Brawn - Laurann Dohner [108]
Brawn took a deep breath. “I can only hope.”
Chapter Eighteen
Becca woke alone, stunned she’d actually fallen asleep and peered around the room. Brawn wasn’t there. She eased back the covers and headed to the bathroom. One look in the mirror had her shaking her head at her reflection.
“The guy kisses you and you fall into bed with him.” Her gaze raked down her naked body to her baby tummy and she spun around. “Not one of mommy’s proudest moments. Your daddy is hot though, in my defense, and a really great kisser.”
She adjusted the water temperature in the shower, stepped in and closed the glass door. Standing there washed away the traces of the sex but not the memories. She dumped body wash into her palm, rubbing it all over and sighed loudly.
“Pushover. It’s hormones. Yeah. I’m totally going with that.” Her eyes rolled and she leaned in to wash away the soap. “We’re in deep shit, kiddo.” She washed her belly. “And I have to email your grandpa with some new lie to explain why I’m late contacting him.”
The door to the shower was suddenly jerked open. Becca gasped and spun. Her feet slipped on the tub floor and she cried out as she frantically reached for anything to break her fall but two strong arms grabbed her before she slammed into the tile. She stared in shock at Brawn, leaning inside her shower.
“I’m sorry.” Brawn adjusted his hold on her. “Are you all right? I forget that you don’t have our hearing or sense of smell. I assumed you heard me come in. I didn’t mean to startle you. Are you well? The baby?” He lifted her out of the shower and hugged her.
Shock kept her silent but she was grateful his fast reflexes had saved her from a fall. Her hands gripped his biceps and he slowly lowered her.
“You could have knocked. You shouldn’t just walk into someone’s bathroom.” Her voice finally worked.
He released her once he made sure she was steady on her feet and grabbed a towel to wrap around her middle. Big hands patted her dry with care. “I heard you talking to someone and thought you had company in here.” Anger showed in his eyes as he glanced around. “Who were you speaking to?”
“The baby.”
His hands froze and he stared at the bump. “He can hear you? Us?” He grinned. “I didn’t know that.” He bent a little, put his face closer to her belly. “Hello, little one. I am your dad. I long to hold you in my arms.”
Definitely hormones, Becca decided as tears filled her eyes. That was sweet and it touched her that he’d say that to their unborn child. “I read baby books. They seem to think that while a baby can’t understand the words, they can hear voices and learn to recognize them. I talk to him constantly, probably too much, but I’ve been alone for a long time.”
Brawn straightened and held her gaze. “You will never be alone again. I have moved in.”
“You what?” Shock hit her again.
“I said I am going to care for you and I went to pack my belongings. I live here now with you. I turned over my council duties to the others. They were happy to fill in for me so you have me full-time.” He smiled, making her remember how handsome he was when he did it. “I’m all yours.”
A war raged inside Becca suddenly. She wished that were true. Looking into his sexy eyes made her want to never let him go but he was only there because she’d gotten pregnant. He was a stand-up guy, she’d give him that, but she didn’t want him that way.
“You can’t move in here.”
“I already did.” Muscles along his jaw clenched. “We will not argue.” His gaze dropped to her belly. “Our child will hear.”
Anger hit hard and fast. “Don’t use my own words against me.”
“Open your mouth.”
She lifted a hand and grabbed his jaw. “No. You’re not going to kiss me again and make me forget that I’m angry at you.”
“Why not? It worked. We can’t fight while we’re sharing sex.”
“You admit it then! You just had sex with me to get your way.”
Broad shoulders shrugged. “What is there to complain about? We both enjoyed it.” His hands slid to her hips. “I missed you, Becca. We have time to make up