Page 55 of Used By the Bratva

“Here,” he says and hands me the remote. “Put whatever you like on. I already programmed the television to have all those streaming sites you love.”

“Thank you.”

Tears gather in my eyes as I lean close to him and wonder what the universe is trying to tell us. We met in the most unorthodox way, and now it’s as if life has come full circle.

Yawning, I lean into the pillows next to him and press our bodies closer together while I choose a movie to fall asleep to.

As I close my eyes and listen to the main characters, Leon’s fingers continue to comb through my hair.

For the first time in my life, I feel content.

Chapter 21 - Leon

If I have to stand one more fucking minute in this damn tuxedo that’s scratching the back of my neck, I’m going to lose my shit. Where the hell is she?

I’ve spent too much time planning tonight for her to be running fifteen minutes late.

We’ll hardly make it on time if she doesn’t hurry.

I’m about to walk down the hall to the bedroom and shove her into the dress myself when she comes down the hall in a stunning sage-green satin dress, the slit climbing up her long leg and parts with every step.

The dress hugs every inch of her body, accentuating the curves of her breasts and the dip in her waist. When she turns to the side, the dress hugs her tiny baby bump in a particularly flattering way. Okay, fuck me, she looks stunning.

If there is one thing I’ve learned about Natalie, it is that she’s a perfectionist.

She slips gold hoops through her ears, an apologetic smile on her face. “I’m so sorry. I thought I had the earrings on the top of my suitcase, but they weren’t there. And these earrings match my rings perfectly, so I really wanted to wear them tonight.”

Even if I should admonish her, I do not.

It’s hard to find words when the woman in front of me has taken my breath away.

Natalie’s dark eyelashes look longer than ever, her warm brown eyes shine with excitement. “You still haven’t told me where we’re going tonight. I’m beginning to think you like surprises more than you're letting on.”

I take her hand, towing her through the door and outside to the waiting car. “Trust me, you’re going to love it.”

Her eyebrows climb high, but she humors me, climbs into the back of the car with me, puts her hand in my lap, and says, “Oh, a man of so many words.”

I ignore her snarky comment but smile as I close my hand over hers. I glance again at my gold watch. We’ll make it just in time if my driver hurries.

Natalie leans her head on my shoulder. “There’s something about you in a tux that makes me think we should have stayed in tonight.

“Definitely not. This is not a surprise that was waiting for just anyone.” I kiss her forehead, unsure of the man I’m becoming.

The Leon before Natalie didn’t waste time wining and dining with women. He propositioned them and then fucked them. Before they could even fall asleep, he sent them home.

The Leon I am now sits in the car and wonders if my family was right about settling down.

I put my hand on her stomach, enjoying the feeling of the small bump beneath my hand. Although I knew I would become a father at some point in my life, the prospects looked bleak. Now, I still have about five months until someone else wraps me around their little finger in one way or another.

Natalie puts her hand on mine. “It’s hard to believe we’re already a third of the way through the pregnancy. It seems like only yesterday that I was at the doctor.”

“I wish I had known sooner. I wouldn’t have behaved the way I did if I had known.”

She squeezes my hand. “I don’t think you should waste time worrying about what you would have done differently. It won't get us anywhere, and we’re working on things now.”

“Are we, though? We got married, and I’ve barely been around.” A small tinge of guilt gnaws at me that I never thought I would feel.

I admit that a naive part of me thought life would go on as before when I got married.

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