Page 104 of Shattered Veil
“I am.” I sniff, those damn hormones making me weepy.
Val looks woozy and knocks into a wall.
“I got you.” I help her.
She hugs me, and I catch Balor’s warm smile over her shoulder.
The door closes and the silence in the room thickens. I stay facing away, collecting my thoughts, and getting my nerves in check.
Heat envelops me as Balor presses his chest against my back.
“I was worried,” he whispers with nothing but sweetness in his voice.
It’s genuine and about as non-threatening as I’ve ever heard.
On a shaky breath, I turn around. “I know leaving the school without waiting for your driver was—”
His mouth covers mine, his voice raw. “Please don’t ever do that again. I was freaking out.”
No yelling. No hitting. No dragging.
Balor holds me and kisses me.
“Ifreaked. I’m sorry. I had to figure out what I want. Me.”
“I get that, butterfly. But this is my baby, too. I want a say.”
“I don’t mean the baby. I would never keep a baby from his father.” Except Wes, but I don’t voice that. “I mean us. I want you to want me for me. That’s why I asked you how felt. And all you said was youlikedme.”
“I told you, words don’t do justice to what I feel for you. But just as you feel it’s too soon, so do I. Just as you have things to work through, so do I.” He kisses my hand. “All I know is when you’re not with me, I feel empty. That’s a start, isn’t it?”
“It is.” I cover the hand he placed on my stomach, keeping it there, loving how that feels.
“Please let my brother set you up with a doctor right away.”
“Come on. Let’s talk.” I take his hand and we sit on the sofa. “I worry if your family knows I’m pregnant they might pressure you to...put even more pressure on me.”
“You don’t know them,” he says and bites his lower lip. “And the pressure is more about being responsible adult men.”
“I don’t want to be a responsibility.”
“You’re making it so I can’t win here. If I blow this off, I’m an ass. If I push you to commit to me, I’m a jerk.”
Jerk... I laugh, remembering I called him that in my head the night we met.
“Youaremy responsibility, Ella,” he continues when Idon’t respond. “But don’t confuse that with being a burden. Those are two completely different things. I’m thrilled...”
“About the baby?”
“Aye. I wasn’t expecting it. But most single men aren’t expecting news like that.”
Negotiate. Like Hannah said. A successful negotiation means both parties get something. What can I give up? What can I live with to get what I want in return? What do I even want?
“Aside from me seeing a doctor right now, how do you want to proceed from here?” I ask.
“I’m glad you asked.” Balor reaches inside his pocket and shows me a velvet cube.
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX