Page 88 of Ruining Vanessa

“You’re so beautiful,” Damien says to me, stroking slowly. “You’re going to make such a good mother, Vanessa. I know you are. Not like…”

But he trails off.

Giulio snorts, then kisses my shoulder. “Not like all those other shallow bitches out there, right? Careful, Damien. Someone might think you're a misogynist.” He finally opens his eyes properly, grinning at me. “Hey, remember, I asked you once? Where we all fall on the creep scale? Did you reconsider your rankings?”

I don’t actually remember what rankings I gave them. “Your dad’s still the ten,” I say, a little darkly. “Then the rest of you are tied for nine.”

“I don’t know if I got upgraded or downgraded.” Giulio sits up abruptly. “Okay. I’m gonna shower before Slayer gets here. And make breakfast, I guess. Fuck, do we have to hire a cook now? I hate having people in my space.”

“The townhouse is still vacant,” Damien suggests. “It’s not that far from everything, and it would give us plenty of space.”

“But my pets are all here,” Giulio whines. “And you set up the super awesome nursery at your place.”

Damien’s eyes widen in surprise. “What? You know?”

“You really think I never once peeked inside?” Giulio laughs and claps Damien on the shoulder. “Okay, you can keep cuddling our expectant mama. And think about our celebratory fuck; it is way too early for me to get creative.”

He goes to the bathroom and closes the door. The sound of the shower soon follows.

I look up at Damien, unsure of what to say to him all of a sudden. This is what he’s wanted since he first laid eyes on me, apparently, and now that he has it…

“What’s going to happen now?” I ask, hating how small and trembling my voice is.

“We’ll take care of you,” Damien says, running his hand along my side. “Watch as you grow and swell. You won’t have to worry about anything.”

“But I don’t want to just…” I bite my lip, trying to figure out what to say. “Are you still going to let me help at Ntimacy? I’m dying being cooped up all day, Damien,” I admit. “The accounting puzzle is the only thing that keeps my mind occupied.”

Damien stares me in the eyes for a long, uncomfortable moment, before leaning in to kiss me.

At first, I freeze, then I remember I need to go along with this as much as I can. I kiss him back tentatively, wanting him to agree to let me do something of use so I’m not just sitting around all day.

When he pulls away, he nods. “You can’t stay at Ntimacy. That’s not a good environment for an expectant mother. But I’ll get you a personal protection detail, and we can work out a schedule for you so you get the exercise—and mental stimulation—you need.”

Exercise sounds wonderful. I’ve gotten soft in my time in isolation, and while I know I’ll need to be careful, expectant mothers still exercise until the very end of their pregnancy. Having something to think about, something to do… It’s so simple, but it sounds like bliss. I don’t know how I’ll feel about having a protection detail, and I imagine it’ll be just as stifling as it sounds, but I don’t want to argue. I’ll take it if it means I get to go out and do a few things.

“Thank you,” I say, my voice rough with sheer gratitude. “I don’t mind being at Ntimacy to do the books…” The girls there might hate me, but the inconsistency in the books is driving me crazy. I wish I’d gotten to do the forensic accounting class. “Do you think…” I hesitate then shake my head, not daring to ask.

“What is it?” Damien prods. “I’ll do what I can, within reason.”

I’m still trying to figure out how to word my request when the door buzzer goes off. Damien sighs loudly and gets out of bed, leaving me alone as he answers the intercom to let Slayer up.

I can only barely make out the words, but I do recognize Slayer’s voice. The call cuts off, but Damien doesn’t return immediately. He waits in the living room, and before long, there’s a quiet knock on the door. I can hear it open, and the two of them talk for a moment before Damien leads Slayer into the bedroom.

“Hey, Mama,” Slayer greets me, just like Giulio always does. It sounds different from him, though. Rough, a little apprehensive, but… excited, maybe? I can’t tell. “How’re you feeling?”

I sit up in the bed, pulling the blankets up over my breasts. “Tired,” I admit. “I’ve been up since around six. Giulio went back to bed, but I couldn’t sleep.” I eye Damien, trying to decide if I can poke at him or not. I decide to give it a shot. “And someone wouldn’t stop texting and calling.”

Damien, in his usual deadpan voice, says, “Giulio wasn’t responding.”

“Giulio was sleeping,” I say. “Guess he was too tired to hear it.”

“Where’s he at?” Slayer asks, coming to sit at the edge of the bed.

I point to the bathroom, where the water has cut off. “Showering.”

A few seconds later, Giulio walks out, toweling his hair, completely naked.

“Yo,” Giulio says, waving to Slayer. “Some detective you are. Didn’t even notice the big fucking clue I sent.”

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