Page 89 of Bound By Flames

“How about you come during the winter break?” I tell her, taking the lead, because I finally realize that standing up for myself is the only way to handle my parents.

“Really? I don’t want to bother you guys,” Kia says, twisting her lips.

“You won’t. I’d love having you there,” I assure her and hug her with one arm.

“I can’t wait.” She grins, beaming before digging once more in her plate. Looking up, I find my husband staring at me with the corner of his lips raised.

Ares Malone, could I fall even harder for you?

Ares

“Thank you for…defending me at dinner.” she says as we enter her childhood bedroom that doesn’t look like one at all. White and gold tones fill the room with modern and sleek furniture. It’s high hand but it looks more like a hotel room than what I had pictured her room to be like.

“She had it redone when I left.” She shrugs a shoulder. “It was all pink and orange when it was mine.”

Why would her mom want to erase her like that?

“Our kids will always have their rooms to come back to, even when they’re adults and all. It’s too important to throw away.” The words escape my lips as I start to undress to get to bed.

She glances at me, fidgeting with the zip in the back of her dress, closing her jaw after gawking at me. “Wait, did you say our kids?”

“Yeah,” I deadpan while my heart pounds in my chest.

“What makes you think I’ll have your kids? That’s a little presumptuous.” She rests a hand on her hips with her pouty lips begging to be kissed.

“You’d look good with a round belly, that’s all.” I shrug off.

“What is it with you and kids? You don’t seem like the giddy daddy type.” She shakes her head with a frown. I remove my pants and step close to her, only wearing my black underwear, her chocolate pools running on my body like magnets that can’t stop watching me.

“Can’t think of anything better in life than making kids and watching them grow. I got enough darkness in my world, I’d like to bring something good to this world.”

“Oh, so you think a little Ares running around and ordering people is going to fix this world?” She tries to look pissed, but I know she’s picturing it too.

My old man drilled the idea of legacy into me from the time I could walk. Said it was the only thing that really matters in this life. For him it was all about carrying his name, making sure his line would go on, that the Malones would never be forgotten, not after decades of building his empire.

But with Mia by my side, legacy takes a different turn. It shapes into ideas of fatherhood, kids laughing in the kitchen andplaying outside. It becomes more, way more than I ever thought I could achieve.

“Could be a little Mia, too, you know?” I smirk, waiting to see how far I can push her.

She shakes her head. “You’re impossible.”

“It was my father’s obsession,” I admit quietly. “Carrying the bloodline, keeping our territories strong.”

“And…and now?” Her voice falters.

“Now it’s different.”

“Different how?” she murmurs.

I hiss in a breath.

“Kiara’s safe. I talked to your father before dinner.”

Tears shine in the white of her eyes. “Really?”

“Yeah, it’s done. You’ll never have to worry about it anymore.”

“I…I don’t know how to thank you.”