by Raven Scott
Pointing to my arm dumbly, I frowned as confusion blurred my vision. Turning to Bruiser’s surprised expression, I looked back and forth between him and the doctor, who made an excuse and walked out, but I didn’t hear what he said even as his voice washed over me. Bruiser sat down heavily on the exam bed, propping his elbows on his knees to clench and release his fists.
“Um . . . Bruiser?” My voice trembled, and I bit my bottom lip to stop it shaking when Bruiser’s eyes flew to mine. They narrowed into slits, and I ducked my head into my knees. Rubbing my head absently with my uninjured hand, I tensed when Bruiser grabbed my wrist. Dragging me into his lap, his heart beat furiously against my cheek as he cradled my head in his large, warm palm.
“Are you okay with this, Nicole?” Bruiser’s grumble rocketed down my spine, and I looked up as graveness drew deep lines in his face. “I’m not gonna force you into this? I mean, presumably, you’re on birth control because you don’t want kids, so the fact that it failed . . .”
“Why are you asking it like it’s a question? I know you won’t. And yeah, I was on it because I didn’t wanna get pregnant because I wasn’t in a relationship I thought would last. But now I am, so it’s good. Right?” He gave me an uncomfortable grimace, and my chest tightened painfully. “Right?”
“If we do this, you’ll need to take it easy for a while, and I’m serious.” Bruiser’s mumble was a death knell in my ears, and he stroked my cheek tenderly with his thumb. I barely felt it or his breath rolling down my nose or his muscles writhing from the tension. “You haven’t even been on my bike yet. I think we’re going backward, here, Nicole.”
“Th-then . . . I will. I won’t give up my craft, but I can . . . I can be a mother and still be an artist. My goal was always to live easy and do my art. That meant making money. But I’m not by myself anymore. As much as I want to be painting all the time, when this baby gets here, I know I need to take a step back, so please, Bruiser, let me paint as much as I can before our lives change, and I know . . .” I grab his hand with my uninjured one to squeeze, closing my eyes as the shock threatened to shut down my mind. “I know you were gonna be all like ‘come live with me rent-free and all you gotta do is bang on a regular basis’.”
“Shut the fuck up, I would not.” Bruiser’s smile shone in his voice, and he sighed gravelly and heavy against my crown. “Okay, so, what about your sister and your parents? And that guy, Sam, seemed cool. Nice enough to drive to your place and tell me she was gonna confront you with ‘evidence’.”
“I don’t know when I’ll tell my parents. They’ll wanna come back and stuff. I don’t wanna deal with that. They were literally just at the wedding, which I know they didn’t have a lot of money for. I may just wait. And that’s not even considering they come back on their own because who even knows what Jackie told them in the last few hours.” Bruiser was so warm and strong, I urged his arms around me and settled against his chest. “I’m tired.”
“A lot happened today. You deserve a nap.” Stroking my hair, Bruiser tensed beneath me when his phone vibrated in his pocket. I groaned when he jostled to fish the device out, and he grunted lowly. “It’s Cole. Parker just woke up.”
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From
Raven Scott
Series: The Syndicates
Theo
Carlyle
Erik
Oran
Series: Bratva Dark Allegiance
The Fixer
The Runaway
The Handyman
Series: Mafia Bastards
Ruthless Romeo
Twisted Marcello
Heartless Savio
Vengeful Giorgio
Series: Warpath MC
Spyder’s Bite
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From
Elizabeth Knox
Series: Skulls Renegade
Reign
Redemption
Revenge
Relentless
Reckoning
Reclaimed
Reckless
Regret
Reclusive
Retribution
First Generation: A Skulls Renegade MC Boxset
Series: Steele Bros.
Tough as Steele
Stripping a Steele
Protecting a Steele
Steele her Heart
Stolen Hearts: The Complete Steele Bros Boxset
Series: Reapers Rejects MC
Scarred
Blackjack
Here Kitty, Kitty
Booger
Widow
Kade
Hawk
Bull
Cobra
Mouser
Dixon
Zane
Amara
Grim
Chaz
Frost
Zorro
Axel
Hammer
Series: Iron Vex MC
Enraged
Bossed Up
Vex’s Temptation
Venom’s Secret
Series: Royal bastards Mc: Baltimore/Knights of retribution mc
Bet on Me
Rely on Me
Hate on Me
Series: Satan’s Raiders MC
Inc’s Regret
Series: The Clans with Iris Sweetwater
Promised
The Trade
Cherished
Deceit
Love is War
Defiant
Shattered
Ruthless
Covert
Heretic
Venomous
Flawed
Demise
Series: The Mackenzie & Volkolv Duet
Deceptive Love
Series: Love Hack
Ransom
Series: The Mackenzies
Forbidden Love
Corrupted Love
Sin City Fets with Linny Lawless & Aubree Valentine
Switched
Surrender
Full Throttle with Erin Trejo
Against All Odds
Sharp Edges
Burnout
Pins and Needles with E.C. Land
Blood & Agony
DeLancy Crime Family with E.C. Land
Degrade
Anthologies
Santa’s Naughty Helpers
Sweet Treats
No Man Left Behind
Do you like Paranormal Romance?
Check out Elizabeth’s Alternate Pen Name, Liz Knox.
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Series: Bloodlines Trilogy
Fated by Blood (Free Prequel)
Series: Nightshade
Blood Oath (A Prequel)
Series: Lone Wolf MC
Origins (Free Prequel)
Series: Hells Gateway MC
Caym’s Fated Mate
Shax’s Destined Mate
Jude’s Cursed Mate
Series: Bloodborn Academy
Bitten Magic
Bitten Captive
Anthologies
Romanticizing the Gods
The Elementals
