Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 110824 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110824 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
“Almost. I promised him we’d make the decision at my appointment in two weeks. If the doctor is adamant and there’s still no sign of labor, I’ll agree. I’m still not sure on the C-section, though. I have to really think on that.”
“I understand, but you need to listen to the doctor and do what is safest for the baby, yes, but also for you, Emmie,” I caution.
“I will. I promise. Niko swears we’re never having another child, but I told him he’s crazy. I love being pregnant. If my mind doesn’t change, I’m going to get pregnant again as soon as the doctor gives me the okay.”
“Will Niko agree to that?” I laugh.
“Oh please, all I have to do is kiss along his neck and whisper in his ear I need him. My man never fails to turn into a beast and never thinks of birth control. He’ll pout but he loves me pregnant.”
I can’t help but giggle again. “Is he the one that turns into a beast or is it you Emmie?”
“I’m addicted to the man. I can admit it. That’s not what is important right now, though.”
“It’s not?”
“Nope. I need to know what finally got Victorio’s head out of his ass.”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t hand me that, Angelina. You guys were going so hot and heavy. I was afraid he was going to nail you up against the wall. I mean don’t get me wrong, the man has been slowly dying for a year, wanting you. I’m just unsure what made him finally man up.”
I think I’m in shock. I know Victor said I had been his since the moment we first met, but there was a part of me that didn’t believe him. Clearly, he was telling the truth. “You knew he liked me?” I gasp.
“Like you?” she waves her hand like I’m insane. “Girl, that man is intensely fixated on you. No one else exits for him but you.”
“You’re exaggerating,” I laugh, feeling my face heat.
“I am not. It’s the complete truth.”
“Do you think so?” I ask, needing to hear her say it, even if it does scare me.
“I can’t tell you the number of times he’d come here and ask for advice on how to make you feel safe with him. He told me that he knew you were the woman for him from the moment he first saw you. He just wanted to wait until you were ready for him.”
I take a breath and even I can tell how it trembles inside of me. He really does want me. He has for a long time. All this time, I thought we were just friends. My hand goes up to touch my cheek. When Victor touches me or looks at me, I forget about it. I can do that because he never acts like he notices it. He makes me feel beautiful. Still, I have a hard time believing out of all the women he could have, he’d pick me.
“Emmie—”
“Stop that, Angelina.”
“Huh?” I ask her, looking up to notice her face is stern.
“You’re trying to hide in yourself again. I know you’ve been hurt, baby. I do. But you, my sweet cousin, are not defined by what some scum did to you. Your spirit is not diminished one bit by that scar on your face and neither is your beauty. Victorio told me personally that you are the most beautiful woman he has ever met, but his favorite thing is that you’re just as special on the inside too.”
“He said that?”
“How can you doubt it? Have you ever seen Victorio even look at another woman since the two of you have been spending time together?”
I think about it for a bit, but I already know the answer. If I had caught Victor flirting with another woman, it would have hurt me so deeply that I wouldn’t be able to forget it. In the past year, there have been a bunch of women flirting with him, but he always ignored them and concentrated on me. On me. Wow. Suddenly my heart pounds against my chest.
“I guess not,” I admit.
“Exactly. He’s completely and utterly wrapped up in you. He doesn’t look at you and see that scar. He doesn’t see anything other than the woman he wants to claim.”
“Claim?” Eek.
“Why do you sound panicked? Don’t tell me you don’t want him, Angelina! I will not believe you.”
“No, I want him,” I confess.
“Then, what’s the problem?”
I bite my bottom lip and try to figure out how to explain. I love Emilia. I really do. Yet, I’ve never shared with anyone about my rape. I’ve never confessed that I’ve never had sex—at least consensual.
“I’m scared, Emmie.”
“What of, honey?” she asks gently, slowly sitting up so she can reach her hand out to me. I take it and she pulls me over to her sofa and I sit down beside her.