Page 163 of Rugger: The Huntress

“I understand your stance on life, love, marriage, and all the other desires of other women. However, I was hoping I’d been influential enough to change your perception, to sway your opinion just a little.”

I sat back in my chair and placed a hand on my belly.

“A little?” I laughed.

“Well, that is the first sign that things in here–”

He touched my chest where my heart is.

“Are changing.”

I agreed, “Every day.”

“I have no interest in rushing you. But, when you’re ready, so is the ring. We don’t have to make a fuss about it. And, we’ll do things your way. Whatever you want, Gazelle. Whatever you need.”

“Okay,” I responded, grabbing ahold of his hand.

I wanted to keep him near, because it felt like he’d disappear into thin air at any second.

Okay.

EIGHTEEN

She was even better than I’d remembered. She was celestial. Her round belly, swollen nose, puffy eyes, and growing breasts enhanced her beauty.

There’s a little me in there.

I placed a hand where there was movement. Six days had passed since I’d used every ounce of strength I could muster to find Rugger on the island. She wasn’t very hard to locate. Her favorite spot was near the water, close to the compound.

She claimed they had the best food and drinks on the island. After visiting a few times, I could concur. They served American and Catanian cuisine.

Day by day, I was regaining my strength. I was determined to get stronger and better before the birth of my son. I wanted to hold him without the fear of dropping him and rock him to sleep at night to give his mother a well-deserved break.

She’s having my son.

Knowing there was a little guy that shared my DNA inside of Rugger deepened my love for her. Even when faced with uncertainty, she pushed through like the champion I knew she was all along. She was resilient and it was her resilience that had drawn me to her.

In the midst of my joy, I couldn’t ignore the sorrow. I’d caused her a great deal of pain. I’d done that thing I promised her I wouldn’t. I’d forced her to be the person I was trying so desperately to show her she didn’t have to be. And the trust I’d gained, it had been lost.

She was elated that I was with her, but she was torn. I witnessed it every day on her beautiful face. Tears were plentiful. Pregnancy hormones made it hard for Rugger to contain herself or hide her true feelings. She wore them on her sleeves.

“Why do you still have that thing? Where’d it even come from after all of these months?”

“I kept it here, in St. Catana, because I knew this was where we’d both end up.”

“Hmmm.”

I rubbed her belly. It tightened at once. I watched her face contort as she turned over on the other side.

“Are you still recording?” She groaned.

“Are you still in pain?”

She nodded, “A little.”

Off and on, she’d been experiencing cramps. Roaman had been over twice and promised her everything was moving along according to plan. She wouldn’t be delivering for another few weeks.

Rugger was thirty-three weeks and two days. We had seven more weeks before she was set to deliver, which meant I had at least six to rebuild my strength.

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