He closes his eyes for a beat, like he’s gathering what’s left of his shredded sanity. “You were unwell yesterday. Dr. Patel?—”
“Said I was fine.” I cut him off and place my hands on his chest, trying to soothe the fear beating inside him. “I can handle this, Jensen. And when I can’t, I’ll rest, I promise. I’m not going to do anything that’ll hurt our baby.”
The door opens just as I reach for a banana from the bowl. That’ll be Theo here to take me to work.
“Mia,” Jensen says my name with that clipped bite of warning he gets when he’s not happy.
That makes two of us. My life is already micromanaged, and I allow it because it makes Jensen relax, but I’m not staying home, locked away until this baby arrives. I don’t fight him on a lot of things, but this? Yeah, I’m not backing down.
I arch a brow. “Don’t ‘Mia’ me. You can’t control this, Jensen. I’m not one of your staff.”
Before he can answer, Theo appears like a six foot five brick apparition. And he’s not alone. Behind him is a man I’ve never seen before. He’s a similar build to Theo, with sharp eyes and a blank expression.
I blink. He doesn’t disappear.
I shoot a glance at my husband, expecting an explanation, but he says nothing.
“Good morning Mrs. Rivers,” Theo murmurs, like he’s testing how tense I am.
What the fuck’s going on?
“Hi Theo.” My voice is light and wary. Nobody says anything about the other man, which is a bad sign. My stomach dips. “Jensen?” I raise a brow. “Do you want to explain the human wall in our kitchen?”
I already know the answer, but I want him to say it. Why didn’t he talk to me about this?
Because I’d have said no.Better to ask for forgiveness than permission, right? It’s barely been a day since I found out I’m pregnant and already my life is being hijacked.
Fuck.That.
“That’s Mike,” Jensen says. “Mike, this is my wife, Mia. She’s the most important thing in the world. Don’t ever forget that.”
He says his name like it explains everything. It doesn’t. “I’m going to need you to use your words here, baby. Who the hell is Mike and why is he here?”
“He’s security. For you.”
Suspicions confirmed. I’m being tag teamed with security, which means I won’t even be able to pee without an entourage.
That’s not happening.
I cross my arms over my chest and glare. “I’m perfectly happy with Theo. We have a rhythm, a routine. I trust him and he doesn’t get in my way. You don’t get to change my security without asking me.”
Jensen doesn’t flinch at my tone. Of course he doesn’t. This is already a done deal for him. “I’m not removing Theo.”
Which means Mike is an addition, not a replacement.
Is he serious? I take a slow breath, but my temple is pulsing. “You want me to traipse around with two bodyguards tailing behind me like a pair of labradors?” I cut a glance over my shoulder at the two men who are now studying the floor like they wish it would swallow them whole. “No offense.”
Mike glances at Theo, unsure whether he should be insulted. Theo’s used to this shit. He wisely says nothing.
“You’re pregnant,” Jensen says.
“I’m aware.”
He exhales like I’m being deliberately obtuse. “You’re even more high risk than you were before,” he says. “So, anytime you leave the penthouse, you take both of them with you.”
There’s a growing throb behind my right eye. “No.” I shake my head, my blood pressure rising. “I already put up with Theo. I’m not adding another man to the parade, Jensen. I get that you’re worried, I do. And I love that you care, but this? This isn’t protection. It’s suffocating.”
Jensen slides his mug onto the counter and then he’s in my space like he commands even the air around me. His need to control, and my need to exist, are locked in a battle with no winner.
