Page 47 of Crime Lord's Paradise

“Lucifer’s fascinated by those in the real world who have his … tendencies.”

“What tendencies?”

“Mayhem, violence, murder.”

“He thinks I’m likehim?”

“And you’re mine,” he added.

“So?”

“Lucifer’s known me a long time. I’ve never cared for anything the way I care for you. I would have bartered anything to get you back, and that intrigued him.”

“Lucifer mentioned you’re the closest thing he has to a brother,” she said quietly.

“We were the youngest to ever be put in the pit and survive. That’s all we have in common.” He pressed his forehead against hers. “I didn’t want kids. I wasn’t going to get married. I didn’t want any vulnerabilities … and then I met you.”

She pressed her hand against his chest. “Don’t.”

He placed his hand over hers. “You made me want things I shouldn’t. I should have let you live a normal life. I didn’t. I should have let you live on the road with Carmen. I didn’t. I should have given you time before getting you pregnant. I didn’t. I should have been at the safe house to save you from having to do what you did. I’ve made you break every moral you have. I’ll ask for more because we don’t live in a world where we can afford to have the same code as everyone else.”

He pushed her down on the bed and hovered over her with one hand on her stomach.

“There’s nothing more that I want in this world than to have more children.”

She swallowed, unsure if she could give him that.

“We owe it to Vinny and my dad to live life to the fullest. Nora’s my redemption, but the others will make it that much sweeter. Nora needs other to take the heat too because we’re gonna try to control everything, and she needs them to commiserate with. You’re lucky enough to have Carmen. I had Vinny. What would life have been like without them?”

Her heart ached. Carmen was everything to her. She wouldn’t be alive today without her. “Stop.”

“We can do this. I won’t let you down.”

“It’s not about that. It’s—”

He lifted her nightgown.

“It’s about …” She was distracted when he licked her belly button. “You never know what’s going to happen in future and—cut it out!”

He grabbed her leg and bent it up. “I know what’s going to happen. You’re going to get better and give me what I want.”

“In time, I …” she hissed when he began to lick her.

“I love you more than I thought I could. I want everything you have to give. No half measures, no waiting. The kids will be prepared. We’ll make sure of it. Don’t worry about Lucifer.” He breathed against her clit. “He won’t be an issue.”

“You don’t know that. You …” Her eyes rolled to the back of her head.

“I know I love you. Nothing will change that. I want babies with you. I want you pregnant. It’ll be a big fuck you to everyone who thinks we should be scared. You want them to think we’re afraid, baby?”

“No, I … I don’t know.”

“I told you when I wanted Nora that we were going to move on with our lives, and I’m telling you the same thing now. You don’t stop nature from taking its course, and you don’t keep secrets from me.”

He bit her inner thigh, and she kicked him in the shoulder with her other foot. He rose and slid into her.

“You’re going to give me what I want,” he decreed. “You don’t get time because I don’t know how much we have. If I died tomorrow, I want to know that tonight I got you pregnant, you understand?”

It finally clicked. If she lost him, that is exactly what she wanted. She wanted another piece of him. Nora wouldn’t be enough.

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