Page 9 of Baby Mine

Jada at last came out of her shocked daze and put her hands on her hips. “So as much as you admire your brother, you don’t care if he marries a gold digger as long as it doesn’t get in your way? Who the hell are you people?”

Zita frowned. “It’s not like that.”

“No? Then how is it?”

The younger woman stomped over toward the door but turned back to Jada. “I love Renzo, and he’s brilliant. He’s excellent at judging character. So either he thinks you’re a good person, or he has calculated the risks of having you around and figures he can control you.”

“What?” Jada’s temper flew through the roof. “Nobody controls me.”

Zita eyed her up and down. “I admit I don’t know any black people personally.”

Again, she took Jada’s ability to speak.

“You’re interesting. I like the way you speak and the attitude. I think you can stand up to him and my family, and I’d love to be able to do that and get away with it. Even still, I’ve never seen anyone get the better of Renzo, and I don’t think you will either. Don’t run away. See where it goes and see how you can help your baby. Renzo would make a great dad, just like ours was. I know it.”

With that announcement, the young woman was gone, and Jada stood where she was, replaying everything the spoiled little rich girl had said. Even if her motives were selfish, some of what she’d shared made sense, and it got Jada to think of other considerations. If Renzo was serious about being a part of his baby’s life, then she’d do a lot better to work with him rather than antagonize him. In the end, the man had money and probably influence. If he decided to fight her, she could lose, and that wasn’t acceptable under any circumstances. One thing was for sure though—Jada Thompson was not going to be controlled by any man, rich or poor.

* * * *

Jada tossed her towel aside and approached the water. She marveled at how huge the Mariani pool was and the fact that it was an indoor heated one. After dipping a toe in to test the temperature, she scanned the room. At this hour everyone must be in bed, so she took advantage of being alone. Not being used to a house full of people, she tended to look for spots to disappear, especially with Renzo’s family and their varying reactions to her. Over the last couple of days, she’d not known how to react to any of them. Ettore kept a friendly smile in place, but she had the feeling he didn’t trust her. Renzo’s mother never bothered to speak to her in English. Zita acted like they were co-conspirators, and Renzo’s uncle showed open dislike whenever she had the misfortune of running across him. Nicoletta had gone home, thank goodness, after Renzo let her down about marrying her.

With all of their attitudes, the one she found hardest to deal with was Renzo himself. The man never let up in his pursuit of her, and she began to think Zita was right. Renzo wanted more than just sex, but she

didn’t know what. Their talks so far had been him insisting she move to California and her refusing. Renzo didn’t push too hard, nor did he back off. The single fortunate incident in all of this was that she was able to work on a project for her company that included a bit of research here in California. Of course the work wouldn’t last long, so she couldn’t put off returning to Charlotte forever or she’d risk losing her employment. Renzo needed to give, or she would have to do what she had to.

On impulse she dove into the deep end of the pool and cut through the water with even strokes. Rolling over to attempt a few backstrokes, she thought she heard another splash but had to focus on swimming, as this technique wasn’t her strong suit. When hands came up around her waist, she yelped and would have sank beneath the surface if the same grip didn’t keep her up and haul her against a hard body.

Jada glared above her head at the big oaf who thought he could manhandle her whenever he wanted. “What do you think you’re doing, Renzo?”

He grinned. “I think I am enjoying a midnight swim, same as you.”

“I thought everybody was asleep.”

His gaze dropped to her breasts. Why the hell had she worn the two-piece? Vanity had made her do it before she could no longer get away with showing off her body. Soon her belly would be so round it would disgust her, let alone everyone else. She put a hand up to her cleavage, but Renzo tugged it down.

“How about we skinny-dip since no one else is around?” he suggested.

She wriggled out of his arms and swam to the side of the pool. “How about no?”

As she hoisted herself up on the side, his boxers landed beside her in a wet heap. All strength left her arms, and she sank down into the water. Renzo moved up behind her but not close enough to touch. Knowing his bare cock lay inches from her ass did enough to her equilibrium. The string in her bikini top loosened, and she shut her eyes. She knew just when the material fell away because her nipples tightened as if they blossomed under his scrutiny.

“Renzo, I said no,” she snapped.

“Then push me away again.” His fingers curled in the band of her bottoms, but then he let go. To her annoyance, she had to bite off a cry of protest. His breath warmed the skin behind her ear. “Take them off.”

Jada licked her lips. He had no right, but she didn’t care about that. She wanted it as badly as he did. Without a word, she pushed her bikini bottoms down her legs, and Renzo helped remove them the rest of the way. He tossed them over the side of the pool, out of her reach.

“Now that we’re more comfortable…” He cornered her, an arm on each side so she had nowhere to go and would need to shrink to the hard, chilly wall if she didn’t want his skin on hers. Renzo’s chest brushed her nipples. She didn’t give her legs the command, yet they parted and rose until they circled his waist. He settled in against her so she felt his cock nudging her pussy. All he needed to do was arch his hips a little, and he’d sink into her opening. She raised her gaze to his.

“I said we aren’t doing this.”

His eyes widened. “You didn’t tell me no.”

“I did tell you no, you stubborn man.”

“Did you mean it?”

Grinding her teeth, she pressed her hands to his chest. Not to push him away but to touch him. If she was honest with herself, she’d admit the addiction to Renzo, his touch, his body, his words, his hot gaze always on her. Lashes too heavy to keep open, she slitted her eyes and tilted her chin up. Renzo’s lips brushed hers. She stuck out her tongue a little ways, and he captured it, circled the tip with his tongue and warmed her mouth with the heat of his breath. I love him so much. He makes me weak.

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