Page 33 of Kodiak

LUNA

I don’t truly knowthe man who’s sitting as close as possible to me without actually being on my lap. When we first met and connected in such a spectacular way, there were no promises of a future, a relationship, anything, because neither of us were looking for one.

Plus, how do I tell him that despite our very best efforts, whether or not we become anything more than we already are, which is a step above casual acquaintances, we’ll be irrevocably tied together due to the unexpected and completely unplanned pregnancy.

I won’t say unwanted, because at some point, I did want to have children. However, I expected that would happen within a committed relationship, whether I was married or simply living with a long-time significant other. Not due to a one-night stand.

“Luna?” His voice is firm but the tone lets me know that my time has run out.

“Um, Marcum, I’m not really sure how to tell you something,” I say.

“Just spit it out, Moon,” he advises. “Best way to do it is just rip that bandage off.”

Taking a deep breath, I exhale and then spit out my admission as quickly as is humanly possible, “ImpregnantandIdontknowhowitspossible.”

Yeah, I smashed it all together; I like to think it’s the writer in me, but the truth is this is going to upend both of our lives.

“Can you repeat that where I can understand what you said?” he asks, his brow wrinkled as he attempts to puzzle through my words.

“Marcum,” I whine. “I don’t wanna.”

“Luna, are you two? Just fucking tell me!” he all but bellows.

“Fine, you asked for it. You’re going to be a daddy, Marcum. I don’t know how it happened, though.”

“Well, normally, when a man and a woman have sex, they have the potential to create a… what the fuck did you just say?”

“Despite me having an implant and you using a condom, we’re in that very tiny segment of society who still managed to get pregnant,” I whisper, afraid to look at him.

“Son of a fucking bitch!” he roars. When he stands up and starts pacing, I glance from underneath my lashes to see him pulling at the ends of his hair as he mumbles almost incoherently to himself.

“I’m sorry,” I say as the silence drags on.

“Why are you sorry? Did you poke holes in the condom? Magically remove your implant before I fucked you three ways from Sunday?”

“Of course not! But it’s not exactly something you were expecting, am I right?” I ask. “I was a safe bet, dammit.”

The irony of the situation is not lost on me at all. He slumps down onto the recliner opposite me, his hands dangling between his thick, muscular legs. Remembering how they felt sliding against my own has desire pooling… no, focus, Luna, focus!

“No, I never wanted kids,” he admits. “Not after how we grew up. My genetics predispose me to having big kids, and I couldn’t abide having a child of mine being used the way Xavier and I were.”

My heart sinks. I know I’m a strong, independent woman and can raise a child on my own, of course, but I was secretly hoping that he’d want to be intricately involved. If not with me, than with his child, but I guess that’s a moot point.

“I’m not asking for anything,” I quickly tell him. “I’m fully capable of doing this on my own, Marcum. But I wasn’t going to hide the fact that you were going to be a father, either. That would be wrong in my opinion. Plus, I have Demi to lean on.”

Okay, she probably won’t be much help when the pregnancy hormones kick in, if my libido goes into overdrive the way all my book research indicates, but I’m sure she’ll be down for a trip to a sex store. Blushing, I rethink that and decide maybe some discreet online purchases would be the better way to go.

“There’s no way I won’t help support a child who’s mine, Luna,” he replies. “Whether or not we’re together.”

Well, that doesn’t exactly fill me full of joy, but he hasn’t kicked me out of the house, so I’ll count it as a partial win, I guess. Still, I decide to caution him because a lot can happen, after all.

“Marcum, I haven’t even gone to the doctor yet. She needs to know that the implant failed, because I don’t know if it would hurt a baby or not.”

A brief flash of fear crosses his face before he shuts it down. “Make the appointment, what are you waiting for?” he asks.

“Um, maybe because I literally just peed on the damn stick earlier today?” I snark at him. “Right before we came to the clubhouse for the cookout, as a matter of fact!”

He smirks and I realize that my sassy attitude is something he likes. “Fine. Whatever. But make that call.”

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