Chapter 26
Aurelia
Constantine didn’t say much about what had happened in Rome, but I knew he was in a good place because he had his usual sexual appetite. He relaxed against the headboard with me on top of him, his big hands cupping my pregnant stomach like it turned him on rather than revolted him.
My body changed slowly, but as the changes became more prominent, I became more self-conscious. I was forced to buy new clothes because my hips were wider, my feet were fatter. I gained weight everywhere, even though the only thing that should have gotten bigger was my stomach. My metabolism must have changed because my eating habits weren’t any different. My body was just determined to hold on to as much fat as possible, like the baby needed it.
Constantine was rock hard, slabs of muscles separated by indentations of his skin, a god who lived and breathed, but he continued to worship me like I was the hot one in the relationship.
Not even close.
He stared at my stomach as I moved on top of him, felt my belly with worshipful hands, had to edge himself over and over like all he wanted to do was come. He’d never struggled before, but the bigger my stomach got, the worse it became.
As if it really did turn him on like crazy.
My tits got bigger too, and hedefinitelyliked that. Groped them all the time the way he used to grope my ass.
When we finished our lovemaking, he spooned me from behind, his hand resting on my stomach. He kissed the back of my shoulder before he buried his face in my hair because he liked the way it smelled.
Then he said the sweetest thing. “I can’t wait to marry you, sweetheart.”
Just when I couldn’t love him more, he made me fall head over heels. The wedding was in a week. It felt a lifetime away but also imminent at the same time. I already had my dress and everything planned because Constantine and Sofia had the connections to make anything happen on such short notice.
I was excited to be his wife, but I was also excited to start this new chapter in life, to finally leave the past behind and turn the page. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
My hand rested over his on my stomach. “Did you get your brother back?”
There was a pause like I’d pressed a button he tried to hide from me. “Yes.”
“Good.”
He was quiet.
“We should go visit sometime.”
“Yeah, we should.”
I turned around and faced him, and the second our eyes met, he hiked my leg over his hip to bring us closer together. He looked at me with tired eyes, but eyes that were fulfilled and at peace. “Is this really enough for you?” I whispered. “Us and a restaurant and a dog and two nephews to watch sometimes?”
“When have I ever given you the impression I was unhappy?” His eyes continued to bore into mine with a haze of calm and peace, not exhaustion like he was ready to sleep, just a subtle bit of Zen. “Are you happy?”
“Of course.”
“Are you sure?” he asked. “Because maybe once you’ve had a taste for that life, that’s what you really want.”
I didn’t have to think twice about it. “I never want to feel the way I did a few days ago, when I was terrified you wouldn’t come home. I never want to see you with another bullet in your arm. I never want to watch Medusa stare at the door every day, waiting for you to walk through it. Your family feels like my family, and I love our quiet little life here. I just ... want to make sure it’s enough for you. Because I’ll go back and do it all if it’ll make you happy.”
His stare didn’t change. He didn’t cut me off like he had before when we discussed this. He hung on every word like he wanted to memorize it forever. “There’s no doubt in my mind whatsoever that this is what I want. And you know I wouldn’t lie to you, sweetheart. I’ll sleep just fine knowing Rocco’s got it covered.”
I could finally relax, be happy without feeling selfish about it. “Okay.”
“Rocco asked if he could buy my place in Rome. I said yes, as long as we get to stay there when we’re in town. Is that okay?”
“You’re going to sell it to him?”
“I can’t imagine why we would need it. Unless you have a problem with that.”
