Chapter 25

25

Abrielle

Jess grabs the coffee out of my hand before I can take a sip.

"What the hell?" I cry out.

"You're pregnant? Really? And you're drinking coffee?"

"What's wrong with coffee?"

"Caffeine! You have to limit yourself now."

"Okay. I am." I grab the cup back from Jess. "I'm limiting myself to this coffee right here."

"You're pregnant," she whispers. "Like… baby pregnant…"

"No, I'm pregnant with a gallon of paint for the gallery."

"Did that happen by using a paintbrush?"

I laugh and snort. "Good one, Jess."

"Congrats though. Like, seriously. I didn't even know you were…"

She cringes.

I nod. "It's fine. I'm not in a relationship or anything like that. It's just one of those things. Remember I told you the story about the old gallery?"

Jess gasps. "You're having his baby?"

"No. The guy who saved me. Who paid for all my paintings."

"Oh. Okay. That makes sense. You sold your vagina and now you're pregnant."

"What?" I yell. "No! Don't say that. That's not how…"

That's exactly how it happened.

Colver named his price.

ME.

I was the prize to him. I was the fantasy he always wanted.

"I'm not trying to pry into anything," Jess says. "I'm just making jokes. That's all. I'm terrible in situations like these. You should see me at a funeral. I'm giggling and laughing like it's a comedy club. Anyway, this is exciting. A new gallery. A baby on the way. Your life is so full right now."

"Can I depend on you?" I blurt out.

"What?"

"Sorry. That sounded weird. I just… I don't really have anyone, Jess."

"The father of the baby isn't around?"

"He is. I just don't know…"

"Hey, it's fine," Jess says. "I'll be honest with you. I had a few people who wanted this spot and were willing to pay. But something about you. You and me. We connected. We clicked. I don't really have anyone either. I'm the outcast of my family, believe it or not. It just works with us here. I have this vision. You have a gallery. I have a coffeeshop. How cool is that?"

"I didn't know that," I whisper. "You could be making money from this spot."

"I don't want to. At least not until you're making money. That was the deal. Point I'm making is, yes, you can depend on me. Not just for free coffee and baked goods."

"I haven't thrown anything up since the cinnamon incident."

Jess smiles.

Behind her the door to my unfinished gallery opens.

And in walks Colver.

"Holy shit," Jess whispers to me. "Tell me that's him."

"That's him," I whisper back.

Heat rushes through my body as he walks closer by the second, looking around.

"The new gallery, huh?" Colver calls out.

"It's getting there," I say. "Can I help you?"

"I should get going. Rebecca is over there alone."

"Hold on a second," I say. "Colver, this is Jess. She owns the coffeeshop next door. She's the coolest person I ever met in my life."

"Hardly that," Jess says. "I just give her free coffee."

"How cute of you both," Colver says. "Do I need to worry about anything here?"

"You're disgusting," I say. "That's the first thing that goes through your head?"

Colver shrugs his shoulders. "Are we sure that baby is mine?"

My face turns bright red.

"You know that's not possible, right?" Jess asks Colver. "I mean, she and I have the same parts. I don't produce semen."

"It was a joke, coffee lady ," Colver says to Jess. "Ease up on the caffeine."

"I'm sorry about this," I say to Jess.

"Don't be," Jess says. "I deal with assholes all the time. At least he's good looking."

I like that Jess can handle her own with Colver.

Just in case the two end up seeing more of each other.

Jess leaves and I think about slapping Colver for being such a jerk.

"Do you want the bad news first or the bad news second?" Colver asks me.

"Two things of bad news?"

"Depending on how you look at it." He touches his jaw. "I got suspended today."

"What?"

"Yeah. For that fight. I had a feeling it was coming. League had to step in and do something. There was a possibility of charges too. Luckily that cooled off."

"I thought hockey fights were allowed?"

"They are. I went too far with this one."

"Oh."

Colver touches my arms. "It'll be fine. Sucks for the team. I owe the guys an apology."

"So what's the other bad news then?"

"I can't play hockey for a little while," he says. "That means you're stuck with me. I told you I'm not letting you out of my sight."

"Can you at least try to be a little bit nicer?"

"Nope," he says boldly.

I sigh.

At least he's honest, right?

"So what's the plan for my paintings?" Colver asks.

"Your paintings…"

"Am I wrong?"

I take a deep breath. Last thing I need is a reminder of how things manage to fall into place and then fall right apart, over and over.

"I'm going to hang some up on the walls," I say. "From the ceilings. Special displays on the walls with custom lighting."

