Page 123 of The Lieutenant

“I am so proud of you, baby. This is just the beginning.”

Or it was going to be a flop and my reputation would be toast. Well, at least if that was the case, I could consider working at the new kink club being built in Madrid. The thought almost made me giggle.

As if the most controlling man in the world would ever allow that to happen.

“Oh, it’s on! Look!” Willow yelped. I was shocked she hadn’t dropped that baby before now. She was huge and obviously uncomfortable.

So was I.

But I’d never been happier.

I planted my hands in front of my face, peeking out from my outstretched fingers. I’d been asked to introduce the piece. “I look terrible.”

“You could never look terrible.”

“Oh, yes, I could.” Which is exactly the way I felt being this pregnant. I was nothing more than a beached whale.

As the show premiered with the opening credits, the love of my life moved behind me. “Why don’t you sit, kitten.”

“Too nervous.”

He cradled me against his chest, wrapping his big, strong arms around me. “But beautiful. I’m going to ravage you later.”

“Not this girl. Not now. You’re crazy. I’m as big as a house.”

“I’m crazy only for you and that just means there’s more of you to love.”

As he nipped my ear, I lifted my arm, pressing my hand against his face. “My God. You’re hard. That’s inappropriate.”

“Not around you.”

“Look, there’s my handsome husband’s face.” Willow was way too excited, clapping her hands.

I cringed inside, the little white lie I’d told about the first subject weighing heavily on my mind.

“You didn’t tell me the first production was on our family,” Havros growled into my ear.

“Oops. Surprise.”

“You will get a spanking for keeping something from me later.”

“You wouldn’t spank a pregnant lady.”

“Oh, yes, I would.”

“You are,” I whispered, “incorrigible.”

We stood together watching and it felt like I was holding my breath. The labor of love had taken so much from me, but in turn, had given me back my life.

Yet the man holding me had given me the spirit, awakened my soul.

And I couldn’t even think about what he’d done to my body.

Willow gasped and everyone turned in her direction.

“What’s wrong?” her sweet husband immediately demanded, jerking to his feet.

“Oh, no. Not now. My water broke,” Willow moaned.

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