28. Constantine

Chapter 28

Constantine

Power over me, all right. In hindsight, it wasn’t the most logical and rational decision to be in a bedroom with the literal woman of my dreams.

“You have no intention of getting into this bed with me, do you?” she mused, her accent even deeper now than it had been in my office.

“Absolutely none,” I confirmed. “Holding your hand is the best I can do with you in this state.”

She made a little harumph noise, her lips rolling with it.

My dick twitched, and she keyed in on the movement in my jeans.

“Well then, can I at least ask you something?”

“Another handshake deal?” I smirked, gently tugging her hand. “What shall we agree upon now?”

She finally averted her eyes from my crotch so I could breathe again. “How about our son taking your last name?”

And like that, the breath from my lungs was gone again.

“Carmichael was never meant to be Colin’s last name.”

She waited for me to respond while I waited for my heart to be revived.

“I know he’ll want to be a Costa. I want him to be a Costa.”

I tightened my grip on her hand, staring at her unblinking as emotion packed a heavy punch. My heart didn’t start up, but my legs did give out. I dropped to one knee, then the other, my elbows landing on the bed.

She leaned forward and palmed my cheek, a soft caress of her skin over my stubbled jawline. “This isn’t the bourbon,” she whispered. “Well, I suppose it is lulling the truth from my lips more easily. But it doesn’t change the fact that it’s the truth.”

At her continued touch and my continued silence, her eyes on me felt like a touch of light sparking up amid darkness.

“Stages of grief,” she murmured, reminding me I was cycling between them.

“What about the stages of shock? Is that a thing?” My voice was as raw and stripped down as I felt.

“I think so.” She scooted closer, drawing her hand up and into my hair, massaging my scalp, making me a little lightheaded. “So?”

I wanted to tell her I wanted more than Colin to have my last name. I wanted her to have it, too. But I kept that to myself, not yet ready to admit that to her.

“I’d like that.” I worked the knot of emotion down the back of my throat. “Any other deals or questions you have for me while we wait for dinner?” I forced a smile, working to push away the emotions while not pushing her away. I was a man of my word, after all.

“I have another one, but it’s also outside basic territory.”