Page 41 of Vicious Redemption

But that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll ever want me like he wanted her at some point.

Leo’s fingers go to his temples, and he massages the spots. “I assure you, you don’t need to know,” he states finally, dropping his hands to look at me.

That only makes me more curious. “Will you do to me what you did to Elena?” I press. Now that we’re talking about it, I’m burning to know what it is for myself.

“Absolutely not,” he states flatly, shutting down the discussion before it’s even begun.

The conviction in his tone stings. It shouldn’t bother me this much—knowing that he has a sexual history with someone else and doesn’t want to do those things with me. But I can’t help feeling like it’s because I’m missing something he needs. Maybe it’s the curves. “Why not?” I demand. “Am I not old enough or fun enough or experienced enough for you?”

I’ve never told Leo that the first time we slept together, I was technically still underage. Just shy of my eighteenth birthday, I’d lied because I didn’t want him to think of me as a child. And after Mayor Romney’s comment tonight, I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to admit it. But now it’s coming back to haunt me—to think that my age or immaturity might be too unappealing.

“Are you joking? No, Tia. It’s none of that. Fuck, knowing you’d never been with a man… it only made me want you more. And knowing that I’m the only man who’s ever had you—the only one who ever gets to have you? That’s hot as hell.”

My heart flutters at his words, but he still hasn’t answered my question. “Then why?” I ask, my frustration fueling my tears.

“For starters, it’s because you’re pregnant. And you’re my wife. I intend to treat you with the respect you deserve.”

“So tying women up is meant to degrade them?” I press.

“It’s not—” Leo snarls and scrubs his face with his palms. “No, I wouldn’t do it to degrade women. It’s just… rough. And you seem to beat yourself up well enough without me adding that kind of play in the bedroom.”

“I do not beat myself up,” I snap, crossing my arms.

“Can we please not argue about this?” he asks, his tone agonized.

“But what if…?” Tears sting the back of my eyes, and I look away to avoid showing him my fear.

“What if what?” Leo presses when I don’t go on.

“What if you get bored with me?” I breathe, turning reluctantly to meet his eye.

Leo’s eyebrows press together in an expression of disbelief. He chuckles. “That’s what you’re worried about?”

“I mean, why shouldn’t I be? The only reason you married me was because I got pregnant,” I point out.

“And that makes me the luckiest bastard on the planet,” he says. “Man, she really got into your head, didn’t she? I could kill Elena for making you doubt yourself. But seriously, Tia, don’t let her fuck with you. You’re too good for that.”

The fire in his voice warms my chest, and slowly, the doubt starts to melt away. “Thank you,” I murmur.

I offer an apologetic smile, and he returns a soft one as he tucks a stray strand of my hair behind my ear.

“So, are you just completely unbothered by our chance encounter with the Romneys?” Leo’s hazel eyes search mine. “Because thinking about it still makes my blood boil.”

It’s a clear change of topic, meaning the discussion about tying me up is over. I sigh, trying to let go of my curiosity—and the jealousy I hate to admit to—as I focus on what’s bothering Leo. He put it aside to deal with my issues. Now, I can do the same.

Interlacing our fingers, I give his hand a squeeze. “What the mayor said was uncalled for. I’m sorry. But things will blow over. Even if the confrontation was uncomfortable, it probably helped that they saw that I’m safe and happy. It doesn’t matter to me that they found out I’m pregnant.”

“Even if your father starts confirming it happened out of wedlock?”

“It’s not like we can do much about it if he does. Is it bad that I’m just kind of relieved people know now? Even if there will be whispers about my age or how quickly I’m having a baby, they can’t prove it. And hopefully, no one will be counting the months by the time she’s born. I hate keeping secrets, and it feels like that’s all I’ve been doing lately. So, even though I hate how brutal the mayor was to you, I hope it will at least help everyone move on.”

Leo’s shoulders seem to relax at that, and he raises our interlocked fingers to press a kiss to the back of my hand. “Thanks for being a voice of reason.”

I smile softly. “Thanks for talking to me about everything. And for pulling me out of my emotional tailspin.”

Leo chuckles. “Ready to head inside?”

I nod, and we slip out of the car simultaneously.

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