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“Oh.” She blushes, looking between us both with a nervous smile. “No, that’s not necessary, Mr. Creed.”

“You sure? Poor baby was begging for it in the car.”

His hand returns to my lower back as he leans in to kiss my cheek, startling me to the point that I don’t even know what to say. Obviously these people don’t know what Alex looks like, but what a shock it’ll be for them when the real one comes in.

Draven Creed is going to get me killed.

“I—” I start, looking up to meet those icy blue eyes, full of mischief. “I wasn’t begging for anything. You were.”

They drop to my lips like he’s about to kiss me. “That’s fair. How could I not?”

“Right this way. I’m glad to see this hasn’t dampened your desire for one another. I know struggling to conceive can be very difficult for a young couple.”

It can be, which is why this is insulting as fuck. There are people who actually need these appointments, who desperately want them, and here’s Ephraim wasting time, effort, and money on something not necessary at all.

She leads us into a room and takes my vitals twice. Both times, my blood pressure is sky high and my heart rate is through the roof. “I’m just nervous,” I explain. “That’s all.”

“I shouldn’t have gotten her so worked up on the way here. I think I was a little confused about what type of appointment this was. We’re newly engaged, so I’ll try to keep my hands to myself. You can see what my touch does to her.”

To prove his point, he slides his hand up the side of my neck and tips my chin up with his thumb, guiding me to meet his eyes. Whatever my heart rate does has the nurse laughing. “Maybe you should wait outside. It’s important we get accurate readings.”

“Damn, I’m getting the boot, baby.” His touch trails down until his palm is gently resting against my throat. “Don’t keep me waiting for too long.”

He places a kiss on the tip of my fucking nose and stands, turning to leave, and I have to wonder if my heart rate will ever go back to normal.

Everything about this is wrong, including his offer.

So why do I wish I’d have said yes?

APRIL



















Fourteen

“Thank you.”

I hang up the phone and shake my head at Shay. “There’s nothing biologically stopping me from getting pregnant.”