Page 54 of Ruthless Beasts

The hand on my thigh gently shook me, forcing me awake even though I’d rather stay in the haze. When my eyes opened, Adam was kneeling at the side of my bed. I blinked a few times before bringing my hand up and rubbing away the sleep. I pulled my hand away and Adam’s hand caught mine, lacing our fingers. “You’re not in my bed.”

I looked around, confused for a moment, before I remembered he had mentioned wanting me in his bed. But that was after he discovered me in the shower, after he…

“Look at that pretty shade of crimson your skin is turning. Flush with the memory, little Belle?”

Why must men always want an ego boost? Yes, I was fucking flush with the memory. I’d never cum so hard in my life, and it was all thanks to him. I wasn’t sure how to process that fact. I would have never asked for his help, but after an orgasm like that, I fear he might have ruined me. Would I ever be able to cum solo again?

“You didn’t eat the food Mercer brought.” He nodded toward the plate that had some crackers and fruit. Nothing major, but enough to tide me over until our next meal. Always trying to take care of me.

Maybe a little too much if their lunch time proposition was any indication.

“I wasn’t hungry,” I mumbled, my voice rough with sleep.

“You’re stubborn, you know that?” His free hand brushed the hair out of my face. “You need to eat for our child.”

Our child.

I understood the words that came out of his mouth, but I was in a constant state of disbelief. Why would he want a child linked to his enemies?

“Weweren’t hungry.” I smirked as his eyebrows arched.

“He needs his nutrients.” He stood up, pulling on my arm, forcing me to sit up. “And so do you.”

“He?”

“Isn’t it obviously a boy? It’s what we mafia men produce.” He stood in front of me, arms crossed, as he waited for me to get up.

I raised my arms, stretching my limbs. “The flaw to that statement is that I’m the daughter of a mafia boss, and I’m female.”

“Werethe daughter,” he corrected. “Now you’re our queen, and your past life doesn’t matter.”

Our.

My stomach tightened, remembering the earlier proposition that was made. I wasn’t sure why I reacted the way I did. I liked them all well enough for people I didn’t know shit about. But after having his mouth on my body so intimately, I was feeling sensitive and shy. That they discussed me like an object to be passed around didn’t sit well.

Did I want all three?

I wasn’t convinced I wantedone, let alone all three. My body screamed yes please, while my mind battled with the logic that I was being set up for a hell of a lot of complications. Still, none of them mistreated me, and that had to mean something, right? AndthisAdam, the suddenly sweet one who checked up on me and seemed disappointed I wasn’t in his space. Well, I could get used to him.

“You know, Ace thinks it’s a girl.”

He frowned. “Ace just wants to spoil it.”

“So you wouldn’t want her if she was a girl?” I swallowed hard, nervous about his answer.

“Belle, I’d be excited either way, don’t doubt that. He or she has found her place here with us, with no regrets.”

With no regrets, except for the sadness in his eyes that he hoped I didn’t see. Did he wish this child didn’t exist? Or was it something more than that?

“You're sad,” I observed.

“Sad memories don’t mean there is no place for new, happier ones.” He reached his hand out. “Come on, we’ve got a surprise.”

I blinked a few times. They had a surprise for me? What had I done to earn a surprise? I took his hand, letting him pull me up. He didn’t release my hand, only folded our fingers together as he led me out of the room and down the hall. He didn’t speak until we reached the stairs.

“Be careful. I don’t want you to fall.”

“I think I can handle stairs,” I laughed, because sometimes these men were irrational.

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