“Go?” I repeat. “Go where?”
Hayden doesn’t answer me. He simply takes my hand in a tight grip and mashes the shit out of the elevator button that’ll take us to the ground floor. I tug on our joined hands to get his attention.
“What are you doing?”
He swings his gaze to me, the blue sparkling with urgency. “I’m taking you to an OBGYN.”
“Why?”
“I have to make sure this is real.”
I frown up at him. “And if it is?”
He pauses, almost as though frightened to speak. “If this is actually happening, it’s the best day of my life.”
Tears prick my eyes. “Really? I know this complicates everything.”
“That’s why you ran.” When I slowly nod, he yanks me into his arms, wrapping me in a secure embrace. He blows out a harsh breath that sweeps over my temple. “God, Callie, if you weren’t pregnant, I’d kidnap you and never let you leave.”
“If I weren’t pregnant, we wouldn’t be having this conversation right now,” I say, my words muffled against his coat.
He places a kiss on my hair. “I’m sorry, baby. You must’ve been scared, but you don’t have to worry anymore. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.”
I pull back and give him a wry smile. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
Hayden doesn’t speak to me again. But he does communicate with everyone else: telling the driver where to go, ordering the receptionist to fit us in for an emergency appointment, and even demanding that the doctor do a sonogram when we walk into the exam room.
I look at Dr. Sheridan with a shrug. The faster she falls in line, the better off we’ll all be.
“It’s good to see you again,” she says to me. “Why don’t you lie down, Miss Gr—”
“Mrs. Bennett,” Hayden says.
“My apologies.” She looks at me with a calm expression. That makes one of us. “Mrs. Bennett, please lie down and lift your shirt to expose your stomach.”
I do as she says, my nerves bouncing inside me. Hayden stands beside me like a sentry on duty, his jaw set in a hard line.
The doctor squirts a cool gel on my belly and guides the ultrasound wand across my skin. The room is silent except for the whooshing sound of the baby’s heartbeat. The tears that have been threatening to fall since I first saw Hayden again trail down my cheeks.
I don’t have the gumption to tell him this is the first time I’m going to see the baby because I was hiding. Although I’ve done everything else to protect him or her. It helps that Harper practically shoved prenatal vitamins down my throat.
“There we go,” Dr. Sheridan says gently.
An image appears on the screen, irrevocably changing my life. Our baby, nestled safely inside me. Tiny arms that will one day wrap around us. And tiny legs that will one day run to us.
Hayden takes my hand in his trembling one. He turns to me, his rough exterior finally cracking. “That’s our baby,” he whispers brokenly.
My heart swells. In this moment, the darkness of our past doesn’t matter. All I see is the family we’re becoming. I was lonely for so long, but not anymore.
Never again.
“Yes,” I whisper. “That’s our baby.”
The doctor clears her throat. “I’ll give you two some time alone.”
She leaves the room, but neither of us acknowledge her, both of us too caught up in each other and the life we’ve created.
“This is really happening,” Hayden says, his voice full of wonder.
“I’m sorry I hid this from you.”
He nods slowly and lifts my hand to press a kiss to my knuckles. “I forgave you the moment you told me.”
His immediate acceptance takes me by surprise. I wipe my damp cheeks and attempt to smile at him. It wobbles on my face. “I was scared,” I say softly. “Scared of how you’d react. Of what you might do…”
“You were right to worry.”
My eyes widen. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t want to do this in public.”
I fight nausea the entire drive back to Hayden’s penthouse. And it’s not because I’m pregnant. My nerves zip along my arms and legs until I feel like I’ve stuck a fork in an electric socket.
The minute we step inside the living room, I whirl to face him, unable to stand the heavy silence between us. “Why did you say that I should’ve been worried?”
His gaze pierces mine, unwavering and unapologetic. “Because you know who I really am and what I’m capable of.”
I swallow the lump in my throat. “What does that mean exactly?”
“You and this baby are all I’ve ever wanted, all I ever dreamed of having. For you to take that from me…” He shakes his head and briefly closes his eyes. “You must hate me to hurt me that much.”
