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Has he lost his mind?
“I think I fucking love you!” He barks in my face.
I blink.
My mouth falls open as he closes the small space between us and grips my face with such dominance I can’t breathe.
“If you want a baby, I will give you one.”
Oh, my god.
What?
I tremble as the low timbre of his voice rolls through me while trying to make sense of what he just said.
My heart is thumping, my panties are wet, and I’m fairly sure this is not the right way to start a conversation with a fertility doctor.
I’m also certain Ward has lost his mind.
“You don’t mean that,” I whimper, tears welling.
“Yes, I fucking do. I’m not standing by while some other man, test tube or otherwise, impregnates the woman I love.” Ward’s thumb rubs over my cheekbone, and I start to melt into him while his deep voice rumbles through me. “Your body belongs to me. Your heart belongs to me.”
“Ward.”
I’m scared to believe him.
How has he suddenly shifted from seeing me as someone he just fucks to being in love with me?
He doesn’t even know me. He doesn’t know my hopes and dreams, or what I want.
But I do.
And I know how vastly different they are from where he is on his life path.
“You’ve had your family, Ward.” I shake my head. “When you’ve thought about this, you’ll change your mind.”
His hand tightens on my face.
I want to believe him, but I can’t.
I cannot go through the rejection and pain again. When he’s had some time to come to his senses and talk to his kids, this won’t be what he wants.
I have to be the strong one here.
For me.
“Please. Let me go. I have to go or I’ll miss my appointment.”
Waiting three or six months for another appointment is an eternity when it comes to fertility. It could mean the difference between having a child or not.
Despite my feelings for this man, I have given him multiple opportunities, and each time he has backed away and not shown me he is committed to being the man I want.
The man I need.
Ward’s hand drops from my face, and he pushes the button so the elevator begins moving again.
Despite my insistence, my heart splinters at how easy it was for him to give up. Then he surprises me by sliding his hand through my hair and dropping his mouth to mine.