Chapter Eight
Dakota
Three Months Later
I’d noticed a slight bump under my nightgown this morning and couldn’t seem to stop rubbing my belly.
Thankfully, the morning sickness had stopped, and I’d started putting on weight.
At only nineteen weeks, I didn’t think I’d be showing yet.
The doctor Charming had smuggled in last month had said each pregnancy was different.
Some women showed sooner than others, just like some had morning sickness, while others didn’t.
Sadly, I hadn’t been able to hear the heartbeat or see my baby yet.
It felt like I was missing out on so much with this pregnancy.
What should have been an incredible adventure had been dimmed because of being a prisoner in my own home.
The Bratva were getting closer. Too close.
Last Charming had heard, they were heading to Florida.
Charming didn’t talk about it much, not wanting to stress me out, but I knew that had to mean they’d found him.
If they didn’t know his current location, why travel all the way here?
Which meant the Cartel was on their heels since they’d been working together.
Eventually, Charming and I would have a fight on our hands.
Or rather, he would. There wasn’t much I could do.
Hell, his club still didn’t know about me.
Well, most didn’t. Cinder and Shade could visit me, and same for the prospects.
Other than my doctor, I hadn’t spoken to another woman in months.
And even that visit had been far too brief.
Things needed to change. I felt like I was going to lose my mind.
I’d started chewing my nails, twirling my hair, and a few other bad habits.
It didn’t help that at least once a week someone tried to peek into the house or attempted to come through the front door.
The catty comments from the women who came to check on Charming were getting to me.
But those weren’t as bad as when they talked about setting him up with someone.
No one knew he was married, which meant the ladies wanted to see him settled.
And apparently the club whores were still attempting to sink their claws into him, even though he hadn’t paid them any attention long before I came here.
Unless the ladies speaking outside the door were hoping to get a rise out of me.
I could tell they suspected Charming was hiding a person in his home, and it was making them feel desperate to solve the riddle.
As badly as he wanted to keep me hidden away, I wasn’t certain anymore that it was the right thing to do.
Clearly, the Cartel would be coming here.
If they suspected I was already at the compound, what would it hurt for me to get out a little?
Even just getting to walk outside and feel the sun on my face would be amazing.
I didn’t care if I went into town. Well, I did, a little.
However, I’d take whatever freedom I could get.
Charming came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist, and kissing the side of my neck.
I leaned into him. I didn’t know where I’d be right now if it weren’t for him.
Even when he frustrated me, he was still my rock.
My calm in the storm. And the only reason I’d remained somewhat sane during all this nonsense.
He reached up to cup my breast, giving it a slight squeeze.
My pregnancy could either make my breasts so tender they hurt to be touched or made them sensitive enough he could make me come just from rubbing my nipples.
I never knew which to expect from one day to the next.
Since heat started pooling in my belly, I was going to go with this being one of the better days.
“You’re always distracting me with sex,” I said. “If you aren’t careful, I’ll think that’s the only reason you want me here.”
“Nope. Just an added bonus.” He lightly bit my shoulder. “What am I distracting you from now?”
I sighed. “Freedom.”
He turned me to face him, tilting my chin up. “Sweetheart, I will give you anything and everything your heart desires. But not if it means you could be in harm’s way. You know this. We’ve been over it, many times.”
I nodded. “I know, Halden. I was just thinking, since the Bratva know where you are it means the Cartel is probably coming for me. If my location is no longer a secret, why do I have to stay locked up in the house?”
“How about a compromise?”
“I’m listening,” I said.
“We can fix a big dinner tonight. Enough to feed several large men. I’ll invite over all the officers and explain the situation.
If they can come up with a way for you to move about the compound, without fear a sniper could take you out, or someone could get in and kidnap you, then I’ll introduce you to the club and you’ll be able to roam the compound. ”
I pressed my forehead to his chest. “Why do I get the feeling this isn’t going to go the way I want it to? They’re going to side with you, aren’t they?”
“Most likely.”
His phone buzzed and he answered, putting it on speaker. “Shade, I’m with Dakota and she can hear this conversation.”
