"I can take it from here, Hunter. Thank you so much for all your help."

"It was my pleasure, ma'am. Oh, by the way, I took the liberty of notifying Mr. Scott of our arrival time. Take care of yourself." At my perplexed look, he simply nods at me before walking away with his baggage in tow.

I pull my small bag behind me and make my way toward the lines of cabs.

"Kara!"

I turn toward the voice calling out my name to see Will rushing through the crowds of people. When he finally reaches me, he pulls me into his arms and hugs me tight.

I drop the handle to my luggage and wrap my arms around him. Thankful that he's here and hopeful that this means he's forgiven me.

"I'm so sorry," I whisper over and over into his ear.

"I know, baby. I know." He pulls back and gently kisses me on the lips. When he pulls back, his eyes are glistening with unshed tears. "I know." He bends down and kisses me again before pulling back and reaching down to grab my luggage.

With his free hand, he takes my hand in his, threading our fingers together and tugging me toward the pickup zone.

"Does this mean you've forgiven me?" I ask.

"It means I'm willing to try."

"Fair enough." I squeeze his hand, and he flashes me a small smile. Granted, it's not one of his megawatt smiles, but I'll take it.

* * *

Things have been different since I came back from North Carolina.

Will and I have been working on our relationship. Defining boundaries and setting the expectations we have for each other. I'm not going to lie; that first week was difficult. The tension always seemed to be there between us, but one night after dinner, things sort of clicked and everything fell back into place just like it was before the big blow- out.

I shake my head at my errant thoughts and finish wiping off the table and head to the kitchen sink to help Jill with the dishes.

I twirl to avoid several kids running by and nearly drop the bowl in my hand. "Easy. Easy," I say, laughing at their antics. The two little girls are chasing the little boys with their dolls, threatening them with dolly germs.

When I finally reach the sink, Jill tilts her head, giving me an assessing look. "You're starting to show." She looks down at the obvious bulge of my belly and gives a tight smile. "You need to be careful around the kids. You could fall and get hurt."

I nod and take over my duties drying as she washes and rinses.

Jill is an abrasive personality, but I admire her. She doesn't let anything stand in her way, but I don't know why my pregnancy seems to get to her like it does. The other ladies are happy that my pregnancy is progressing, even though they're not entirely up to speed on the circumstances surrounding it. I've told them enough so they at least know that I'm a surrogate, but they have no idea of the feelings that I'm developing for Will.

Most of the women here aren't exactly trusting of men, and I certainly don't fault them for it.

I've been attending the counseling sessions that Ava leads and it's helped me more than I ever thought they would. The most difficult part has been learning to trust people again. After everything that Jay put me through, I found it difficult to trust people enough to let them in. Everyone who I had ever trusted had betrayed me in one way or another. The only person who hadn't yet was Will.

"You still here?" Jill waves a hand in front of my face, and I flinch, jumping back a little. "Whoa, easy there. I was only trying to get your attention." She gives me an apologetic look and then goes back to rinsing the dishes and handing them to me.

"Sorry." I don't know why I feel the need to apologize, but it's become a reactionary habit that I'm finding difficult to rid myself of. I've spent the better part of a decade apologizing.

The thought spurs a memory that I'd rather forget, but it tackles my thoughts with a vengeance and that night floods my mind.

"What is wrong with you? Why can't you do anything right?" Jay yells as I try to scrub the red wine he made me spill from the carpet.

I know better than to defend myself. My ribs are still throbbing from my lesson in obedience last night. Apparently, I'm a slow learner because I'd been receiving lessons for over five years now, and they never seem to take.

"For fuck’s sake, woman."

I don't see it, so I don't have time to protect my stomach before his boot collides with my exposed ribcage.

Pain lances through my side. I collapse to the floor, balling my body up to protect itself as he begins kicking, and kicking, and kicking at me. More often than not, his boot connects with my vulnerable stomach, and before long, I throw up.

