Page 49 of The Devil's Heir

Jarek

The sun is going down, and I still have Liliana in my bed. I'm nowhere near being done with her. However, I'm allowing her to rest as I hold her in my arms.

Her breaths come out in little whisps through her slightly parted lips as she sleeps.

Her hair sticking to her face from sweating after the three rounds we have gone already.

I probably should have had her shower, but I'm not ready to have her wash me off her body yet, even if I do plan on marking her again.

When I hear her stomach growl, I curse inwardly, forgetting that she hasn't eaten. She must keep her strength up for what I have planned for tonight and for the baby.

Reaching over to the nightstand, I grab my phone and text Jackson to bring us some dinner.

Then, I snap a few pictures of Liliana sleeping.

She looks so peaceful, like a beautiful dark angel.

I've never met anyone like her. I'm not sure why I've been so infatuated with Liliana Sumner all these years, but I don't think it's going to change anytime too soon.

As I stare at her, I realize she's changing me. I'm not sure if it's a good or bad thing, but I want to be the man she's proud to be with. On the other hand, I still need to be the ruthless Mafia Boss my men need me to be. How can I balance that out?

I won't give Liliana up, no matter what. In fact, I want her in my bed from here on out. No more going to her room, and as for the playroom? That room will be left for just that—playing. She will move into this room. She's with me now, and her place is always by my side.

A tap on the door alerts me that Jackson is here with our dinner. Ensuring Liliana is completely covered; I get up and pull on my boxer briefs before walking to the door to open it for him. I step to the side, allowing Jackson to enter, and watch him set the tray down on the table in the corner.

He glances toward the bed, which irritates me. He does not need to look at Lily; I don't care if they're friends. It's obvious what we've been doing in here; the place reeks of sex, so there is no need for the hired help to search out my woman.

"That will be all, Jackson," I say gruffly, which has him snapping his head my way. I cock my brow in warning.

He nods and exits the room.

As I lift the lids off the dishes, my gaze lands on the lasagna—Liliana's favorite.

A smile tugs at my lips as I think of the little quirks I've discovered about her since she moved in.

This dish, her comfort food, has to be made with ricotta cheese, never cottage cheese.

Then there's her habit of peeling the crust off bread—not because she dislikes it, but because she enjoys savoring it separately.

Liliana used to enjoy her coffee with cream and two sugar cubes. But since she became pregnant, she's switched to tea and skips the sugar entirely. There's plenty more I can share, but you get the idea.

Movement from the bed draws my attention to the woman sitting up and rubbing her eyes. The cover slips to her waist, exposing her perfect breasts to me. Moving to the bed, I climb up and take a nipple into my mouth, groaning as I suckle it for a few seconds.

Lily giggles. "How are you still in the mood?"

I pop my mouth off her breast and gaze into her warm, brown eyes. "I can never get enough of you, Liliana."

Her smile falters just a little before her hand comes up to cup my cheek. "I'm not sure what you're doing to me, Falcon, but I beg you—please don't hurt me."

"Never again," I assure her as I drink in her beauty, then turn my head and kiss the palm of her hand. "Come on, let's feed the baby."

Climbing off the bed, I swoop down and retrieve the white undershirt I had discarded hours ago. I help her put it on, then slap her ass playfully to get her moving toward the table .

"Mm, is that my favorite dish I smell?"

"Unless it's changed recently, then yes, it's lasagna." I lift the lid to her plate, and she inhales the sweet Italian aroma. "Sit."

She obeys like a good girl, and I sit beside her. We sit in a comfortable silence for a few moments until, finally, Lily asks, "How was your trip?"

"Wasteful, for the most part," I respond with annoyance.

She winces, and I immediately cover her hand to reassure her that I'm not annoyed at her for asking. I explain what happened, mostly. Typically, I wouldn't talk business with her, but I find it so easy to share things with this woman.

"So, what are you going to do to get your money back that Rossi stole?" she asks, then bites her pasta.

I shrug. "Joey knew the daughter, so he took her. We're holding her hostage until her father pays up."

Lily stops with a bite halfway to her mouth and frowns. I know that look. I sigh and set my fork down, crossing my arms as I sit back.

"What is it, Lily?"

"You abducted an innocent woman?"

I roll my eyes. "No, I didn't. Joey did, and nothing is going to happen to her, pauper."

"But why did you have to take her—or why did Joey have to take her?"

