Page 77 of Ruthless Keeper
“They probably ignored the animals because you moved onto human trials without seeking approval,” I point out. “You also happened to do this from a fuckingbasementin your mansion. Are you really surprised they took issue with you?”
I’m not sure why I’m being antagonistic or reminding Ross of his place. The drugs he gave medidwork wonders; they sped up the healing process by at least 50%. I think I’m still pissed that he didn’t give me the full report on Scarlett’s health when the bombing happened.
“In any case,” Ross says, sidestepping the minefield I’ve created, “I’d estimate about three weeks before you’re fully functional and prepared to be back in the field. I’ll be giving you another injection to speed healing in a moment—”
“No more.” I trust my body to heal on its own from here on out.
Ross parts his lips to disagree, but a single glare from me seals them again.
“Very well,” he says after a few moments. “Is there anything else you wanted to discuss?”
“Yes. Why didn’t you give Scarlett the drug for her burns?”
Ross blinks slowly. “She’s not an operative. My supply is limited, and formulating the drug requires outsourcing that takes a lot of time. I didn’t want to waste it on her—”
“Shut. Your fucking. Mouth,” I seethe. “She might not be an operative, but she’s as important as any of us. More, even, since she’s creating infrastructure that’ll allow us to feed ourselves—which makes her much more valuable thanyou. I have five other doctors on staff—I don’t need you. All of us will need her.” I let those words sink in for a few beats. “In the future, you will give her the best care you have to offer, and you willneverfail to bring me a full report on her health again.”
Ross swallows hard, cheeks flushing with either anger or fear. Maybe a mixture of both. “Very well,” he says tightly. “Anything else?”
“Yes. Is she suitable for pregnancy yet?” One surefire way to keep her brother out of our business and keep Scarlett with me forever is to knock her up.
I never even considered fatherhood before her, but the idea of making a child with her… of watching her belly grow round with my heir… it’s unbelievably attractive. She’d be an amazing mother, and I think I would be a good father with her. For her, and for our child.
“From everything I’ve seen, yes,” Ross says, clicking around on his computer. He squints at something for a few moments before nodding. “Her weight has improved, and her bloodwork is good. As long as she remains on an upward trajectory, I don’t see any complications in a pregnancy… besides one.” He leans back in his chair. “Forgive me for my forwardness, but do you truly believe this fortress is the best place to raise a child?”
I believe I’m not going to be the only man thinking along the lines of knocking up his woman. Max has always wanted to be a father… I hope tofuckCain will never procreate, but that might be in his plans, as well. The fortress is changing and evolving; I think there are more changes coming that might make this place reasonably conducive to raising families.
I have every intention of building a house in the farmlands for me and Scarlett, a few miles away from the rest of the HQ buildings. There, surrounded by nature and animals,willbe a good place to raise a family.
“You let me worry about that,” I say after a few beats. “Do you have records of her ovulation cycle?” In other words, which days I’ll be keeping her in bed all day and night, fucking my cum so deep inside her it has to take root.
Ross searches something on his computer. “I have notes from the gynecologist she saw to get her IUD out and get an STD test done about six months ago,” he murmurs. “Give me a moment to read through them.”
STD test. Fucking insulting. I’m clean—before Scarlett, Ialwayssuited up.
“Would you happen to know when she last menstruated?” Doc asks.
About two weeks ago. I remember Scarlett making a joke as she was cleaning my wounds, about how appropriate it was that she was bleeding while wiping stray blood from my back.
“Two weeks ago.”
Ross nods. “So it’s regular—surprising, but good. That would put her ovulation at… today and tomorrow, approximately.”
A smile curls my lips. “Excellent.”
I breeze through my work in the office, needing to be done by the time Scarlett gets back from the greenhouse. She’s going to spend today exactly as she spent yesterday; getting fucked until she’s incoherent.
I know I should probably inform her of my intent to knock her up, but I also know that my efforts will be met with her refusal to ever get in bed with me again… and I can’t have that. I know what I’m going to do, and I’m not in a mood to allow interference.
Scarlett returns in the late afternoon. There are smears of dirt on her cheek and hands, and she looks adorably disheveled as she steps into my office, the demon creature at her heels.
“The land around the greenhouse is ready for planting,” she says, sounding slightly out of breath. “And the plant beds inside of it are doing very well. The seedlings are growing. The vegetables should be ready for planting next week, so whatever you need to put in place to get your band of assassins to work the land, please do it.”
That’ll be as simple as arranging a couple hours of farm work into the guys’ schedule. They might not be happy about it, but they’ll do as they’re told. “I’ll take care of it, baby.”
Her cheeks brighten a little more at my term of endearment. I hide a smile.
“I’m going to shower all the dirt off me. Can we go to the gym later?”
