“I know. About Andrew anyway.”
I sat up. “He’s not taking my call?”
“Still pissed over what you said about Ella.”
“It’s a legitimate concern,” I defended.
“Don’t say that to him if you want him to forgive you.” He brushed my hair back from my face. There was no judgment, only tenderness reflected back at me.
“How do you keep defending me?”
“Because I know your heart.” He shrugged. “And we’ve already established I’m a little odd.”
“A little?”
“We could get a shock collar. Every time you start to say something inappropriate, I could buzz you.”
I glared at him. “Did you really just say that to me?”
“We could put it against your clit.” He grinned wickedly.
“How about we put one around your dick?”
“I’m game.”
I slapped at his chest. “You would like that.”
“Maybe.”
“This might not be make-up sex after all.”
“Good. Then we can do it again when we get around to making up.”
Chapter Forty-Five
Patrick
I kissed my way up her neck, nearly drunk by the time I reached her ear. She tasted so good, like home. My dick cursed my stubborn pride for not trying harder to get her back sooner.
I lifted her arms and shed her sweater. A tiny camisole was all that separated me from her skin. I skimmed my fingers beneath the hem and hooked it up until the fabric bunched just beneath her breasts.
“You need to eat more.”
“That’s not turning me on.” She yanked on the ends of my hair.
“I want people to see our Gummy.”
“You mean you want to.”
I grinned. “Yeah.” I traced my fingertip around her navel. “I want everyone to see who belongs to me.”
She dug her nails into my neck. “Possessive much?”
I pulled her into me. “Very.”
“I do not belong to anyone,” she said, even as she melted into me.
I drew a circle along her stomach. “This says otherwise.”
She pointed to her mouth. “This says otherwise—” Her phone rang. “It’s Holt.”
She looked at me in a what do I do panic.
“Answer it.”
She swiped the screen.
“I’ll be by the garage in a little while,” she said in lieu of a greeting.
I pinched her nipple at the sharp tone of her words. She clenched her teeth and batted my hand away.
“I’m sorry,” she blurted out.
I kissed her fingertips in approval.
“I don’t want to fight anymore. I know I’ll say some other stupid stuff. I can’t just turn it off.”
She bit her lip at whatever Holt said. I lifted her by the hips and peppered soft kisses along her stomach. Her hand wove through my hair.
“Can you tell Baker I didn’t mean to ruin the wedding? And that I’m happy for both you.”
Her fingers kneaded my scalp.
“I mean it.”
I rested my cheek against her stomach.
“Yeah. We’ll come to Dino’s tomorrow.”
Her grip on my hair grew painful.
“I’ve got something to tell you.” She paused, and I wrapped my arms around her back. “I’m pregnant.”
I looked up at her and mouthed we’re.
“Well, I’m sorry you lost a bet,” she snipped. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Everything good?”
“He said to tell you he’s going to punch you when he sees you.”
“Andrew already beat him to it.”
“What?”
I rubbed my jaw. She moved my hand and examined it for herself. “Oh my God.”
“Dude’s got a mean right hook.” I winked at her. “Hope you don’t.”
“Keep it up and you’ll find out.”
“Mercy. Mercy.” I held both of my hands up.
“I can’t believe he punched you.”
“Apparently, I broke bro-code. If he hooked up with my sister, well, I’d punch him now for doing that to Trish. But before, I’d have been cool with it.”
“Are we seriously having this conversation?”
“I’m not going anywhere. So after Gummy comes, you might have to protect me against them.”
“I thought my dad was going to kill you.” She giggled.
“You think that’s funny?” I tickled her sides. “I was planning my escape route. Mrs. Quinn may have had to take one for the team.”
“What were you going to do? Use her as a shield?”
“If I had to. Mr. Dixon is no small man.”
“What are you going to do when Gummy gets pregnant?”
“Kill the bastard who did it.”
“Not if I get to him first.” She grinned and dropped her forehead to mine. “So Andrew’s not speaking to either of us now?”
“Nope,” I said. “Your Dad wants me to marry you. Your brother wants me to drop dead.”
“He’s thrilled. You should’ve seen him this morning when I took Blake over. He’s—you were right. His family is his life.”
“Mine is too.” She blinked at me. “You said I wasn’t alone.”
“I meant it.”
I pulled her face to mine. “I’m going to punch Holt for cock-blocking me.”
She checked her watch. “He gave me the day off. Dad should be good with Blake for at least another few hours.”
“Get your pen out, Wicked. We’re about to check off another fantasy of yours.”
I picked her up and laid her out on the desk. I whipped off her camisole and the pink lace bra underneath.
“Did you come over here with the intention of seducing me?”
“Isn’t this better than an apology?” She dangled the bra strap from her finger.
“How do you know me so well?”
“Are you going to take the rest of my clothes off?”
“Are you going to be a good girl?”
“No.”
“Then they’re coming off.”
I peeled her jeans down and tossed them over my shoulder. Matching pink lace panties hid what I wanted. I shoved them aside and ran a finger up her slit. Her hand flew back, palms braced against the surface of the desk.
“We’ve got a problem, Wicked.”
“I don’t want to hear about it,” she breathed, wiggling her ass closer to the edge.
“I want to watch you come. But I don’t think you deserve an orgasm so quickly.”
“Give it to me anyway.”
“How about we compromise? Think we can do that?”
“If it ends in both of us coming, yes.”
I eased a finger inside of her. “Scream my name, and I’ll make it quick.”
She gripped my wrist and tried to move my hand faster.
“Spread your thighs. I want to see you.”
Her knees fell open. I dropped to mine. She glistened. I removed my finger and
