Page 94 of Submission

“I don’t want to jump into marriage because you think it’s the best way to tie me to you, and I don’t want to get married simplybecause of the baby. There are plenty of happy single moms on this planet. I wouldn’t be the first.”

“Are you threatening me, gorgeous?” he bends to kiss my forehead. “There’s no way I would ever allow you to be a single mom.”

“You’re funny.” I take his hand, squeezing it. “But you, of all people, know about my past. I’ve never really dated somebody properly, and I want that for myself. I want it all…with you, but let’s put marriage further down the road, okay?”

My chest tightens because Hunter looks almost crestfallen. I don’t want to hurt him, but I also feel like I just cheated death. I’m giving myself permission to ask for what I want.

“Fine,” he says in a grumpy voice. “But moving in together is non-negotiable.”

“We already live in the same building, so yes, we can do that,” I say, but then I freeze. “Wait, this is what you intended all along, isn’t it? You just wanted me to agree with you on the whole moving-in thing, so you made me believe-“

Hunter smirks at me as he rubs his thumb across my knuckles. “You’re overthinking, sweetheart.” Then he presses a kiss on my forehead. “I’m going to go talk to the doctor for a minute.”

“You liar!” I yell, but then I start coughing from the pain in my gut.

“Calm down,” he sing-songs as he leaves the hospital room. “The baby won’t like that you’re threatening his father.”

I growl as the door closes behind him.

“HIS!?”

Chapter 38

Bring A Deck Of Cards

Megan

Hearing the lightness in Hunter’s voice shouldn’t make me this happy, but it does. It feels as if we’ve been surrounded by negative drama since the moment we met, and it’s honestly a relief to take a moment and sit in peace.

When the door closes behind him, I let out a huge breath and closed my eyes. My hand gently comes to rest on my stomach, and I whisper to the small child growing inside of me, “I have no idea what I’m doing, little one, but things are going to be so different for you. You’re going to be so loved, and you won’t suffer a day in your life. I promise.”

My eyes suddenly fill with tears that I can’t control. I remember the look on Hunter’s face when he realized I'd been shot. His face showed a myriad of emotions: shock, anger, fear, and grief.

I understood in that moment as my eyelids started to feel uncontrollably heavy that regardless of the words he’s said or hasn’t said to me, that he has strong feelings for me. At thatmoment, I understood that he cared whether I lived or died. I was important to him.

Even though we’ve shared some very intimate moments, I never truly expected Hunter to ever reveal how he truly feels about me. In my experience, that’s not what men do. But I’m learning slowly but surely that I have to start thinking outside of my limited experience.

Not all families are toxic. Look at how much Hunter has gone through to find his sister. Not all men are liars and useless. Everything this man has done for me so far has been an expression of his love, even if he didn’t know it was. Even if I didn’t realize it either.

And now we’re having a child together.

A whole ass human being.

And I can’t believe he’s beyond thrilled about it. I think I'm starting to get there too.

My lips curve in happiness.

The door opens, and when Hunter walks back inside the room, he looks carefully at me. “What is it?”

“I will forgive you for tricking me into moving in with you,” I tell him. “I shouldn’t be angry around the baby.”

Hunter’s lips twitch. “I don’t think you should be making promises you can’t keep.”

“And I don’t think you should be trying to get a reaction out of me all the time.” I narrow my eyes at him. “It’s juvenile.”

“I can’t help it.” Hunter sits down in the chair next to my bed, filling out a form attached to a clipboard. “You look beautiful when you’re mad at me, when you’re frightened for me, and especially when you come for me.”

My cheeks quickly grow hot, and I close my eyes, trying to stop thinking about the last time I was brought to climax by him.

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