She didn’t do this. Any of it.
Her mother did. She’s breaking her down, controlling and destroying her character bit by bit to make her a mini-Veronica.
I step up behind her, wrap my arm around her waist, and pull her back against my chest. Then the tension eases from me as she relaxes against my touch.
“My mother knows,” she whispers on a quiet sob. I grit my teeth, my grip on her tightening. “She doesn’t know we’re married, though.” My shoulders ease with her words.
“Does she know you’re pregnant?” I ask, and she spins to face me.
Tear tracks streak her face, and her mouth drops open. “How?”
“You taste different, Little Brat. Your tits are tender, and you want Daddy to suckle on them for longer. We’ve been fucking unprotected; it was going to happen.” I place my hand on her stomach and remove the test from my pants pocket. Now more than ever, I need her to take this test. “Come on, Little Brat. Let’s see if you have our baby growing in here.” I caress her stomach and slowly work my way up to her throat, then hold her still while my thumb strokes over her jaw. “I’m going to rip those panties off and throw them in the trash. You’re going to be yourself, Little Brat. You’re a strong, beautiful, independent young woman who knows what she wants. You’re going to follow your heart, and I’m going to support you in everything that you do.”
Her breath hitches, and she sways beneath my touch; tears pool in her eyes.
“I love you. And it’s okay to love yourself. Now it’s time for the world to see the beautiful, confident Thea as I see.”
Hope glimmers in her eyes, and a slow smile breaks out across her pretty face. My heart swells knowing I put it there.
“Just with clothes on.” I lift an eyebrow, and she giggles, then places her hand in mine, and I lead her toward the bed.
THEA
When I thought Massio would lead me into the bathroom, I was wrong. He pulls me around the side of the bed and positions pillows at the headboard.
“Get on the bed. I’ll be back in a minute.”
I climb onto the bed, and moments later, he emerges from the bathroom with a towel. I furrow my brow. What the heck is he doing?
His shirt sleeves are pulled up to his elbows, exposing his thick biceps, and my mouth waters to lick at the veins protruding from them.
“Lift your ass up.” He motions with a flick of his hand, and I want to ask him why, but knowing how demanding he is about me questioning him, I simply do as he asks.
He places the towel below me, then in one swift move, he flicks open his switchblade and slices through my G-string, causing me to gasp. He throws it to the floor and practically growls in its direction, making me bite into my lip to stifle the laugh bubbling to escape.
His words fixed the broken pieces inside me that my mother worked so hard to destroy. I don’t know why I allow her to havepower over me, but with Massio’s strength and confidence in me, I vow to remain worthy of him. Though to him, I will always be his little brat, just how we like it.
“Open your legs nice and wide, Little Brat,” he coaxes in a deep, smooth tone that has me complying instantly.
He rips the test from the wrapper and scans the instructions. “I don’t understand,” I whisper, studying his face. His eyebrows pinch together as he reads the box.
When his eyes meet mine, they’re heated and full of a possessive lust that has my chest pulling tight and my thighs begging to clench together.
As if sensing my thoughts, he grasps my thigh with his thick hand and pulls it wide, and I watch with fascination as he positions himself between my legs.
“You’re gonna pee on the stick, Little Brat.”
My mouth falls open.
He can’t be serious?
“Massio?” I shake my head. “People pee in the toilet when they do these tests.” I wave toward the test in his hand.
His jaw clenches. “We’re not finding out about our baby in a fucking toilet, Thea. Our baby was created in love.”
My blood races at his confession.
“We’re going to find out on a bed where we make love.”
