Page 88 of Tempted

“And I guess it can’t hurt that you’re getting married to Jason. Where is he by the way?” He couldn’t keep the bitterness out of his voice. Usually when Victor came by, Jason was never far away.

Her gaze cut away from his. “He had to drop some paintings off at one of the galleries he’s showing at. He’ll probably be home shortly—oh!” Jasmine jerked forward and grabbed her stomach.

Alarm shot through him. Victor thought she was far enough along where she was no longer in great danger. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine. The baby is really active today. He was kicking up a storm earlier. I thought he’d settled down but it seems like he wants to play today.” She rubbed her swollen belly. “Hey you. Behave in there.” She giggled and looked at Victor. “Looks like the baby will be a soccer player. Do you want to feel?”

Victor stiffened. When his wife had been pregnant all three times, she didn’t want him near her, let alone touching her stomach. “I…is it okay?”

“Yes. It’s fine.” She took his hand and placed it against her abdomen.

The moment his hand made contact with her abdomen, he felt a thump against his palm. “Was that the baby?” he asked in awe.

Jasmine grinned. “Yes. That was him saying hello.”

His son kicked again and again. A plethora of emotions flowed through Victor all at once: wonder, amazement and love. He loved this child already and he loved its mother. And he couldn’t go another second without telling her how he felt. Damn the consequence. “Jasmine. I may be overstepping my bounds here, but I love you. I love you so much I ache and I know you’re engaged to be married to someone else, but…. hell.” Unable to help himself he leaned over and pressed his mouth against her slightly parted lips.

He expected her to pull away, instead she remained still and after a few moments, she sighed into his mouth and pressed against him. Victor wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer. The fire between them burned stronger than ever and he wondered how in the world he survived this long without touching her, tasting her. Thrusting his tongue past her teeth he explored the sweet recesses of her mouth.

Jasmine threaded her fingers through his hair, as she opened her mouth beneath the onslaught of his hungry kiss. His cock strained against his pants and more than anything, he wanted to lay her on the couch and make sweet love to her. Nothing felt more right. He could have gone on kissing her—if the doorbell didn’t ring.

Jasmine pulled away from him with the look of someone who’d been caught with their hand in the cookie jar. “We…we shouldn’t have done that.”

The doorbell rang again.

His breathing ragged, Victor could barely speak. “Why not. You wanted it as much as I did.”

“It’s the pregnancy hormones. I have to answer the door.” To her obvious chagrin, Jasmine had a difficult time getting off the couch. Victor stood up and helped her up.

“This isn’t over,” he murmured.

The doorbell rang one more time.

“Yes it is.” Jasmine waddled to the front door and Victor cursed himself for being a fool. Did he just blow his chance with her?

“Jasmine!” A familiar voice screeched when Jasmine opened the door. Victor’s head shot up. It couldn’t be. He walked into the hallway only to have his suspicions confirmed.

Chelsea had her arms wrapped around Jasmine’s waist holding on for dear life. Tyler stood behind her as if he was waiting for his turn. Jasmine looked as stunned as he felt. And his mother stood in the entrance with a smug smile tilting her lips.

He was going to have to call his own lawyer, because in a minute, Victor was pretty sure he’d commit matricide.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Jasmine glanced wordlessly at Victor. Was this a set up? She’d made it pretty clear that she wasn’t ready to see his mother or children. Yet, here there were. Victor however, seemed as surprised as she was.

“Jasmine, we missed you so much!” Chelsea squeezed her with no apparent intention of letting go.

“Honey, don’t hug her too tight unless you want to hurt your little brother.” Maddie gently pulled her granddaughter away from Jasmine.

Jasmine’s jaw dropped. This was getting out of hand.

“Brother?” Tyler and Chelsea spoke at the same time.

Madeline moved forward and threw her arms around Jasmine’s shoulders. “Yes. Jasmine is going to have a baby.” She smiled at her son. “You should have told them Victor.”

“Mother, that’s enough,” Victor practically roared, moving to Jasmine’s side. “I swear I had nothing to do with this.”

“What do you mean I’m going to have a brother, grandma?” Tyler persisted.

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