Page 41 of The Healing Touch (Manwhore #3)
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
One Year Later
Dimitri flexed his fingers and leaned back in the office chair.
The first draft of the first book in his new series was done.
Kade and Angel’s story. Lily had already written her and Nikoli’s story.
Dimitri read it and he wasn’t ashamed to admit he’d bawled like a baby reading about her on the bathroom floor, hurting so much she couldn’t breathe.
His sister-in-law had a way with words that put his own to shame.
But Kade and Angel? That story was up for grabs.
He’d sat and talked to them both in depth about the idea of a new security romance series, and they’d been hesitant when he said he wanted to use their story as the first book.
Dimitri, being his charming self, eventually persuaded them to his way of thinking.
It would be his first contemporary series.
He typically wrote paranormal romance. Lily agreed to read it and give him her two cents.
She was an assistant to a very well-known literary agent, and she was learning a lot from the woman.
He’d let Kade and Angel read the book once he’d revised it and had it edited. It wasn’t ready to show to anyone but Lily, who was going to act as his beta reader for this series.
But it felt damn good to finally finish a book.
Since the spinal cord trauma and the difficulty with his legs, he’d focused on nothing but physical therapy and trying to overcome his depression.
Becca helped with that more than anyone else.
She’d encouraged him to start writing again shortly after the Charleston signing.
At first, it had been hard, but he kept coming back to the fact his brother forgot he was married.
Given why he’d forgotten, Dimitri understood, but still, the idea kept wiggling around in his head and wouldn’t leave him alone.
Those ideas were the best ones because they demanded to be written or they’d haunt you day and night.
Writing a non-paranormal book was also strange.
He kept finding himself trying to sneak in little paranormal bits and pieces and had to rewrite those parts almost daily.
But it was worth the aggravation. He had a feeling this was the best book he’d written to date.
He’d let Becca read it. She always told him the God’s honest truth, even when it wasn’t pretty.
Speaking of…
“Becca!”
Not a peep. He stood and stretched, his legs twinging with a deep pain that was slowly getting better. Even after months of physical therapy, he was starting to accept that fact that he’d never be one hundred percent, but he’d get as damn close as he could.
He found her out in the garden mulching her rose bushes for the winter. She was wearing a long-sleeved chocolate blouse, and her jeans were her gardening jeans —old and full of holes. Ollie was stretched out beside her, content to snore away while she worked.
God, she was beautiful. Her blonde hair sparkled in the late afternoon sun, and the earbuds she had in kept her from realizing he was behind her. She trusted Ollie would keep her safe even if someone got past all the security measures he’d put in place.
He pushed off the doorframe and walked over to them. She saw his shoes first and looked up at him. The smile he loved more than his own life graced her lips.
“Hey.” She pulled out one earbud. “You done for the day?”
“Just finished the first draft. Think you can read it for me?”
“Sure, but only if you don’t yell at me like the last time I tried to tell you the book wasn’t ready.”
He winced. She had told him that, but he’d released it anyway. Some fans were forgiving. Others, not so much.
This book would bring him back out on top. It was a gut feeling.
“Promise.”
“Angel called while you were working. She and Kade are coming over for dinner. They even offered to pick up dinner.”
“Please tell me he’s not trying to bring more Thai food. He knows I can’t resist that shit, and I suffer horribly.”
“I swear I made him promise no Thai food.”
See, his woman loved him.
“He said something about Indian…”
No, she was an evil witch who wanted more bathroom memes to blackmail him with.
They both heard the doorbell ring. Dimitri had speakers mounted out here so if they were in the garden, they’d hear someone at the door.
“I think I’m going to get the Ring doorbell so I can tell fuckers to get gone when I’m about to pull you up and kiss you senseless.”
She only smiled and stood. Oliver jumped up and looked around. When Dimitri reached for her, the dog growled.
The fuck?
His own damn dog growled at him?
The fuck?
“Easy, boy.” Becca stroked his head, and the dog wrapped himself around her legs.
The kitten they’d gotten ran out from under the bushes and did the same thing.
Milo. Becca teased him they needed to get a little bulldog and call him Otis.
What she didn’t know was that was exactly what he’d arranged for her birthday next week.
“What the hell is his problem?”
“He’s a little more protective of me now.”
“From me?” He gaped at her.
“Well, from everyone. Dogs tend to do that with women in my condition.”
