Page 46 of In Her Shadow

“I just realized I don’t know your last name. I’m pregnant with your child, and I don’t even know your last name.”

“You’ll know it soon enough, cause it’s gonna be yours.” I smile at her in relief.

“Is that some kinda proposal?” She giggles, looking happier than I’ve ever seen her. Despite everything she’s learned today, she looks fucking happy. It’s amazing what can change in twenty-four hours

“Proposing something means you got a say in it. You're gonna be my wife before our baby gets here,” I assure her, thrusting inside her harder

“And what if I’m not the marrying kind?” She tests my patience, and I squeeze her neck a little tighter.

“Then too fuckin’ bad.” I kiss the sass out of her lips and make her come for me again.

ELOISE

“Morning, Kitten.” Ren’s voice echoes from the ceiling when he looks up at me from the breakfast table. This isn’t a dining room, it’s a dining hall, and Ren looks really out of place in it.

“You should have woken me. I’m gonna be late for work,” I scold him, smiling awkwardly at Otto, who’s standing by the door looking like he’s waiting for an order.

“Work?” Ren stares at me as if I’ve just grown an extra head.

“Yes, work,” I answer in frustration. I’m already embarrassed that I’ll have to wear the same dress that I had on yesterday. Ren didn’t pack anything in that travel bag that would be appropriate to wear to the office, and we won’t have time for me to stop by my apartment to change.

“You realize I wasn’t kidding last night? I’m fucking loaded. You don’t have to work.”

“I get that, Ren, but I like my job. I worked hard to get where I am. I want to continue for as long as I can.” I straighten up my spine and stand firm.

“But your preg–”

“I would think very carefully before you finish that sentence.” I point my finger at him, and when I notice his eyes flick over to Otto, I give the old guy a stern look too.

“Sit down, have some breakfast. We’ll talk about this.” Ren gets up and pulls out a chair for me

“I don’t have time for breakfast, I’m supposed to be at work in just over an hour, and traffic is gonna be hell.”

“You have to eat breakfast, your–”

“Ren.” I stop him, looking to the door and reminding him we have company.

“Don’t worry, Otto already knows. Everyone here does.” Ren proudly drops his hand to rest on my stomach and makes that handsome boyish grin again.

“Ren, you're not supposed to say anything this early on.”

“Kitten, you're living here now. I spoke to Mary, she’s gonna do some research into what you should be eating, and I have a doctor’s appointment scheduled for Thursday.” He pats my tummy proudly before taking his seat again. “Just let Otto know what you want and he’ll send your order through to the kitchen.” He takes a sip of coffee and winks at me over the rim of his cup.

“Will your uncle not be joining us?” I ask; we haven’t been formally introduced, and considering how angry he looked when we arrived, I’m nervous about it.

“Uncle Stefan tends to keep himself to himself.” He gets back to eating his breakfast.

“Ren, this isn’t normal,” I whisper.

“I thought we decided normal wasn’t gonna be our thing.” He puts down his cup.

“You know what I mean; butlers and chefs, me not going to work. I’m not prepared to give up my job, at least not until the baby actually gets here. I’d go crazy rattling around this big house all day.”

“Fine.” Ren shrugs, and his response takes me aback a little. I was expecting a fight, or at least some kind of compromise over the situation.

“Okay.” I smile victoriously, taking a sip of the orange juice which has already been poured out for me. “What is this?” I look down at the pill that's beside the glass.

“It’s a prenatal vitamin. I had Otto go out and fetch them last night. You need to take it once a day,” he informs me, and since we seem to be starting the day off so well, I don’t mention the fact that I shouldn’t ever trust him again when it comes to taking pills. Instead, I pick it up and swallow it.

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