“I’m glad. I think Theo will benefit from having another sibling.”
“Yes, he will. Plus I think it will make our family more solid.”
“Solid is no guarantee of happiness—or safety. Look at what happened to Stavros and Nikki. Who would look after Theo if something happened to us?”
He rubbed his hand up and down her arm. “Nothing’s going to happen to us, but in such a case I’ve asked Tristan to be Theo’s guardian.”
“Shouldn’t you have discussed this with me first?” She liked Tristan, but she wasn’t sure he was parent material. He was more like the crazy fun uncle than a responsible guardian. As much as she didn’t like Ari, she thought he might be a better choice.
“I made the decision before I left for Florida to pick up Theo.”
“Oh,” she said not really sure how to take that. “What about your father?”
“Mypateraisn’t strong enough to contend with a young man. Tristan is the best choice.”
“What if you’re wrong?” she asked. Her heart ached at the thought that something could happen to her and Christos and Theo would be left alone in the world.
“I’m not.”
“I hate when you do that.” His confidence was part of what attracted her to him, but she wished at times he’d at leastacknowledge that he was human and was as fallible as everyone else.
“I know. I’m sorry I didn’t consult you, but there wasn’t time. Would you like to ask your friend Laurette to be a co-guardian? I think that Theo will need a female influence.”
“She’s actually his godmother from when I had him baptized. And I do like Tristan.”
“Good.”
“So, having another child…”
“Yes?”
“Does this mean you finally believe me about Theo?”
She held her breath, unable to believe she’d finally had the courage to ask him that question again. He closed his eyes, rolled over so that she was under him. Her legs parted and he settled against her. His arms braced on either side of her body. He brought his mouth down hard on hers.
When he came up for air long minutes later, his hands moved over her body with intent. She was tempted to let him distract her and be swept away by the passion that flowed so easily between them. But she had to know. In a way, she already had started to believe they were going to have a real marriage, yet they couldn’t unless there was real trust between them.
She pulled back, putting her hands on his face and holding him still. She stared up into his obsidian eyes that were so like the son’s he hadn’t acknowledged he believed was his. Sure, to Theo and the world he’d claimed her son, but she knew he had doubts. Had she shown him enough of who she really was to change his mind about her?
“Please answer me,” she said at last.
“Theo is our son.”
She believed him. Christos wasn’t the kind of man to say things lightly. She wondered if she should ask him how he felt about her. If he thought he could ever love her. But those wordsweren’t easy to find and she was much too scared that she might find out that he couldn’t love her to ever say them aloud.
Instead she lifted her hips toward his and felt him slip inside her body. Their eyes met and held again and he took her with carefully measured thrusts until they both climaxed at the same time. She felt the warm spill of his seed deep inside her body and she wondered if giving him another child would make him love her.
But she knew that she’d done all she could. She’d just have to fill their house and relationship with love. Christos was a smart man and more intuitive than he let on. Instinctively she knew she hadn’t made a mistake in marrying him.
Paris wasvibrant and romantic and Ava soaked it up. They’d had dinner with Tristan’s family last night and today Christos was escorting his new bride around the city to fashionable boutiques recommended by Tristan’s sisters.
His mobile rang and he glanced at the caller ID before answering.
“Yes, Antonio?”
“Sorry to disturb you, sir, but Master Theo wanted to talk to you.”
“No problem, put him on.”
