But understanding didn't stop the wondering. Because those twins could be Kenji's. Or Hiro's. Or even his father's.
Three men.
One woman.
Two babies.
And no answers until they arrived.
There had to be a way to know sooner. There had to be.
I hated that I thought about that in this moment.
Her pregnancy was the pause button.
That's what it felt like. Like everything between Kenji and me—the love, the future, the children—all of it had an asterisk next to it. A footnote that readpending maybe-baby mama’s results.
If those twins were Hiro's, the asterisk disappeared. We moved forward clean.
But if they were Kenji's. . .
Then I wasn't just his woman. I was a stepmother. Helping the Dragon co-parent with a woman I didn't trust. Sharing his bloodline with someone who had been in his bed long before me.
And it wasn't like I could leave if the results came back wrong.
Kenji would never let me go. I knew that with the same certainty I knew my own name. The Dragon didn't release what he claimed. Those bite marks on my neck were proof of that.
So, I'd stay either way.
Love him, either way.
But I wanted our life to start without a question mark hanging over it. I wanted to look at him and not wonder if somewhere on this island, a woman was carrying his children while I was just now learning what his shadow looked like.
I exhaled and pushed it down. Buried it beneath the incense and the laughter and Zo's ridiculous silk pajamas.
Not tonight.
Tonight wasn't for Kiko.
Tonight was for whatever Kenji had planned behind that calm smile and those dark eyes.
Zo must have seen something shift in my face because his expression softened. Just for a moment. Then he sat up, careful not to disturb his pedicure. "Well. Enough about me and my woes. Let me get you dressed for the Dragon."
“Oh. You’re dressing me.”
“Of course.” A wicked smile spread across his face. "Because tonight is going to be a lot of fun."
He rose and walked to the other side of the living room, and that was when I noticed the cage.
What the fuck?
In the corner of the room.
Half-hidden by a rack of leather harnesses.
A man was inside a cage. Full leather. Face covered with a mask. A black ball was in his mouth. Crouched on his hands and knees like an animal.
I froze. "Uh. . .who is this?"
