18. River
Chapter Eighteen
RIVER
I haven't heard from Theodore the rest of the day. I'm not going to act like a person who didn't have a purpose for their phone before meeting a guy and call and text him every few minutes, but I do find myself missing him after a few hours. I'm not going to lie; I partially expected him to pop up or call with the way he's become attached to being near his unborn child. I simply explain to myself that he is dealing with a wife and several businesses.
It's important not to misread anything and hurt my own feelings. I need to remain rational even with the state of his marriage. When I get to the hotel, my door is cracked, and I push it open to find Andrea standing inside. My concern spikes almost immediately.
"Is Theodore okay?"
He gives me a half smile. "That would be your first question. I must be losing my touch."
I don't know why it's funny, but I laugh. "No. You're still scary, but my concern for Theodore is higher at the moment."
He gives me his whole smile, reminding me that beneath the killer is a devastatingly handsome man.
"And that is why you continue to breathe. Pack your stuff. I'm moving you and my godchild out of the hotel."
"Godchild?" His long body takes a step in my direction.
"Did you see that going differently?" His intimidating glare is back on his face. The lightness of his eyes doesn't make it less scary.
"You're right. It makes perfect sense. Theodore is like a brother to you."
"He IS a brother to me."
"Got it, Godfather Tesio."
His smile slips back into place. "I love how quick you are."
I smile as I move farther inside and start to pack. “Can you at least try to promise me one thing?”
Andrea tilts his head to listen, but everything about him says he’s not making any guarantees.
“Can you let the kid try to fight some of their own battles? Like please don’t blow up the school if they mess up or bankrupt the parents of the kid who crosses ours?”
Although the second part is a statement, my audience makes it come out as a question.
Andrea cracks his neck. “The hypothetical scenario already pisses me off. I’ll just have to teach the little one how to annihilate their enemies.”
I scrub my face. “It’s fine, we have years to negotiate this.”
“Do we?”
“Yes,” I respond, firmly. “It makes perfect sense that you’d be the godfather, but you cannot steamroll me in every decision in my child’s life. Get your own.” After a pause, I add, “Respectfully, sir.”
Andrea cracks a smile. “You had all my respect until ‘respectfully, sir.’ Now, you have about eight percent. You put the protection of your child before your own safety, perfect for raising a child with my brother.”
“I added the last part because I respect your position in the city and love your bond with Teddy.”
He’s rubbing his chin, not really listening to me as I pack. “You’re right. How are our kids gonna grow up together if I haven't gotten some lucky woman pregnant?”
Andrea taps my head like I’m a precocious child and starts towards the door. He points at his men. You two, make sure she’s packed and gets to the house soon so she can rest. If she hurts even a toenail, you will die.” He pats them on the shoulders like he didn’t just threaten their lives. “I’m off to get a mother for my child. I’m almost eighteen weeks behind schedule.”
I shouldn’t be surprised that he knows exactly how far along I am, but his knowledge makes me shiver anyway. I feel sorry for the woman I just sent to hell. He’ll be all kinds of baby daddy drama.
Teddy: I’m officially divorced. I’m fine. I just need some time. I hope you understand.
I understood. The text came just before the news broke online. I took some comfort in hearing it from him first, although it was a text. It’s been two weeks since that text, and I’ve gone through several emotions. I’m sad that I miss him, worried that the divorce is harder on him than he expected, upset that he can’t talk to me about it, and I’m anxious that it’s possible our part of the relationship was based on the thrill of being caught and his interest in me has dissolved like his marriage.
I have no doubt that my child will know his father, I just understand that mother and child aren’t always package deals. It’s in my best interest to just focus on my baby and my courses. Yawning, I put down my book and decide to turn in for the night. My feet pad along the hardwood floor. I’m still amazed by how such a beautiful house was sitting alone until Andrea arranged for me to be here. It’s damn near my dream house, but I work to not get attached. I know it’s temporary.
After I start the water in the massive shower, I strip out of my clothes, adding them to the laundry basket. My phone rings in the bedroom, and I carry my naked ass in that direction to grab it. Andrea’s men always stay outside and do not enter the house without calling me for permission. Since no one is after me, it makes me feel even safer knowing that someone is always watching out for my safety.
“Hello?” I answer quickly, since it could be Theodore.
“I heard you’ve been with Andrea. Are you a mob whore now?”
I pull the phone away from my ear and stare at the display. The number says unknown, but the voice is clear.
“What in the fuck are you talking about, Mario? Even if I were Andrea’s whore, he wouldn’t leave me to die because he ran like a bitch.”
“They were going to kill me. They weren’t going to kill you.”
“Maybe not, but he would have raped me and passed me along to work off your debts and more, you asshole. You were supposed to love me.”
“None of that happened. You made it out like I knew you would. You-”
“Shut the fuck up. If I were anywhere near you, I’d choke you myself. Don’t call me again.”
I move my thumb to hang up on him, but hit the speaker button instead.
“Watch how you talk to me, bitch. Just because you’re giving up pussy to the mob for protection doesn’t mean I can’t get to you.”
Oh, that worthless sonofabitch.
