His lashes lifted, and his gaze stayed locked on the rounded swell of my bump that housed our son. “At the time, I couldn’t see any other way. And I was so fucking angry at you, Rory, I wanted to hurt you. Maybe not physically, but I wanted to punish you for leaving me. Today forced me to step back and reevaluate. What I did was wrong; I always knew that. I just didn’t care until now. It’s probably too little too late after all we’ve been through, but I am sorry.”
“I’m not sure I’m ready to forgive you,” I replied honestly.
He nodded in understanding. “That’s fair.”
“But I’m open to trying. For Luca.”
“Luca,” Gio breathed, his fingers flexing over my skin.
I arched an eyebrow. “Second-guessing the ‘whatever you want’ you spat at me earlier when I mentioned baby names?”
“No. I like it.”
A giant yawn split my face, and I covered my mouth with a muffled “sorry.”
Gio stood, extending a hand to help me out of the tub. “It’s been a long day. You need to rest.”
I didn’t argue, letting him dry me off with a towel and accepting his offer of an oversized T-shirt to sleep in.
But when I settled onto the mattress and darkness descended as Gio turned out the lights, I couldn’t shut off my brain. More than once, my restlessness caused me to turn onto my right side, and I hissed in pain, having forgotten about the extensive bruising on my belly.
“Ugh!” I beat my fists on the bed as my frustration boiled over.
“Shh, come here,” Gio whispered, pressing his hard body against my back. “Is that better?”
He was a human furnace, and the heat radiating off of him soaked into my sore muscles, providing relief. “A little.”
“Tell me what else I can do.” His lips brushed against my neck as he spoke.
I squirmed, trying to find a more comfortable position, only to feel my husband’s cock hardening against my ass.
Nowthatwasn’t a half-bad idea.
Grabbing the hand that rested on my hip, I dragged it between my legs, making what I wanted clear.
“Rory,” he warned, withdrawing his touch.
“Please. I need a release.”
Gio groaned into my shoulder. “I don’t want to hurt you. Either of you.”
Hope lit up inside my chest at those words, the proof that Gio had the capacity deep within him to be a decent human being.
“You won’t,” I promised, pressing his palm to my belly where our son gave a little kick, and Gio sucked in a sharp breath. “See? We’re both okay.”
His touch shifted over my stomach, chasing our baby’s movements. “Incredible,” he murmured.
“Make me feel good, Gio, so I can sleep.”
The heavy breath he released fanned my cheek. “Okay.”
Carefully, he lifted my thigh over his hip, spreading me open and allowing his hard dick to notch at my entrance.
“Fuck, you’re so wet already.” He teased me with just the tip. “Is this all for me?”
“Mmm.” I arched my back in an attempt to take him inside me. “I need you. Now.”
“Not yet.” His palm skated up my side until he reached my face, turning it so he could capture my lips in a kiss.
