Page 24 of His Best Friend's Wife
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"You are?"An odd mixture of excitement, dread, and overpowering love swirled through my confusedbrain.
She turned back to face me then before giving me a brief, confirmingnod.
I felt like my knees were going to buckle, but I had to know. "Is it mine?" I held my breath as I waited for herresponse.
She couldn't hide the pained look that crossed her face, but she quickly recovered and answered me. "Dirk is sterile, and I haven't been with anyone else,so..."
"It's mine." I finished her dangling statement in a feeble attempt to make my brain process what she was telling me. I had never given any serious thought to becoming a father before, so the idea that it was now a reality felt overwhelming. The swirling emotions of fear, anticipation and excitement curled together in a knot in mystomach.
"I'm going to be a father," I sounded dumb, but it was as if my brain couldn't comprehend the idea. Suddenly, the harsh reality of the situation sank in. "Dirk's going to be a father." The realization made me feel like I was going to vomit. I had to turn away from Cassie to hide my painedexpression.
Dirk had won. Again. Even though I knew that I could force them to have paternity testing and take them to court for partial custody of my child, I wouldn't be able to put Cassie through that. She probably deserved it for tricking me the way she had, but my feelings for her couldn't be squelched. Even now, with the knowledge of how she had used me, it was all I could do to keep from wrapping her in my arms. She had some strange magnetic pull that I could not deny, even when I knew it wasn't in my bestinterest.
Cassie moved around so that we were facing each other. Placing her palm against my cheek, she said, "Youare going to be a father. This is your child, and I want you to be a part of its life, no matter how you feel aboutme."
I felt stunned by her words. I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing cameout.
Unfazed by my carp-like expression, Cassie went on. "Dirk doesn't deserve to be this baby's father. He manipulated both of us to get what he wanted." She paused, tucking a misbehaving brunette lock of hair behind her ear. Looking away and trying to blink the tears back, she went on. "He sent me to have sex with anotherman."
I wanted to comfort her, but I was the other man. She had been forced by her husband to be with me.Did my touch repulse her?The fear that she had never wanted me at all held me back from reaching out toher.
"Little did he know how much I would enjoy the emotional connection of sleeping with you." Her laugh sounded strained as she worked to stave off thecrying.
My eyes snapped to hers while I processed her words. I allowed myself begin to believe that she felt the same way I did about our relationship. Relief flooded my system at the affirmation that the level of intimacy I felt flowing between us had been reciprocated. My entire world had felt off-kilter from the recurring fear that she hadn't truly enjoyed our nighttogether.
At my desperate, questioning gaze, she looked deep into my eyes and said sincerely, "Our passionate time together was the best night of my life, both physically andemotionally."
I could feel the blood pounding in my ears. This was like a fantastic dream. I didn't dare move or speak for fear that I would wake up and find that it wasn't real, but I craved the confirmation of herstatement.
She stepped towards me then. Our fronts were lightly grazing in all the right places. My body lit up with excited electrical pulses in each of the locations that were touching Cassie's. It felt too realistic and wonderful to be a dream, but if it was, I did not want to wakeup.
Unable to resist the urge any longer, I asked her, "Thebest?"
Cassie reached around to pull me closer to her, pressing into me. As she looked up, she smiled and said, "The absolutebest."
I could barely feel my legs as the thrilling, numbing sensation traveled through my veins. I pressed my forehead down against hers. "It was absolutely the best night of my life, too," I confirmed. She breathed out a sigh of relief as if she had been worried that it wasn't. "I was so afraid that you had been faking it when I found out that Dirk sent you to me," Irevealed.
"I'm not that good of an actress," Cassie chuckled before turning serious. "When we shared that simmering look at my wedding, I sensed that I was making a huge mistake, but I felt in too deep to turn back at that point. I had always thought I wanted the hot shooting star, but it turns out that a slow burning flame that lasts is what I trulydesire."
Kissing the tip of her nose, I felt like I might be the happiest man alive as she gazed up at me. "I've been watching you and slowly falling in love with you for a very long time," sherevealed.
I shook my head unable to believe this was reallyhappening.
As if sensing my inability to believe her, Cassie lightly pressed her lips to my cheek. "You give up your seat when others are standing." She kissed near my ear. "You are polite to waitresses and doormen and taxicab drivers." She dropped a kiss on my neck. "You treat everyone with respect." Her lips touched my nose. "You stand when I leave the table." She nibbled on my earlobe. "You hold the door open for everyone behindyou."
I closed my eyes, savoring her kissing and complimenting. It blew my mind that she noticed all of these little things. Being a gentleman, following through on these simple, common courtesies was a behavior trait that was ingrained in my personality. I didn't feel like it was anything special that deserved praise.Doesn't every man behave in thismanner?
Answering my own silent question, I thought of Dirk snapping at waitresses, taking the first serving, or going inside ahead of Cassie. It never dawned on me that she noted all of these slights. I guess it was only natural for her to have noticed, but she had never given any indication that any of it botheredher.
She trailed her tongue along my neck, making me tip my head back, lost in the delirium of her touch. "You are a kind-hearted, generous, and lovingman."
She kissed along my jawline heading back towards my lips... "You are funny."Kiss. "Handsome."Kiss. "Smart."Kiss. "Sweet."Kiss. "And sexy as hell."Kiss.
Her lips hovered over mine. "I'm in love with you, Reed JacobWalker."
When she went to touch her lips to mine, I took control, smashing my lips against hers and delving my tongue into her mouth. She met me withvigor.
