Page 107 of For One Night

“Shew!” Her lip quivers. “I was having so much trouble figuring out how I was going to stay without you asking me.”

She simpers. “You were so unexpected, Lennox.”

“Funny”—she tilts her head—“I feel as though I’ve waited a lifetime on you.”

“I got held up.” I lay my hand on her face, caressing her.

My heart pounds so hard, I can’t catch my breath. “Well, it’s a good thing I waited.”

“I think between the shower and food, I’m ready to crash.” She yawns.

I take her plate and mine, walking them to the kitchen. I rub my brow, hesitating. “Should I take the couch or the extra bed?”

“Why would you do that?” She stops at her door. “When there’s a perfectly comfortable king-sized bed in here.”

“I-I … you want m-me … in there?” I stutter as if I’m a child.

Her lips part, as she drags air deep in her lungs. “Please, sleep with me.”

“Okay.” It’s the only thing I can think of as I follow her to her bed.

She stops by the bathroom. “I’ll just be a minute. There’s more sweats in the closet.” She closes the door.

“Not sure they’ll fit.” I check a few pairs out, and just as I thought, no way are they going to fit. I make my way to the bed and sit on the edge.

She opens the door, pausing when she looks at me. “Everything alright?”

I stand, scratching my head. “They wouldn’t fit. I’ll sleep on top of the blanket.”

“Seriously? After the riot act you read me earlier?” She grins. “Drop ’em.”

I smile as she climbs into bed, cutting her eyes at me as I tug my shirt over my head and unbutton my pants. I pull the zipper down, allowing them to fall. I reach for the blanket at the end of the bed, and to my surprise, she throws the comforter back.

“I need your warmth”—she gazes at me, making my heart hammer against my chest—“and your arms.”

I slide in beside her as she sweeps her hair over my arm. God, how I love the smell of her hair. I run my hand up and down her arm, hoping to help her relax. She melts into me, stroking my arm with her cheek.

The moment I think she’s fallen asleep, she rolls over, staring into my eyes. She releases a heavy sigh, closing her eyes when she does, but only for a brief second.

“I have to share something with you, before we go any further.” Tears flood her eyes.

“You can tell me anything, Lola.”

“I have no idea what we’re doing or even where we might end up, but I know this is something important to you. I feel odd telling you knowing we’re not together.” She swallows hard.

I hold her face, tracing her jaw with my thumb. “Go ahead.”

“There’s a great possibility I’ll never have children.” Her tears fall unrestrained, wetting my arm and her pillow. “I’m thirty-six and with each passing year, I lose more hope.”

“If you ever give me the honor, and we marry or decide to live in sin”—I waggle my brows—“we’ll be fine with whatever comes our way.”

She searches my eyes. “You wouldn’t care if I couldn’t have your child?”

“My child?” Her frown deepens. “I always thought it would be ‘our child’; maybe I’m wrong.”

“I don’t understand … what are you saying?”

I dry her tears as best as I can. “If we were to have a family, it wouldn’t matter to me how we got it. I wouldn’t want you to go through what most women with PCOS go through; it can’t be easy on your body.”