Page 20 of Triple Power Play 3
“Sorry,” she mumbles, her stare glued to my crotch as I unbuckle my belt and unzip my pants. “It’s me. I’ll return to LA.” Her tone is flat, emotionless.
“Aurora.” I snap my fingers. “I’m talking.”
Her gaze snaps to mine, eyes ablaze with mischief. “What? You’re the one giving a striptease—in a suit. What did you expect?”
I shake my head in amusement, shed my clothes down to my boxers, and get into bed. Settling beside her, I stretch out my legs. “Come here.” I guide her between my thighs, her back to mychest, my arms around her. “Last week, you said being with me every day was a dream. Did you mean that?”
She glances up at me, brows pinched. “Why wouldn’t I?” Only she’d think I was a dream, not a nightmare.
Her phone vibrates on the nightstand, and I’ll bet anything it’s Ethan. I’m sure he’ll be here any minute.
I take her hand, kiss her palm, then intertwine our fingers. “Good, ‘cause I plan on spending the rest of my life with you. Let’s figure this out. What’s going through your head?”
She traces the tattoo on my ring finger and gathers her thoughts. “Maybe I should return to LA. You’ll both be happier without me tagging along. Those comments are gut-wrenching, and they only say them in front of me to rile you up. It’s bad enough being pregnant and sick.” The mention of the baby prompts her to place my hand on her belly. “And now Ethan is pulling away. I’m just…”
“Hurt?” I finish. “Overwhelmed? People suck, babe. Fuck ‘em. They don’t matter.” I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear that had escaped her braid. “The only thing that matters is us, and Ethan will be here soon. I guarantee it.”
“Maybe,” she mumbles, her voice distant.
I rack my brain to figure out how to make this easier for her. Perhaps Ethan was right, and we need to hire someone. I kiss her temple and hold her tighter. “It’s my first game back. I’ll charter a jet—” Her phone buzzes again, and I reach for it. “You’d better answer that before the old man has a stroke.” I grab it, intending to hand it to her until I see it’s not Ethan—it’s Reece, his latest texts visible on the screen.
Viking
Say the word, and I’ll come get you.
I’ll stay with you in LA, or you can stay with me.
My vision momentarily blurs, and white-hot fury scorches my skin. Is that why she wants to leave? To be withhim?
“What are you doing?” Her voice is laced with panic as I enter her passcode.
We’ve always had access to each other’s phones. It’s not about control or suspicion—she’ll never find another woman texting me, nor do I use social media for anything other than to stalk her. It’s about trust, and I never thought I couldn’t trust her until now.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I angle the screen toward her. “FuckingReece?” His name is poison on my tongue. “And here I was, thinking we needed to hire security. Maybe him. Nope.” I shake my head vigorously. “Fuck that shit with a spiked baseball bat.” My mind jumps to the worst possible conclusion. “Have you slept with him?Areyou sleeping with him?”
She whirls around, her face twisted in a scowl, eyes ablaze. “Are you serious? Did you forget I’ve been with you, that I’m pregnant?”
From what I’ve read, Reece doesn’t give a fuck about her being with Ethan and me, and I doubt he cares about the pregnancy either.
I shove the intrusive thoughts aside, proud of myself for remaining relatively calm. I haven’t broken anything, and I’m not screaming. My head is surprisingly clear. “Never mind. That was a stupid question.”
“Why?”
“He wouldn’t be in LA if you were fucking. He’d be right here on his knees, panting for it.”
She rolls her eyes. “Imeantwhy are you asking?”
Isn’t it obvious? “To figure out why my fiancée is texting a man who openly wants her.”
“He claims he wants me, but he doesn’t want this.” She sweeps a hand between us, meaning herself and me, or herself and the baby, or maybe all the above.
Either way, he’s not getting any of it. “I wouldn’t be so sure.” I toss the phone onto the nightstand. “Do you like him?”
“Jackson,” she warns, as if the question is absurd.
“Do you? Just answer me.”
She cocks her head and narrows her eyes. “There’s no reason to do this.”