“I never meant to. I know I did inadvertently, but it wasn’t my intention.” I reach out to grasp his hand. “Please believe me.”
Hayden pulls me to him and I go willingly, unable to resist the pull he has on me. After cupping my cheek, he places his thumb along my jaw to hold me in place. “I do believe you.”
I scrunch my face in confusion. “Then why did you say that you didn’t want to do this in public? What is ‘this’?”
“Fuck you.”
My lips part on a gasp. Hayden is quick to take advantage of my surprise, slamming his mouth to mine, his tongue driving between my lips. My pulse accelerates even more when he wraps his arm around my back and forces our bodies together. His cock digs into my belly, making my pussy flutter.
I pull away first to suck air into my lungs. His eyes burn with hunger and passion, a bright flame that steals the breath I just took. When I start to say something, his fingers dig into my hip to stop me.
Hayden hauls me into the hallway and slams my back against the wall. He covers my body with his, pressing into me, the heat of his skin burning me. Sweat breaks out on my forehead and my cheeks grow flushed, but it’s nothing compared to the fevered look in his eyes.
I can taste the fire in his kiss and feel it in his demanding grip. My head is swimming when he finally jerks his head back. He grinds into me and I moan softly. His nostrils flare as he devours me with his gaze, his hands roaming my body. I’ve been starved for his touch.
For him.
He slides his hand into my hair and fists a handful. His touch makes me shiver and I turn my head to give him better access. “I’m going to fuck you so hard that won’t be able to walk, let alone run from me,” he murmurs, the sound rumbling in his chest. “First I’m going to own this pussy. Then I’m going to own you.”
He lifts his gaze to mine, his dark, brooding eyes bright with his near-insanity. He grabs my jaw, forcing me to meet his stare. “Do you hear me, Mrs. Bennett?”
“Yes, Mr. Bennett.”
His hold on me grows tight enough to bruise. He doesn’t give me time to recover, slamming his mouth back onto mine. I kiss him back, sliding my arms around his neck, and arch into him, rubbing my breasts against his hard chest.
Hayden pulls away with a hiss. He swings me into his arms and marches toward the bedroom. His strength and determination make me weak. I lie helpless but eager in his embrace until he sets my feet on the floor.
Then he’s ripping my clothes from my body. I wince at first, but soon every sound of material being torn fills me with anticipation. Hayden’s violent actions have me trembling by the time I’m naked.
He freezes. He stares. And then he sinks to his knees before me.
“Hayden, what…?”
He grips the backs of my thighs, his fingers digging into my skin, and leans forward to place a lingering kiss on my tattoo. Followed by my slightly rounded belly. “If you told me to crawl, I would. If you told me to die for you, I would. And if you tell me to live for you, I will.” He presses his cheek against thigh with an exhale. “I’ll do anything for you and this baby, Callie.”
I run my fingers through his hair while my emotions threaten to choke me. “I don’t want to be responsible for that kind of power over you.”
“You already are.”
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
Hayden rises, the muscles in his arms and shoulders straining the material of his shirt. “I’m not. Because you’re mine. You’re always going to be mine. I will always chase you and bring you back to me.”
My throat aches, and the tears in my eyes make my vision blurry. “You’re willing to chase me forever?”
“Yes. I’m willing to fight for you. Because you’re worth it.”
“I love you.” It’s all I can manage, but it’s everything I have.
He makes a pained sound as his hands slide up my ribcage. He palms my breasts and my nipples harden against his palms. I tilt my head back to accommodate the deep, bruising kiss he gives me. It’s punishing. It’s desperate.
It’s beautiful.
Hayden guides me down onto the bed and I stare up at him, unable to look away. He skims his thumb over my tattoo. His branding of me.
“Do you know why I did this?” When I don’t answer, he continues. “Because I loved seeing my last name on your skin. Because I wanted to see it every time I fucked you.”
I smile at his arrogance and lift my arms to him. He unbuttons his shirt with his usual efficiency and then his pants. Once he’s on top of me, he uses one arm to cage me in and the other to stroke my inner thigh. His touch leaves a trail of fire in its wake.
