Page 61 of Make You Stay

Now, it’s well into January, but despite the winter chill, I’m always warm around Chloe. We’ve only been dating for a little over a month, but I feel ready to take our relationship to the next level.

I only hope she’s on board with the idea.

“Can we talk?”

Chloe sucks in a slow deep breath as if readying herself for a deep conversation. “Yes. Actually, I need to speak with you, too.”

This might be easier than I thought.

Stroking her hair, I press a kiss to her mouth. “It’s not a bad talk. Promise.”

“Okay. Go ahead.”

I trace aimless patterns along her leg, the primal urges simmering just below the surface whenever she’s close to me. “I love being with you. I’ve never had more fun in my life, but I’d like to be closer.”

“Closer?” she smirks, glancing at our entangled bodies. “Don’t know if that’s possible. Are you trying to talk me out of my trip to New York?”

I hate that she’s flying back north, but I get it. She has obligations and an apartment. Still, the idea of her being away from me for a week hurts like hell.

Here goes nothing. “What I mean is, I’d like to feel you when we’re having sex. All of you. Have you ever thought of going on birth control?”

Chloe’s eyes widen as she flops back against the cushions. “Shit. I can’t.”

“Is there a medical reason? That’s fine if there is; I just wanted to take you raw, considering we aren’t with anyone else.”

I feel the trembles emanating from her body and wonder what news she’s about to hit me with.

“Chloe? Please tell me you aren’t seeing someone else.” I don’t honestly know how I’d deal with that bomb.

She chuckles and shakes her head before pivoting to face me. “Of course, I’m not seeing anyone else. I’m with you every day, remember?”

“I like you being with me every day. One might say I’m addicted to you.” I steal another kiss from her gorgeous mouth, unsure what’s going on in her head. “What did you have to talk about?”

“Umm… well…” Now she’s stalling and, judging by her face, panicked over her disclosure.

Wonderful. Maybe she’s tired of being with me every day and wants some space between us. Perhaps that’s what the trip to New York is about.

“The thing is, Aidan… I’m not on birth control because I planned on having a baby, remember?”

The silence rings out after her statement, my mouth opening and closing like a fish gasping for breath. To be honest, I feel like I’m gasping for breath. “I’m sorry, what?”

“I thought you’d remember our conversation. Not long after I got here, we talked about how I wanted to have a child. How I was seeing a doctor in New York.”

The balloon of happiness that is my life? Popped into a million shards with the pin of her declaration. “Wait, a second. You’re still considering having a baby?”

“I still want a baby.” Her voice is quiet, unsure, and under normal circumstances, I would back off and simmer down.

Not happening. Not undertheseconditions.

“Why?” I bark, scrubbing my face with my hands.

“I’m not sure how I’m supposed to answer that question. For a million reasons, Aidan.”

“I didn’t know you were still considering it. You haven’t mentioned it since that day. Is that why you’re returning to New York? To be inseminated with some stranger’s baby?” I feel my anger rising at the idea of her doing just that; returning to Asheville, pregnant with another man’s baby and acting like we could just pick up where we left off.

Wouldn’t that be the icing on the cake?

“I have an appointment with my doctor, but it’s just a hormone levels check. I would never be inseminated without speaking to you.”

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