“Are you coming to bed?” Zara stands by my desk with her hand on her hip. Even in her tone, she’s had enough of me today.
After spending the rest of the day at Grayson’s for Christmas, I couldn’t shake that grief that crept over me. It’s something I’ve worked so hard to keep away.
I shake my head, not looking away from the screen. My heart races as the office door slams shut. Leaning back in the chair, I release a tired exhale.
I have everything I want in my grasp. Pouring myself another glass of scotch, I pull out the ultrasound picture from my pocket and fixate on that little dot.
Our baby. Our future.
All fucking day, all I can replay in my mind is that house going up in flames.
The way Zara looked at me with pity in her eyes earlier.
I don’t know how long I sit here, not letting go of the pictures. Fearing that If I do, I might lose them again.
Staring until my eyes physically hurt, I drag myself out of the office and creep towards our bedroom, not wanting to disturb Zara. I just want to crawl in next to her and remind myself that she is mine. She isn’t going anywhere, despite what my brain might be telling me.
I feel my heart pounding in my chest as I see our bed is empty.
“Fuck,” I whisper.
Making my way down the hall, I open doors until I stumble upon her, nestled on her side with her tattooed arm wrapped around the blanket.
I swiftly undress and slip into bed beside her, wrapping my arms around her as tightly as I can. My arm encircles her stomach protectively, and I rub small circles around her belly button.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, closing my eyes and inhaling her sweet scent. The only thing that provides me calm right now.
“It’s okay,” she whispers back.
A smile creeps up on my face.
She wiggles her ass against me, which has my cock springing to life.
“I don’t think so, Frankie. Not until we talk,” she says in a sleepy voice.
“I don’t think you get to make orders around here, angel,” I reply, but she’s right.
“Trust me, right now, I do. Now, goodnight.” She sighs against me and I can’t help the guilt swirling around in my chest.
I hug her tighter as her breathing settles. This woman is my life.
“Ti amo, dolcezza,” I whisper against her hair.
I thought I knew what love was ten years ago. Leila never loved me for who I was, simply who she wanted me to be, for her. Zara, she knows my flaws. She sees every single part of me and craves more.
Every moment in my life happened for a reason. To bring her to me.
And there is not a single soul on this earth who can take that away from me.
I peer out of one eye and find Zara straddling me with a naughty grin on her lips.
“Morning, gorgeous.” She bites down on her lip and rolls her hips against my cock.
She peels off her tank top, and her perky breasts have me salivating. I tug my hands forward, only to have metal digging into my wrists.
“Zara.” I look up and find both of my arms cuffed to the bed.
“You really don’t want to do this,” I say, trying to remain calm. She rubs her pussy against me again, sending bolts of desire through me.
“I don’t?” she pouts at me.
When her wet heat connects again, I can’t hold in the groan that escapes.
“I think I could get myself off just by doing this, you know. Your dick is so perfect, Frankie.”
“Uncuff me, now,” I growl.
Leaning forward, she shakes her head and runs her nails down my abs.
“See, I was thinking, after what happened yesterday. I need to know what the hell went on. I need you to trust me, Frankie. In return, I will show you how much I trust you. I will give my body over to you, completely.”
She pauses to grind her hips again.
“Exactly how you want me to.” She cups her breasts and lets out a moan.
I yank at the restraints. My body is on fucking fire.
“Don’t fuck with me, Zara.”
She rolls her eyes, making me want to bend her over my knee and slap her ass raw.
“It’s up to you.” She shrugs and slides her hand down the front of her body and between her legs. “I’ll get off either way.”
Her mouth parts as she starts to play with herself.
I grit my teeth together, trying to calm this raging inferno inside of me.
Her eyes fall closed as she gyrates her hand faster between her thighs.
“Well?” She pinches the silver bar in her nipple and cries out.
My balls tighten and I thrust my hips up. “Uncuff me, then we talk.”
She shakes her head.
“Oh god, I’m so close.” She tips her head back, exposing her slender neck, which I want to wrap my fingers around and squeeze.
“Fine!” I snap.
She stops everything, and her eyes widen in shock. “You’ll tell me?”
I nod. I planned on telling her, anyway, except this time, I get something in return.
“It isn’t pretty, Zara.”
“I gathered.” She offers me a sad smile and crawls up my body, brushing her lips along mine.
“You think my past is all sunshine and teddy bears?”
“I was waiting for you to tell me the truth, angel. If I’d have known this was the method, I would have cuffed you to the bed and edged you until you told me.”
“We’re having a baby, Frankie. That changes everything. If we can’t open up, at least to each other, we have nothing.”
“You want me to change?”
She shakes her head. “Not even a little, I don’t mean that. I quite like you, all cold and ruthless. What I mean is you need to let go of the demons in your past, accept them and focus on what we have here. I’m not going anywhere.”
I may not like being at her mercy, but she’s right. We are so close to having it all, ruling our empire and building a family. My past and a quest for revenge have fueled me for ten years. Now, I have an end to this and a fucking perfect future almost in my gasp.
She goes to free me, and I bite down on her nipple.
“I suggest you sit that pretty pussy on my face first.”
Her green eyes light up and she blows a strand of her black hair out of her face. “I’m not going to argue with that.”