Hayden’s mouth lands on mine with a fury. He kisses me as if he’s punishing me and I kiss him back because I like the way he dominates me.
“You’re so fucking perfect,” he says against my lips.
And then his fingers are sliding through my slit, making me moan into his mouth. I suck his lower lip between my teeth and bite. Hard.
Hayden pulls away with a grin, his dark eyes gleaming. “So you do want to play dirty, huh?” He slides his hand under my knee and lifts my leg into the air.
“What are you—?”
He grinds his cock against my clit. “I love how your body comes alive for me, baby.”
My body is vibrating. My heart is beating out of control. I want to scream and beg for more.
Hayden places a kiss on my jaw before trailing his lips along my neck, biting occasionally. “I love how responsive you are.” His hand slides to my thigh and squeezes it hard. “I love how easily I can make you come.”
He drives into me, hard enough to hurt. I whimper in his embrace. Hayden groans against my ear. “You feel so fucking good.”
I gasp when he withdraws and then slams into me again. He starts moving faster and harder, his fingers digging into my skin to hold me still. But it’s not enough. I need more.
I need everything he has to give me.
“Please,” I whisper.
He doesn’t say a word, his tongue delving in my mouth as he fucks me. He goes faster and harder with every thrust. I can feel the tingling of my skin, the warm ache deep in my belly. The pressure inside me grows until I can barely breathe.
I hold on to him, my nails digging into his skin as I chase after my release. The pleasure is intense and overwhelming, and I want to cry out from the sheer ecstasy of it.
Hayden breaks away from my mouth. “Look at me.”
I open my eyes to find his. They’re hooded and dark with lust, but still focused on mine. “Come for me, Mrs. Bennett,” he demands.
I can’t refuse him. His gaze holds me captive until I tip over the edge. I moan and arch against him, my body writhing on his as I’m swept away in a tidal wave of euphoria. My orgasm rolls over me in crashing waves that leave me panting.
Hayden continues to drive into me until he’s gripping me hard and his cock jerks inside me. Then he’s coming, his mouth devouring mine as he shudders from the pleasure.
It takes a few moments for him to still, and when he does, he stares at me, his eyes searching mine. He rolls onto his back and takes me with him. I curl into his chest, feeling his heart thump under my cheek.
“I’ve missed everything about you,” he says softly, running his fingers through my hair. “The taste of you, the noises you make when I’m inside you. The way you bite your lip and moan my name. Every fucking thing.”
He brushes a strand of hair from my face, his expression unreadable.
I frown. “What’s wrong?”
“I didn’t want this with you, you know,” he says. “The amount of control you had over me from the beginning…” He laughs softly. “It’s worse now with the baby, but I’ve never been happier.”
He pauses, his brows gathering. “Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever been truly happy. Until you.” He pulls me closer and kisses me, soft and gentle. “Thank you for giving me that.”
I close my eyes and press my cheek to his chest. His words make my heart so full that it hurts. But I wouldn’t change a thing.
“Do you know what else you could do to make me happy?” he asks.
I lift my head and stare down at him with a playful smile. “Haven’t I done enough? I mean, I’m going to have your baby for fuck’s sake.”
“Language, Mrs. Bennett.”
I pinch his chest and he laughs. “Fine,” I say with a huff. “What do you want?”
“Marry me.”
My mouth falls open. “What?”
“Marry me,” he repeats, more firmly.
“Is this because of the baby?”
He gives me an exasperated look. “No, because I love you. Because you’re mine.” He runs his fingers over my tattoo in a caress. “Because I want you in every way I can get you.”
I bite my lip, my nerves firing off inside me. He lifts his head to nibble on my lips until I moan. “Say, yes, Callie. If not, I’m going to fuck you until you do.”
My sigh is loud, but the beating of my heart is louder. “Yes.”
His mouth captures mine. He kisses me like he owns me. And he does.
His fingers wrap around the back of my neck as he stares into my eyes. “Let’s go.”
“Wait, what?”
He kisses me again before pulling back with a smile, one so bright and beautiful that my heart melts. “When the woman of your dreams says she wants to marry you, you don’t let anything get in the way of her changing her mind.”