"I think you're forgetting who I am, Liliana. I cannot allow anybody to steal from me or make a fool of me, and Rossi has done both. This is the only way to grab his attention."

"God, I'm going to be sick," Lily states, placing her hand over her flat stomach.

Well, shit.

"If you're going to make yourself sick over the work I do, I will not share it with you anymore. You knew the kind of man I was when you moved in here. Just like you knew the man I was when you agreed to have my heir and gave yourself to me freely just hours ago."

"Do you have her up in the attic?" Lily asks with a sneer.

"Why the fuck would I have her in the attic?"

"Isn't that where all the Falcon men keep their women?"

"I'm not even going to entertain that with a response because we've already discussed those rooms." I glance at her plate, then back up to her glowering expression. "Eat your dinner, Liliana."

She pushes her plate away. "I'm not hungry."

Now I'm pissed. I stand and turn her chair to face me so I can lean down into her face. Maybe she's not comprehending what it means to be mine, or perhaps it's just her pregnancy is turning her into a hormonal brat.

"You are going to eat your food and feed my baby. You signed on for this. You are going to take care of what is mine and in case you've forgotten—that includes you."

"Please, Jarek… don't make me hate you over this." Lily turns narrowed eyes on me.

At this point, I throw my hands up in the air, adding frustration to the list. "What would you have me do, Lily? Rossi put a hit out on me, and Joey got shot! There, now you know everything. I was trying to save you from worrying, but you're so damn stubborn!"

"What do you mean he put a hit out on you? Rossi tried to have you killed?" Lily asks incredulously.

"That fucker sent a man to my hotel room to kill me. Only Joey answered the door and took the bullet. Would you like to have a father for the child, or would you rather I forget that Rossi put a hit on me and hope he doesn't attempt it again?"

The moment the words are out of my mouth, I wish I could take them back. Not because I regret the words but because the deliverance wasn't the best. I can see her eyes glistening and know I went too far. In the past, this is where I would walk away; I don't do crying women, but not now.

I pull Lily up and gather her in my arms. "I'm sorry, pauper. I didn't mean to take it out on you. You just have to understand now that I have you and the baby; I will not allow anyone the chance to come in and ruin my family."

I hear the small gasp that escapes Lily's mouth before she pulls back a little and looks up at me. She doesn't have to say anything; I can see the question in her eyes.

"Yes, my family. You're carrying my heir, Lily, which now makes you my family."

"What happens when I leave?" she asks, worrying her lip.

My jaw clenches at the thought of her still wanting to leave, but I don't want to address that now. Instead, I shrug. "We'll cross that bridge when we get there."

She slightly nods and then very softly says, "I'm sorry, Jarek. I shouldn't have questioned you. I'm not happy about you holding a woman hostage, but I understand why you're doing it. Can you promise me that you won't hurt her?"

I give her a studying gaze, then reply, "As long as she behaves, she will remain safe. That's the best I can give you."

With a heavy sigh, Lily nods again. I brush my lips across her forehead before I let her go. "Please, finish eating before it gets cold."

We finish our dinner in silence, the mood now ruined by our little argument. Once we finish, I take Lily to shower with me and wash away everything I had left behind this afternoon. I don't fuck her; I just clean her up and tuck her back into bed afterward.

"I can go back to my room," Lily says softly.

I shake my head. "I want you with me in my bed from now on. If you don't want to move your things in here just yet, that's fine, but you will sleep here from this day forward."

"You sure are bossy," she states with a slight grin.

"Nah. I'm just telling you how it's going to be." I caress her soft cheek. "I told you that you are mine. There's no way I will sleep apart from you, Liliana."

She fixes her stare on me as though she's trying to figure me out. Good luck because even I don't know what the fuck I'm doing anymore.

"You've changed, Jarek."

The side of my mouth tilts up. "Yeah, well, there's this woman, and I really like her, but she didn't like me very much. I figured I had better do something to change that."

I love the smile she gives me. "Give her time, she may come around. I have a feeling that she may like you just a little bit."

"Really?"

"Uh-huh."

I gaze at her for a few more seconds and then lean in to kiss her lips. I don't take it further; I know she needs her rest .

"Get some sleep. I'm going to get some work done in my office, and I'll be back."

Lily yawns and turns to her side, closing her eyes. "Goodnight, Jarek."

"Goodnight, Liliana."