It’s just him.
He’s a good man.
A good husband.
“Do you want—” My inner voice starts speaking, about to ask him if he wants kids, but I cut myself off. “Are we exchanging Christmas presents?”
He narrows his eyes slightly, like he knows I was going to say something else. “You don’t have to get me anything, Shorty.”
I banish all thoughts of babies from my mind. “Are you getting me something?”
His mouth pulls into a smirk. “I’m not telling you what your present is.”
“So you did get me something?” Other than pregnant.
I shake my head. I need to stop thinking about this.
I’m not fucking pregnant. I’m just late.
“Finish getting ready. You sure you don’t want more?” Dom gestures to my mug in his hand.
“I’m sure,” I murmur, noticing a line of discoloration across the top of Dominic’s fingers that looks like a bruise.
He sees me looking but doesn’t say anything about it, just dips his chin and tells me, “One hour.”
I watch him walk out of the bathroom, waiting until the door clicks shut behind him before I turn back to the counter.
One hour is not enough time to deal with all this, so I zip up the doctor’s bag and shove it back into the cupboard. I need to finish getting ready.
And I’m not pregnant.
CHAPTER 68
Dom
I move down the stairs ahead of Valentine, then offer her a hand down from the plane.
I know she doesn’t love flying, but she’s been acting extra stressed out all day. And when she wobbles a little on the last step, I grip her hand tighter.
“You alright?” True concern tinges my voice.
Val nods her head.
“Valentine.”
She sighs. “I’m a little nervous.”
I place a hand on her back, guiding her toward the big SUV that Rob is already loading our bags into. “No one knows we’re here. And even if they did, they won’t be able to track us to the cabin,” I tell her, assuming she’s talking about the guys who are trying to kill me.
“Oh, um, it’s not that.” She blinks up at me. “But now that you’ve mentioned it…”
I slide my hand down and pat her ass. Then I palm her ass because it’s too delicious not to, especially in these stretchy jeans that look like they’re painted on her.
We reach the Suburban, and I guide her to climb into the back seat, then follow her in.
Once Rob starts driving, I turn to Val. “What are you nervous about?”
She blows out a breath. “Just seeing everyone, I guess.”
My brows furrow. “What do you mean?”
Val lifts a shoulder before she finally turns her head to look at me. “I just don’t want it to be awkward. Ya know?”
I shake my head. “I don’t know.”
She tugs at the bottom of her off-white sweater, making me wish I’d insisted she put her jacket back on before we got out of the plane. It’s not as cold here as it is back home, but I don’t want her to be uncomfortable.
“You know about our…” She lifts one hand to make a circular gesture. “Parental history. And I know that was all in the past, but I’ve worked really hard to make them like me.”
I clench my jaw. “Them?”
“King and Aspen,” she clarifies calmly, like she isn’t igniting my anger all over again. “I just don’t want them to be… I dunno. Mad at me. Or disappointed.”
“What the fuck would they have to be mad or disappointed about? They can be mad at me, but that’s for me to handle. You’ve done nothing wrong, Angel.” I work to keep my tone even.
Val looks away from me. “I didn’t fight back.”
I unbuckle my seat belt and slide across the seat until I’m next to her.
When she doesn’t look at me, I grab her chin and lift her face to mine. With her eyes on mine, I tell her the truth. “There was no fighting me, Valentine. You’re mine. There is nothing you could have done to make that not true.” Her jaw muscles move as she swallows. “Tell me.”
“I’m yours.”
I pull in a deep inhale through my nose, filling my lungs.
I was looking for I understand, but I’m yours is so much better.
“Say that again,” I demand.
She stares me in the eyes and tells me, “I’m yours.”
My lips are on hers.
I tighten my grip on her chin and slide the fingers of my other hand through her hair to hold the back of her head, guiding her to tilt to the side so I can deepen the kiss.