“I was so sure I’d lost them.”
“I know,sladkaya. But they’re both fine. You kept them safe.”
She offers me a watery smile before looking back to the monitor to stare at the picture.
I kiss the top of her head. “The most important thing is that you’re okay. If anything had happened to you… I would never have forgiven myself.”
I can’t imagine how terrified she must have felt when she started to bleed.
Zara looks into my eyes. “This isn’t your fault, Dimitri.”
“I’m the one who lied to Massimo. I knew what would happen if I went back on the deal, and I did it anyway. I risked your life?—”
“I knew what I was getting myself into.” She squeezes my hand. “You were honest from the start, so you cannot blame yourself. If anyone is to blame, it’s me. I’m the reason Massimo found out.”
She sighs, biting her lower lip as her eyes fill with tears.
“Don’t. You’re not to feel guilty.”
“But—”
I press my lips to hers.
She freezes for a moment, but then she’s parting her lips, and I slide my tongue into her mouth, moaning as it brushes against hers.
“I love you so fucking much,” I murmur against her lips.
I sink my fingers into her hair, tilting her head back to give me better access to her mouth.
She moans against me as I trace her lower lip with my tongue. “I love you too.”
I can’t fight the smile that pulls my lips.
I clutch her face in my hands as I rest our foreheads together, both of us panting as we try to catch our breath.
“It honestly scares me how much I love you, how much I love these babies, and they’re not even here yet.”
“Opening up your heart to someone else is hard. But a life without love is even harder. You deserve to feel loved, Dimitri, and I want to be the one to love you for the rest of my life.”
“And you say I’m the softy.”
She rolls her eyes, but a crimson blush stains her cheeks.
My smile widens. “I knew I’d get you to fall for me in the end.”
“The penthouse and the huge diamond ring were big factors.” She chuckles.
I nip at her jaw, and she laughs, the sound like music to my ears.
“I’m sure there were some other factors…”
“Clearly. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be knocked up right now.”
I can’t hold back my laugh as Zara smiles shyly up at me.
“You are the woman of my dreams, Zara Koslov.” I kiss her deeply.
I wait around until Zara has her vitals checked again just to make sure everything is all right with her and the babies, before deciding it’s time to take care of Giovanni once and for all.