"Going to sell them or what?"

"I guess we'll see," I say. "Obviously whatever ones of these that sell, the money will go right back to you. That's only fair. And it might keep your fucking mouth shut."

That last sentence slips out with fire and anger.

It even catches me off guard.

Colver seems surprised by that.

I turn and walk behind the main counter.

I blink forcibly.

Colver is never going to be the guy that says the fake, reassuring stuff.

And, yes, technically, all the paintings in this gallery are his. He purchased them. He brought them to me. I'm sure there's some legal gray area there if things came down to it…

I touch my stomach and close my eyes.

Wow, Abrielle, you sure know how to pick men…

Maybe I am just like my mother in that sense.

Maybe I'm walking in the same footsteps as her.

Now that gives me an awful sinking feeling.

I'm a second away from exploding into tears when I feel hands touch my hips.

Instead of crying, I gasp.

I'm spun around.

I look up at Colver.

His hands touch my hips again. Touch the top of my pants. Fingertips maybe flirting…

"I get it, kitten," he whispers. "That was a shitty comment to make. All things considered. I would never ask-"

"It's only fair," I cut in. "What's yours is yours, Colver. It also means I need to paint new stuff for myself."

"You're right."

"I am?" I ask.

"Yes," he says. He inches down toward me. "What's mine is mine."

His mouth touches mine.

I whimper and open my mouth, instantly wanting more.

He kisses me deep and hard.

His fingers no longer flirt, they take action.

The kiss abruptly ends and Colver starts to disappear… going down …

I gasp. "Colver… what…"

"Shut up, kitten," he growls. " What's mine is fucking mine ."

His growling voice sends chills throughout my body.

Colver eases my pants down. I'm standing behind the counter of my gallery. It's plenty light outside. The doors aren't locked.

My hands shake a little. My teeth chatter.

My heart races.

Colver's fingers slide along my legs, down to my ankles, helping me stand on one foot at a time. Taking my pants completely off.

He then grabs the sides of my panties and pulls.

I groan loudly and stumble forward.

I feel Colver's face press against my body. His nose nudging between my legs. Against my panties.

"Oh, fuck," I whimper.

Colver moves his head back and forth, teasing me.

He's teasing my clit with his nose… through my panties…

It doesn't seem very fair that he's so good at this, but at the same time, what the hell do I care? He's doing it to me.

He finally starts to pull my panties down.

"Yes," I whisper.

Colver then looks up at me.

Evil in his sexy eyes.

His left hand grabs at my hip. Tight. Forcefully.

His right hand moves to the front of my panties and he pulls.

Our eyes lock tight as he tears my panties down my legs.

My jaw is quivering.

This is just so… intense …

I step out of my panties and I'm all Colver's.

Whatever he wants. Whatever he needs.

His right hand touches my belly. Ever so gently. Softly. Caring.

A different kind of chill moves through my body.

He evil eyes… his protective touch…

He moves forward and strokes his tongue between my legs.

I whimper and thrust my hips, grinding against his mouth.

The surge in cravings makes me shake.

I've been waiting for this again. Waiting for more of him.

Wanting and wondering and…

"Oh, Colver," I groan.

Don't say anything else, Abrielle! Do not say…

"Are you going to fuck other women or just me?" I blurt out as the tip of his tongue hooks against my clit and flicks with precision.

Everything stops.

I gasp for a breath. I can't believe I just said that.

My brain has lost the little filter that keeps certain words and phrases and questions from slipping out.

And obviously once I say something I can't undo it.

It's there. I said it.

Colver looks up at me.

He then stands back up.

No! Fuck no! I ruined it!

Now I definitely feel ready to cry.

All this time and these feelings and emotions and everything going on, I finally have Colver's mean tongue caressing my clit and I mess it up.

Colver towers over me.

"I think that's a fair question to ask," I say. "Because you know I'm not… with other guys… so it's either you or my fingers or some toy. But for you… you get to do whatever you want. But you're not going to do that and come near me. Oh, no fucking way, Colver. I hope you know that-"

He presses a thumb to my lips. "Fucking pregnancy makes you not know when to shut up, kitten."

He slides his thumb down my bottom lip and away.

His hands grab my hips once more.

With ease he lifts me up into the air and sits me on the counter.

My hands grab for the edges as he spreads my legs.

He still hasn't answer my question.

I watch as his mouth moves lower and closer to my pussy.

This time… I'm going to keep my mouth shut and my legs open and enjoy Colver's tongue.