Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 172(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 172(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
Valentina was so strong. She hadn’t given her torturers any news. She had fought so fucking much, and they had hurt her for it. Torn up her back, and then started on her stomach and legs.
He’d made a promise then to always keep an eye on her. To take care of her, to love her. Nothing was ever going to stop the way he felt about her.
Reaching out, he pushed a stray curl back from her face. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
So kind.
So sweet.
All his.
This was why he fought so fucking hard. He didn’t want to give Thomas Rossi any doubt that he deserved his shot with this woman. All he had to do was prove his loyalty, to make it so Rossi had no choice but to offer him the chance of a lifetime, to pick any wife he wanted, and he’d done that.
He brushed his lips across hers.
She let out a moan, and his name fell from her lips.
Giovanni pulled away and watched as she opened her eyes, smiling at him. “Hey,” she said.
“Hey.” He stroked her cheek. “Good morning.”
“Morning.”
“I thought we could enjoy the morning—”
He didn’t get to finish as all too soon, Valentina flung the blanket off, and completely naked, ran to the bathroom.
Giovanni rushed after her. “Valentina?” He got to the bathroom as she started to throw up. After going to her side, he pulled back her hair, giving her some support and rubbing her back as she threw up everything. “I’ve got you,” he said.
She continued to throw up until there was nothing left.
“You shouldn’t see that.” She closed the lid, flushed the toilet, and rested her face flat on the surface.
“You throw up … often?”
Valentina didn’t respond, and as he moved to lay his face on the toilet seat beside her, she quickly covered her mouth. “My breath stinks.”
“Valentina?”
She stared at him, and he looked at the clear blue of her eyes. They were brimming with tears. “I think I … might be … pregnant.”
Giovanni cupped her cheek.
She still had the hand in front of her face. “And you don’t want to be?”
“It’s not that.”
“Do you want to brush your teeth? I’ll get you some dry toast and some water.”
He got to his feet and waited for her to get to hers, to be sure she was fine. Once she stood at the sink, brushing her teeth, he left her long enough to make her some toast and some water. He was tempted to make a coffee for himself, but he changed his mind, opting for some juice instead.
After loading everything up on a tray, he carried it back to their bedroom.
The maids were nowhere in sight. Much like his island, he didn’t like to have too much staff, and he paid maids to come and clean his home a few times a week. When he was out of the house, he had three guards that he trusted with his life keeping an eye on Valentina. They were in charge of making sure his wife was never … lonely.
He hated having to put Valentina in anyone else’s care, but she meant the world to him. If anything happened to her, he didn’t know what he would do. Actually, that was a lie, he knew he’d paint the city red with blood, killing everyone associated with the person who took his wife from him.
Valentina sat on the bed. She’d pulled on one of his t-shirts, and he loved seeing her in his clothes.
He handed her the water, and she took it gratefully.
Giovanni made sure to put the tray between them, and she took off a corner of the toast and started to nibble at it.
“How long?” he asked.
“A couple of weeks. I think. I’m not sure. At first, I thought it might be a stomach bug, but I saw the pattern. Sick in the morning, fine by evening, that kind of thing.”
He nodded. “Have you taken a test?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
Valentina stared down at the toast, and he wanted her gaze on him, not on the toast. “I’ve been … afraid.”
“Why?”
She looked up at him. “I didn’t know if you even want kids. It’s a big decision to make, and I … I was afraid.” She nibbled on her lip. “I’m sorry.”
He couldn’t handle her being like this, so he got up and moved to wrap his arms around her, pulling her back against him. “Don’t be sorry. You have nothing to be sorry for.” He kissed her neck and pressed his face against her cheek. “Our life together has moved fast. I don’t doubt for a second that you’re not … worried, but I can promise you, babe, I want to have kids with you. If I didn’t, I would have gotten you on the pill or I would’ve worn a condom. I want it all with you.”