Blood. So much blood.

It splatters like the Red Sea over the tile floor, and he stops kicking me when he sees it.

I gag, choking on my own blood-filled vomit. My stomach heaves to try to rid itself of any contents, but all that keeps coming up is blood.

Bright.

Bubbly.

Blood.

I gasp for air, but it becomes a struggle, and I eventually go limp, my mouth gaping wide for each labored breath. I feel like a fish kicked ashore. The air is there for me to breathe, but it feels toxic to my burning lungs.

"Jesus Christ!" Jay runs from the room, and for a minute I wonder if he's finally left me to die. But then he returns, and he's on the phone with 911.

"She fell down the steps. Please hurry. I think she has a punctured lung." He sounds panicked, but I know better. As soon as the phone hangs up, he bends down to put his face in front of mine.

Spots dance in my vision as I stare up at the man I used to love. "You did this to yourself. I don't know why you antagonize me like you do. It never ends well for you, Krista. When are you ever going to learn?" He leans over my gasping mouth and gently brushes his lips over the crimson coating mine. When he pulls back, I watch with dazed eyes as his tongue sweeps out to lick my blood from his lips.

The sound of sirens is the last thing I remember before waking up in the hospital.

The doctors believed his story.

I was clumsy and I had fallen ... again.

"Kara?" A finger snaps by my ear to get my attention.

I jolt back to the here and now, my mind a little muddled by the memory.

Jill eyes me intently, recognition passing through her gaze. She gives a curt nod and reaches forward to turn the sink off and dry her hands.

I look down to see all the dishes have been washed and dried. I don't remember doing any of it. But then again, I usually don't when I'm sucked into a memory like that.

"That happen a lot?"

I drop my eyes to the floor, gently nodding. "Not as much as it used to." I whisper.

"Once is one time too many. How many times did you end up in the hospital?"

"Twenty-seven."

She shakes her head and moves to pull up her shirt sleeve.

A long gnarly scar runs from her wrist to the inside of her elbow. My eyes trace the rough edges that track up her otherwise perfect skin like a twisted centipede.

"I ran away from him after living with him for two years. We met at a New Year's Eve party one of my friends was hosting. He was a friend of a friend." She laughs a humorless laugh. "That means they're supposed to be safe, right?" Her smile is strained, and the pain in her eyes makes me flinch because it so closely mirrors my own. "Everything was good for the first year. Then we moved in together ... and his demons came out to play."

My eyes meet hers and then look back down at her scar. With a timid touch, I run the tip of my finger over her scar. I start at the bend of her elbow and work my way down to her wrist. When I reach the area where I can feel her pulse beating strong and proud, I wrap my hand around her wrist and give a reassuring squeeze. "Feel that?"

Her brows scrunch up in confusion.

"That's the heart of a fighter. Funny, he sliced you right to your vein but couldn't drain your will to live." I bring her arm to my lips and press them gently to her scar. When I pull back, I see tears glistening in her eyes. "You can't escape a fight without carrying a few scars. And you ...” I smile. "You're one helluva fighter."

She laughs, pulling her sleeve back down but the tension noticeably easing from her body. "You're crazy, Country."

"Country?" My nose scrunches and my brows pinch together.

She reaches out and tweaks my nose a little. "Yeah, from here on out, you're Country."

I shrug. "I've been called worse."

At that, we both laugh out loud and proceed to finish cleaning the kitchen.

* * *

"Where have you been? I've been trying to get a hold of you all evening." I try to contain my anger, but she's been gone since this morning with no word of where, or when she'd be back.

"I'm sorry ...”

I raise a hand, halting her apology. "I don't want to hear your apologies. I just want to know where you were at. Do you have any idea how worried I've been?"

"I wanted to see ...”

I slice my hand through the air, effectively silencing her. "Truth, Kara. I need the truth."

She sighs, setting her purse down on the bar and taking a seat on the stool. I brace my weight on my hands as I lean toward her over the bar, waiting for an explanation.

