LITMIR.BIZ

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      Billy was not buying any of this. “If you get her pregnant,” he said, as if he were Kate’s father instead of Seth’s, “your mother and I will expect you to do the right thing.”

      “I am not going to get her pregnant,” Seth retorted. It was impossible to get her pregnant again. “Even if there was something going on between us—which there is not—I would never casually risk her health and well-being and you, of all men, should know that.” For a moment, his dad looked almost chastised. Seth forced his shoulders to relax. “Now. Are you done threatening me so we can watch Julie play?”

      He expected his father to glower or maybe even yell. So when Billy Bolton cracked a rare smile, Seth was completely caught off guard. “Make sure you’re doing the right thing, son,” he said, giving Seth a slap on the back that was hard enough to send Seth stumbling. Billy stepped around Seth and went to watch his daughter outplay the other team.

      Seth glowered at his father’s back. Of course he was doing the right thing. He was helping out a single soon-to-be mother. He was ensuring that she would have enough money to live on for the next year, if she wanted to. And he was helping her get over Roger. By the time Seth left for Shanghai, Kate would be financially secure and ready to move on with her life. Without him.

      How was that not the right damn thing?

      * * *

      The garage doors shut behind them, sealing her and Seth off from the rest of the world. The afternoon had passed in a blur of legal documents and signatures, but the end result was now official—the home on Bitter Root was Seth’s.

      She wasn’t going to be sad about that. She was just going to be happy for him, and happy that he was willing to share this home with her, even for a little while.

      He opened her car door and held out his hand, just like he always did. “I must say,” he said, as she slipped her palm against his and let him help her from the car, “this has been one of the stranger days of my life.”

      “Buying a home is often very strange,” she agreed. But that’s not what made today strange for her.

      The whole day had been a glimpse into a life she desperately wanted but would never get to have. This house was perfect for her and the family she was going to raise—but she couldn’t afford it, not in this life or the next.

      Just like Seth’s family—aunts and uncles, grandparents and siblings, all coming together for something as mundane as a child’s soccer game because they cared. They put family first.

      Of course she knew that there were kind, loving, supportive families in the world. And hers was certainly not the worst, by far. But seeing the way that Seth’s family had lined up to protect him from an outsider—her? And then there’d been that moment where, apparently by some unspoken agreement, she hadn’t been on the outside looking in. She’d been made welcome and fed and, okay, so maybe his mom’s questions about Seth’s new house had really been thinly veiled questions about Seth and Kate’s relationship. But there was no mistaking the fact that Seth’s family would do anything for him—for any member of the Bolton family.

      She wanted that unconditional love and support for her child. She wanted that for herself, but she was used to doing without.

      Holding her hand, Seth unlocked the garage door. He pulled her inside and then let go long enough to find a light switch. While he did so, she pushed aside her melancholy feelings. There was no point in moping over what she couldn’t have. She needed to focus on what she did have—a gorgeous, caring, wealthy man who, for reasons she still didn’t fully understand, was more than happy to give her almost everything she wanted.

      “Welcome home, Mr. Bolton,” she said when he found the light switch. He really was too handsome, she thought when he turned back to her. She tried to strike a sultry pose.

      Seth’s eyes darkened dangerously. “It’s good to be home, Ms. Burroughs.” He prowled toward her, the energy that made him so good in bed vibrating off him. “I feel like celebrating. How about you?” He paused, waiting for her answer.

      “Yes.” Because this was as good as it got. She could make love to Seth in his home and hold on to these happy memories through the long, lonely nights ahead.

      He flattened her against the door with his body, hard and hot against hers. But even when he covered her mouth with his, taking and demanding—there was still a gentleness to him.

      “Now, Seth,” she whispered against his neck, grabbing the belt of his jeans. She didn’t want to wait. She didn’t want gentle. She just wanted this memory.

      “Babe,” he growled, and then he picked her up. She squeaked in alarm—she wasn’t getting any lighter these days—but Seth cradled her to his chest as if it were the easiest thing in the world. Just like she had from the very beginning, she felt safe in his arms. She knew he wouldn’t drop her.

      “I apologize for the lack of furniture,” he said as he carried her toward the kitchen.

      “Don’t,” she said, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing his jaw. Tucking every contour of his face, every muscle in his neck, away into her memory. “Don’t apologize for any of it.”

      He sat her on the island counter and kissed her again, harder this time. She managed to get his buckle undone and then he was shoving her flowing skirt up, pulling her panties down. “I need you so much, Kate.”

      “Yes,” she hissed, shoving his pants out of the way. When was the last time anyone had needed her? Roger certainly hadn’t. He’d barely even wanted her. Her parents had relied on her because she was cheap labor.

      But who needed her because she was Kate?

      No one. Just Seth.

      They normally took their time with foreplay, but she didn’t have the patience for it today and neither did he. He set himself against her and then, with one delicious thrust, buried himself deep inside. Moaning with pleasure, she fell back on her elbows as he grabbed her hips and slammed into her again and again.

      She loved being with Seth, but this rawness, this need—this was what had been missing. She had thought he’d been holding himself back out of deference to her being pregnant. But today?

      Today, he was like a man possessed. Seth pounded into her again and again, his fingertips gripping her hips with brute strength. Kate sprawled on top of the island, surrendering to him completely. Already, she could feel the orgasm spiraling up and up. Pulling her along until her back was arching and she was grabbing at his forearms, desperate for anything to hold on to. When her climax broke, it broke hard, wrenching a guttural cry from her lips. She didn’t hold back, either.

      She was Kate Burroughs and he needed her.

      Seth flung back his head and made a sound that triggered another, smaller shock wave that left Kate completely boneless with satisfaction. He thrust one final time, the cords in his neck strained with the effort.

      Then he fell forward, panting hard. She tangled her fingers in his hair and held him to her breast. They hadn’t even gotten undressed on the way. It had been the most intense sex of her life, and she was glad it had been with him.

      Seth withdrew and pulled her up, crushing her against his chest. Kate could feel the tears running down her face, but this time, it wasn’t because the intensity of the orgasm had been overwhelming. She didn’t even think it was the hormones, although they weren’t helping.

      This was supposed to be short-term. Fun. Seth had helped her secure her future. He made her feel desirable and beautiful even though her body was changing constantly. He’d introduced her to his family. And after all of that, he still made passionate love to her.

      How was she supposed to let him go?

       Fourteen

      He could not wait for his bed to show up. An

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