Page 46 of Under the Influence

"Chryseis?"

His 'do not fuck with me about this' tone hisses against my skin as he jerks me closer. Trapping my bent arms between us. "...who also happens to be the father of mychild."

Shock earns me a few seconds to free my hand. I slide the stick out of my skirt pocket and hold up the white and purple wand. Revealing the single word displayed on the tinyscreen.

Seconds tick by as he stares at the test result. His breaths coming hard and furious. His huge hand shaking as he strokes over my stomach. His lips twisting with words he pushes out through clenchedteeth.

"Is it safe for me to fuckyou?"

Wetness pools between my thighs from the need pulsing in his voice. Husky and thick with emotion. I want him just as much, but one of us has to be rational. At least for a few more hours. "Yes, but probably not the best idea with my father sitting ten feetaway."

"Fine." A growl, as possessive as his grip on my back, rumbles in my ear. "But as soon as they're gone, I'm going to show you again and again how much I fucking loveyou."

Still so bossy. "I think I'm going to ask them to spend thenight."

He doesn't seem to find my suggestion as humorous as I do. His fingers glide to my hips, and he clutches me tighter, reminding me of his bulging erection. Grinding the hardness deeper into mybelly.

"Then I guess they're going to hear how much their daughter screams when she gets thoroughlyfucked."

Although I want to believe he's bluffing, I know he's not. Gio's never afraid of anything, including the consequences of his actions. Willing to risk my parents' disapproval. As long as I'm happy. Which I am. More than I ever thought possible. So I tell him what he likes to hear. "Okay, Giovanni. Just you andme."

Wincing from the reminder of our love making on the stairs, he groans as his eyes sink shut. "Fuck angel. You're killing me. How am I supposed to carry on a conversation with your mother when all I can think about is you in those boots and thatnecklace?"

Giggling from his exaggerated suffering, I kiss his cheek and take his hand. "Well, at least you don't have to worry about beingbored."

A gentle swat on the bottom is the only answer I receive as I lead him back to the diningroom.

“Read Daddy.”

There is absolutely no better sound in the entire fucking universe than her tiny voice. Squeaking with excitement and happiness. But not before the fucking sun rises. Not when I just finished fucking her mother only a few hoursago.

Insistent little fingers poke against my back. “ReadDaddy.”

Chryseis's soft laughter shakes her silky back sheathed against my chest. “I don’t think she’s going toleave.”

“PeaseDaddy.”

My baby girl says please. Even a bastard like me can’t resist. “Okay, I’m up. I’mup.”

I kiss my wife’s gorgeous shoulder and caress her swollen stomach. My son’s awake early too. Two big kicks before he flips. I turn over myself and lift Hope high into the air. Rewarded with her innocent, joyous giggling and an accidental smack in the face with a book I’ve only read a million timesbefore.

She bounces a few times before snuggling in between us. Content and relaxed as I start the story. Interrupting me to point out the duck and the cow and the horse. I tickle her little round belly. “Who’s reading this? Me oryou?”

Falling back onto the pillow, she rolls side to side hysterical with laughter. Egging on more shrieks from Chryseis’s fingertips wiggling under her tiny neck. Nothing more beautiful than the three of them. Here with me. Filling my bed and my heart. Happy. Safe.Together.

Proving beyond a doubt, despite how much I’ve fucked up in my life, I’ve finally done somethingright.

TheEnd.