Page 55 of Labor of Love

Their child.

Tanner reached out a palm, splaying his hand over the evidence of what was to come.

The movement clearly startled Bracken. He jumped, jostling Tanner’s hand off his belly.

Tanner pulled his arm back immediately. “Shit. Sorry.”

“That’s all right.” But Bracken was already quickly tying the laces back in place.

Gods. Tanner had fucked up already. Here Bracken had been kicked out of his home, pregnant and alone and now relying completely on Tanner being a halfway decent person.

In short, the fae was too vulnerable by half, and Tanner had just scared him.

Tanner tucked his hands into his pockets to resist any further temptation to touch. “I can show you upstairs right now, if you like,” he offered.

Bracken gave him a look. “I’ve been there before, if you remember.”

“But it’s your home now,” Tanner countered. “It’s different.” He looked past Bracken toward the door. “Bags?”

Bracken shook his head mutely. Was it just the light, or were his pretty jewel-green eyes watering?

“From here on out, I’ll get you anything you need,” Tanner soothed.

Bracken sniffed, standing from his barstool. “If it’s up to my standards,” he said again. “The room and—and everything.”

“If it’s up to your standards,” Tanner repeated.

And Tanner would make sure it was. The room. The life. All of it.

He was going to make up for the upset he’d created in Bracken’s world, even if it took a lifetime.

Tanner had already let Bracken slip away once, and now the fae Tanner hadn’t been able to forget was back, and he was carrying Tanner’s child.

Tanner wasn’t losing him again.

4

The upstairs apartment was just as Bracken remembered.

Well, of course it was. It had only been four months, not four years.

The front door opened directly into a large living room that had the same masculine energy as the bar downstairs, with its dark wood furniture and warm lighting. Tanner pointed out the open doorway leading to what seemed to be a small kitchen on the other side, then steered Bracken down the hallway to the bedrooms.

And then Tanner walked right past the door Bracken presumed led to the guest bedroom, and straight to the one Bracken knew for a fact led to Tanner’s.

Bracken had memories behind that door. Incrediblyindecentmemories.

(“You’re so fucking beautiful. I want you on your back this time. I want to see every inch of you while I fuck you. Want to see how well you take my cock.”)

Don’t think about it. Donot.

Bracken stopped Tanner before he could open the door. “This isyourbedroom.”

“Yes.”

Bracken set his hands on his hips. “I was promised my own room. What exactly are you trying to pull here?”

“Nothing.” At whatever look was on Bracken’s face, Tanner’s lips twitched, like he was fighting back a smile. “I’m not going to take advantage, I promise. I won’t touch you again without your permission. But my bedroom has the adjoining bathroom. I thought you’d prefer it. I’ll take the other.”

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