Tragic King (The Dominant Bastard Duology 2)

From the other side of the door he heard her sigh. “That’s kind of hot.”

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; He scrubbed a hand over his eyes. He opened his mouth but just managed a weak laugh. The lock clicked again and the door opened a crack.

“Are you going to punish me?” she asked, peering out the gap at him.

“We’re both freaking out a little right now. I’ll cut you some slack.”

She nodded and swung the door wide to let him in.

The two of them stood at the vanity, reading the tiny print of the instructions. It wasn’t as if it was complicated, but they only had one test, and it was a long drive to get another one, especially with rattled nerves. Her shy blushes as they read the instructions made him want to drag her back to bed and snuggle her for a few hours before they took this step.

When he handed her the test, they both blew out a long breath.

“It was the mayo in the egg salad I made,” she said, giving a firm nod. “I should have checked the date.”

“Of course, preciosa.”

“Rodrigo?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you for pretending you’re calm.”

“I’m hyperventilating on the inside,” he admitted.

“The soles of my feet are sweating.”

He snorted.

“More scared than when we branded you?”

She nodded. “I thought the brand was a big deal at the time, but this would change our lives.”

“All of us. Forever.”

“Even more than getting married.” She bit her bottom lip and scrunched her eyes closed for a moment. “Okay, turn around until I do this part. I won’t be able to pee if you’re watching me.”

He snorted, but did as she asked, freaking out silently as he stood there waiting.

A child.

Such a real, magical, terrifying possibility.

Even if they hadn’t put one inside her yet, there might be one any time. Fuck. They were constantly on her – in her. No amount of birth control could indefinitely protect her against the siege they laid on her body.

He thought of her belly growing, her breasts getting heavier. Of her being marked as theirs that way...

Not the time to get a hard-on.

He could hear her peeing, she laughed. Swore.

“There’s no way to do this gracefully.”

The grin in her voice made him smile as he stared at the painting on the wall. He wanted to turn and watch, but he’d give her this much privacy, at least. This woman, who could make something so terrifying into a joke, was his match in every way. If he hadn’t been in love with Severin first, he would have half killed himself trying to lure her away. Now he had them both. A year ago, who would have thought he’d be here, now, doing this? No matter how scared it made him, he was happy with her. With them.

“Okay.”