"Aren't I? Isn't that my primary purpose? Womb and intel provider?"
His eyes darken. "You're more than that."
"Cock warmer?"
"Don't be stupid, though I do enjoy that."
I try to smirk, but I'm only half kidding.
Some days I think the moment I stop being interesting, the moment I can't give him what he needs, he'll be done with me.
And the terrifying part is...I don't want him to be done with me.
I like what we're building. It's thrilling. It's sexy.
And that's the most dangerous thing I could have done.
"I need to get it together," I wipe under my eyes. "I'm sure Adrian noticed me running out. He'll have questions."
"You don't have to go back in there."
"Yes, I do. If I run, Adrian wins. He gets to see me broken." I shake my head. "I won't give him that."
Saint studies me for a moment. Then nods. "Alright."
We stand there for a moment longer. His thumb brushes my cheek. It's a rare gesture of tenderness.
"You're not broken," he says again. "Well," he smirks. "No more than the rest of us."
It's the most emotional intelligence I've ever heard from him, and it causes warmth to spread through me.
"Thank you," I whisper.
He steps back, putting space between us. Back to business. "Ready?"
"As I'll ever be."
We walk back inside together. I excuse myself to the bathroom first. In the mirror, I barely recognize myself—eyes red-rimmed, lips pressed thin, shoulders tight with tension.
I fix my lipstick. Powder over the redness. Take three deep breaths.
By the time I open the door, I'm the perfect Marini wife again. Composed. Controlled.
Lying.
"Sorry about that," I say, sliding into my seat. "Something didn't agree with me."
Adrian's eyes are on me. Calculating. "You sure you're alright? You looked upset."
"I'm fine." I meet his stare. "Just caught off guard by the news. It's wonderful."
"Is it the stress?" he asks. There's concern there, but something else underneath. "With everything happening lately, the attacks, the losses, I imagine it's taking a toll."
Saint's hand tightens on my thigh under the table. A warning.
"We're handling it," I say carefully.
Adrian nods slowly, but his eyes don't leave mine. "Of course you are."
