I counted to ten, hoping my pulse would slow.
“Yeah, about that.” He came back, anger washing over his face. “Zach is the father.”
I quietly pushed all the air in my lungs out through my nose. “Why do you look like you want to punch something?” Did he want to be the father? Darkness skirted the edges of my vision as my thoughts held steady.
“Friends’ code and all that.”
The light grew brighter, my pulse kick-starting. Then I remembered Chloe crying outside of the townhome that day. It was all starting to make sense. “Why didn’t you tell me when I was running out of Rumors?”
“I didn’t know if I was the father then. I wasn’t even going to tell you until I knew for sure, but I also didn’t want to lie and make up an excuse about why I didn’t show up at Davenport’s.” He tucked my hair behind my ear. “The good news is that I’m all yours if you’ll have me.”
I nibbled on a nail. Or more like gnawed on it. I wanted him. I wanted us. But a small voice in the back of my head reminded me of our conversation in his kitchen.
“Lizard, please say something. My heart is slamming against my chest, and my stomach hurts.”
“You said your life would be over when I went back to Miami. What’s changed?”
“I love you,” he said.
“You said yourself you’ve always loved me.”
He traced circles around my lips with his fingers. “The thought of you not being by my side scares me. I’m not going to lie. But Kade and Lacey make it work, so why can’t we? If our love is strong, we’ll survive the long distance.”
“You’re not telling me what to do.”
His finger stopped on my upper lip, searching my eyes. “Oh, baby doll. There will be times when I will, and you will enjoy it.”
I opened my mouth.
He stuck his finger in. “Now, will you have me?”
All I could do was close my mouth around his finger. It occurred to me to bite it, but I sucked on it instead.
Groaning, he mashed his body into me then cupped my face in his hands. “Is that a yes?”
“Just kiss me.”
His tongue plunged into my mouth, exploring, before demanding I respond. I kissed him back, wild and free, as a storm brewed deep inside me. I gripped his shoulders, trying to get closer to him even though our bodies were already plastered against each other.
He broke the kiss. “I’m so fucking ready to take you right here.”
I was more than ready for him to do wild things to me. But not in Dillon’s house, and as much as I wanted to find somewhere to show him how much I loved him, I wanted to wait until after the poker game when I wasn’t thinking about my bluffing, what hand I was dealt, or Terrance. Kelton deserved all of me, and I couldn’t afford any distractions. “Can we make a date for after the poker game? I need to focus.”
His forehead touched mine. “I’m not sure I can wait. But I do want your full attention. And when we make love, I want you to be surrounded in flowers, touched with a feather, and caressed with my tongue.” His voice was all kinds of husky.
Kross cleared his throat. “Bro, time to get moving.”
Dillon came in behind Kross.
Kelton held out his hand to him. “Man, I’m sorry for being a dick.”
Dillon checked on me then shook Kelton’s hand. “Apology accepted.”
“I want in on the poker game,” Kelton said.
“Not a good idea,” Kross said. “You need to walk the straight and narrow with Davenport’s job opportunity on the line.”
I couldn’t let Kelton ruin any chance he had with Davenport or his future as a lawyer. “We have Rafe and Josh going with us.”
“I promise to be on my best behavior,” Kelton pleaded.
“Man, you’re a hothead. We can’t risk it,” Dillon said curtly.
“What if I go with?” Kross asked. “I can be muscle and keep this one in line.” He stabbed a thumb at his brother.
I wasn’t about to intervene or sway Dillon’s decision. He was only part of this poker game for me. He’d gone out on a limb, borrowing the money from his brother for me. So if he felt that Kelton shouldn’t go, I would support him.
Dillon rubbed the scruff on his face. “I’m only saying yes because I know you wouldn’t let anything happen to her, and Kross is better muscle. Plus I don’t need my men getting into any trouble.”
I hooked my arm through Kelton’s. “I’ll walk you out.” It was better if they left before Dillon changed his mind.
The stars were out but hardly visible. A light wind blew, the chimes on someone’s porch singing.
“Are you sure about this?” I asked. “We’re dealing with illegal gambling. If Mr. Davenport finds out—”
“I’m not letting you go in without me.”
I prayed nothing went wrong, for his sake.
25
Kelton