He got to his feet and waited for her to get to hers, to be sure she was fine. Once she stood at the sink, brushing her teeth, he left her long enough to make her some toast and some water. He was tempted to make a coffee for himself, but he changed his mind, opting for some juice instead.
After loading everything up on a tray, he carried it back to their bedroom.
The maids were nowhere in sight. Much like his island, he didn’t like to have too much staff, and he paid maids to come and clean his home a few times a week. When he was out of the house, he had three guards that he trusted with his life keeping an eye on Valentina. They were in charge of making sure his wife was never … lonely.
He hated having to put Valentina in anyone else’s care, but she meant the world to him. If anything happened to her, he didn’t know what he would do. Actually, that was a lie, he knew he’d paint the city red with blood, killing everyone associated with the person who took his wife from him.
Valentina sat on the bed. She’d pulled on one of his t-shirts, and he loved seeing her in his clothes.
He handed her the water, and she took it gratefully.
Giovanni made sure to put the tray between them, and she took off a corner of the toast and started to nibble at it.
“How long?” he asked.
“A couple of weeks. I think. I’m not sure. At first, I thought it might be a stomach bug, but I saw the pattern. Sick in the morning, fine by evening, that kind of thing.”
He nodded. “Have you taken a test?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
Valentina stared down at the toast, and he wanted her gaze on him, not on the toast. “I’ve been … afraid.”
“Why?”
She looked up at him. “I didn’t know if you even want kids. It’s a big decision to make, and I … I was afraid.” She nibbled on her lip. “I’m sorry.”
He couldn’t handle her being like this, so he got up and moved to wrap his arms around her, pulling her back against him. “Don’t be sorry. You have nothing to be sorry for.” He kissed her neck and pressed his face against her cheek. “Our life together has moved fast. I don’t doubt for a second that you’re not … worried, but I can promise you, babe, I want to have kids with you. If I didn’t, I would have gotten you on the pill or I would’ve worn a condom. I want it all with you.”
Valentina turned in his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Thank you.”
“We are going to need to find out the truth, babe, okay?”
She nodded.
“I want you to eat this breakfast, and then we’re going to go to the doctor.”
Valentina pulled away. “We can get a pregnancy test.”
“No. Those things can be wrong, and if you are pregnant, I want to make sure you’re well taken care of.” He placed a hand on her stomach. “Our little guy or girl is in there.”
“Would you be angry if it was a girl?” she asked.
“I wouldn’t give a shit if it is a boy or a girl. I only hope that you’re healthy, and our child is as well.”
“But most men want sons.”
“Don’t get me wrong, the thought of having a girl terrifies me. I’ll be beating the shit out of any guy who even looks at her. A boy would be easier. I can teach him to fight.” He smiled. “And then there will be two of us to beat the crap out of any guy that even thinks to look at my daughter and his sister.”
Valentina cupped his face and kissed him.
He wanted to tell her at that moment that it didn’t matter to him what they had, just so long as he got to keep her. The only woman he wanted was Valentina. Forever. No doubt about it.
Stroking her cheek, he stared into his eyes, prepared to tell her exactly how he felt about her, but they were stuck. He couldn’t seem to get the words out, and he hated himself for it.
Before he told Valentina how he felt, he needed to make sure the world their baby grew up in was a good home. The right home, and he had to get Leonardo first to make that happen.