"I guess I deserved that, but I would not lie. I was at the women's shelter.”

"The shelter?" I release an exasperated breath. "Why couldn't you tell me this instead of leaving without a word and making me worry about you all day?"

"I didn’t think. I’m sorry. "

"I don’t mind that you go to the shelter. I just want to know where you’re at so I don’t have to worry about you as much."

"I know, I’m sorry."

"Just be honest with me. That’s all I ask.”

Her fiery eyes narrow. “I didn’t lie," she spits out. “I just forgot to tell you.”

I jerk back, taken by surprise at her mood swing.

I don't know why, but her attitude and willingness to argue with me, makes her even sexier.

She stands up and storms across the kitchen. "I may be carrying your babies, but you don't own me. I can come and go as I please."

I fight hard to contain my smile. She’s completely unaware of her own mood swings and also completely oblivious of the effect her feistiness is having on me.

I rush over to her, causing her to gasp as I grab her wrist, spinning her around to me. Before she can say another word, my mouth crushes against hers. She tries to push me away, but when my tongue slips inside her mouth and my hands reach around to grab her ass, she melts in my arms.

A soft whimper is all the fuel I need, and the next minute, I'm hoisting her legs up around my waist and walking until her back presses up against the wall. Our kiss goes from hot and heavy to nuclear in a split second. Our mouths tangle together in a wild, lust-fueled frenzy. My hands grapple with her leggings as I work to pull them down, but eventually, I just set her feet down on the floor and roughly jerk them down her legs.

Her wild eyes meet mine as I step back up to her, taking her mouth before she can think to utter a word. My tongue possessing her mouth like my cock aches to possess her sweet pussy.

My hands run up the sides of her thighs, hips, and finally to her shirt where I pull it over her head and step back for a second to take in the delectable sight of her in nothing but her bra and panties. Her breasts rise and fall on rapid breaths as she struggles to gain control over this tornado of desire that has devoured us both.

It's been fifteen long weeks since I've been inside her.

My eyes take in every detail of her body. Her lush curves. Full breasts that spill out like an offering over the top of her lace bra. The soft roundness of her baby bump, and the curve of her hips that lead into sleek legs, begging to be wrapped around a man.

She's every man’s fantasy come to life. Beautiful face. Sweet and calm until you get her riled, and then she's fire to my ice. "You're so fucking beautiful." My words come out raspy, my voice not sounding like my own. "Do you have any idea what you do to me? How crazy you make me? I can't stop thinking about you. You're always on my mind. And when you're away, I worry so much."

A slight blush creeps up and over her cheeks, making her appeal rise another notch. I want this woman so badly, but I don't want to shatter the fragile connection building between us.

I slowly fall to my knees, my eyes locking with hers, watching for any signs of fear or doubt. Her green and blue eyes are alight with a fire like I've never seen. Her breathing is still coming fast and hard to the point of panting.

Slowly, I lean forward and press my lips to her quivering thigh. Kissing a trail to the inside and running my fingers soothingly up her hips and back down the outside of her thighs.

Her eyes close, and she gasps when I blow a heated breath over her core.

I hook my fingers around the sides of her panties, slowly inching them down her satin legs. Her head tilts back, eyes squeezed shut, her body trembling with nervous anticipation.

She wants this ... almost as much as I want to give it to her.

When I have her bared to me, I look my fill of her. I run my finger through the center of her folds––she jumps but releases a heady groan and sinks into my touch.

I can't wait. My finger is wet with her arousal, and her heady scent is filling me with a need that I can barely contain. I lean forward, inhaling deeply and groaning with the need to have her nectar on my tongue. Her scent all around me.

I extend my tongue and press firmly against the tight bundle of nerves over her clit, dragging my tongue from the top of her nub to her core where I lick with long greedy strokes. Sucking her clit into my mouth, I hum as her flavor coats my tongue.

