Smiling at me softly, he shook his head. “Your father is right about one thing. You don’t really know my world. I’ve told you what you need to know to make an informed decision to be with me, but what I do…who I am…it’s too much a part of me. It is me. I do what I do to keep my family safe, and that’s not going to change.”
I shook my head. “No. You tried talking to Ben instead of using force first. When I asked you to stop with Samuel, you did so, letting me handle it the legal way. You agreed not to hurt that Phillips guy even though you were overly upset. You didn’t hurt Micah over that photo,” I ignored the reasons behind it, “and you kept me from doing anything stupid like drinking when I was ignorant enough not to realize I might be pregnant.” I pointed a finger at the tip of his nose. “There’s good in there. I believe I can help you find it.”
Daniil’s grin broadened and he kissed the tip of my pointed finger. “You are adorable.”
I sighed, rolling my eyes since the man wasn’t listening. “And you’re crazy.”
“Uh-huh,” Daniil murmured, tilting his head and brushing my finger away with his cheek. He bent lower and kissed me again…but this time it wasn’t so chaste.
I damn near melted into him, but a few seconds—hopefully—later I was sane enough to remember my parents were in the room, and I pulled back. I smiled—it was damn cute—when Daniil followed with a small humming complaint, but I quickly put a stopping finger against his lips, saying, “Daniil, my parents.”
His lids opened, and his brown eyes that had started to darken, blinked without comprehension before intelligent reasoning was reflected there, and he cleared his throat, straitening and pulling me back to a more upright position. He didn’t turn to face my parents since I could feel the beginnings of his erection resting between my thighs, but he did turn his head to them, holding me close.
My parents were staring. My mom’s gaze was stunned, to say the least…but…oddly…a tiny smile lifted her lips. And my dad was resting right against the desk next to us, he hadn’t moved, but he was staring at Daniil calmly. Very, very calmly. It was…peculiar.
Daniil cleared his throat again, running his hand through his hair and opening his mouth to say something.
But my dad lifted a hand, stopping him. “I can’t condone this right now. But you’re correct, Daniil. I can’t stop it, either.” He pushed off the desk and slowly paced behind the chair that my mom had sat in again at some point during our smooch. His gaze never left Daniil’s face. “If this is going to continue, which it appears it’s going to,” his hand went to the cross necklace that was hidden under his shirt, “I would request that you continue going to church. And we’ll all have dinner together at least twice a week, whether it’s here or at our house, I don’t care just so long as it happens.”
He stopped pacing, and his expression turned pained when he spoke. “I don’t suppose you two can stop your,” his hand gestured between the two of us, “intimate relations while you get to know each other…” His voice trailed off as Daniil and I both stared. “Never mind, that was too much to hope for. Although, I might add that this pregnancy wouldn’t be a problem if you would have followed His ways and waited until marriage.” Neither Daniil nor I commented—what was there to say?—on that, and he scowled but continued talking. “I would prefer this be kept quiet also, for the sake of my daughter’s safety, until you two get this figured out.” His cheeks flushed with fury. He rarely got mad, so it shocked me enough to keep my mouth shut.
Daniil gently nodded. “I don’t see an issue with what you requested. It will give you, your wife, and me a chance to get to know one another better since we will be linked through my child and your grandchild no matter the outcome. And I agree with the secrecy for now. Beth’s safety should be our number one priority.”
“Yes. It should be,” my mother stated, rising from her chair again.
Daniil held up a finger. “But I have a few requests of my own.”
I stayed quiet, wondering what he was going to say while my parents watched him with narrow eyes, appearing not to appreciate this.
“First. You will never lay a hand on her again,” Daniil’s voice was a soft growl, and he absently started rubbing my bruised arm. “Ever.”
My parents stayed mute but nodded, their eyes still constricted, but amazingly looking sheepish. As they should. Sure, they spanked me growing up when I really misbehaved, but they had never really harmed me. I knew they felt bad about what they had done. Their expressions said it all.
“Second. You will never degrade her in front of anyone again. She is not a child and should not be treated at such.”
My mom stiffened. “She will always be a child to us.”
Daniil nodded. “I understand that. She is your child, and will always be so, but demeaning her in front of others is not healthy for her.” He paused, staring them down. “If you have an issue with something she’s doing, take her to a more private venue to discuss your issues. I’m sure Beth would appreciate this.”
I nodded. Hell yes, I would.
“All right,” my dad stated stiffly, clearly irritated at being told what to do, but understanding nonetheless. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have agreed.
“And third.” Daniil paused, his voice going to a deep and dark place inside him. “Since you know about us, you will cancel that date you’ve set up with Don Phillips. She won’t be seeing anyone else.”
Both of my parents’ mouths thinned, and they glanced at me for confirmation. They really didn’t like the command in his voice—I could tell, so they weren’t going to just agree with him on this one. They wanted that ‘request’ coming from me. So, I nodded. “Daniil’s right. Please cancel the date.” I sure as hell didn’t want to be seeing someone else when I was with him. The fewer people I had to save, the better off I was. And Don was.
“You may have more in common with Don than with Daniil,” Mom stated hesitantly.
Daniil started to move away, clearly irritated if the sound of the small growl vibrating in his chest meant anything. I quickly wrapped my legs around his, grabbing his waist. “Mr. Phillips is not who I want to be with. Just cancel the date.” I kept my legs tight around Daniil, and when he saw my parents shoulders sag even as they nodded, he relaxed back into me.
Letting my feet fall from his legs, I placed a hand on his warm back. “Mom, do you know a good OBGYN? I would like to set up an appointment.” I didn’t want my parents too upset. They may be overbearing most of the time, but deep down, I loved them. They were mine, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.
Mom’s mien changed instantly like I knew it would, going all mother-in-charge on me. “You haven’t had an appointment yet to confirm the pregnancy?” She paused, looking a little hopeful. “How do you really know you’re pregnant?”
“She’s carrying my child,” Daniil stated bluntly. He placed his hand on my lower stomach. His eyes gleamed with pride. “I’m almost positive it’s a boy.”
Rolling my eyes, I patted his back. “Mom, I took a pregnancy test after I missed my period. It was positive. I am pregnant.” I shot Daniil a look. “And the sex is undetermined even though some wish for another little ‘Daniil’ running around.”
