Free Beautiful Beginning by Christina Lauren Page B

How should I say this . . . ?” He scratched his jaw, thinking. “She’s always been eager. But pregnant Sara? Jesus, mate. I can barely keep up.”
    I’d really have liked to shove Max into the pounding surf, but I had to admit it was a little endearing to see him so flustered and fumbling through his words. “That might be the most inarticulate thing I’ve ever heard you say.”
    “Fucking right.”
    “Really trying not to hate you,” I groaned.
    “So, aside from the obvious,” Max said, meaningfully. “How are things?”
    “The usual. My mother is texting me every half hour with whatever happens to be her worry of the moment. Chloe’s dad wouldn’t have the foggiest idea where he’s supposed to be at any given time without Julia assigned to Frederick Watch. Bull is waiting for Chloe to decide she wants one last fling. I’ll probably be checked into rehab by the end of the day.”
    “And Chloe?” he asked.
    “Chloe is Chloe,” I said. “She’s sexy and infuriating and constantly keeps me guessing. I thought I might strangle her last night but we talked. I think we’re finally on the same page.”
    “Sounds great then,” he said. But it was too short, too flat, and I didn’t miss the way he kept his eyes trained on Will.
    “What?” I asked, watching his expression.
    “Nothing.”
    “If you have something to say, Stella, say it.”
    Will must have realized we weren’t behind him anymore because he’d doubled back. “What’s up?” he asked, using the hem of his shirt to wipe the sweat from his brow and looking back and forth between us, clearly confused.
    “We’re talking about Plan Chastity,” Max explained.
    “Oh, good,” Will said, turning to face me. “If I may, this sexbargo thing may be the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”
    “I—” I began.
    “Agreed,” Max interrupted. “I get that it’s all a fucking game with you lot most of the time, but who flies to California to get married, rents a bloody suite on the beach, and then doesn’t bang the hell out of his hot fiancée?”
    “Stupid.” Will nodded.
    Max gave me a withering look. “Imbecilic.”
    “Embarrassing to all men, if I’m being quite hon—”
    “ I don’t know, okay!” I yelled, my voicing booming down the beach. ”I know it makes no sense! At the time, it made sense. ‘Make it special,’ I thought. ‘Make the tension build,’ I thought. I wanted her to remember how fun it was to be pissed at me all day every day. I wanted her to remember that there really is only one man who can handle her and it’s me, goddamnit ! Now, it seems like the worst idea in the history of bad ideas. But I’m committed. Do you see this tiny corner I’ve painted myself into? Do you?”
    I gestured around me frantically until both of my friends were forced to give me slightly terrified nods.
    “I threw down this gauntlet, I have to follow through. This is Chloe we are talking about. She already has her fist curled tightly around one of my testicles, at least let me keep the other one! If I fuck her before Saturday night she’s going to think she owns both balls and can wear them as fucking charms on a bracelet. She’ll expect me to thank her after she sucks my dick! She’ll think she’s letting me spank her! She’ll wear shoes to work that no one has any business wearing even in the bedroom!” I took a huge, gulping breath, lowering my voice, “And then. Then I will spend the rest of forever trying to convince her that she’s an ungrateful, pain in the ass, harpy shrew who really just needs to be tied to the bed and fucked until she’s thanking me for existing!”
    I wiped my chin free of any spittle that may have escaped during my tirade and squeezed my eyes shut, chest heaving.
    “You really need to get laid,” Will whispered in awe.
    Max rested his enormous hand on my shoulder. “He’s right, mate. This is more serious than I thought.”
    “Oh, shut the fuck up,” I hissed, shoving his hand away