Chapter 9
Sam pushed his way into the apartment, easy to do with Gabe frozen in shock and no longer trying to keep him out.
“How could you not tell me?” Gabe asked.
Carolyn twisted her fingers together, looking from Gabe to Sam.
“Aww, you wanted to keep me a secret, did you?” Sam asked.
“No, it’s not that.” Carolyn stuck her chin out. “It’s just been so long that we’ve been separated, maybe I forgot that I was even married.”
Gabe crossed his arms. “So when we slept together, you were married?”
“Didn’t she tell you she’s a little cheating slut?” Sam said with a smug smile.
“Gabe, we’ve been separated for almost two years. If Sam would sign the paper work, we would be divorced already.”
“Why won’t you sign the paperwork?” Gabe asked Sam.
“Because she’s my wife. And she’s going to come home with me to raise this baby. My baby.”
Gabe raised an eyebrow at Carolyn. She shook her head. “You can’t claim a baby that’s not biological yours just because you want it to be. That’s not how it works.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Sam said. “We’re married. That makes you mine, and your child mine, too.”
Gabe’s face flushed red and he stepped closer to Sam. “I don’t think so.” He pointed to Carolyn’s stomach. “That is my baby and there’s nothing you can do about it. I’m sorry that you want her back. I don’t blame you. But she doesn’t want to be with you.”
Carolyn almost put her teeth through her lip. She loved seeing Gabe defend her, but the way he was so insistent on it being his baby? What would he do if he knew the truth? That she wasn’t even 100% certain it was his. Maybe it didn’t matter. She was, at least, 100% certain it was not Sam’s. And if it wasn’t technically Gabe’s, maybe no one ever had to know.
“Why are you even here, Sam? I told you when I was home that I’m with Gabe now and I’m staying here.”
“I came to change your mind.” Sam looked over at Gabe. “I figured that once your new beau found out that you were married and liked to cheat, he’d want nothing to do with you. Then you’d have no choice but to come home with me.”
“And that’s really what you want?” Gabe asked. “Someone who is only with you because they have no other option? Man, that’s messed up.”
Sam glared at him. “Well, she’s my wife and after she comes back to me, she’ll remember all of the good times we had.”
“Yeah, there were so many of those,” Carolyn said. “Just leave, Sam, really.”
“Don’t you need a minute to pack a bag?”
“No. I’m not going anywhere,” she said.
“Then I’m not leaving.”
“Yes, you are,” Gabe said. He stepped closer to Sam. “Even if I have to force you to leave.”
“Oh, what are you going to do? Yell at me until I leave?” Sam laughed.
Sam was a big guy, but he had no idea what he was saying. “Sam.” He turned his attention to her. “You do realize that Gabe is a professional football player, right? And a bear shifter? Pretty sure he’d win if you fought him.”
Sam’s face paled and his smile vanished. He looked at Gabe again, more carefully this time. Gabe, in response, stood up taller and flexed his huge bicep until his shirt sleeve strained.
Sam took a step back. “Come on, Care. I love you. We are still married, whether you want to be or not. Give me another chance.”
“I gave you too many already.”
“Okay.” Gabe stepped again toward Sam. “Time to go.”
Sam backed away from him, clearly intimidated. He held his hands up. “Fine. I’ll go. But I’m not leaving town without my wife.”
“Then welcome to the area, neighbor,” Gabe said. He pushed Sam out the door, shut it, and locked it. Then he turned to Carolyn. “We need to talk.”
She closed her eyes and walked into the bedroom. In case Sam was still at the door, listening, she didn’t want him to overhear their conversation.
Gabe followed her in and sat on the bed beside her. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I’ve tried really hard to forget that part of my life. Marrying Sam was a huge mistake and our entire relationship was a disaster. I try to forget he even exists.”
“That’s bull. You didn’t forget, whether you wanted to or not. And you just saw him when you went home.”
She nodded and looked down at her hands. “I went to visit. But my plan was to stay. I was going to go back to him. Back to Sam.”
“Why would you do that if it was so bad?”
“I didn’t see a better choice. I barely knew you, Gabe. And with everything going in your life, I thought that telling you would only stress you out and make you drink.”
“That’s why you didn’t tell me about the baby?” His voice rose.
“I’m sorry. I should have. I thought I was doing the best thing. I figured even if Sam wasn’t perfect, he was better than no dad at all. And he does love me. He’d be an okay father. Maybe he would learn how to be an okay husband. But then when I saw you in the airport, and you were just so perfect and sweet… You saved me, Gabe. Just like that one night I saved you? You saved me from having to go back to Sam and have a horrible marriage.”
He reached out and took her hand. “I’m glad you didn’t go back to him. But that still doesn’t answer the question. Why didn’t you tell me you’re married?”