The phone is yanked out of my hand before I can respond. Stunned, I turn to see Theodore looking like a furious wet dream.
“If you value any part of your life, you’ll respect her wishes and not call back.”
“Who in the hell are you?”
Theodore sneers, showing me that I’m attracted to his dangerous side as well. “I’m the man who’ll hunt you down.”
“You can’t threaten to kil—”
Theodore’s laugh is cold and sharp. “I won’t kill you. It’s too fast, too easy. I’ll crush you. You’ll hurt so badly that you’ll wish I killed you. Every breath you take will be excruciating. I’ll sit back and smile while I watch you cry and shit yourself because you can’t function normally anymore.”
The line goes dead because Mario was always big on self-preservation. It wasn’t a light threat. Theodore meant everything he said and knew exactly what to do to make it happen. For a brief moment, I saw the guy who’s just as scary as his best friend.
He drops the phone on the bed and looks at me. Although I’m naked, his eyes stay with mine, trying to assess my mood. I feel every emotion I’ve felt over the two weeks he’s been missing. While my eyes rejoice from the sight of him, I have nothing to say. Turning, I walk back to the bathroom to get in the shower.
I’m not giving him the silent treatment, I’m just truly speechless. We’re not a normal couple so I’m out of my element. Going through the motions, I lather my towel until it’s soapy the way I like it. Theodore joins me and takes the towel before I can get started.
“I can do it,” I tell him, but he starts washing my back anyway.
“Please let me,” he offers in a gentle tone.
I close my eyes as he bathes me. It feels good to have him touching me. Although I’ve been safe, my body relaxes some now that he’s around.
“How long has he been calling?”
There isn’t any assumption in his voice, but the question still annoys me.
“First time.” My words are clipped. I’m sure he can hear it as well.
His sigh is long as he hugs me from behind. I missed being in his arms so much that some of the sadness rises to the surface.
“I’m sorry for my absence. I’ll make it up to you. Please, don’t be mad.”
I shrug, because I don’t know what to express. “I’m not mad. It’s just so much. I don’t know what you want me to say.”
“Arms up,” he orders. I comply, giving him access to my underarms and breasts. “Just say what’s on your mind, baby.”
“Am I?”
“Are you what?”
I turn to face him, but he doesn’t miss a beat in his task. “Your baby.”
His blue eyes roam over my face and body like he’s searching for something. “Tell me what that means to you. What’s your definition?”
“Do you want me, or do you think you have to play nice because I’m having your baby? Cheating is a thrill-”
“The only thing cheating makes me feel is guilt. I’m not a dishonest man. I prided myself on being truthful and honest. Anything less than that eats at me.”
“Is that why you disappeared after your divorce? Am I just a reminder of that deceit?”
Towel forgotten, he cups my face, making me look him in the eyes. Theodore leans in until our foreheads almost touch.
“Hell no, River. You remind me of hope and happiness. I just needed time to process. That’s all.”
“You left me in the dark. I didn’t know if you were sad because you wanted her back. Or if you were out there trying to figure out what to do with me because you lost interest. You don’t have to be with me to see your child. I wouldn’t keep you two apart…”
His mouth covers mine, taking away any words I had yet to speak. I fall into the kiss, moaning against his mouth. I’ve missed the taste and feel of him.
Blue eyes darkening with lust, he guides my hand down between us. I suck my bottom lip into my mouth as I allow him to rub my hand up and down his hard length.
“Does it feel like I’ve lost interest? I’ve missed you so fucking much that I’d lose sleep thinking about you.”
“Why not call me, at least?”
Theodore kisses me again, holding me close to his body as he lifts me. On instinct, I wrap my legs around his waist. The tips of his fingers dig into my hips as his lips tease my neck. Cool tile hits my back when he presses me against the wall.
“You were not the cause of my bad mood.” He nips on my neck as the tip of his dick slowly spreads my pussy lips. “So you shouldn’t be the recipient of it.”
He glides to the hilt in one smooth stroke and steals my breath. I inhale sharply, loving the feel of him deep inside of me. For a moment, I wonder if I’m one of those women who gets easily distracted by good dick until he speaks.
“Fuck, you feel so good. I’m all yours, River. I wouldn’t have touched you without planning to make it possible.” Theodore grinds into me more, making me remember how I got pregnant in the first place. “I just have to make sure I’m worthy enough for you to be mine.”
There is such a potent dose of vulnerability in his voice and eyes that tears fall down my cheeks as he fucks me. Our talk isn’t over, but my need to come is the most important thing for now. I roll my hips, doing my part to get us off.
His grunt tells me I’m doing it right. “Just talk to me, Teddy.”
He knows what I mean, so he doesn’t push the topic. Instead, he throws me a sexy smirk since I let my nickname for him slip. It’s not the nickname itself; it’s a common one, it’s the fact that I gave him one.
The steam from the shower fogs the bathroom as he overheats my body. It doesn’t take long until I’m screaming his name as I mark him with my nails. He sucks my nipples with greedy slurps as he warms my insides with his cum.
Teddy slides me to my shaky legs and drops a kiss on my forehead. “I’ll go get in the other shower. We'll never get out at this rate.”
He’s right. I want more, and I’m determined to get it.