9
Chapter Nine
“Dom, say something, please,” Sophia prompts me.
I can’t speak. I am literally speechless at her confession.
“Are you even breathing?” she asks, anxiety rising in her voice.
No, I don’t think I am.
“How far along are you?” I finally find my voice and my breath. I lean forward toward her and give her my most penetrating stare.
“About ten weeks now,” she replies quietly, dropping her eyes to the floor. “I found out in the hospital. The doctor said they did a pregnancy test before doing all my X-rays just to be on the safe side.”
On the safe side–that phrase kicks me into gear and Shadow’s words come back to me. If Sophia is a target now, she needs to be protected around the clock. As much as I’m not ready for what I’m about to say, if she’s really pregnant with my baby, I have no other choice. The Dom in me says to take her home and make her beg for release to remind her who she belongs to. The man who just found out he’s going to be a father has a deep-rooted need just to make sure his baby is safe.
“Speaking of being ‘on the safe side,’ and since you’re pregnant withmybaby–and it ismine, correct?”
“Yes, of course it’s yours!” she replies with indignation.
“Since you’re pregnant with my baby, you’re moving in with me so I can make sure you’re both safe.” My tone and expression leave no room for any argument.
“What?” she asks, confusion etched in her beautiful face. It is mixed with a hopefulness that she doesn’t try to mask.
To be fair, this has shocked the fuck out of me, but it all makes sense to me now. It’s the best–and only–solution for everything that has hit us. “Whoever is behind the attempts on my life is still out there and now could be after you, according to Shadow. The safety of you and my baby is my primary concern. You and I still have things that we need to work through and you need to be reminded that you aremine. Moving in with me is the only option that makes sense.”
“You aren’t mad at me?” she asks timidly.
“I’m not mad about the pregnancy. I’m still in shock since this was the last thing I expected to hear today. But, it actually makes my decision easier,” I reason.
The sadness in her eyes multiplies exponentially and she looks completely defeated. “What are you thinking, Sophia?”
“I didn’t want to tell you about the baby yet. If you decided you wanted to be with me, I wanted to know it was because ofmeand not that you feel obligated because of the baby.”
Standing, I stalk across my office and scrub my hand over my face. Turning back to her, the anger wells back up in me at her deception, but I can’t just forget the other things she did for me. “Sophia, I admit that I’ve been really mad over all of this.So fucking mad.But, I knew there was something missing because of the things you did to protect me.
“Hearing the full story from you helped put some of the pieces of this fucked up jigsaw puzzle in place. I can’t say I’mpleasedwith all of this, but I know how much you love your brother, so I can definitely see you trying to protect him. You still should’ve told me, but I should’ve listened.
“I can’t put all of the blame on you. If I’d heard you out before now, so many things would be different. You’ve admitted to your faults and apologized. It’s my turn to do the same.”
Her eyes widen and her lips part in shock. She stares at me in disbelief without making a sound for the first several seconds. “Dom, no.No.All these months I’ve been with you, I should’ve told you. This isn’t your fault.”
I shake my head from side to side and walk slowly toward her. Stopping directly in front of her, I take her hand and pull her to her feet. “No, Sophia, I acted like a complete ass. You’ve shouldered the blame and guilt alone long enough. My reaction was rash. I should’ve had more faith in you and asked you directly. That was stupid…juststupid. There’s no other word to describe it.
“When those papers were served, I’d just been told about your connection to Harrison. I saw red and I immediately felt like a failure as your Dom. I thought I’d been played for a fool and I automatically believed the worst. You never had a chance to explain or clarify what I thought, and my actions put you in danger.I’msorry, Sophia.”
She searches my eyes and my face, looking for any trace of mockery, but she won’t find it. Standing this close to her has my senses on full alert as I drink in her natural beauty, inhale her sweet perfume, and long to touch her. I’m still hesitant, even though she’s assured me she’s not behind the sexual harassment fiasco. I can’t give the other employees any ammunition to use against me.
“Does this mean you forgive me?” she whispers to me. Her hands draw into fists at her side while she awaits my answer. “Does this mean you want me again?”
This brave, beautiful lady has endured so much in her short life. The Dom in me wants to take away all the pain and give her only pleasure. He also wants to punish her, lovingly, and drive out any thought, memory, or knowledge of any other man. The man in me just wants to pull her into my arms and tell her that everything will be fine…eventually.
With her question, she’s asking me if I want her for more than just my baby she carries. Her heart and mind crave the security and protection only her Dom can provide. But, she needs to hear the words and feel the power of the meaning behind them when I say I want her, I need her, and I love her.
“You are stillMy Angel, Sophia,” I pour my feelings into my words, “if you’ll still have me as your Dom.”
She’s been strong and she’s kept her emotions under control. She’s kept the tears at bay and responded to questions with logic and reason. Until now. The tears she’s held back flow like a torrent, running unchecked down her beautiful cheeks. The sobs wrack her body as her shoulders start shaking. I open my arms wide and she rushes into them, wrapping her arms around my waist and clinging tightly to me.
