Page 64 of Fractured

“Wha…?” Kat looks up at me, eyes wide in question.

‘I’m going to marry you.’ Shit. Did I really just say that out loud? I guess I’m all in now. Might as well keep digging this hole.

Chuckling, I lean down into her neck and whisper playfully. “Face it, kitten, I’m going to marry you. I’m going to marry you, and you’re going to have all my babies.” I can feel her body quake as she’s giggling underneath me now.

“Oh yeah, Dr. Barnes? And how many babies are we having?”

“Ah, the way we fuck… lots!” I laugh and smother the side of her neck, jaw, and face with kisses. Suddenly, I notice she’s quiet. Has the enormity of what I’ve said finally caught up with her? Is she questioning my sanity? Or maybe hers for being with me?

“Um, Nick?” I hear her soft, contemplative voice.

“Yes?”

“Could we go on a date before we get hitched?”

I snort with laughter, and she joins in, both of us rolling over together in her bed clutching each other. “Yes, ma’am. See the extremes I’ll go to to get you to finally agree to go out with me. If only I’d known I had to threaten to marry and impregnate you to get a date.” She catches me in the ribs with her pointy elbow. “Uh, watch it, naughty kitty. I might need to start the spankings up again.” Smirking at her, I bend down to kiss the corner of her mouth.

“As much as I enjoyed that,” I watch the blush across her cheeks as she continues, “you wore me out. I think I could actually sleep through them.”

I hesitate briefly, making sure I phrase this the right way. “Kat? I know we’ve usually had quite the workout before we fall asleep when I’m with you, but you seem to sleep well when we’re together.”

I watch as a slow smile curls the corner of her mouth. “Yeah. I thought that myself the other day.”

Stretching my chest wide, I declare with a bit of bravado, “Well, glad to be of service.” She smacks my arm and buries her face in my neck, and for the first time, I thinkwe might just be okay.

Kat

Waking to the sound of a dog barking outside, I stretch and roll toward my bedmate. My delicious bedmate. My delicious bedmate who is again not in my bed. I sit upright, deciding not to panic. The bathroom door is again open, revealing no occupant. There are no remnants of his clothing laid upon the bench at the end of the bed.

This man has been nothing but supportive and kind. I’m sure there’s an explanation. Even if he always seems to be running.

I rub my hands up and down my arms, trying to displace the chill to my skin. I’m not used to waking completely naked, but with Nick Barnes sharing your bed, why wear clothes? I stand and walk to the bathroom, grabbing my robe and brushing my teeth. As I turn to walk down the hallway to my kitchen, I notice a piece of junk mail and a pen lying next to my coffee pot. I look at the back of the envelope, where a note is penned in masculine script.

Kat,

I’m sorry I had to leave, but couldn’t wake you. I have something pressing with my dad this morning. I may be busy most of the day, but you’ll never be far from my thoughts.

Nick

Xo

Okay, how am I such a girl that the first thing I gushed over was the xo? He left a note because he didn’t want to wake me. I can’t help but sigh as I read it again.

Knock, Knock.

I walk toward the door and notice Melanie standing in front of the window, dangling my car keys. It’s ten o’clock, and I’ve enjoyed a leisurely morning of coffee, a long steamy shower, relaxing in front of the fire, and rereading my first love note.I let out another dreamy sign and laugh. What the hell is wrong with me?

“Good morning, sunshine.” Melanie strolls in carrying a cardboard drink carrier with two Starbucks cups and a tempting brown paper bakery bag.

“You are always coming to my rescue, Mel. What’s in the bag?”

“I stopped for Starbucks, and they had the most delicious-looking scones. I couldn’t resist. Although I need to lay off the carbs after all the grazing I did last night. Oh, Kat, you didn’t eat anything before you left, did you?” She quickly covers her mouth, realizing she may have said something upsetting.

“No. But it all worked out fine. I wasn’t really hungry. For food anyway.”

Melanie spins on her heel and gives me a raised eyebrow. “What pray tell does that cryptic little statement mean? Kat, please tell me that means you had a visitor.”

“I did.” My smile is about to pop teeth out of my face. I can’t control it. “Nick caught me while I was waiting on an Uber and drove me home.” Watching the glee on Mel’s face, I wickedly decide to add, “And once we got here… well, he continued to drive me home.” I cover my face, chuckling at my ridiculous pun.

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