Page 41 of Deadly Don's Savage Vows

She takes a deep breath.

“Yes. In all honesty, and you might not believe me, I was planning on telling you the day after I took that day off. I had every intention of telling you. Before I saw Marcus. Before all the drama. You had a right to know, and I was going to tell you either way.”

I’m listening to her, but more than her words - I’m feeling her aura. Her presence. It’s becoming more obvious to me I want her in my life - permanently. I want to be with her.

It seems crazy to be talking about a future with someone when there is such a massive imminent threat - but this is important.

If we know where we stand with each other, then making other decisions will be easier.

Finally, I step forward and pull the other chair out from her desk. I sit down, leaning across the desk towards her.

“Bella, I want to be a father. I want the chance to raise my son, to spend time with him, to take care of him. I want to be in his life. Not just a side feature - but a real father. Then - if you want it too - I want the chance to do things with you. To be together, to have a future. But - “ I sigh, running my hand through my hair. “But there are things about me you don’t know - I have secrets and they will stay secrets. Even if I wanted to - I can’t tell you certain things about myself. If you choose to be with me you have to accept that for what it is - and me for who I am.”

Bella is silent. Her brows are knotted, and her eyes are narrow while she thinks through what I’ve just said.

“Can you do that?” I ask, impatient for her to answer.

“It’s difficult to just answer you. I know how I feel about you - but the secrets - they could be anything. They could be things that put our son in danger - they could be things that would tear us apart if I knew - how can I make a choice without knowing everything?” She blurts out her answer, filled with frustration. Fearful to make the wrong choice.

I didn’t expect her to be so torn and hesitant. My assumption was that her feelings for me would outweigh the unknown.

“I need an answer.” I say, disappointed that she isn’t excited to be with me.

“Can I have some time? I just need to think it through. It’s not only my life I have to consider.”

I stand up, walking around the desk as Isabella stands up as well. I step right against her, our bodies pressing together and sharp currents of electricity shoot between us.

She licks her lips, her eyes on mine.

I don’t like to be told I have to wait for anything. Especially not something I want this badly. Bella is mine, me giving her choice was a curtesy. Possessive anger spikes through me. I wrap my hand around her jaw and pull her face upwards, towards mine, then I press my lips against hers and kiss her.

I’m forceful, passionate and intense with my kiss. I will leave no question in her mind about what I want.

But she also needs to understand that I always get what I want.

My heart is racing with the kiss.

My body firing in every direction.

I want to push her onto the desk and take her right here, right now.

But the office is too busy.

And there are bigger things to worry about.

When I step away I don’t, let go of her jaw.

I hold her and force her to look at me when I speak.

“You have forty-eight hours. Two days. Use that time to make your decision. If you don’t get back to me by the end of that time I will take what is mine. I don’t need your permission, Isabella. Next time I will not ask so nicely.” The threat is hardly veiled and the look in her eyes makes me feel like a monster. But she needs to understand.

No one will keep my son from me.

And her - I want her.

I hope she comes to her senses and makes the right choice.

I don’t like being pushed to be that man - the one who disregards others and handles business.

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