I wake up earlier than she does, which doesn’t surprise me, since I kept her up most of the night needing to be inside her. The one bed really worked to my benefit and not once did she try to demand me to sleep on the floor, or her, for that matter.
Glancing down, I can’t help but smile at her. Sleeping, she’s so serene, so calm, but I know better. The woman is anything but relaxed. I brush my fingers over the scars on her arms, wishing I could show her they are beautiful just like her, but no matter what I say, it won’t matter.
The scars on her soul are much deeper than those on her arms will ever be.
I’m still gathering information with Gianni about the fire that killed her parents. Surprisingly, there isn’t much on it. I can hardly find news articles or photos, which makes me believe she’s right.
It is mafia-related. Only we have the power to pay off the press and the cops to hide information.
I remember that fire, not that I’d tell her that, because a part of her believes I’m the one who set the fire. It makes sense. I’m the only one she knows in the business. Who else would she blame? That’s okay. I’ll gladly take the fall if it means Sophie can put her mind at ease.
But that fire—
“You’re staring at me,” she mumbles, rolling over to her other side, and giving me her back. “We don’t have to leave yet, do we?”
“No, Sweet Sophie. Sleep. I’ll order us breakfast soon. I’m going to shower though, and make a few business calls, okay?”
“Mmmkay,” she murmurs, going right back to sleep.
I chuckle, kissing her shoulder before rolling out of bed. Sitting on the edge, I stretch, lifting my arms above my head and my back cracks.
Groaning, I stand, my cock lying half-hard against my thigh, still wet from when I took Sophie last.
When we stumbled through the door in the middle of the night, nothing stopped me from ripping her dress from her body. Now, it lies in tatters on the floor. Her clutch is open, and a few things spilled out. I bend down to pick them up, stuffing her lipstick, eyeliner, and a few other things back in, when I happen to look inside.
My brows furrow as I dump everything I just put back inside and pull out a small box.
Plan B.
“What?” I whisper. I can’t be looking at what I think I’m looking at.
This is impossible.
Has she been taking this every time we’ve been together?
I clutch the box in my hand, taking a deep breath as anger builds in my chest. Why am I so fucking mad at her right now? She could have talked to me about this. We could have…we could have made a compromise.
Internally, a frustrated groan echoes in my head.
She wouldn’t have talked to me about it because she thinks whatever is between us is temporary. She doesn’t take it seriously—not like I do.
Without thinking, with all the strength and force I can muster, I throw the box against the wall and yank sweatpants from my luggage. I run my fingers through my hair, and panic snags in my chest at the thought of not having her bound to me.
I snatch the box from the floor and stare at it again, knowing this is her decision. She shouldn’t be forced into anything, but she has to be mine. There isn’t an option. I can’t give her a reason not to be with me. If she’s pregnant, it means she’s mine.
“Matias? What’s wrong? You’re breathing hard again,” she giggles but it’s mixed with sleep. The sound only makes me love her more. “I can’t go again. I’m sore. I need a break.”
I turn around, waving the box in the air. “What the hell is this? What is this, Sophie?”
The smile fades from her face, the happiness shining from her eyes gone in an instant.
She doesn’t say anything. Sitting up, she clutches the blanket to her chest. “I didn’t know if I was going to take it or not. I just needed a sense of safety. For peace of mind.”
“How many times have you taken this so far?”
“What? None!” she shouts, scooting to the edge of the bed but keeping herself covered. “I haven’t ever taken it before. I was getting scared.”
“Why?” I don’t yell it, but it comes out broken with shock. “What have I done to scare you? Haven’t I shown you I’m here for you? I want you. Damn it, Sophie. All I have done is show you how much I crave you. So, what is this? Do you not want me?” I lift the box in the air. “Just tell me now.”
“Of course I do. I just… I just thought that I needed a plan. Another plan. I wasn’t sure if getting pregnant with a man that would leave me in the end was something I wanted.”
“Leave you?” I shout. “Leave you? I’m not the one thinking about leaving, Sophie. Obviously, you are. I don’t want to leave you. I don’t want you to take this fucking pill.” I tear the box open, punching the small white pill from the foil container.
“We weren’t safe. We haven’t been safe. We don’t really know each other—I don’t know, okay? I want you. I want to be with you, but being pregnant scares me. I don’t want to be alone with a baby. I needed a plan.”
