37. That Was A Seduction, Not A Date

Chapter 37

That Was A Seduction, Not A Date

Megan

“ Y ou just can’t help yourself, can you?”

I press the button on the bed controller so I can sit up and take another sip of water.

“You knew who I was when you agreed to date me.” Hunter grabs the cup before I can and holds the straw to my lips. “I’ll hire the entire damn police force of Los Angeles to keep an eye on you if that means nothing like this will ever happen again.”

“Why do I believe you would do just that,” I reply dryly. “And I can hold my own cup.”

“You just cringed in pain. I’ll hold the cup. Drink.”

I take a longer sip and slightly choke.

“Little sips.”

“I’m thirsty,” I complain in a whiny voice.

“Megan, you might not believe this, but my life isn’t usually this…eventful.”

“Is that right?” I curve my lips slightly, wondering if he actually believes what he’s saying.

“I don’t feel bad about many things, but I will forever feel guilty for all that I’ve put you through since we’ve met.”

“Hunter–”

“I just need you to know that we’ve finally neutralized the threat.”

Why is he talking like he’s in the Secret Service?

The threat?

“You mean the man who kidnapped me, shot me, and almost killed our baby?”

“Megan.”

“If this is going to work, you’re going to have to stop talking to me in abstracts and give me the real. I may be young, but let’s not forget that you’re fucking me, and if that’s going to continue, I’m going to need you to be more transparent.”

“Looks like your pain medication is finally wearing off,” he says with a tight look in his eyes. “Should I call the nurse?”

“You don’t scare me, Hunter Middleton. Look at me. The worst has already happened. What could you possibly do?”

“Fine,” he sighs, shaking his head. “Johnathan’s gone. Gone like in dead since you want me to be perfectly transparent.”

“Were you the one who did it?” I ask softly, worried that the answer is probably a yes.

“Transparency is a new concept for me, Megan. Let’s take baby steps,” he warns. “Suffice it to say that the drama is over, and now we both can finally exhale and focus on the future.”

“Water, please,” I request coyly, and then I take another sip.

He stops the flow of the water by pinching the straw with two of his fingers. “Sip, or you don’t get any more.”

I roll my eyes in exasperation.

“Fine.”

I don’t know that I’ve ever been this thirsty in my entire life.

“What about college?” I ask, thinking about the human being growing inside of me and all that will mean for my future.

“You’ll finish it,” he says seriously. “Obviously, you might miss a semester or two because you’re going to need to be careful after the injury you have. But I’m not going to allow our child, you getting shot, or anything else become an obstacle for your studies or whatever else you want to do.”

A sly smile suddenly forms across his face. “Now, I have a reason to kick those two freeloaders out of my house.”

“Are you talking about your two best friends?”

“You realize that they both have houses of their own, right? Nice ones.”

“I’m sure they have their reasons for sticking close to you.”

“We can easily convert one of my extra bedrooms into a nursery and the other into an art studio for you. That only leaves one extra bedroom besides the main one, and that will be my new home office because–”

“Wait,” I interrupt. “I’m moving in with you?”

He pauses and studies me, a strange look on his face, “Megan, we’re having a baby together, and we love each other. Do you really think I’m letting you walk away from me? I’m going to tie you to me in every conceivable way. Not only are you moving in, but we’re going to get married.”

I stare at him like he’s lost his mind. “The hell we are. You haven’t even taken me out on a proper date yet.”

“What the hell was Paris?”

“That was a damn seduction, not a date.”

“The best seduction of your life,” he scoffs.

“That’s highly debatable,” I snicker, but I groan because it hurts to laugh.

“You need more pain meds.”

“And a date.”

He gives me a sullen look, and I blink.

“I don’t want to jump into marriage because you think it’s the best way to tie me to you, and I don’t want to get married simply because of the baby. There are plenty of happy single moms on this planet. I wouldn’t be the first.”

“Are you threatening me, gorgeous?” he bends to kiss my forehead. “There’s no way I would ever allow you to be a single mom.”

“You’re funny.” I take his hand, squeezing it. “But you, of all people, know about my past. I’ve never really dated somebody properly, and I want that for myself. I want it all…with you, but let’s put marriage further down the road, okay?”

My chest tightens because Hunter looks almost crestfallen. I don’t want to hurt him, but I also feel like I just cheated death. I’m giving myself permission to ask for what I want.

“Fine,” he says in a grumpy voice. “But moving in together is non-negotiable.”

“We already live in the same building, so yes, we can do that,” I say, but then I freeze. “Wait, this is what you intended all along, isn’t it? You just wanted me to agree with you on the whole moving-in thing, so you made me believe-“

Hunter smirks at me as he rubs his thumb across my knuckles. “You’re overthinking, sweetheart.” Then he presses a kiss on my forehead. “I’m going to go talk to the doctor for a minute.”

“You liar!” I yell, but then I start coughing from the pain in my gut.

“Calm down,” he sing-songs as he leaves the hospital room. “The baby won’t like that you’re threatening his father.”

I growl as the door closes behind him.

“HIS!?”