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She belongs to Jackson and me. That’s it. Period. “Aurora,” I growl, losing my patience. “Get in here.”
Grant follows her in and sits on my couch. She pauses then moves to sit next to him.
“No.” I reach out and grab her wrist. “You come here. Grant, get out of my office.”
He ignores me and chuckles. “You might be worse than Jackson.”
I pay him no attention and guide her between my legs. Intertwining our fingers, I hold her arms out and scan her stunning figure. “What are you wearing?”
“A sweater dress. I’m changing things up today, since I’ve been in nothing but team hoodies for the past few days. Not a fan?”
“I love it. It’s a little...” I tilt my head to glimpse her barely-covered ass. “Short.”
“That’s because your son is making my stomach grow.”
I don’t know what that has to do with the length of herdress,but I’m fond of hearing her talk about what’s mine. “Good.”
“This is so fucking weird,” Grant mutters, amusement lacing his tone.
I skewer him with my best glare. “Unless you want to be traded, get out and shut my door.”
He leaves with a shit-eating grin, and Aurora settles herself on my desk.
I lean in and kiss her rounded stomach. “I’m sorry about earlier.”
I go to run my palms up her thighs, but she halts my progress, weaving our fingers together.
Her gaze remains on our hands, her shoulders slumped. “It’s okay. This is too much for you. I get it. I understand. You have work, and I’m a mess,” she rambles anxiously. “I thought a lot about what you said.”
I caress her belly, hoping to feel the baby move again. “And what did you think?”
“That you and I... We don’t have to do this right now.”
Typical Aurora. She’ll give me up for my own benefit. It’s not that she’s choosing Jackson. She’s choosing my freedom—for me.
“And by this, you mean us?”
She nods.
“I was being jealous, baby. I was angry and jealous you always protect Jax. I knew what I was getting into, knew you loved him, but you volunteering to risk yourself pushed all my buttons. I was being possessive, that’s all.”
“You said we’d discussuswhen this is all said and done.” She repeats my words nearly verbatim, still refusing to look at me. “Did you mean our relationship? As parents? Or custody…”
I tilt her chin and force her gaze to meet mine. “Stop. You’re overthinking. I was wrong and you knew it. You called me out on my bullshit, as you have every time since the day we met, and that’s why I love you.”
She stares at me until I realize…
“Oh, shit. I haven’t said that out loud yet, have I?”
Her lips break into a soft smile, and she shakes her head.
“Well, fuck.” I rake my fingers through my hair. “That wasn’t exactly how I wanted to tell you…and not…” Jesus, I messed this up, and now I’m the one panicking unreasonably. “…while…” I exhale sharply.
“While we’re breaking up?” she incorrectly finishes for me.
I scoff. “We are not breaking up.”
“Or broke up, whatever,” she mumbles and attempts to hop off my desk.