"It can't be mine, we always use protection," Drake said, his voice softer but still gravelly. He worked his jaw for a moment, his hand pressed to his face.
"Trust me, Drake, it's yours. Darryl is not my lover. We just met yesterday." My voice was shaky, and I felt impending tears in my eyes. I hadn't imagined he would accuse me of cheating on him. "I haven't been with anyone since I met you."
Drake shook his head. "Not possible."
I snorted this time. "Do you remember Blake's bachelor party?"
He blinked at me.
"Of course, you wouldn't. You came home at least three sheets to the wind. And quite randy. You were in such a hurry; you forgot the condom."
Drake was no longer looking at me...or anyone for that fact. He was leaning over, his head in his hands. His voice was barely audible. "Why didn't you remind me? You know I—"
"Yeah, I know what you like. How about what I like? Did you ever think I might want to feel my husband's cock inside of me for once without that damn piece of rubber? I thought we were done with protection once we got married. I understood it before then. But insisting on it after, too? Do you have any idea how horrible that makes me feel? How you couldn't even make love to me on our wedding night without stopping each time to get a new condom? Way to kill the mood. Why the fuck would I stop you and tell you to cover up?"
There was a cough, and I noticed Becca was looking up at the ceiling.
"Oh, shit. I'm sorry, Becca."
She waved her hand. "Don't worry about me. It's not the first intimate conversation I've had with or about my brother."
"I hate to interrupt this bonding experience, but I think that we've established that the baby is Drake's," Malcolm said.
Darryl glanced at me, and I nodded that he was free to speak up. "I know I don't know the two of you well at all—and I'm no therapist—but I would like to say something I've observed from talking to Daphne yesterday and from listening today. There's something deeper going on here."
"Like Jimmy?" Becca asked.
"No, well yes. Jimmy is an issue, and the two of you will have to deal with that at some point. But like we said last night, this is far bigger than Jimmy. Even more than the collaring ceremony you had. This started before that. But I think the only person who knows when that was is Drake."
We all turned to my husband, who still was hunched over.
"Something had to have happened," Darryl continued. "Something you couldn't share with Daphne. Because according to her, your behavior changed after you got married, and she doesn't know why. You moved away suddenly. Wanted the intensive 24/7 living. You secluded yourself from everyone. Not to mention the secret meetings with the guy you knew was her abusive ex-boyfriend. Like I said, I'm not a therapist. But I've been around enough abused couples in the lifestyle to know that unless you confront the main issue, you can't move forward. You can't fix what is broken here."
I don't know what I was expecting to happen, but hearing Drake cry was not it.
That sound made my heart feel like it was being twisted inside of me. I had caused this. I opened my mouth, but before I could speak, Malcolm was kneeling in front of me.
"Don't you dare blame yourself, Daphne. I know you."
I clamped my mouth shut, clenching my eyes against my own tears.
"Drake?" Becca's voice was so soft.
I opened my eyes to see her kneeling beside her brother. She was trying to pry his hands from his face.
"I'm sorry, Becca." Drake took a deep, shuddering breath. "I shouldn't have forced you to attend the ceremony. I should have asked you. Tried to understand—"
"I don't care about the damn collaring ceremony, you doofus." She sat down on the floor and held one of his hands. I could hear her sniffling, struggling with tears as well. "What I do care about is you. And Daphne. What the hell is going on?"
Drake lifted his head finally and stared right at me. As if no one else was there. "I'm sorry."
I almost rushed to his side. I should have been where Becca was. But I couldn't move. Because there was something in his tone that indicated it was safer for both of us to stay right where we were.
"What exactly are you apologizing for?"
"I had told you I slept with someone else last year."
My chest tightened. I'd tried to forget. "Yes, I know."
"I know you didn't want to hear the details before. But you need to. Or rather, I need to say them."
I swallowed what felt like a stone in my throat. I'd forgiven him for this indiscretion, as much as it had hurt me to hear about it.
CHAPTER NINE
His timing for that confession could have been better...it was just a few days before we tied the knot. I'd been appreciative he'd told me but still a little apprehensive. I'd thought maybe he'd cheated because he was unable to tell me he wanted to break off our engagement. He'd insisted that the answer was no. He'd just wanted to clear the air between us.
My husband blinked, his eyes glossy now. "I haven't been entirely honest with you."
I pressed my hand to my head. As I'd said the night before,
