Chapter Eleven
Dominik took a long drink of his beer. He was upset about the situation with the doctor and wanted to make sure she understood she was never to hold anything back from him again.
He understood her thoughts but didn’t agree with them at all. He felt it was his duty to keep her safe and make her happy. He couldn’t do that if he had no idea what was happening with her.
“I am disappointed you didn’t tell me. You said you just didn’t want to bother me, but you’ve got to know by now that nothing is more important than you,” he said. “I need to know everything, or I don’t feel like I’m doing my job.”
“I don’t want you to think I’m incapable,” she said.
“It’s not that at all. I know you’ve taken care of yourself for a long time, but I want you to let me do that now,” he told her. “I want—no, I need —to know you’re always okay. Especially since that bastard Pierce hasn’t been caught yet.”
“I’m always very careful. I don’t leave my floor until you get there. If I have to, I make sure someone else is with me.”
“Good. I need you to take every precaution.”
She nodded.
Dominik watched her bite her lip, which told him there was something on her mind. “What’s up?”
She looked at him. “The lady in the elevator.”
“What about her?”
“I felt you stiffened when she talked about children.”
He was afraid she’d bring this up.
“It’s something we’ve never talked about,” she said.
He leaned back, trying to think of a way out of the conversation.
“Do you not want them?” she asked when he didn’t answer.
What could he say? He’d always dreamed of them, but he was terrified that her being pregnant with his child could kill her. There was no way she’d be able to carry a baby that was at least ten pounds, and then give birth to it. He’d been over thirteen pounds when he was born. His mother always bitched about what he did to her body and how he almost killed her.
“I haven’t really thought about it.”
Tessa looked at him suspiciously. “Never?”
He shrugged. “Not really. I don’t think they’re important for me.”
He could tell it was upsetting her, but he didn’t think he could stop. “Do you think you could stay with me without them?” he asked.
She looked down. “This is sudden. I don’t know. I’d have to think about it.”
“How about we deal with this later? We might not have to even think about it,” he told her.
He could tell she took it the wrong way and hated the sorrow in her eyes. Before he could say anything else, she stood and took her plate to the sink.
“Angel?”
“What?” she asked without turning. “You’re right. Why talk about something that might not pertain to us?”
“I think you’re hearing me wrong,” he said.
She shook her head. “No. I hear you just fine, and I agree.”
He studied her when she came back to the table and grabbed more dishes. It broke his heart when she tried to smile and act like she wasn’t hurting.
He reached for her, and she flinched.
She caught herself. “I’m sorry. I just want to get this cleaned up and go to bed.”
Dominik looked at the clock on the wall. “It’s only seven o’clock.”
She had turned her back again. “Yes. But I’m tired, and I have a long day tomorrow.”
His brows pinched together. “Why?”
“I was invited to go over to Michelle’s after work for a girls’ night.”
“When were you going to say something to me?” he asked.
“I was going to tell you when you picked me up, but things got a bit crazy. It’s not a big deal, is it?”
He stood and walked to her, standing very close. “Turn around, Angel. I don’t like talking to the back of your head.”
He saw her stiffen and then turned. His stomach tightened when he saw how blank her expression was. She was building a wall between them and didn’t know what to do. His emotions had been in turmoil since learning she hadn’t said anything to him about a man trying to touch her. It had gone downhill from there. He decided to give them some space and then bring it up later.
“No, it’s fine. You’ll ride home with her?”
Tessa nodded.
“What time do you think I can come and get you?” he asked.
“Oh, you don’t have to do that. One of the girls can bring me home.”
His face darkened. “No, I’ll come and get you. Now, what time?”
“I think around nine, but I’ll call you if the time changes,” she said.
He wasn’t going to push her anymore. “That’s fine. Let me help with the dishes.”
She shook her head and turned back to face the sink. “No, I’ve got it. Go in and relax. This won’t take me long.”
He stood still for a moment before grabbing another beer from the refrigerator and walking out of the room. When he got to his office, he sat behind his desk and started his computer. He needed to get some paperwork done, or he’d get so far behind he’d be doing it all weekend, and he wanted to spend it with Tessa.
It took an immense amount of effort to keep his mind on work and not on Tessa. When he checked the time, he was shocked to see that three hours had passed. He turned off his computer, stood, and stretched before going to find Tessa.
All the lights were off except one in the hallway. When he opened the bedroom door, it was to see Tessa already in bed.
Dominik brushed his teeth and stripped off his clothing before sliding into bed behind her. He could tell she was sleeping deeply, so he carefully wrapped his body around her. When he checked and found her still asleep, he exhaled and relaxed.
He was disappointed that she hadn’t come to say good night because he had wanted—no, needed—to fuck her until she knew she belonged to him, and that would never change. But he also understood why she hadn’t.
He’d find time tomorrow to sit down and talk with her because he hated the wall between them. He would make sure she understood how much he loved her and was afraid for her to have his baby. If they didn’t have a discussion, he was afraid the abyss would grow between them, and he might just lose her.
The thought made him furious and sick at the same time. If that happened, he’d never be the same.