"There are spare towels and a robe in the bathroom. If you need anything else, don't hesitate to ring." An appeased smirk dances across his lips.
"Thank you." I tuck some hair behind my ears modestly. New place, new people. It takes a minute to get used to it all.
"Night, miss." Frederick backs out of the room, closing the double doors with a soft click.
Exhaustion immediately inflicts me. I cross the expansive room, kick off my Chucks, spin around, and free fall back onto the luxuriously made bed.
I WAKE UP to the soft breeze and a light touch circling my belly button.
I don't want to open my eyes. I'm too comfortable. Too content. My mouth curves, but my lids remain closed.
"Morning, baby," Baz hums.
"Which baby are you talking to?"
"Both my babies." He feathers kisses across my lips, and I moan involuntarily. I feel his smile, and I can no longer keep my eyes closed. I flutter my eyelashes until his face comes into focus. I'm immediately struck by a pair of large, green eyes sparkling in the morning sun. They're so luminescent I can see the facets reflecting in his emerald irises.
They're more beautiful than a Hawaiian sunset.
"When did you come to bed?" I ask, running a fingertip along his stubbly jaw.
"Late last night. Gianni and I had a very long talk. You were passed out cold. Snoring and everything".
"Shut up. I was not." I lightly punch his chin.
"You totally were." Baz laughs, splaying his hand over my bulge.
"How does your shoulder feel?"
"Hurts like a sonofabitch. Both of them."
"Cupcake," I accuse.
"Totally," he agrees, staring down at my stomach.
"What are you looking at?"
"My baby, in your belly. I want to feel him move."
"It's only tiny flutters. I don't know if you can feel it yet." I place my hand over his. Baz sticks out his bottom lip, disappointed.
"I promise"-I entwine our fingers-"when I'm all fat and he's moving like a maniac, I'll make sure you feel every toss and turn. And every kick."
"Mmm, I like that idea. You, fat."
"Oh, yeah? Think you're still going to feel that way when I'm triple the size in a few months? Fantasy is much different than actuality. I'm not sure you're going to want me to climb on top of you and ride you with a big, huge belly." I mimic the future size of my stomach with my arms.
"Yes, I will." Baz's green spotlights flash. "I can't fucking wait until you're triple the size. Overly pregnant and fat with my child."
Happily, I grab Baz's unruly hair and pull his face to mine. Smothering him with a kiss, I relish in the slow revolutions of our tongues.
We both purr, a lion and his lioness.
In the midst of our tranquilizing embrace, the doors to the bedroom burst open. Baz and I both jump as two men wearing dark suits and stone expressions rip me out of the bed.
There isn't time for questions as they drag me out of the room and down the hallway. I fight as much as I can, but they're huge, and my toes are literally skimming across the black hardwood floor. I do manage a kick to one of their shins just before they toss me onto the ground in another room and lock the door behind them. The shot didn't even affect him.
"Mr. Velona would like a final word with you." One of the fuckers zip ties my wrists behind my back and hauls me up by my hair so I can see over the opulent white office desk for a fraction of a second.
That's when I catch a glance of Gianni Velona himself. Fuck. Sitting there smugly as his goons toss me around.
"We've been looking for you." The guy holding my hair presses my neck against the edge of the desk. I resist, but it's a vain attempt. I've been overthrown, and I'm overpowered.
Everything is moving so quickly, but I'm highly aware of the other bodyguard and the direction he's going in. Diagonal from the desk is a white dresser, and on that dresser is a black, glossy samurai sword. The guard swipes the sword and unsheathes it like a boss. Fuck, this is it. They know who I am, and it's retribution time.
Fuck, baby, I'm so sorry. I pray to my unborn child. I'm sorry mommy's past caught up to her before you ever had a chance. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you. I squeeze my eyes closed, prepared to meet my fate, when Baz bursts through the locked door.
"Get your fucking hands off her!" I know I call Baz a lion, but in this instance, he truly embodies one. Raw, powerful, and royally pissed off. Hair crowning around his face like a mane.
"Baz, stay out of it." I hear the office chair scrape across the floor as Gianni stands. I clutch my fists. "We've been looking for this one." His voice is deep, low and resolute.
"I will not stay out of it!" He stalks forward. "Stevie is pregnant with my child and is going to be my wife! I don't care what she did! I'm the head of this fucking family, and I say LET HER GO."