Page 98 of Bound in Promise

“And my dream is to make sure you don’t hurt yourself or our baby.” His eyes soften, and I can feel the love he has for me. “After all, the baby will be new too.”

His clear affection is a relief, but Dante is a complex puzzle, and I'm not sure where all the pieces fit in this moment. I can only hope that his calm exterior is hiding the same eager excitement that I feel inside.

“Fine,” I concede through clenched teeth. “Anything else?”

“Oh, I can think of a lot else for us to review, princess.”

“No, I mean what do you think about the baby?”

“What about the baby?”

I pin him with an unamused expression. “I’ve been here, holding this secret for two weeks, and you still haven’t told me how you feel about any of this. About me being pregnant.”

“Was I supposed to jump up and down?” The smart ass does one little bunny hop. “Wife, you are out of your mind if you think I am anything but fucking thrilled that we’re pregnant. The child you’re carrying is one more bond tying you to me for the rest of your life.”

“We never really talked about kids after I told you I wasn’t going to get knocked up just to pay Lombardi.”

“I remember asking about them after that shit with Angelo.”

“But that was during sex.”

“So?”

This man.

“You’re going to be a father, Dante. You take care of me. You use all your energy to make me happy. You’ve done all of this for me and now we’re adding another human being to the mix. Another person you’ll want to care for and protect.”

“I can multitask, princess. I’m very good at it.” He slips one hand underneath my shorts and brushes his finger along the curve of my hip, where my leg meets my pussy. “You seem to be worried.”

“I’m nervous.”

“You’ll be an amazing mother.”

“I just don’t… I don’t want to become my mother.” I never said goodbye to her before Dante and I left the States. She’s called a few times, but I blocked her number.

I decided to leave behind anything that didn’t bring me peace or joy. My mother is a tyrant and I refuse to let her sink her claws into me again—or into my future child.

My father and I have kept in touch though. It wasn’t easy, but we’ve found a way to communicate without involving my mother. I only wish we’d figured out a way to do so earlier. It’s been touch and go, and I don’t think I’ll ever be a daddy’s girl—he left me alone with his she-devil of a wife for years, after all—but we’re slowly building a loving relationship.

If it wasn’t for Dante, I wouldn’t be here at all. I’d be murdered or chained up in some slimeball’s basement, not sitting in front of the man who gave me the world on a platter.

“You’re sitting on a kitchen counter, legs spread for me,” Dante replies simply. “I highly doubt your mother has ever done anything like this.”

“I’m her daughter. Don’t all women turn into their mothers at some point?”

“You are not going to become your mother, Victoria. You’re you. When I see you wearing a two-piece suit with a starched skirt, then I’ll worry.”

A chuckle escapes my throat. “Shit, just shoot me.”

“And spend the rest of my life unable to fuck my gorgeous wife? Hard pass.”

I smile, relieved and more than a little horny. “Sounds good.”

“Then it’s settled,” he mutters, finally leaning in to steal a soft kiss. “And, yes, I am excited for the baby. I knew I’d knock you up eventually.”

I rear back at that, more than a little shocked by his comment. “Wait, you wanted to get me pregnant?”

“Of course. I knew you wanted kids, even before you were ready to admit it to yourself.”