Page 58 of Abel

It’s absolutely astronomical that I cry for every little thing these days. “It is.” I hiccup. “I just think it’s sweet of you to be here.” I bite my tongue because I almost said that since Cam can’t be here.

“Did you just call me sweet?” He asks with a slight frown.

“I called what you did sweet, not you, per say.” I clarify.

“You know just how rough I can be.” He says for my ears only, leaning down and placing a gentle kiss on my forehead.

“Don’t.” I warn.

“Don’t what? You know what I want.”“Do I?” Absolutely. He’s made it clear on several occasions that he wants me… And answers.

“You’ve got about twenty minutes to tell me what I want to know.”

“Twenty minutes?”

“Yeah, that’s all the tech would give me until she came in to tell us the sex of our baby.” I stop breathing. Time as I know it has stopped, silence fills my ears as I stare at him. Did he say what I think he just said? “Judging by that look on your face, I’d say you know I’ve just confirmed what you felt in your heart was true.”

“Abel, I-” He holds up a hand to stop me, perching beside me on the table.

“I’m not mad at you, upset that I’ve missed almost the entire pregnancy and the chance to cater to you and our child, but there’s no time like the present.” He says, pushing and sliding down to a kneeling position on the floor.

“Abel, get up!” I whisper shout.

“What? Oh, no, I ain’t proposing… Yet.” He winks. “If you want to take it slow, we can, I don’t want to, but I also don’t want to scare you off from how intense I can be.”

“You won’t, Jake was the reason I left that night. It was a cowardly move, but I was scared. You didn’t deserve to be the rebound guy.”

“Trust me, darlin’, I wouldn't have been a rebound anything. You said it yourself, that was the best night of your life. To me… It was so much more.” My mouth hangs open as if someone just slapped the taste from it. I try to breathe in some air, but I’mstuck. “I don’t know what it is about you, but you’re different. You have a heart of gold, a kindred spirit, and the courage of a warrior… I want you.”

I open my mouth to speak, but he’s already rising up and pressing his lips over mine in a very demanding kiss.

A growl is released, and I’m not sure who it came from as he switches his position to place both hands on each side of my face, caging me in.

This kiss.

Thiskiss says he wants me.

Begs me to believe every word he said is true.

I knew it then, just like I know it now.

“Please say you’ll give me a chance.” He begs against my bruised lips.

He doesn’t look like the type of man to beg for anything. Knowing that, makes my decision just a little bit easier. “I’ll give you a chance, Abel. Can you forgive me for doing what I did to you?”

Resting his forehead on mine, he says, “Knowing that I’ll be a part of my child’s and your life is all that matters. Why hold a grudge? Life is too short for that. Besides, I knew Camden was same-sex oriented when I saw the two of you out on the dancefloorthatnight.” He smirks. “And you had the nerve to tell me he fathered your child… Ha!” He laughs.

“But how did you know he’s same-sex oriented? You have to admit, he hid it pretty well.”

“He did, but when I went over to your place, I threatened to kill him if he didn’t tell me the truth.” He says, sounding very proud of himself as he pulls a chair closer to my bed.

“You didn’t?”

“I did. There are a few things I don’t fuck around with. My money, my business, and my woman.” He says, taking my hand in his beautiful, inked one.

“I’m not your woman.”

“Give it time, you’ll see differently.”

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