Page 44 of Tempted to Rebel

“This end has casual wear,” Rage explains, shoving the majority of winter coats and cute blouses to the side to show me the leggings and tank tops hidden at one end of the closet. “While the other end is mostly outerwear—jackets and gloves for when you go outside. The middle section has more formal attire for events, but I’m clearing the hall closet for the more expensive pieces.”

I look between the clothes and Rage, trying to absorb what he’s saying. “You bought these for me?” My heart flutters while my mind struggles to catch up. Even the shoes range from winter boots to sparkling heels, meaning that he not only took into account my size, but he also coordinated the outfits. Everything is brand new with tags still attached. “All of this is mine?” I glance up at Rage, and my breath catches.

His eyes spark like embers in the night, glowing as softly as the gentle curve of his lips. “Yes,krosotka, these are all yours.”

I break away from his gaze, clear my throat, and busy myself with inspecting the clothes. Not a single garment is the wrong size or color for my complexion. There are no unflattering boxy shapes or irritating fabrics—it’s as though I hand-picked everything myself.

How well does Rage know me, after all?

“Pick something.” He watches as I put together a workout ensemble, complete with black leggings and a hot pink sweatband for my forehead. “We’ll have to make room for maternity clothes, but I’m thinking we can renovate, tear down some walls, expand the apartment across the entire wing instead of only these few rooms.” Without warning, he presses his palm to my stomach and releases a long breath. “It’s only a matter of time before our family starts to grow. We need to be ready.”

Placing my palms over Rage’s, I hold my breath as tears threaten to surface.A family. He really wants one—withme.Part of me has spent the past two weeks believing he only wants kids to bind the two of us together, but what if he truly wants to be a father?

Agoodone?

Lifting my chin, Rage stares into my watery eyes. “What’s wrong, mama?”

I swallow hard and shake my head. “Nothing, I—” Taking a quick breath, I force myself to be honest. “I didn’t know you cared so much about… this.”

Aboutme.

He smiles suddenly, and it’s so radiant that it takes my breath away all over again. “Of course I care, Celia. Haven’t you been listening?” Leaning close, he brushes his lips over mine. “I take care of what’s mine. And you, my beautiful, stubborn woman, aremine.” He captures my lips in a warm, sensual kiss that makes my knees shake, but just like Rebel’s kiss at the breakfast bar, this one ends as soon as it’s begun. Rage brushes a hand over my hair as he straightens. “Now get dressed,krosotka.”

Neither Rage nor Rebel leave while I change clothes, but for once, I don’t mind. Their eyes never leave my body, but rather than find it an intrusion of privacy, it makes me feel safe.

It makes me feelloved.

That feeling is what carries me out the door and across the hall to the training hall Rage insists actually exists. Heaccompanies me the entire way there, either for the honor of delivering me to his brother or to ensure I don’t run down the grand staircase and out the front door. Either way, I still don’t mind his presence.

That’s what scares me most of all.

After he fucked me in the cage yesterday, I was sure that I could never stand to be around him again. The things he said to me—the way he fucked me—nice men don’t do or say those things to the people they care about. But the man walking beside me this morning isn’t the same one that choked me out or threatened to lock me back up in his gilded cage if it turns out that I’m not pregnant.

They can’t be the same person.

Because there’s no way that violently possessive man would smile this gently as he tugs on the edges my hoodie pocket and pulls me in for a kiss. It’s tender and sweet and makes my head spin.

As he pulls back, his lips ghost over my temple and the crisp scent of his aftershave washes over me. “It’s a good idea, the training.” He tilts my chin up and stares into my eyes. “Exactly what the mother of my children needs to defend our family. You have my blessing to come here as often as you want.Withsupervision,” he clarifies. “I don’t want you getting hurt by lifting more weight than you can handle or misusing a machine. Understand?”

I swallow the lump in my throat and try to calm my fluttering heart. Rage isactuallygiving me room to breathe, like I wanted. Yeah, I’ll have supervision, but it doesn’t have to be his. It could be Thanatos. Or Rebel. OrRuin.Shit. I could be here all hours of the day if I wanted.

A shiver rolls down my spine as I picture the gleaming golden bars waiting for me across the hall. I need to do everything I can to avoid staying another night in that prison.

Including getting pregnant.

“I understand.” Lifting onto my tiptoes, I press a chaste kiss to Rage’s lips. “Thank you.”

Surprisingly, I genuinely mean it. I’m grateful for this. The training, the clothes, the sense of normalcy.

The way he runs his fingers through my hair before letting me go.

“I’ll be back in a few hours. Rebel will come pick you up if I’m running late.”

I watch as Rage walks away and disappears like he always does, leaving me to deal with the aftershocks of his attention. My hands shake. My heart races. My mind is like a live wire—snapping from one idea to the next so fast that I can’t keep up.

The room remains silent until Thanatos clears his throat. Between us lies a pale blue training mat that covers the floor from wall to wall, with an extensive catalog of weight-lifting and bodybuilding equipment waiting behind him. He steps onto the mat barefoot, and my gaze travels up the expanse of his legs—full, round calves and thick thighs corded with muscle—as I marvel at the heavy tattoos disappearing beneath his shorts. The fabric is tight on his body, leaving little room for imagination as they curve over the bulge in between his thighs.

And down one leg.

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