My fingers press into her thighs as they work their way to the inside of her legs where I press her legs open wide, bracing them over my shoulders and pressing my face fully into her.

I devour her. Eat her like a man starved and she's my only meal.

She cries out, her orgasm threading around her body like a rope ready to snap. Up and down, I lap up her juices, flicking my tongue in rapid succession over her clit and then taking long languorous strokes over her cunt. Just when I have her squirming and begging for release, I suck her clit into my mouth, flicking my tongue fast and hard, and then spreading her pussy wide open and running two fingers deep into her core.

I only pump my fingers twice before she screams my name and climax around my face and fingers. Still, I suck and lick until she reaches the pinnacle again and breaks over the edge with a long wail of euphoric bliss.

Only when she stops trembling do I pull back and gently settle her back down to her feet.

Her face is rose red and her eyes are glazed with the look of a satisfied woman.

I wipe her juices from my face with the back of my hand and then lean forward to kiss her.

She doesn't pull away; in fact, she sucks my tongue into her mouth and moans when she tastes herself.

When I pull back, we're both out of breath and my cock is throbbing with the need to release. I adjust myself as she bends over and pulls her panties back on, pulling her shirt down to cover herself in the process.

When she has her clothes situated, and my raging erection is somewhat under control, I press my lips to her forehead. "Good night, beautiful."

I don't want her to feel obligated to reciprocate, so I head to my bedroom where I can stroke myself to the image of her coming with my tongue lapping at her succulent pussy.

* * *

It takes me a minute to gather myself enough to walk to my room.

You are in so much trouble, girl. So much trouble.

I shake my head and walk as fast as I can to my room without physically running. I don't know if I could look Will in the eye right now. The image of his face between my legs is so freshly ingrained in my mind’s eye that I'm growing wet just thinking about it.

As soon as the door clicks shut, my back presses up against it, and I slide down, the cool wood rubbing against my spine until my butt hits the floor. I draw my knees up as much as I can, my baby bump preventing me from pulling them flush against my chest.

I've never experienced an orgasm that strong before. It felt like my body was being ripped in half but in the most pleasurable way imaginable.

I need a cold shower.

I take my time in the shower. My skin feels hypersensitive and the water running down my spine is like a sensual caress.

By the time I finish washing my hair and rinsing my body off, I’m exhausted.

I dry off and throw on a large t-shirt and then crawl into bed. As soon as my head hits the pillow, my mind starts running the night’s events on a constant loop. Even though my body is physically worn out, my brain just won't shut off.

I roll over on my other side and pull the pillow over my face. Groaning with annoyance as I try to wipe the mental picture of what happened from my thoughts so I can get some rest.

A gentle knock has me sitting up and squinting through the dark to see Will entering my room. The bed dips down as he sits next to me on the mattress. Even in the dark of night, he's beautiful. His wet tousled hair gives him an even sexier mussed look that makes me want to run my fingers through his short locks.

"I thought I'd come in and check on you. Do you need me to rub your feet or massage your back to help you get to sleep?"

God, I love him. At this exact moment and with the way I'm feeling, he couldn't be any sweeter.

"Would you rub my back please?"

His white teeth practically glow when he smiles in the dark. "With pleasure. Scoot over and turn on your side." I do as he says and situate myself to where he can run his fingers up and down my spine.

"You don't have to massage it. Just run your fingers over my back like you're tracing a map. My mom used to do that to put me to sleep. It was so soothing."

He leans down and kisses my cheek. "Your wish is my command," he whispers.

Before things can get heated, he pulls away and settles in behind me.

In the next minute, his fingers begin to lightly trace over my back in circular patterns. Large, then small. "I'm sorry I lost my cool today. I don’t understand why I’m having so much trouble controlling my emotions."

"Forgiven," he mutters.

He repeats the patterns on my back until I'm lulled into a deep sleep. My last thoughts are of how much I love this man.