Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 34891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 174(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 174(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
“Amore, my sweet rose.” He scoops me up and carries me to our bed. It feels wonderful to be in his arms, but my stomach churns from my riled-up emotions. I push off him and rush to the bathroom, throwing up again.
I heard Alessio’s on my heels, and then he runs the water in the sink and then let out a puff of air. “You’re pregnant?” he asks. I nervously look up at him from my perch next to the toilet.
Standing up, I move to the sink and rinse my mouth again. When I finished, I say, “I wasn’t feeling good, so I came up here and after getting sick I took a test. I had no idea he was waiting in our bedroom.” I try to explain myself, wanting him to understand that I wouldn’t betray him.
He growls, “Don’t. Don’t bring that motherfucker up at this moment. You’re having my baby.” A smile spreads over my husband’s face, and for a moment all the awful shit that just happened fades. He doesn’t believe that bastard. That crooked, devious smile is tossed my way, and I remember how excited I was to tell him.
“Yes. I’m having your baby.”
“Can I touch you?” he asks as if I’m fragile all of a sudden.
“Always.” He pulls me in and holds me. We don’t say a word as we absorb the news that we’re going to be parents. The sound of his racing heart is musically soothing. I press my head to his chest, snuggling close, burying myself until I can’t get any deeper into his embrace.
“I love you, amore. I can’t lose you, ever,” he says with a thickened, husky tone. Could my husband be crying? No. He wouldn’t. I loosen my arms around him and tilt my head upward to see his eyes are glossy.
He’s thinking that the bastard could have killed me up here. “I love you so much, Alessio. You’ve been mine since the day we met and until we’re gone from this world. As much as I want to celebrate this news, I’m sure there’s a matter you want to handle.”
“You know me too well,” he growls. “I want to chop off his hands and his tongue.”
I brush my fingers through his hair, pressing my lips against his jaw. “I would expect no less. Don’t let him get the better of you. You’re too tough to let a pathetic man like him make you lose control.”
“How come you’re the strong one when you’re the one he hurt?” He caresses my back, rubbing all the way to my backside, causing me to moan.
“Because you give me the strength,” I reply, reaching for the stiffness between his legs.
“Wife, fuck, I’m so damn hard.”
“I’ll deal with that later when we’re completely alone.”
He becomes serious and cups my cheek. “Tell me what happened, please.”
Turning my head, I kiss his palm, take a deep breath, and then explain that he saw us by the pool and threatened me, making him infuriated. Alessio had sent our staff away at the time, so it had been intentional that he was there, hiding somewhere close by where he could see me naked. This made him furious. He held me tightly and then pressed his lips to my temple.
I whisper, “I love you, Alessio.”
He cradles my head in his hands and looks deep into my eyes. “I’ll spend the rest of my life making this up to you.”
I smile at the only man I love with my heart and soul. “You are my hero and protector. I trust you and feel safe. I don’t know if you heard, but I told him you’d kill him.”
“I didn’t, but I will.”
“I never expected anything less.”
“Good girl. Now lie down and try to get some rest.”
“I can’t lie here.”
“I’m a fool. Is it too fucked up in here now?”
“No…it’s just that we have a bunch of guests outside.”
“I’ll send your sister up to stay with you and send the rest of the guests home.”
“But it’s your birthday.”
“And you’re my greatest gift. Rest, please.”
“Of course.” I nod and yawn as if the mention of sleep makes me tired. He bends down and tucks me under the covers, placing a soft kiss on my lips before leaving the room. A minute later, May is in the room, snuggling beside me on the bed, brushing my hair with her fingers.
“I’m always here for you, little sis. Sleep.”
Chapter Seventeen
Alessio
The sight of that bastard on my wife as she tried to fight him will never leave my head. Even in the dark, I could see what was happening. If I’d been a lesser man I would have believed they were in the throes of passion, but I know my beloved better. She was trapped and fighting to get away from an animal who betrayed us all and put the most precious person to me in danger.