“Understood,” Shade said. “I’m actually calling about Phantom’s family. We’ve got movement. Samurai wants to leave Phantom out of this one, take down Mason on our own.”
“Make it happen. Send Havoc and Scratch for Mason. We’ll meet at the location where we solved Grey’s problems.”
“Got it, Pres. I’ll get everyone moving. Meet you there in twenty.”
The call ended and Charming hugged me tight.
I hated that he needed to leave, but I understood.
Even though I wasn’t supposed to know club business, since I’d been stuck in the house for months, he’d confided quite a bit in me.
I knew all about Phantom’s new family and what they’d suffered, and about the man Shade called Mason.
“Go make him suffer,” I said. “Anyone who preys on children deserves a painful death.”
“I have a little time before I need to leave. Won’t take me but five minutes to reach the location. How about I make you feel good first?”
“Really? You think now is the time for that?” I asked.
“Dakota, I never know when I leave if something will happen to me. I promised I’d always come home to you. Doesn’t mean I’ll necessarily be in one piece. I want every minute with you to count. If that means I fuck you before I walk out the door, then that’s what I’ll do.”
I reached up and tugged on the beard he’d grown out the last few weeks. “Such a sweet talker. No wonder they call you Charming.”
He shook his head. “Are you insinuating, yet again, I’m less than charming?”
“Sometimes.” I smiled. “Good thing I like you just the way you are.”
He lifted me into his arms and carried me back to the bedroom. “And I like you with fewer clothes on. Wait. That didn’t… I like you all the time. I just prefer you without clothes.”
“Nice save.”
He eased me onto the bed, then caged me between his arms, leaning over me.
“You know how much I care about you, Dakota. I might not always say it, but I do try to show you. I’m lying to my club because I refuse to risk your life, even with the men I trust most in the world.
You’re everything to me, you and our child. You know that, right?”
I nodded and reached up to place my hand on his cheek. “I know, and I feel the same about you.”
He brushed his lips across mine, then deepened the kiss.
I wrapped my fingers around the back of his neck, wanting to hold on and never let go.
The man was downright lethal. One touch…
one kiss… and I went up in flames, eager to do whatever he said.
I should have felt pathetic, but honestly, no one had ever turned me on the way he did.
It felt like a blessing that I’d found him, and that he wanted to keep me.
So many times these past months I’d wanted to tell him I loved him.
Something always held me back. He said he liked me.
Cared about me. I had to wonder if he’d ever feel anything stronger.
Was I doomed to be in love with a man who couldn’t feel the same about me?
It was a depressing thought, but I was willing to roll the dice and see where this road took me.
I’d rather have a part of Charming’s heart than none at all.
He’d promised he’d be faithful. As long as he gave me that, and I knew he felt at least a little something for me, then maybe deeper feelings would grow over time.
He lifted off me and started stripping my clothes from my body.
I reached for him, easing his cut off his shoulders.
He took it from me, folding it and placing it on the dresser.
He’d given me a property cut, but I hadn’t had a reason to wear it.
So it hung in the closet, where it would remain until I could leave the house.
Charming reached behind his neck and grabbed the back of his shirt, tugging it over his head.
I sighed, thinking that was one of the sexiest moves I’d ever seen.
He made quick work of the rest of his clothes, then dropped to his knees beside the bed.
Yanking me closer, he spread my thighs and gave my pussy a lick.
I shrieked and tried to close my legs, but he wouldn’t let me.
“No! This is mine. You’re mine.” He glared up at me. “Fight me and I will spank your ass, Dakota.”
I gasped, my eyes going wide. “You wouldn’t.”
“Honey, I’ve already told you this is the prettiest pussy I’ve ever seen. Not to mention you taste sweet. Get over the embarrassment. It feels good when I put my mouth on you, doesn’t it?”
I nodded, begrudgingly. He was right, though.
I felt self-conscious when he was down there.
Other than Charming and the doctor, no one had ever seen that part of me.
And until him, I certainly hadn’t had anyone put their mouth there.
It was the one thing I hadn’t adjusted to over the months we’d been together.