Page 24 of Unbound

“Eden, you need to listen to me. You are not dirty, and sex is not dirty. For one thing, you being pregnant by some asshole who abused you isn’t your fault. I doubt you even had enough sex education to realize he should’ve worn a condom. The hand you’ve been dealt is a shit one, but you have me here now, helping you wade through it. Your baby is a blessing. Me happening to stumble upon you outside that truck stop—which wasn’t even on my normal route, by the way—was a blessing. You’re going to be just fine. You’re not in this alone anymore. And if exploring your smothered sexual desires is what you want, I’m definitely willing to help you with that. If you tell me to never touch you again, I can swear to you right now that it’ll never happen. I’m a man of my word.”

For some reason, I believe him. But instead of telling him I don’t want him to touch me—because on top of everything else, I don’t want to turn into a liar—I simply nod and release a shaky exhale.

“Okay. Thank you for understanding.”

He nods, finally releasing my shoulders. “Look, this is my fault. I should’ve said no to the shower thing. I know you don’t have much experience, and I don’t want you to feel pressured into anything. I’m sorry.”

I step back into the hallway, shaking my head. “Don’t do that. You’ve been amazing and supportive since day one.”

He stands there in a towel, flexing his jaw. He’s beautiful without even trying. I just want him to hold me right now, but it feels wrong to ask for anything else from him. I turn around and walk into his bedroom, shutting the door behind me, the sound of it closing making my heart feel like it’s breaking in two.

We’ve been tiptoeing around each other for over two weeks now, until he comes home on Friday night with a shopping bag from a store I’ve never heard of. He sets the bag down on the coffee table.

“Get dressed. I’m taking you out.”

I chew on my lower lip, looking up from the library book. I found out it was only a mile down the road, so I’ve been walking to it every few days to check out Regency mystery novels. The one I picked up last time has a heavy romance subplot that I can’t get enough of. The duke has thrown off all societal expectations and started up a whirlwind romance with a woman far below his station.

“Where are we going?”

“There’s a country music concert at an outdoor venue. Some of my friends are going, along with my brother Duke.”

My throat constricts.

He told his friends about me. His brother is coming here.

“Doesn’t he live in Texas?”

“Yeah. He’s coming down for the weekend since I’ll be shipping out soon.”

I look down at the bag on the coffee table, curious about what it is.

“Open it. I’m gonna go shower. Leave in an hour? That’s when Duke’s plane lands.”

I feel myself nodding. He disappears down the hallway. I reach for the bag. When I pull out the items inside and unwrap the tissue paper, I nearly drop the clothes.

He picked out a sweater dress for me. It’s a rich brown color in a soft, cozy yarn. Inside the bag are also a pair of leather brown boots with a low heel and a fringe leather jacket. It’s chic and beautiful, and it will fit over my growing bump comfortably.

Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Don’t cry.

I’ve never had anyone buy me a brand-new outfit before. It would’ve been thoughtful enough for him to just invite me out, but to go to the lengths of buying me an outfit suitable for the occasion and would also be comfortable with my baby belly is almost too much.

I can’t figure Sterling out. Since the shower incident, we’ve been quiet and courteous. He asks me how I’m feeling every day. He cleans up the dishes after dinner and takes me on a walk. He makes sure I’m taking my prenatal vitamins, but other than that, he doesn’t speak. He hasn’t made any type of move on me, none whatsoever.

I even left the door to his room open while I was changing, just to see if he would take a peek. Nope. He was the perfect gentleman.

I sigh, taking the clothes back to the room.

Maybe he’s not even interested anymore.

I wouldn’t blame him after the freak-out I had after what happened last time. He deserves to find someone who isn’t so confused and at war with their desires and the competing morals they’ve been stuck with since birth.

When we arrive at the concert venue, Duke hops out of the back seat of the truck and immediately opens my door with a smile. He extends a hand to help me down. I take it, careful not to let my heel snag the hem of the sweater dress.

“You know, when Sterling first told me he married a girl he had just met, I didn’t get it. But now that I’ve met you, I very much understand.” He winks at me, but doesn’t release my hand until Sterling comes around the car, eyes blazing.

Sterling reaches for my arm and places a hand on his brother’s chest. I gape at him as he physically shoves Duke away from me.

“Hands. Off. My. Wife,” he grits out.