Chapter 31
Savvy
“Don’t you dare lift that,” Gabriel snaps at me when I bend to pick up the printer from the boxes his men brought back to my work room.
“It’s just a printer,” I complain but step away from it when he marches into the room. “You promised you wouldn’t be so overbearing.”
“Yeah, well, you promised you’d nap every afternoon, and you haven’t been.” He points a finger at me. “Did you think I wouldn’t check?”
I smile. “I knew you would.”
“I can still put you over my knee, Savvy. The doctor said until you’re bigger, it’s still safe.”
My face burns. “You asked the doctor if you could spank me?”
He lifts the printer and puts it on the table. “Of course I did.”
“I’m going to die of humiliation.”
He laughs. “I also double-checked with him about fucking your ass until you deliver. He said yes to that, too.”
I sink onto the chair, placing my hand on the slight swell of my belly. “You’re insane.”
“Only when it comes to you.” He plugs the printer into the extension cord.
We’ve been home for a month. At first, I was going to stay away from my previous work. But Jennifer from the shelter called with an urgent need, and I couldn’t say no. She’s been working with Gabriel’s guy, but she feels more comfortable dealing with a woman.
“This is the last one.” Lucian walks into the room carrying another printer.
“Put it here.” Gabriel points to an empty spot on another table. Not only has he brought back the equipment I had before, but he’s gotten me new printers.
“I’m heading to the shop on Milwaukee. One of the baseball cards came up as a forgery. I’m getting the info from Bob.”
Gabriel flicks a glance my way.
“Don’t look at me. I’ve been with you every day since we got back. I haven’t even had my stuff.” I wave at the boxes I’m still unpacking.
“Oh. I forgot. Cassie called this morning,” I dig through another box, looking for the special paper I need. “She asked again that you get your guys to stop stalking her.”
“What are you talking about?” Gabriel pauses. “I didn’t have anyone watching her in St. Louis. I already knew you weren’t there.”
We turn toward Lucian, whose eyes have darkened, and his frown intensifies.
“Not me.”
“Huh. Well, maybe she’s just paranoid because of me. I’ll let her know she can relax.”
“She thinks someone’s stalking her?” Lucian asks.
I wave a hand. “I’m sure it’s nothing. She’s going to be coming up here soon anyway for when Tony gets out of rehab.”
Gabriel turns away when I mention Tony. He may have put Tony in rehab, but he hasn’t forgotten that he tried to pin the fake cash on me, or that he used my name when trying to scam Vincent Ricci on a loan. It will take some time, but I have no doubt Gabriel will come around.
Lucian grunts. His opinion of Tony isn’t any better, but he doesn’t say anything about it. At least not to me.
“I’m going. I’ll be back for dinner.” Lucian eyes me. “Mrs. Neville said you’re making that cheeseburger casserole.”
I laugh. “I am, but she’s making a salad and bread to go with it.”
“Seven, right?”
“Isn’t that when we eat every night?” Gabriel snaps.
“Don’t mind him; he’s just upset because the doctor won’t tell him if the baby is a boy or girl.”
“The asshole actually told me no.” It was a beautiful sight. I haven’t seen anyone stand up to Gabriel when he has murder in his eyes, but the doctor told him he needed to get my okay to find out the gender. And since I want to be surprised, Gabriel has to be surprised.
It feels good having this much power.
“Maybe if you’re a really, really good boy, I’ll—” I shut my mouth when he aims his glare at me.
“Don’t start. Like I said, the doctor said it’s perfectly safe to punish you.”
Again, my face heats.
Lucian clears his throat. “Okay, seven, then. Roman will be here, too.”
“You made him uncomfortable,” I chastise Gabriel.
“Lucian, uncomfortable? He doesn’t get uncomfortable. He’s fine.” Gabriel breaks down the last box. “But, speaking of uncomfortable, has Roman talked to you?”
“You mean has he apologized because you ordered him to? Yes. Did he need to, no. And are we fine, yes.” I check my phone for the time. “I need to make sure the ground beef is out of the freezer.”
As I pass him, he wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me into him, kissing me until I forgot what I was trying to do.
“I’ll get the beef out of the freezer, you go lie down. One hour nap, or I swear I’ll tie you to the bed.”
I laugh. “You keep saying that like it’s a threat.”
He slaps my ass. “Fine. One hour nap, or I won’t tie you to the bed and tease you until you beg for mercy.”
My body softens for him. “Is that how you’ll wake me?”
He winks. “If you actually sleep, yes.”
“Then I better get some sleep.”
“I’ll get the rope.”
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The End