High Stakes Gamble

Chapter Thirty-Two

“I thought you said you’d take care of everything?” Lying naked next to Kai on her bed, Aurora stroked the hair on his chest and then had to smile at his sheepish manner.

“It’s been so long since I’ve had to worry about protection, I stopped carrying any with me. I might add; you didn’t have any on hand either.”

“Yes I noticed how pleased that made you.” At the time, he’d kissed her so tenderly her heart had turned to pure mush.

Kai still had the power to captivate her in the way he’d managed to do the last time they’d been together. And like the last time birth control hadn’t been available, they’d risked their luck against Mother Nature’s temperament. Depending on how one looked at it, they had lost their gamble—yes. But as far as Aurora was concerned, in the final count they’d won.

Her thoughts must have spirited themselves to him, because the rascal picked up on her instant sadness and his expression became serious.

“Aurora, I’m positive Lily is fine. You told me about the woman’s gentleness and from what you described, I have no doubt she’s taking good care of our baby.”

Aurora lay back and let Kai cover her and snuggle her closer to him. She stared at the ceiling, tears clouding her vision. When she turned her head and saw his gentleness, she broke.

“I want to be taking good care of her. S-she’s our baby—mine and yours. She belongs with us, not some sicko who’s decided she can take what doesn’t belong to her.”

She cried for a long time and let him soothe her. Gentle caresses helped but what finally calmed her were his words.

“When we find her, and Darlin’, I promise you right now we will, I’ll hold the sicko and you can shoot her. How’s that?”

“Works for me,” she said tiredly, before letting the hovering oblivion have its way.

If the phone hadn’t disturbed them, Aurora had no doubt they’d have slept till mid-morning. Each time during the night when one of them had woken, they’d reached for the other to soothe the nightmares. Now both were stressed from lack of sleep.

She reached across Kai and answered. Within seconds, she leapt from the covers. “That was Ham. They have a lead.”