“Condition? What condition? Are you sick? Do I need to take you to the ER?”
“No, Dimitri. I’m just pregnant.”
His mouth fell open. He blinked several times, and she patted his cheek and walked by him and into the house.
Pregnant?
He stood there a full minute before the shock wore off. He let out a roar and ran after her. She had just let Kade and Angel in. His sister-in-law was in her eighth month of pregnancy. She was glowing.
Both Kade and Angel were ecstatic. She’d been terrified until she passed her twentieth week. After her first pregnancy, he couldn’t blame her, though.
Sweet Mary, mother of Jesus.
Pregnant.
Oh, God, Becca could miscarry…
Fuck, no. That wasn’t happening. He’d tell his kid to stay put, and by God, he would.
Pregnant.
“What’s your problem, motherfucker?” Kade slapped him on the back.
“Do you always have to greet each other with that word?” Angel admonished. The longer she was pregnant, the more motherly she became, right down to railing about their foul mouths.
They were their father’s sons, though, and that mouth would never change.
“Don’t mind him. He’s still in shock.” Becca sniffed in the takeout bag she’d taken from Kade.
“Shock?” Kade looked instantly concerned. “What happened? Do I need to do something?”
Dimitri shook his head, opened his mouth, but no words came out. He struggled to get air into his lungs.
Pregnant.
He stabbed a finger at Becca, and Kade looked from him to her, not understanding.
“Becca?” Angel questioned.
“I told him I was pregnant, and he’s been struck dumb since.”
“You’re pregnant?” Angel squealed and reached for her. Becca laughed as she attempted to hug her around her belly.
“Where’s…”
“With Sara’s parents,” Kade finished before the words left Becca’s mouth.
Dimitri blinked, seeing his brother’s worry. The Kincaids had been through hell this last year, but they’d weathered the storm, regained a precious treasure they thought was lost forever, added Sara and Delia to the family, and now his woman was pregnant.
Pregnant.
“Sit down!” he bellowed, taking the food out of her hands.
“I’m not an invalid, Dimitri. I’m just pregnant.”
“Sit.” He gave his best no-nonsense look.
She stuck her tongue out at him.
“I swear, she gives me sass all damn day.”
“Congrats, sestra .” Kade hugged her. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Thank you.” She sniffed the bags again. “Is that Indian?”
“It is. I even brought Squirts over here a sandwich from his favorite deli. I can be nice sometimes.”
“What’s on it?” Dimitri asked suspiciously.
“Nothing that will cause a bathroom run,” Angel promised. “Why don’t you sit down, Dimitri? You look ready to pass out.”
“No.” He pointed at Becca. “Why are you still standing?”
“Because I want to, Neanderthal!” Her blue eyes flashed nothing but sass . She was going to pay for that later…
Fuck.
He needed to do some research. Some of the things they enjoyed couldn’t be at all good for a baby. He’d hate to give the little guy a complex seeing his daddy’s cock shoved up against his face on the daily.
Pregnant.
Kade caught him when his knees gave out.
His brother didn’t say a word, just gripped him tightly and led him to the kitchen where he sat him in a chair.
“We’re getting married. No more putting it off. My kid is not going to come into this world without his parents being married. Mama and Babby would never let us hear the end of it.”
“I’m not marrying you because I’m pregnant or because your family thinks children out of wedlock is wrong. I’m not Catholic, Kade.”
Fuck, he’d fucked it up. He saw it on her face.
“Hey, baby, let’s give them a minute.” Kade steered his wife out of the kitchen.
“That came out wrong, Rebecca. I’m sorry.
No, I’m not marrying you for any of those reasons, even though they are valid ones.
” He held up a hand when she went to argue.
“I want to marry you today for the same reason I asked you a year ago. I love you. I can’t breathe without seeing you when I wake up and feeling myself inside you at night.
I’m not whole without you, Krasivaya . I’m possessive.
I’m dominant. I want my name and stamp all over you.
I like my marks on your body the same way I like that engagement ring on your finger.
I want my wedding ring to rest there. I want everyone to know you belong to me and only me.
I want them to understand how much I love you and the depths I would go to make you happy and safe. ”
He stood and went to her, placing his hand on her stomach. It had never really been flat, so he hadn’t noticed the slight rounding of it. He loved that she wasn’t flat as a board. He loved her curves.