“I thought it would mess things up, I guess. I don’t really know. I just knew I didn’t want you to know.”
“Okay, but Carolyn, didn’t you think that maybe…”
She met his eyes. He looked hesitant.
“Maybe what?”
He shrugged. “We’re having a baby together. We live together. Maybe some day, we might get married? Didn’t you think that might happen?”
“No. I didn’t think you’d want to marry me, and honestly, as horrible as it was the first time, I don’t think I ever want to get married again.”
“You should have told me.”
“I’m sorry. You’re right.”
He let out a long breath. “So, now what? You have to get him to sign the papers somehow.”
“I know. I’m working on it. I’m just not sure how to convince him when he thinks I’m still coming back.”
“Won’t it complicate things when the baby comes if you’re married to him?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well,” he said. “I think there are laws about that. I mean first of all, forget any sort of food stamps. You’re married and they’ll take that into consideration. But he’s automatically responsible for the baby. And I think that means his name goes on the birth certificate no matter what.”
“What? That can’t be right.”
“The laws are different here.”
“Yeah, I know,” she said. “In a few more months, I’ll be able to get the divorce whether he signs or not since I’ve lived here so long, and the law says he can only refuse for a year.”
“When’s the deadline on that?”
“January.”
“Then it’s too late. You have to convince him sooner.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
“So, what else are keeping from me?” he asked.
Carolyn gulped. “Nothing. I swear.”
He looked hard into her eyes. “I don’t think I can trust you. It was bad enough that you weren’t going to tell me you’re pregnant, now you didn’t tell me you’re married? What’s next? Are you going to cheat on me, too? Get pregnant to another guy?”
“No!” Tears filled her eyes and she wanted to hit him or scream. “I said I’m sorry. Just stop.”
He got to his feet and paced the room. “I’m so angry right now, I don’t even know what to do.”
She shrunk back against the headboard. Her whole body went very still. She’d never really seen him angry, and she didn’t know how he’d react. Would he turn into a bear right there in front of her?
He glared at her and must have seen the fear in her face. “What?” he barked.
“Just calm down, okay?”
“Do you think I can’t control myself?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never seen you angry like this.”
He let out a frustrated growl. “I’m not going to hurt you. I’m not going to freak out, okay? I’m just pissed.”
She took a deep breath and decided to do something risky. She stood and went to him. Anger could go a number of ways. If she was lucky, this would work. She stood in his path as he paced and when they were close enough together, she reached out and put her arm around his neck so she could kiss him.
He pushed her back. Forcefully, but not roughly. “What are you doing? Kissing you is the last thing I want to do right now. I can barely even look at you.”
“I just thought maybe we could do the whole makeup sex thing.”
“Pretty sure you need to makeup first.”
She let her arms fall and looked into his eyes. He stared back for a moment, then reached his arm around her and pulled her close. He pressed his mouth to hers so hard, she tasted blood where her lips pressed into her teeth.
He nearly tore her clothes from her. First, her shirt was back over her head. Then, her bra. He bent her over the bed and shoved her pants and panties down. He leaned over her, his hot skin making her break into a sweat.
He leaned down to kiss her shoulder, and she pressed her ass against him.
“I want you,” she said.
He let out another growl and pushed his erection into her, slamming her from behind. He had his hand on her shoulder to hold her as he thrust in and out, hard and fast. She cried out in pleasure, reaching down to rub her clit.
He grabbed her hips and moaned as he came with several hard slams. He stopped, still inside her, and she made herself cum with her hand. Then she lay down on the bed and he flopped down beside her.
“See,” she breathed, turning to face him. “Makeup sex is way better than being mad.”
“Definitely.” He kissed her shoulder and trailed his fingers over her hard nipples.
She squirmed under his touch. “My nipples are so sensitive right now.”
“Are they?” He gave her a mischievous look and bent over to take one into his mouth. He sucked on it, then gently bit it between his teeth while his fingers pinched her other nipple. She felt a jolt in her pussy.
“That feels so good,” she said.
He reached down and ran his hand back and forth over her clit, spreading their combined juices around. “You’re so wet.”
“Can’t help it.” She bit her lip as he slipped a finger inside her.
He used his thumb to circle her clit while moving his other finger in and out of her. She moaned and lay on her back so she could open her legs to him. He dipped his pinky inside her, getting it nice and wet before he pressed it into her ass. With all three spots being hit at once, and him still pinching her nipple, it was all she needed. He pushed his fingers into her and she went over the edge into orgasm. She came hard, digging her fingers into his hair.
“I cannot get enough of you,” he said, coming back to kiss her. “Something about this sexy baby bump.”
“Really?” She giggled. “It turns you on?”
“Oh, God, yes. If it were up to me, you’d never put clothes on again.”