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“I know.” I caressed her hips. The tight black pants looked like leather, but they were some other, shiny material. “I read her report as soon as I got up.”
A nod. “She…told you it was a boy?”
“She did—and that he’s healthy.” And I thanked all the gods for that. “You will take better care of yourself going forward,” I added, because it still pissed me off that she’d been too scared of me and the syndicate to get the medical care she needed.
What the fuck would’ve happened if I hadn’t found her in time? Would she have given birth in that apartment with only Rio to help her?
She grimaced. “I will, I promise. Thanks for setting it up. I know I should’ve gone to a doctor sooner.”
“Yeah, you should’ve,” I returned.
A small sigh. “I’m sorry. Another thing I fucked up.”
I smacked her ass. “Don’t worry, I added it to the list.” I was only half-joking.
She dragged her teeth over her lower lip and swayed closer, putting those tits right in my face, clouding my brain with her sweet, Eden-scent.
I fingered the zipper of her clingy black top. “Did you wear this for me?”
She dipped her chin. “D’you like it? It’s vintage—one of the things I bought the other day.”
“Fuck, yeah.” I slid the zipper down, exposing soft breasts barely covered by a filmy black bra. “I withdraw my objection to second-hand clothes if this is what you’re buying. But this outfit makes me want to do bad things to you.” I teased her nipple through the gossamer fabric. “Is that why you wore it?”
Her answer was to arch her back, a hungry whimper slipping from her lips.
I gripped her throat, lightly but firmly. Her lids closed in pleasure, and beneath my thumb, her carotid artery pulsed and throbbed. My mouth watered with the need to suck on that spot, to drag another of those sexy whimpers from her, but I also wanted a straight answer from her.
No, I needed it. Was she trying to play me? Or was she truly sorry?
“Answer me,” I told her. “Tell me why you wore it. The truth.”
Her eyes met mine, her expression stark. “Because I don’t want to fight with you. I want to get back what we had.”
Gods, I wanted to believe her. Too much.
I stroked my thumb down her the side of her neck. “Then you shouldn’t have left like that. You shouldn’t have taken money to spy on Twilight.”
“You’re right. And I’m sorry. I promise I’ll do better. I know it doesn’t make it right,” she added, “but I’m going to keep telling you until you believe me.”
I did believe her. Jones had reported her conversation with her mother to William, the castle’s steward. Eden could’ve made trouble for the syndicate by crying to her mom, but she hadn’t. She’d come back to face me another night, not knowing what I’d do to her next.
So I believed she was sorry. That didn’t mean I was ready to forgive her.
She’d humiliated me in front of Brien and Cain.
Attempted to hide my own spawn from me.
She owed me, and I intend to collect. If that made me a bastard, then I’d own it.
“You abused my trust, Eden.”
“I’m sor—,” she started to say, but I put my hand over her mouth, stopping her.
“Words are cheap,” I said and released her.
She lifted her gaze to mine, finally understanding where I was going with this. “What can I do?” she asked huskily.
Oh, baby. So many things.
