I Don't Dance (Freebirds Book 6) by Lani Lynn Vale Read Free Book Online Page A

calves met the back of my thighs, pulling the sweatshirt I was wearing over my folded knees.
    How long would it take Elliott to find me? I wondered. Realize that I’m missing?
    Turns out, not that long.
    I was napping with my head resting on my knees, my arms folded into my chest underneath the sweatshirt, when I heard the crunch of boots through the forest.
    I’d been gone for a little over two hours now, by my count, and I was surprised that he came that quickly.
    He walked slowly, unhurriedly, through the woods.
    That’s when I realized that he wasn’t looking for me. He was just walking.
    He wasn’t worried about me. Wasn’t actively looking at anything in particular.
    He had his hands in the pockets of his jacket.
    His blonde hair had gotten longer. It now brushed his collar, giving him more of a rugged look with his ever growing beard. I wasn’t used to him being anything but shaven and sheared. This look was incredibly new to me, and I mostly enjoyed looking at him.
    He looked a little meaner, but it got me hot.
    Not that he’d know. He was too busy in his head to pay attention to me.
    I’d tried to pull him out of his head, but every time I did, he became mad at me. Storming off to the back porch, or the garage, completely ignoring anything I had to say.
    In fact, in the months since Dougie had died, I’d spent less time talking to him than I had when he’d been deployed.
    Staying where I was, I watched him walk by, not even bothering to get up.
    I was comfortable. Maybe he’d come back through. Maybe he wouldn’t.
    I didn’t care.
    Then I scolded myself. I should care. I had a baby to think about.
    Which was why I got up, knees protesting from being in the same position for so long, and started to follow him at a slow pace. Keeping him in my line of sight, but not getting close enough for him to hear me.
    I’d thought I’d accomplished it, too, when he suddenly stopped and had his gun out and pointed at me before I’d even realized he stopped.
    I froze, my heart pounding as I stared down the barrel of his gun.
    It didn’t stay long, though.
    When he realized whom it was, he lowered the gun like it was on fire, horrified at what he’d just done.
    “Jesus fucking Christ, Blaine. What the fuck are you thinking following me in the woods? I could’ve killed you!” He bellowed.
    I snorted at that asinine comment. He wouldn’t have killed me. He had too much control.
    He did, however, scare the bejesus out of me. Man, but he was fast.
    I rolled my eyes and started past him. “I’m fucking lost, asswad. I was in the woods first. You were the one following me.”
    My anger was pouring off of me in waves.
    “Asswad? Why are you talking to me like that? What have I done to you?” He asked in surprise.
    I don’t know why I erupted. Maybe it was the hormones that were out of whack. Maybe it was the way he said it so surprisingly, like he couldn’t believe it. Maybe it was just on general principle since he’d been ignoring me. Whatever you called it, I flipped.
    “You know, that’s exactly right. You haven’t done a single fucking thing to me. Not one. Not in six fucking months while I bust my ass trying to keep you from pulling away any further. Not like I’ve accomplished much, though. Not when you’re intent on going.” I yelled. Then I said what I’d never intended to tell him. “And I’m pregnant. How’s that for fucking justice? We conceived when you fucked me in the dark. One of the times where you waited till I was asleep, or nearly asleep so I wouldn’t ask you any questions or talk to you afterwards.”
    Man, but I sounded whiney, but I couldn’t help it. I missed my husband!
    His hand came up and he placed it over his chest. Almost as if my words had shot through his heart and left him bleeding out.
    “You’re pregnant?” He asked softly.
    I nodded, frozen to the spot.
    He moved, walked slowly to me before pulling me into his body.
    I stayed stiff for all of three seconds