“Dinner was real good,” he said and reached around her to pluck up a piece of potato between his fingers—like an animal—and plopped it into his mouth.
She giggled against his chest, delirious. “You just like the seasoning,” she teased.
“Mm. That too,” he said, sucking her taste off his fingers. His mouth closed around hers then and she felt herself succumb to his kiss, intoxicated by this Beast of a man who was so quick to claim her every chance he got. I’m his, she thought and she felt the mark on her throat burn.
And he’s mine.
Chapter 50
They fucked again that night, in front of the fire, and then once more in bed. Jacob was animal, virile, insatiable, and Holly was drunk on his need. Every time his fingers brushed her skin or his teeth grazed her throat or his dick grew hard and strong in her hand, Holly felt how much he wanted her, how much he needed her, this rugged, Alpha man. She felt powerful, rich, precious, like her veins pumped with gold. She was Helen of Troy, capable of toppling even the strongest of men with a smile or, in her case, a blush.
Holly couldn’t tell exactly which one of their entanglements that night finally stuck, but she was certain that, yes, that had to be the night that put her right here, staring down a positive pregnancy test.
A flurry of emotions jostled around in her chest. Holly tried to get her mind focused.
Alright. Think, Holly. Make a list. She jotted down:
Various ways Jacob might react to the news
Best-case scenario: unabashed joy and gratitude.
Pros: wild cowboy celebrations and a lifetime of happiness.
Cons: wild cowboy celebrations.
Worst-case scenario: he is so shocked he turns into a bear on the spot.
Pros: a new bearskin rug.
Cons: losing the father of my child and my one shot at happiness.
The worst-case scenario was—for lack of a better word—bad. Very bad. Catastrophically bad. But she had to tell him. One way or another. It was just a matter of when—
A knock on the door startled her upright. “Everything alright in there?” Jacob’s voice leaked through the bathroom door.
“I—yeah—” Holly fumbled to pick up the pregnancy stick, which had fallen into the sink in her surprise. “One second, please.” How to get rid of it? He’d see it in the trashcan; could she flush it down the toilet?
“Take your time. Five minutes till you gotta head out for class.”
“Okay. Thank you.” Frantically, Holly scrambled around the bathroom. She grabbed her dirty clothes, wrapped the stick up in them, and then made to leave. On second thought, she flushed the toilet behind her, just in case he was listening in or something. Her paranoia was reaching an all-time high when she exited the bathroom, bundle in hand. Jacob had left—probably downstairs waiting on her—so Holly shoved the bundle of clothes and pregnancy stick in her bag and then hoisted it on her shoulder. She took one quick glance in the mirror before heading downstairs and picked up a hair tie, pulling her hair back. Made her look less frantic, she decided.
Jacob was in the den by time she got there and she smiled prettily at him. “Ready,” she said cheerily.
He glanced up with his eyes only, dark orbs under his heavy eyebrows. A hint of smile rose from his lips. “Y’look good,” he said.
Her heart vibrated in her chest. “Thanks,” she said. Why was she so afraid of this man? He was her husband; hell, she should be able to tell him anything, especially this. “Listen,” she blurted out, “there’s something we have to talk about—”
“Well, don’t do it on an empty stomach,” Jacob said abruptly. He held out a plate of toast and eggs for her.
Holly didn’t realize how hungry she was until she saw the food. She sat down beside him and instantly started scarfing it down. “Thanks,” she said between mouthfuls.
“Prepping for hibernation?” he asked, amused, as he watched her devour the plate of food.
“These eggs are really good,” she told him. “What’d you do to them?”
“Scramble them.” Then he leaned over and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Everything tastes better when it’s been beaten.”
“Even you?” she challenged.
He lifted his eyebrows. “There something you wanted to tell me?”
She glanced at the clock. They had to leave in two minutes if she wanted to make it there in time. Not half enough time for celebrating, asking questions, making plans. She’d tell him later. Tonight. She shook her head. “I forgot.”
“Bad teacher.” He gripped the top of her head in his big hand, gave it a playful squeeze and a kiss. “I’ll talk to you later, then. Love you.”