It sounded all too tempting.
CHAPTER NINE
“IF I marry you and you divorce me, you could keep my baby,” she said, expressing her deepest fear.
He swore and stood. “You believe I would do this to you?”
She wanted to deny it. He looked so angry. “I don’t know. I don’t trust my instincts where you are concerned anymore.”
“Marriage is forever. I would not do this.” She could tell it infuriated him to have to say it. His pride was wounded and for some reason that made her feel bad. “This baby and the ones to come after will have both their mother and their father to raise them.”
“You want more children?” The thought had never occurred to her.
“Yes. Do not tell me you only want this baby?” The thought clearly horrified him.
“No. I want at least two, but would really like four.”
“Don’t you think you had better marry me beforehand?”
“For the baby’s sake?” she asked, wishing it could be different.
“For his sake yes, but also for your sake.”
“You mean I won’t have to work to support us both if I marry you?”
“You would not have to work regardless. From this point forward, you and the baby are my responsibility.”
“Thank you.” She knew he meant what he said. It was written on the immovable features of his gorgeous face.
“You will be happier married to me than as a single parent,” he asserted with inbred arrogance.
“You think so?”
“I know this.”
“How can you be so certain?”
“Whatever you need to make you happy, I will give it to you.”
Everything but his love, she thought sadly. But she would have his passion. Last night had proven that. She would have his support. He’d given her a taste of it this morning with her mother and it had been sweet. She would have his respect. If he did not respect her, he wouldn’t be asking for marriage, she was sure of it.
“It would certainly relieve my mother’s mind.”
A calculating expression entered his eyes. “If you marry me, I will buy back the Dupree Mansion and staff it with servants for your mother’s lifetime.”#p#分页标题#e#
The sheer generosity of the offer stunned her. She understood his willingness to provide for her and the baby, but to take on responsibility for her mother as well was excessive and very, very endearing.
“Mama would love you forever.”
“Yes.” He frowned. “She does not want a big wedding. She believes you would be embarrassed. Is she right?”
“Embarrassed? To be marrying you?” she asked incredulously.
“To be married publicly when you are so obviously enceinte.”
“I’m not ashamed of my baby.” She wasn’t comfortable with the fact he’d been conceived in a relationship rather than a marriage, but her son was precious to her all the same.
Dimitri’s expression lightened. “I am very proud that you carry my child, yineka mou.”
Alexandra pictured a traditional wedding, she and Dimitri decked out in formal white, her veil and train brushing the floor at least three feet behind her.
“Your eyes have gone soft and golden. Of what do you think, little one?”
She felt herself blushing, but decided to tell him. “I know it sounds really naff, but I always wanted to wear a traditional white wedding dress with a long train and oodles of lace in my veil.” She sighed and touched her tummy. “But then I guess I would look pretty silly in white in my state.”
He returned to the sofa and took her hand in his. “White is the sign of a pure heart. You would not look silly to me.”
Her breath caught and she had to concentrate on getting her lungs to expand again. “I wouldn’t?”
He leaned forward and she closed her eyes in preparation for his kiss. Why didn’t she have more self-control with him? She felt a touch so light it almost wasn’t there on both her eyelids, her cheeks and finally her lips. They parted of their own accord and the pressure increased.
He ended the kiss scant seconds later, leaving her feeling dazed.
That was nice.
He laughed and she realized she’d spoken aloud.
She smiled at him. “So you think I should wear white?”
“Yes.”
“I’d like that.”
“Does this mean you will marry me?”
Had there ever really been any doubt? Because she didn’t want her pride stomped in the dust, she said, “It’s the best thing for the baby.”
His tender expression turned to stone and he stood up quickly from the sofa. “There are plans to be made. I want to be married a week from today.”