Page 89 of Born into Sin

“What?”

I start to sit up and then wince at the pain in my ribs. “I’ve been asleep that long?”

“Dr. Bianchi gave you a mild sedative, but your body was exhausted.” Keeping me on his lap, he lightly runs his hand up and down my arm. It’s soothing and makes me soften against him again.

“I need to tell you something, principessa, but I’m worried about how you’re going to take it.”

My body tenses at his words as dread runs through me. I’d been so out of it when they found me, but I don’t remember anyone in my family getting hurt, but now all I can think is that something awful happened that I’m not aware of.

“My family,” I start to say, unable to even ask the question.

“Baby, they’re fine,” he quickly says. “God, I didn’t mean to scare you. I would never not tell you something like that. Everyone is fine. I promise.”

Knowing my family is okay has my heart rate calming a bit, but I’m still too on edge to fully relax. “Then what is it? What do you need to tell me?”

He runs his hand down my arm again before bringing it to my stomach. I’m wearing a giant T-shirt that must be his, and he pushes it up so he’s against my bare skin. His large palm is splayed across me, and when he softly runs his thumb over my skin, I let out a soft gasp. There’s more to this than just him wanting to touch my stomach.

“Are you trying to tell me what I think you’re trying to tell me?” I ask him.

His warm brown eyes search mine, carefully watching me to make sure I don’t get too upset or stressed, but beyond the worry is a hopeful look, a look that’s dying to be excited about this and waiting for permission from me before he gives it full rein.

“Dr. Bianchi did a blood test when you were first brought here to check a few things, and one of the things he did was a pregnancy test.”

I rest my hand on top of his, on top of the life we’ve created. “But it’s so early. It’s barely been two weeks since we first had sex.”

“A blood test can detect a pregnancy very early.” He keeps stroking my stomach with his thumb. “Tell me what you’re thinking, principessa. Are you happy? Is this too much? I know how young you are, and I don’t want you to feel trapped with me.”

I stop him before he can keep worrying about shit that I would never think.

“Dominic, I’m happy,” I tell him. “So unbelievably happy.”

His whole face lights up in the biggest smile I’ve ever seen him give.

“Is the doctor sure that everything’s okay, though? Alexei didn’t cause any damage?”

His smile falters at the reminder of what happened. “No, sweetheart. He said the pregnancy is early enough that everything should be fine. You’re going to be monitored very closely, though, just to make sure.”

“I bet I will be.” With a doctor living in the house, I’m guessing I’ll be monitored on a daily basis.

Dominic smiles and kisses my head. “I wonder if our baby is going to be half as stubborn as their mommy.”

I laugh as much as my ribs will allow. “Look who their daddy is. This poor kid doesn’t stand a chance at being even-tempered.”

“I’m not that bad,” he says with a laugh.

Looking down at our locked hands, I still can’t believe I’m pregnant. It’s so early I haven’t even started having symptoms yet. I imagine my stomach growing rounder with each passing month, and then I think about Dominic with a baby and my eyes start to tear up again, because even though I’m not having morning sickness yet, my hormones are clearly all over the place.

“Are you sure this is what you want? You always said you never wanted a family. What if you decide it’s too much? What if you decide you’d rather have the sexy, unattached supermodel instead of the wife who’s struggling to lose her pregnancy weight and a baby with colic and dirty diapers?”

He looks so hurt by my question that I almost regret asking it, but I need to hear his answer.

“Please don’t ever doubt how I feel for you, principessa. I love you, and I would never cheat on you. I don’t give a fuck about other women. I don’t want them. I only want you.”

Moving his hand so it’s now on top of mine with my palm pressed against my stomach, he gently squeezes me. “You and our baby are all I want. It’s true I never wanted a family, but that’s because I wasn’t with you. I never wanted a family with anyone else.”

Tears start spilling out because that’s really damn sweet. He kisses my wet cheek and whispers against my skin.

“I will love every stage your body goes through, and I won’t be able to keep my hands off you through any of them. That I can promise you, principessa. I will happily stay up all night long with our baby when they have colic so that you can sleep, and I swear I’ll learn how to change diapers and do feedings and bath time. I’m going to learn everything because you’re my family, and there’s nothing more important to me than that.”

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