Page 23 of His Virgin Wife

He shrugged. “Believe it or not, Emily, my way ismuch better. Trust me, over the years there have been some bad pimps out there.I take care of the women who work for me. They make their money, I take a smallcut, but I make sure they’re safe.”

“Are you a good man?” Emily asked.

“No, I’m not, and you should never mistake me forone either. I’ve killed a lot of people.”

“I know. I know my dad has as well.” She sighed.“My mom wanted so much more for me. It’s why she left, and I dragged us rightback into it.”

“What did you want?” he asked.

“Me?”

“Yeah, your mom can want all she does for you, andyour father can wish to sell you, but it’s not about what either of them want.It’s about whatyouwant.”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s stupid, but Iwanted to find a man who loved me, maybe settle down, have a family.” She blewout a breath. “What about you?”

“I never thought about a family … until now.” Hetwirled a strand of her hair around his finger and stared into her eyes, notwanting to look away.

“I’m not on the pill,” she said.

“I know.”

“You do?”

“Yes. You need to understand, Emily, I knoweverything there is to know about you.”

He watched as she bit down on her lip.

“So, does that mean you want to have a family withme? I mean, I know we’re married, but we’ve not exactly talked about what thatmeant for the future.”

“Do you want children?” he asked.

He saw his lack of answers was starting tofrustrate her.

“I think so. I’d love to be a mother.”

“Then I will make you a mother, as soon as you’vefinished.” He slid his hand down toward her stomach, and he saw her flinch justa little. “You’re in pain.”

“No more than usual. It comes and goes.”

He stroked her stomach. “Would you like me tostop?”

“No, I like it.”

He looked at her, smiled, and stroked her stomach.He didn’t like to see Emily in pain.

“I’d like to be a mother. Does that mean ourmarriage is sticking?”

He watched her wince. Stroking her hair back fromher face, he couldn’t help but laugh.

“I’m not giving you up.”

And that was the truth. It was the only truth hehad for her, because he didn’t believe in love.

Chapter Eight

“You seem happy,” Nora said.

Emily glanced over at her mother and offered her asmile. She couldn’t help but feel a little nervous. In the past five months,this was the first time she had left the comfort of Dom’s home.