Page 140 of Deceit

“You’re annoying,” I sing-song, crossing my ankles as I lean back against the pillows of my bed.

Alexander shows up in my doorway seconds later. His brown eyes linger on my bigger tits, and he makes no endeavor to remove his full attention from them.

“You work a lot,” he deadpans, taking in the dip of my lavender dress and the small baby bump filling out underneath.

“Ledger has been cutting down a little bit,” I reply, resting my forearms on my pillows. “I’m doing easy stuff.”

He slowly shakes his head and begins rounding my bed. “I just don’t want you to overdo it.”

“I won’t.”

“Is that a new dress?”

I can’t help the smile that illuminates off my face. “It is. I bought it on clearance online.”

Typically Alexander rolls his eyes at me and implies that he’ll buy me everything and anything under the sun. Except he knows better than to think I’ll jump on it.

“Do you like it?”

“I do.” Then he frowns. “Emmy…I want you to quit your job.”

I jolt back like he just slapped me.

The fuck?

B723 is my home.

They’re my family.

Even though Alexander thinks I work for Wade most of the time, the lie about B723 doesn’t haunt me as much as what I have done while working for the secret government organization. He believes Ledger is like an equal to Wade. That they’re both tied in together when both men are two separate entities.

“Why?” My brows furrow, and anger begins to form in my veins. I appreciate Alexander wanting to take care of me, but he’s not going to pick away the vital part of my life.

He doesn’t get this.

“I’m not trying to upset you. I can take care of both us and the kids. You’re running around, and…it’s concerning me.”

I gape at him. “How?”

“All you do is Wade’s bidding and think about what we’re going to do for the children. Their childcare, school, college, names, what sort of crib should we buy and—“

“It’s important things,” I reply on the defense.

“Can we hold them first before you start planning eighteen years in the future?” Alexander sits on the side of my bed and grabs my hand, lacing his fingers with mine. “Emmy, I love you. I will support you in any decision that you make but I can’t keep up with you.”

“Me? I’m running out of places to put baby things.”

A glint of a grin traces his lips. “Touche. We need a new house.”

I shake my head. “Not yet.”

Alexander can’t hide the look of disappointment in his eyes if he tried.

I’m not looking to upset him either but he’d be even more broken if we buy a home and the twins aren’t his. I’m not seeking to uproot my newborn children if he can’t handle it like he says he can.

“You think I’ll change my mind?” I don’t answer his question because I plainly don’t want to.

We’ve had this discussion a million times before but I will not be thrown off again by anyone.

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