Page 36 of Daddies’ Dark Desires (Forbidden Fantasies #19)

HARPER

I t takes a while for the men to voice their opinions, their concerns, their objections, and once they’re done, I meet every one of their gazes with my glower. Each of them look darker than the last.

“I’m going.” They’ll have to figure it out, or they won’t. Either way, I’ll be there. I will not let Sunny down.

For once, they don’t argue with me. They simply put me to bed. And after a small hesitation, they crawl in with me.

I nap between them, feeling the most safe I ever have. But it doesn’t let me drop into a deep and restful sleep.

But their breathing is even, their bodies warm enough that we don’t need any covers.

Grant’s hand is in my hair. Trent’s arm is around my waist, and Oliver’s tangled in my legs.

The longer I lay there, the more antsy I get. If I twitch too much, I’ll wake one of them, and they’re the ones who have to be at the top of their game tomorrow, so I slip out from between them as smoothly as I’m able.

Which is not all that smoothly. I can simply claim a need to pee, which is also true.

It’s always true, honestly.

But this pee is a little more important. Because I’m late. Like more than a week late. And since I’m not particularly regular even with birth control, thinking I’m actually late, like there’s real possibilities brewing, has my brain on overdrive.

It’s just one more impossible situation tacked on to ten others.

The process of unraveling myself is slow.

They’re all still sleeping when I stand at the end of the bed, or at least, it seems that way.

I sneak off to the bathroom to take the pregnancy test waiting in my bag.

It was the other reason I met Sunny so early. She snuck it to me before we went to the investor’s floor. I didn’t want the guys to witness me buying one and give me the third degree, and I didn’t have access to it while I was locked in Grant’s office.

My work bag was still stuffed in my locked desk drawer.

I’m lucky I got it before we fled the building.

I pee on the stick and set a silent alarm, trying not to twitch and tap my foot as I wait.

It feels sucky to hide this, but I wouldn’t be able to stand their disappointment. Not right now. Not after I got Sunny kidnapped.

She may have sounded like a tired version of her sunshine self, but I can’t imagine what they might be doing to her for trying to get me a message.

It doesn’t bode well for my decision-making skills. What if I am pregnant? What kind of mom does that mean I will be?

And the guys…they’ll make excellent dads, but…

God, they’re going to hate me for this.

None of them have kids. Why would they want one now? With our age difference? With the mess I’ve made?

With the way I’ve defied them at every turn? Haven’t shown them my trust when they truly deserve it?

There’s no way they want this. None.

Not with me.

I’m so fucked.

Who do I think I am? I’m going to ruin their lives with this.

I’m going to turn into a burden because they’d never abandon me after this. I’d be an obligation, something they didn’t choose but have to deal with anyway.

Shit, now I’m a true liability. The weak link. They’ll never let me save Sunny now. But they need me to do it. There’s no other way?—

My timer goes off, a quiet vibrate of my phone, and a knock at the door follows. It jars me in place.

Fuck .

I shoot off the toilet seat, and in a split decision, I scramble to turn the test over before I answer the door.

My gaze homes in on that pink plus sign. Positive? I’m seeing that right. Right?

Oh god.

I gasp on a sob, trembling as my hand slaps over my mouth. My knees go weak, and I’m ready to collapse to the tile floor and let the world crumble around me. This is going to be the end of everything.

The lock pops open behind me. I should have fucking known a locked door wouldn’t stop any of them.

They can’t know. Not yet. I’m not ready. I can’t ? —

But the tears are full force when big hands grasp my shoulders.

“Harper? Are you hurt?” Trent’s voice is softer than I’ve ever heard it before.

He turns me to face him, and I’m in his arms the moment he sees my tears. He must see the test sitting on the counter because his grip on me tightens.

Soft, soothing noises drop into my hair, but I only cry harder.

How did this happen? I mean, I know how it happened, but I’m on birth control. I haven’t missed a day. I have a damn alarm.

More hands appear around my hips, in my hair, at the small of my back. Two other bodies crowd around me.

I’m protected by a wall of man.

Slowly, they soothe my tears away. A hand comes down around my hips, over my stomach and womb. The supporting pressure there calms my shaking.

“Come back to bed. Let us take care of you.” Grant is even keeled and as calm as ever, his hand at the back of my neck pushes against the tight muscles.

Trent retreats an inch and drags his thumbs under my eyes to smear the tears away. The look on his face is so soft. How is he not angry with me right now?

For all of this insolence?

I pull in a shuddering breath and close my eyes, willing myself not to break down in tears again.

His warm mouth presses against my forehead before he releases me.

Grant kisses my bare shoulder with a little pat on my ass. “I mean it. Back to bed.”

Oliver’s grip tightens around my waist when I hesitate, his hand low over my stomach as he reels me back against him. Mouth at my ear, he whispers, “Do as you’re told, Harper.”

At least I don’t have to drop this bomb on them. It’s already detonated.

They lure me back to the bed, surrounding me once again with their heat. Trent has me splayed over his body, my head tucked under his chin, but Oliver and Grant aren’t far. They keep their hands on me, reinforcing their presence.

Grant’s hand is on my stomach now. Oliver plays with the bit of flesh between my fingers. Trent has an arm across my shoulders as if he has to keep me there by force.

None of them seem to be preparing a punishment for this. And I certainly deserve one.

I might even feel better if they did deliver one. Even something as simple as a set of swats.

But maybe, just maybe, this isn’t going to destroy us. Maybe we’ll be okay.

We have options.

Trent murmurs against my temple like he can read my thoughts. “You know we’ll support you no matter what you decide…just don’t think we’re going to take it easy on you either way.”