His Secret Sin

Once inside, he still took control, ushering her toward the bathroom. She didn’t put up a fight. They stepped under her small space, and she wanted nothing more than to explore him, but with her father coming, there was no time. Diego washed her body, then her hair, before doing his. He moved her out of the way of the water, and before she could climb out, he was already doing it, drying himself and then her.

His hands didn’t linger as he touched her.

Next, they were in her bedroom, and he was helping her into a dress.

“Why a dress?”

“It looks lovely, and we don’t have a clue when your dad is going to arrive. What should I order?”

“Pizza will be good, I think?” She really wasn’t thinking clearly right now.

“Calm down. You have this. We have this.”

“What if he doesn’t like you?” she asked.

He chuckled. “The odds are, he’s not going to like me. No dad in the world would ever like a man with their daughter. It’s just the way it is. There’s nothing I can do about it.”

She sighed. “You’re right. He pretty much hates you on principle, right?”

“You’re his daughter, baby. He’s not going to want to know that you’re sleeping with me, or that his little girl is enjoying sex.”

“Do you know this from experience?”

“No. I don’t have any kids. I just know that if it was my daughter, they’re going to be fucked.”

She burst out laughing. “They are?”

“Yes.” He kissed her head. “I’m going to get dressed.”

He stepped away from her, but she didn’t immediately leave the room. “You want kids?”

“Yes.”

“Oh.”

“Do you?” he asked.

“I’m honestly not sure.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know if I can have kids or if it would be responsible for me to have them.”

“Do you want kids?”

“I think so. I mean, if I could, then yes.”

“Then one day we’re going to have kids,” he said.

This made her heart leap. “We are?”

“Yes, we’re going to have kids, and you’re not going to stress or worry about taking care of them.”

“I’d want to be there for my kids.”

“And you will be. For our kids. I’ll just make sure there is help. You need to understand, Belle. Where there is a will, there is always going to be a way, and, being the kind of guy I am, I’m going to always find it.” He cupped her face, startling her. “Now, I’m just going to finish getting dressed, and then we’re going to meet your father.”

She nodded.

Diego had this magical away about him that always calmed her down. She hoped her father loved him, just like she did.

Hold on.

No.

She cared about Diego. Caring was different from love. She knew it was different. She didn’t love him. It was way too soon to even think about that.

Pushing love and her feelings to one side, she listened to Diego as he changed. She didn’t know how long he was from being done when her door was knocked at.

“It’s showtime, baby. Don’t worry about anything, okay?”

“You’re right. I won’t. I won’t.”

****

Belle wasn’t good at hiding her nerves.

Diego stood behind her as she opened the door to her father.

“Pumpkin,” he said, rushing into the room to hold her. Diego didn’t like anyone touching her and certainly not her father. Still, he didn’t set off a bad impression as he watched the two interact.

“Dad, I’d like you to meet someone—”

“What happened to your face?” he asked.

“Dad, we’ll get to that. I’d really like you to meet—”

“Did you do this to my daughter, you fucking bastard?”

“Dad!”

“I’ve never raised a hand to your daughter,” he said, finally speaking up.

“Dad, please, don’t jump to conclusions. I’m fine. Diego would never hurt me.” She stepped toward him, and Diego took her hand so she didn’t bump into anything.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.”

“Diego?”

“Dad, I’d like you to meet Diego Leoni. My boyfriend.”

Her cheeks went a beautiful pink as she said the last part.

“Your boyfriend who is not responsible for the bruises on your face.”

“He’s not. I promise you. He’s the one that came to save me. He would never hurt me.”

“I would never hurt her,” he said.

“I’ll be the judge of that.”

Daddy didn’t like him, not that Diego was surprised. Her father had already done his appraisal of him, and even if Diego was an upstanding citizen, earning billions in legit business, this man still wouldn’t like him. Not that he had a problem with being this man’s enemy. He wasn’t giving Belle up. She belonged to him, and he was already working on the ways in order to keep her safe and in his life.

Selfish bastard that he was, he wanted it all.

He was going to get it as well.

“Dad, please, I don’t want you to argue or to get into a fight. Let me tell you what happened. Diego is going to order pizza.”