Shameless(92)

“I’d be pissed too.” I pull her back into my lap, and she rests her head on my shoulder. “Since we’re having this big discussion, can I ask you something else? Because I heard parts of your conversation with Eric last week.”

She stills, and I lace our fingers together, wanting to reassure her.

“You can ask me anything you want.”

I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “Were you really pregnant last spring?”

A deep sigh leaves her. “Yeah.” She’s quiet for a moment. “Right after that argument, I got really bad food poisoning and threw up non-stop for two days. It compromised my birth control, and I was too sick to realize it. Then a few weeks later, my period was late.”

I rub her back. “So what happened? Did you? You know…”

“Oh, God, no. I didn’t get an abortion. I mean, I’m totally pro-choice, but I don’t think I could’ve gone through with it. Eric was pissed I had gotten pregnant. Upset about how it would look for the campaign. You know”—she lowers her voice—“‘son of a conservative senator knocks up girlfriend.’ We weren’t in a good place at the time—we had already been arguing about the campaign when this happened.” She blows out an exasperated breath. “Anyway, then I came here.” She takes a deep breath. “I had just arrived when I started spotting. The doctor said sometimes pregnancies terminate without rhyme or reason.”

“Damn, that’s heavy.”

“Kinda.”

“I’m sorry, babe. That’s a lot to go through.”

She nods against me.

“Mrs. Mac said you guys were engaged.”

“No way. Before the pregnancy scare, he had brought up marriage. But I couldn’t see that kind of future with him. I had never really wanted kids—I helped raise my sister. I didn’t want to be saddled with children while he was traipsing around the state.”

I clear my throat, wishing we’d had this conversation sooner. “Do you still feel that way? About kids?”

She laughs and turns to kiss me. “No. I want kids, silly. Just not with him. I mean, how could anyone be around Izzy and not want kids?”

Thank God. A wave of relief washes over me. “Cause, you know, I have a kid.”

Kat laughs harder. “Really? I hadn’t noticed.”

I’m surprised by how right that seems. Yeah, Izzy is my kid. I’m tempted to feel guilt. To feel like I’m being proprietary for something, someone, who isn’t mine. But Cal would want me to feel this way, I realize. Cal would want me to love Izzy like she’s my own. And I do love her. With every fiber of my being.

Kat nudges me. “What about you? Have you had many relationships?”

“Not really. A couple of girlfriends in high school. A few in college. None of them serious.” At least, none of them move-to-a-different-state serious.

She nibbles her bottom lip. “What about Dani?”

“No, we were just friends.”

“How is that possible?” She clears her throat. “I saw that photo.” Then she comes clean and admits she dropped by the tattoo parlor, but chickened out and took off.

“Mmm. My little stalker,” I joke as she smacks me playfully.

“But you guys looked close.” Two little lines form between Kat’s brows.

“Dani was always clear she wasn't interested in me that way. I told her it was fine, but then I wanted more. It was really a one-sided crush.” The expression on Kat’s face tells me she needs a little more convincing. “Sweetheart, I’ve barely seen her since she and Jax started dating last winter. She says she’s never been happier, and I’m glad for her. In fact, I’m starting to feel lousy I’ve been so down on their relationship.”

Kat’s whispers, “She’s just so beautiful. And you two look really hot together.”

“You know who’s really hot? My girlfriend.”

A laugh falls from her lips as I turn her so she’s straddling me. I stare up at her, wanting to know just how much she means to me. Wanting her to realize that she’s my orbit now.

Our kiss is lush and deep. I lick into her mouth and stroke against her tongue. Her breath comes out heavy, like a gasp, and I move her closer until our hips fit together. I’m pulsing against the zipper of my jeans, dying to strip her out of her clothes, It only takes a minute to realize the Christmas gift will have to wait.





62





Katherine





Breaking away from his kiss, I take off my glasses, setting them down on the coffee table, and then reach down and strip off my t-shirt. Brady stares at my sheer white bra and starts to lean toward me.

I put a hand up to stop him, and he growls.

“Not so fast,” I chuckle as I tug on his shirt.

He scoots me off his lap and reaches behind his head to yank it off. As I’m standing in front of him, admiring this stunning man, he unbuttons my jeans and slowly slides them down my hips.

Brushing his nose across my bikini line, he murmurs, “I like this white lace.”

“Because it’s virginal?”

“Because it’s sheer,” he deadpans.

I’d laugh, but I’m too distracted by his mouth that’s nibbling a trail across my stomach. I run my fingers through his thick hair and shiver when his hands slide up the back of my thighs, so close to where I want them.