Page 130 of Screwged for Christmas

“Now is good for me.”

“It’s not good for me.” I fastened my dress back around my neck.

He wanted to talk now? It was too soon. I wasn’t ready for the fairytale to end.

I smoothed my hands down my thighs, hoping to smooth any wrinkles out of my dress, then snatched his jacket off the floor where it had saved my knees and handed it to him.

But I’d never been a fan of fairytales, I preferred facts.

He didn’t budge.

Fine.

“It can never work between us. But that doesn’t stop me from wishing it could. I’d love to be carrying your baby. I haven’t been on the pill in a long time and didn’t even think about it.” I glanced up. “I think we both got carried away.”

His dark brown eyes were hooded in the shadow of the hallway. He was hurt. Of course, he was. He was a damned duke and used to getting whatever he wanted.

“It’s the truth.” The silence turned me into a babbler. Why didn’t I shut up? But I didn’t. I charged on. “Don’t worry, if I’m pregnant, I will cherish our child.”

Malcolm’s face went white. He grabbed my upper arms.

I winced at his grasp, and he loosened his hold.

“Are you fucking joking me?” His voice was hoarse.

“Of course not. I wouldn’t joke about something like that. You could visit anytime you like. I won’t be a barrier to you knowing our child. Besides, it’s too early to tell if I’m pregnant so I don’t know why we’re even discussing this now.”

“You are serious.” Malcolm breathed. His mouth set into a grim line. “You actually think you’re going to have my baby and raise it across the Atlantic Ocean. In what, a walk-up in the Bronx? And that I’d visit, every other Thanksgiving, or stop in a Christmas with a gift?”

“I think we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Your life is here. Someday, you’ll want a family here—”

“Don’t you tell me what I want.” Malcolm leaned against the wall, his arms pinned on either side of me. He ran a hand through his hair. “I have enough other people doing that.”

“Malcolm! Holly! There you are!” Malcolm’s mother’s voice echoed down the hallway. “Come quickly, it’s time to light the tree. Everyone’s waiting for you. It’s almost midnight.”

Malcolm reached out for me, but I crossed my arms over my chest as I shook my head.

He was insane if he thought I was going back in the ballroom with him now.

With his back turned to his mother, he folded me into his arms and whispered into my ear, “This discussion is far from over. You’re mine Holly Ives as much as I am yours.”

Then that Mother Fucker kissed me. And it wasn’t a quick peck on the lips. It was a soul-searing kiss, which had me opening my mouth to grant him better access.

He broke it off. “You are mine.”

Then he stalked off to his guests.

Holy hell.

If I had been wearing panties, they’d have been soaked.

I had a chemical weakness for this man, and it was only going to end by drastic means.

I had to leave Lachlan.

Now.

Glancing out the window, the falling snow made leaving by climbing out a window an absolutely ridiculous idea.

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