Chapter 22 #2
We’re both breathing hard, our bodies slick with sweat. I can’t bring myself to pull out. There’s a dull throbbing in my midsection, a small price to pay for all this pleasure.
Mina’s arms are wrapped around my neck. “We didn’t use protection again.”
I feel myself smile, and I kiss her throat. With a thrust of my hips, I push myself a little deeper into her. “Why would we? You’re going to be my wife.”
My wife.
How I love saying that out loud.
I’m fantasizing about the beautiful ring I’m going to slide onto her finger when I realize that Mina’s staring at the ceiling with a faraway look in her eyes. She’s frowning slightly as though performing mental arithmetic.
“Mina?”
Her arms tight around my neck. “Cristiano. I just realized something.”
“You have?”
Mina’s eyes are very wide. “I haven’t had my period since before Leon got sick.”
I go very still. “What?”
“Not since before we slept together at your casino. I’ve been so stressed and worried that I didn’t notice, but I should have had two periods by now.” She tries to sit up, but I’m on top of her. “I need to ask Adora for a pregnancy test. I need to find out if—”
I pin her back down, my hands on her wrists, my cock still buried inside her.
“You could be pregnant?” My voice comes out fierce. “You could be carrying my baby right now?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. Probably. I need to check.”
“No.” I thrust deeper, feeling her still-sensitive walls clench around me. “You’re not going anywhere.”
“Cristiano, I need to know!”
“My Mina is having my baby again?” I start moving, slow and deep, and her eyes go wide. “You’re not going anywhere. You’re staying right here with me.”
I’m rock hard and aching with the urge to fill her again.
“I’m not missing this. I’m not ready to share you with anyone. I’m not missing a single moment. You’re growing round with my child, and I’m here for it this time.”
Her body becomes pliant in my arms, and her head tips back with a moan. “We don’t even know if I’m pregnant yet.”
“If you’re not, you will be in a moment. Swear you won’t run.” I thrust harder, watching her face. “Swear it, Mina. Swear you’ll stay with me forever. I want to be here for every moment. Every doctor’s appointment. Every kick. Every midnight craving. Every time our baby moves inside you.”
I push my thumb into her mouth and make her suck it. Her tongue moves languidly against me as pleasure rolls through her.
“Swear it or I’ll handcuff you to the bed.” I’m pounding into her now, desperate and possessive and completely unhinged. “I’ll handcuff you to the goddamn bed. I’ll never let you out of my sight. You’re mine, Mina. You and Leon and this baby. All mine. Say it. Say you’re mine.”
I pull my thumb from her lips with a pop, and she gasps.
“Yes,” she whimpers, her hands clutching at my shoulders. “Yes, you crazy man. I’m yours. We’re yours. I won’t run. I swear I won’t run. I’ll stay. I’ll let you be there for everything.”
I capture her mouth in a brutal kiss and fuck her until we’re both falling apart again. Her scratches on my back. My cum leaking out of her. Both of us belonging to each other, inside and out.
When it’s over, I collapse beside her, pulling her against my chest. We lie tangled together, breathing hard, while the rain drums against the window.
Mina’s hand rests on her stomach, and I cover it with mine.
“A baby,” she whispers, full of wonder. She turns in my arms to face me, and there are tears on her cheeks again. But she’s smiling.
“I love you,” she whispers. “I’ve learned more about you this week than I have in my life, and I think I understand you now. You and your world. It’s frightening, but there are rules. You broke the rules for me and Leon, didn’t you?”
“I love you too.” I brush the tears away with my thumb. “Yes, I did, and I would break them again. The consequences are mine to bear, not yours and Leon’s. I’m strong enough to protect you both, and our future children.”
She hesitates, and then says with remorse in her eyes, “The Diamond Grand was burned to the ground last night. It was on the news.”
This must have been the work of the Sokolis.
I pass a hand over my face, picturing my casino in flames.
Sparks shooting into the night sky. How many of my people did the Sokolis kill in the process?
Loyal Montoni soldiers. I’ll need to speak with Nico and Paulo as soon as possible.
I’ve been ignoring their calls for days.
“Fuck. They really did it. This is…” I trail off, my instincts to protect Mina from my world kicking in.
“This is what?” She nudges me meaningfully when I don’t reply. “You promised to share everything with me from now on, remember?”
I did, didn’t I? I gaze into Mina’s eyes for a long time, and I find I want to tell her. My woman is strong enough to hear this.
I take her hand in mine, threading our fingers together.
“Silas Cross warned me that the Sokolis are not going to stop until someone makes them stop. They took everything from the Lucanias, and now they’re coming for what’s mine.
The next few weeks are going to be critical if I’m going to save my territory and keep my people and businesses safe. ”
“But your injuries,” she protests.
“My injuries don’t matter. I’m going to protect you and Leon no matter what.” When I see her terrified expression, I soften my voice, and say, “I’m not going to personally fight every Sokoli in Malus. I’ll work with my most trusted men to figure this out.”
“Nico and Paulo? The men who brought Leon toys and me food in the hospital? I liked them.” She thinks for a moment, and then her jaw firms. “I’ve made up my mind.
I’m going to help you with this. Like Adora stands by her husband.
Like how Sofia fights for her family. That’s what women in the mafia do, isn’t it? ”
I press my forehead to hers, gratitude and love singing through me. This is more than I ever hoped for.
Not just a wife, but a partner.
“Just hearing you say that makes me feel so much stronger already, Mina.”
“We’ll get through this together,” she says fiercely. “Leon and I are on your side.”
“Just so we’re clear, I regret none of the sacrifices I’ve made for you and Leon. None of them. Do you understand?”
She nods, stroking my chest. “I understand.”
“And you’re going to marry me,” I say, matter-of-factly. “We already planned our wedding, remember?”
Her lips curve in a smile. “I could never forget.”
“Then it’s settled.” I pull her closer. “You’re going to marry me, and we’re going to raise Leon together and this baby, if there is one. And I’m going to spend the rest of my life making sure you never regret choosing me.”
Mina presses a kiss to my lips, and whispers, “I could never regret choosing you, Cristiano. You’re the love of my life. You always have been.”
I kiss her again, soft and slow and full of promise.
Outside, the rain continues to fall.
Here, in this bed in the Vici mansion, wrapped in each other’s arms, we’re finally nearly home.