Chapter Forty-Four
Marlow
“You solicited an FBI agent for sex?”
“I’ll have to call you back.” Patrick hung up the phone and leaned back in his seat. “Please, come in. I’m thrilled with this surprise visit.”
I pointed at him as I stalked around the desk. “Don’t get smart with me. Please tell me this is a pack of lies.”
“Have I embarrassed you?”
I blinked at him. “Me? No. What you do on your own time is your business.” So I was insanely jealous at having his escapades thrown in my face? Big deal. I hadn’t even known about this until I was already on my way over here to . . . I didn’t know what. Talk? “What about Gummy?”
He slumped. “There’s no proof of anything.”
“The accusation is out there. That’s enough.”
“If you’re here to dump more shit on me, I don’t need it.” He spun his chair toward his desk.
I turned it back and stepped between his thighs. “I’m here for you.”
He stared at me in disbelief before he quietly spoke. “It’s true.”
My legs got a little shaky, but I held it together.
“Ask Andrew the details. I don’t really feel like talking about it.” He looked toward the windows.
“I want your version, not my brother’s.”
“How’d it go with your dad?”
“Good.” I turned his face toward me. “Stop avoiding the issue.”
“I’m glad it’s worked out. Don’t let it go, Wicked. Don’t be sitting here like me with nobody.” He cast his gaze to the floor.
I squatted so he was forced to look at me. “You aren’t alone.”
After talking with Dad, I’d stayed up all night thinking. I couldn’t get Patrick off my mind. But lately, that seemed to be the norm.
“You’re right. I’ve got Andrew.”
“And me.”
His eyes flared. “‘Either he stays or I do.’ Does that sound familiar?”
“I’m furious with you. I don’t particularly like looking at your face right now.” Mostly because he made me crazy with his patience and his kindness and his stupid contracts.
He snorted. “Don’t even think about saying you care. You’re trying to keep me from our child. From Blake.”
“You pissed me off.” The lid came off my temper.
“I’m sure it’ll happen again. Is that going to be your go-to defense over the next eighteen years? I’m angry so I’ll use your children against you?”
He kept referring to Blake as his and it twisted me up in knots. “I—” The denial wouldn’t come out. I sank to my knees. “I’m sorry. If you did that to me . . .” I looked away. “I thought that’s what you were trying to do,” I whispered.
He slid to the floor and propped against the desk, pulling me between his legs. He sighed into my hair. “It was the opposite. I wanted to prove we were in this together. That I’d never keep you from Gummy.”
“You should’ve told me you were drawing up that contract.” I still hated that piece of paper. That gesture was so kind it almost tore me apart. But I didn’t want it.
“I handled it poorly.”
His hands rubbed my stomach and I nestled against him. This was the first time I’d felt right in days.
“What do we do about your situation?”
“Nothing.” He kissed my temple. “Will you come home tonight? I need you, Wicked.” His arms tightened around me.
I twisted to face him. “Are we just filling the void because you don’t want to be alone?”
I held my breath while I waited for him to answer.
He looked as if he were trying to get control of his temper. “I’m going to pretend those words didn’t just come out of that pretty mouth.”
“Patrick—”
“Be quiet. Let me enjoy this.” His hands dipped beneath my sweater. I shivered when his warm hands caressed my skin.
I gripped his thighs. “Thank you.”
“Shh.”
“I don’t want to lose my family,” I confessed.
“Then don’t.” He nuzzled my hair. “I’ve missed this.”
“Me too.” Jack flashed into my head. It was wrong of me, but I couldn’t lie. Not to Patrick or myself. Because this last week Patrick hadn’t been around had been too quiet. I missed both the chaos and the peace he brought.
“How’s the nausea?”
“Comes and goes. The crackers help.”
“I read ginger tea works. I ordered some. Should be delivered today.”
“Why would you do that?” Damn if my eyes didn’t sting.
“I don’t like you being miserable.”
“I don’t know any other way to be.”
“You do. When you’re with Blake.” He nipped my ear. “Sometimes when you’re with me.”
We’d been communicating through a lawyer. Ugly words had been spoken. Yet somehow we always ended up on the floor, together, like we were a team. He shouldn’t have just let the past few days go. But he had.
“Make-up sex on the desk?” I heated at the fantasy.
“Have we made up?”
“Does it seem like we have?”
“Temporary truce?”
“Can you stop talking?”
“You want action?”
I shifted until I straddled him. “Why are you wearing a tie on Saturday?”
“Wishful thinking that you’d drop by and I’d find a good use for it.”
“Like what?”
I loosened the silk knot and pulled the garment free. He took it from my hand, tied one end around my wrist and the other around his. “You thought I’d gag you?”
“If I were you, I would.”
A smirk teased the corner of his mouth. “Most of the time, I like hearing you spout off.”
“You do?”
“Is it weird that I get hard when you say some of the things you do?”
My eyes widened in surprise. “Yes. It’s awful.”
“I can’t help it.” He rubbed my center against his erection.
“I mean some of the things I say.”
“Your words have sharp claws.” He dove his fingers into my hair. “But I can handle it.”
“I’m sorry about what I said last night.”
His brows shot up. And then he kissed me. “You’re forgiven.”
“I am?”
“Am I?”
“For what?”
“All of it. Telling your dad we’re pregnant.” He brushed his mouth against mine. “And Andrew.”
“You told my brother?” I buried my face against his shoulder.
“Kinda hurting the old ego here, Wicked.”
“You’re his best friend.”
“Now he’s Gummy’s uncle.”
“I called him,” I mumbled into his neck. “Holt
