DOM: Alliance Series Book Three (121)

I shake my head. “I know they do stuff like this all the time, but I don’t know how you get used to it.”

“You don’t. Not really,” Payton answers, having been married longer than any of us. “Want coffee?”

I shake my head. “No, thanks.” I can hear the disappointment in my voice.

“You sure?” Payton asks, probably having heard the same thing.

“I’m sure,” I sigh.

“Oh, that’s right, you can’t,” Savannah says casually, but my eyes still widen.

Aspen slowly turns to face me. “What does she mean you can’t?”

I lean over the counter to look past Aspen at Savannah, who has slapped a hand over her mouth.

“Sorry,” she says, her apology muffled by her palm.

“Are you pregnant?” Aspen looks so shocked it almost makes me laugh.

It’s too early to really be telling people, but since the cat seems to be out of the bag, I shrug. “Yeah.”

Aspen shoves at my shoulder. “And you told Savannah but not me?”

“I didn’t mean to!” I defend. “She was with me when the doctor was checking me over. And when he asked if there was a chance I was… I had to tell him the truth.”

Savannah grins. “Does this mean I can finally tell King? The secret has been killing me.”

I shrug. “Might as well.”

“How did this even happen?” Aspen asks.

Savannah snorts. “Well, when a man puts his penis inside you…”

Aspen spins around to shove at Savannah. “Clearly I’m not the one who needs the birds and the bees talk.”

Savannah lets out a snicker. “Fair point.”

“For the record, I don’t need the talk either,” I tell them, then decide that if I want this group to be my family, I want to be open with them. “Right before the guys left yesterday, I told Dominic I’m pregnant.”

Savannah gasps, leaning against the counter to see me. “What did he say?”

“He told me he was happy.” I bite my lip. “And he told me he changed out my birth control pills with fakes a few weeks ago.”

Aspen shoves my shoulder again. “What?! Why?!”

I try not to smile at her outraged reaction. “Because he wanted to keep me.”

Aspen’s jaw drops just as Payton lets out an aww from the other side of the counter.

Aspen swings her head around to face Payton. “You think that’s sweet?”

Payton doesn’t look at all embarrassed when she nods her head. “It is.”

Aspen guffaws. “It’s psychotic.”

I huff out a laugh. “You think that’s psychotic,” I mumble before I can think better of it.

Everyone turns to face me, so I hold up my ring finger, the black ink on display. “After I threw my ring out the car window, Dominic drugged me and tattooed his name on me. One time for every man I’ve been with.”

“I knew you wouldn’t have done that on your own.” Savannah slaps her hand down on the counter. “I’ve heard finger tattoos fucking hurt.”

Instead of the anger I expect to see on Aspen’s face, she looks impressed. “Okay, that’s kinda hot.”

I laugh. “You’re just as crazy as the rest of us.”

Aspen shrugs and picks up her coffee.

“Wait.” Payton tilts her head. “Why did you throw your ring out the window?”

I purse my lips. “Oh, right.” This one I don’t think I should tell them. “Well…”

Before I’m forced to think of a lie, I hear the front door unlock, and I’m off the stool, hurrying across the floor before the door opens.

“Dominic!” His name comes out as a cry, and my vision is blurring. Because he’s here. He’s here, and I’m so relieved.

Dominic doesn’t even hold the door open for anyone else, just strides through, crashing his body against mine.

“My Angel,” he murmurs against my hair as I bury my face in his chest. “My love.” His hand strokes down my loose hair. “My Valentine.”

“I was so worried.” I hug him tighter.

“I’m fine.” He kisses the top of my head. “We’re all fine.” He kisses my forehead. “But I’m tired, Angel. Take me to bed.”

Remembering that he’s still injured, I pull away.

But Dom doesn’t let me get far as he twines his fingers with mine.

As he leads me toward the stairs, I glance around, seeing King and Savannah embraced in the kitchen and Payton sitting on Nero’s lap in the living room. As we take the first step up, I see Aspen walking out the front door. With Rob.

But I put them out of my mind because we’re at the top of the stairs.

And then we’re at the bedroom. And Dominic pushes me through the door and slams it shut behind us.

“Clothes off,” he demands as he starts to undress himself.

I do as he says, dropping my shirt on the floor next to his.

I have a flicker of a moment to realize he’s in different clothes than he was when he left yesterday and that he must’ve found a place to shower and change. But then he’s shoving his pants down his hips, and I no longer care what he was wearing.