“Alone? You’ll never be alone again, Sophie. Not as long as I’m alive and I’m fucking breathing.” I march my way to the bathroom, toss the pill in the toilet, then flush it. “Now, you can’t take it.” I feel vindictive and a bit vengeful. I’ve never been so worked up in my entire life. I’m fuming.
But more importantly, I’m scared.
Not that I’ll admit that to anyone.
I’m scared because she believes she’ll be alone. She’s planning a life without me because she truly thinks I won’t be there.
That terrifies me.
How can she not know I’m obsessed with her? That anywhere she would go, I’d follow.
Whether she wanted me to or not.
“How did you even get this pill? When? You’ve been with me the entire time,” I ask, coming out of the bathroom.
“When you were talking to Dovnic at one point, I disappeared to the front desk and asked the girl to get me it. After, when I went to the bathroom, I got it from her,” she admits, cheeks turning red with embarrassment. “I promise, I wasn’t set on taking it. I just…”
“I know, you felt like you need a plan.” I grab her shoulders and force her to stand, ripping the sheets from her body. My cock is hard, aching, needing to claim her and prove to her that she is mine. I push her down and spread her thighs apart, driving into her so hard she groans.
But she’s wet with my come still, making each thrust slick.
“Let me make something crystal fucking clear, Sophie.” I wrap a hand around her neck, pounding unforgivably into her sore cunt. “I want to get you pregnant. That’s my goal. Safe isn’t an option. Plan B?” I growl in distaste, looming over her until our noses touch. “We’re the fucking plan.” I ram into her, still so angry that she would do this. My foot hits the nightstand and the lamp falls onto the floor, the bulb breaking, but I don’t care.
I grip the edge of the mattress, needing leverage, and use it to drive into her.
The bed moves, another glass slips from the edge of the other nightstand and shatters.
“Tell me. Tell me we are the plan.”
She shatters under me, coming so hard I feel her trying to pull me in deeper. “We’re the plan,” she finally exclaims. “We are.”
My orgasm is close already from every fast thrust. “Good, then feel this. Accept what’s about to happen. I’m going to fill you with every goddamn drop and you’re going to soak it up, aren’t you?”
She whimpers, her mouth dropping open as another orgasm shakes her core.
“Aren’t you?”
“Yes! God, please, give it to me, Matias. I want it. I want to feel you.”
I roar my release. Her words are the tipping point, the extra stroke I needed. I pour into her, everything I have left to give.
I give it.
Still, something isn’t right. I can’t put my finger on it, but there’s something in our relationship that’s different and it will take more than this to make it right.
Regardless, she’s mine.
My phone rings, causing me to pull out of her. I fumble through last night’s clothes in search of it as the cell rings. When I finally find it, Dovnic’s name appears on the screen.
“Dovnic, I didn’t think I’d hear from you so soon or ever,” I tease him.
“I need your help, Matias. They took him. They took Dominick. They took my son. Please, I’m begging you, Matias. I’ll do anything to get him back. I’ll pay you for your help, for you to work with me this once, but I need power. You’re that power. Please.”
I’ve never heard the man beg.
“They already took my wife. Please, don’t let them take my son.”
“Send me your address. I’ll be there soon. We will find him.”
“Thank you. I’m forever in your debt.”
I hang up and turn around. “You’re going home,” I tell Sophie. “I am going to be a few days. Dovnic needs my help. His son was taken, and this is going to get dangerous. I need you far away from here so I can help him. Okay? I’ll call the jet, the pilot, and I’ll have everything set up. The return will be easy. I’ll be back in a few days.”
“If you’re staying, I’m staying. I can stay right here, Matias. I’ll wait.”
“No. I can’t risk it. Too many people know we were here last night. This is the first place they will check to hold any leverage over me. You’re safest at home with Ella and Gianni. Gianni will send men to me as well. I need firepower.”
She swallows, but nods. I can see the water filling her eyes, noticing something is off, and I know that’s on both of us. I shouldn’t have reacted how I did, and she should have talked to me.
She acts as if this relationship is doomed but the more she acts like it is, the more it will be. Maybe a few days away from one another is all we need.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be home soon. I promise.”
And I always keep my promises.
