Page 20 of Stained Honor

He pulls me back just enough to look at me properly, his brows drawing together in confusion.

I explain quietly, “Ever since we came back from the doctor yesterday, you’ve been distant. Did something happen? Are you mad at me?”

His gaze flicks to the bruise around my eye for a second before he takes a deep breath. Then he guides me skillfully toward the shallow end until both our feet touch the floor beneath the water.

Only then does he answer.

“I’m mad at myself.”

“Why?”

He places both hands on my shoulders, but instead of looking into my eyes, his gaze drifts somewhere else.

“The doctor said you’re seven weeks pregnant.”

He pauses before continuing quietly.

“That means you were already three weeks pregnant when Tony and Lucia came to this house.”

I look at him in confusion, not understanding where he’s going with this. His hand slides higher, gently stroking the spot behind my ear, and then he answers the question himself.

“I never should’ve put you in that situation. I never should’ve dragged an innocent child into all of this right in front of you and expected you to stay quiet.”

His eyes lock onto mine as he continues, quieter this time.

“I shouldn’t have gotten so angry with you. I shouldn’t have said what I said.”

Tears blur my vision instantly because I know exactly what he means.

Weak.

He called me weak.

Carlo rests his forehead against mine and whispers painfully, “I was wrong, Emily. What you did wasn’t weakness. It was strength.” His thumb strokes my skin slowly. “You did what you believed was right even though you knew it would cost you. That doesn’t come from weakness. It comes from courage.”

I clutch his arms tighter. “You had your reasons to be angry too.”

He shakes his head immediately. “I never should’ve punished Tony and Lucia in front of you. That was fucking cruel.”

A small laugh slips out of me before I can stop it.

“You usually take pride in being cruel, Carlo.”

One arm wraps around my waist, pulling me tightly against him while he presses a kiss to my ear.

“Not with you.”

Then he kisses the smile still lingering on my lips and repeats softly, “I never take pride in being cruel to you.”

I brace my hands on his shoulders and lift myself up, wrapping my legs tightly around his waist. His big hands instantly grip both cheeks of my ass, holding me steady. I press my core against his growing hardness and kiss him deeply.

“I don’t care if you’re cruel or not,” I breathe against his mouth. “Just be mine. Always, Carlo. Always. Promise me.”

One of his hands slides into my hair before he pulls my head back slightly and answers in that arrogant, possessive tone that always makes my pulse jump.

“I put one baby in your arms and another in your belly, and you still think you’ll ever get rid of me one day?” He smirks. “My sweet, delusional little baby.”

Then his mouth takes mine again, kissing me so deeply while grinding against me beneath the water that I come undone in his arms before we even make it out of the pool.