Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 126682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Livy scrambles to her feet. She picks Claire up and heads for the door. “I’ll let the two of you talk.”
When she’s gone, he closes the door.
I get up quickly. “This doesn’t have to change anything. We’re not going to stay together just because I’m pregnant.”
I was always willing to raise Claire alone. I can raise two babies on my own.
“No.” He advances to me slowly. “This changes nothing.” Stopping short of me, he says, “I went to see Rachele. I had to.”
It takes me a moment to understand. Now that he can give her a child, things may change. After everything that happened, she may take him back.
I swallow the lump in my throat. “I’m glad. I’ll be nothing but happy for you if it works out the way you want.”
I love him too much to see him unhappy. He suffered enough.
“You don’t understand.” He watches me with a stony blue gaze, the artificial eye a stark reminder that he sacrificed a part of his sight for me. “Rachele cheated with the results.”
“What?” I blink a few times. “That doesn’t make sense.”
“Someone at the lab owed her a favor.” His chuckle is wry. “Now I understand why she suggested that specific lab. She told me they were the best in the city.”
“But—” I shake my head to dislodge the confusion. “Why would she—?” And then I understand. “She could demand a divorce if you were infertile.”
His reply is grim. “Yes.”
“That’s why you went to see her? You believed me? That the baby is yours?”
“I trust you. Explicitly. I never doubted that the baby you carry is mine. But I needed to understand. I wanted to wrap my head around it before I allowed myself to hope.” Cupping my cheek, he says, “It’s always been you, Anya. I wanted you from the moment I pinned you against that wall. And then you told me you were pregnant, and I wanted both of you.” He drops his gaze to my stomach. “I still do. I want all three of you. More than I ever wanted anything.”
“Sav—” I start in protest.
He presses a finger on my lips, quieting me. “I’ve been lying to you for so long, there’s little chance you’ll believe me, but hear me out. Let me tell the truth for once.” Tracing my bottom lip with his thumb, he searches my eyes. “You asked me at Elena’s wedding if I spanked Rachele. The answer to that is no. I never spanked Rachele because our relationship wasn’t that intimate. We were never that close. Not like you and me. What we have is different. Unique.” He caresses the line of my jaw, following the action with his gaze. “But I didn’t only fall in love with your body. I fell for you. Hard.”
His declaration steals my breath. He’s earnest and open, allowing me to see the truth as he stares deep into my eyes.
“I’ve known that for a while,” he continues, “but I thought if I didn’t love you, my enemies wouldn’t go after you to get back at me. Not loving you was a way of protecting myself, because only one woman has the power to completely break me, and that’s you. But I’ve been a fool, tesoro, because no amount of denial can change how I feel. All I can hope is that you’ll give me another chance.” He drags the knuckles of his free hand over my stomach. “Give us another chance. Let me fix this.”
For the first time in as long as I can remember, my heart soars. Saverio De Luca loves me. We can be a family, the four of us and Livy. Together, we can weather the storms and the dangers. Together, we can do more than simply survive. We can be happy, living our best lives and our full potential.
“What do you say?” He brushes his mouth over mine. “Will you let me take care of you and make you happy?”
Wrapping my arms around his waist, I tip my face to his. “Only if I get to take care of you and make you happy too.”
A sexy smile curves his lips. For once, I see something other than darkness and torment in that startling blue gaze. I see hope and peace. I see a man who’s loyal and protective, a man who’ll do anything for his family.
I burrow my face in his jacket, inhaling the unique smell of him. “Love always deserves a chance.”
He locks his arms around me, hugging me tightly. “Does that mean you still love me?”
My smile is his alone. “Always.”
He lifts me off my feet and sweeps me into his arms. “I’m the luckiest man alive, tesoro, because I’m going to worship every inch of your body. I’m going to worship your belly when it grows big with my baby.” His voice turns deep and seductive. “And when you pop that one out, I’m going to put another one inside you.”