Page 318 of By His Vow

He cups my cheek and wipes away a tear I didn’t realize had dropped.

“We’ll figure it out. It’s not like you have a job to distract you.”

My heart sinks as I think about returning to Chicago unemployed.

I loved my job. I loved my team.

“That was reckless of me, wasn’t it?”

“I’m pretty sure that you could sweet talk your boss into giving you your job back.”

“Sweet talk? You mean a blow job won’t do it?” I tease.

“Well, considering I was talking about taking it up with your brother, no, probably not.”

“Oh ew, King,” I say, swatting his shoulder again. “That’s gross.”

“You don’t need to worry about your job, Tate. There will always be a place for you at Warner Group or Callahan Enterprises.”

I fall silent, unable to process everything that’s spinning through my mind.

Of all the scenarios I imagined when I told Kingston the truth, him being happy about it wasn’t one that I lingered on.

I expected him to be angry. Full of disbelief and frustration.

Pissed that I’d lied to him. That I hadn’t been more careful—not that it’s solely my responsibility, of course.

But this…this is something else.

“What are you thinking, baby?” he asks, holding my face firmly and looking deep into my eyes.

“I…I don’t know. You’ve…” I shake my head, a soft smile playing on my lips. “Who are you?” I ask, laughing.

“The man who’s in love with you,” he says simply, his voice raspy with emotion. “The man whose baby you’re carrying.”

A sob breaks free as more emotion than I can deal with erupts inside me. Without missing a beat, he pulls me into his arms and silently holds me, supports me, and gives me everything I knew I needed but was too stubborn to accept.

My tears coat his chest, but he doesn’t complain or try and stop me. Instead, he just allows me to expel everything that I’ve kept bottled up over the past two weeks.

I’ve no idea how much time has passed when I open my sore eyes, but I’m pretty sure I fell asleep again.

It seems that all I needed to help me fully relax was to have Kingston wrapped around me like a snake.

I don’t think I’ve ever had two naps in a day.

Is this what I have to look forward to in the next eight months?

“Hey, sleepy head,” he whispers as I begin to stir.

I remember him lying back and taking me with him, but I don’t remember us ending up on our sides, him spooning me.

“S-sorry,” I rasp, my voice rough with sleep.

“Nothing to apologize for.”

“I haven’t slept well since I’ve been here,” I confess.

“Well, I’m glad I could help.”