstered chair behind me. I squeeze my eyes shut, waiting for his mouth, on the verge of exploding. I grip his hair and then… nothing. When I open my eyes, he's watching me with intense hunger.

"Why did you stop?" I try to shift his mouth between my thighs, but he sits back farther on his heels. What the fuck?

He shakes his head. "I don't think you've earned the right to come."

Excuse me? No. I know how to get to him. "Please, Daddy?" I whimper.

His pupils dilate, turning his blue eyes to a stormy gray. He nips at my thigh, and I startle at the sharp sting before he licks it away. A dark soft smile graces his mouth, and I'm eager for whatever he will give me. "Bedroom."