Promise to Keep (Vow To Protect 2)

She releases the blanket and stares over the edge of the bed. “There’s a bassinet? I didn’t even see it. Where—?”

I kiss her lips to keep her from talking. Her hands come up to frame my face, as I expect, giving me the room to pull out the jewelry stashed in my jacket pocket. With her distracted, I arrange the diamonds around her hips in a circle and then clasp the largest, the angel wing necklace, around her neck.

She gasps and breaks the kiss to stare down at her bare skin. The blankets pool around her lap, and I take in the sight of her draped in diamonds, bare breasts on display below them even lovelier.

“What?” She gasps and fans her fingers over the bracelets, earrings, rings, and other necklaces I’ve been hoarding to bathe her in. “Oh my God, where did all this come from?”

I lean in and nibble her lip, trailing my fingers down to gently roll a pink peaked nipple between my fingers. “The jewelry store, my love, as usual.”

She huffs and shoves at my chest, a smile playing on her lips now. “Obviously. You weren’t worried about all this wealth just sitting around here? I don’t need all of this.”

Tugging the covers away to get more access to her body, I begin to layer each piece of jewelry on her body until she’s glittering in the dim lighting.

I give her a minute to look at everything. She raises her arms and twists her hands and fingers to get a better look. “These are all so beautiful, but really, I don’t need this.”

If she hasn’t learned by now, I get what I want. Right now, all I want is her draped in jewels and nothing else.

I cup her hips and drag her closer to me so I can speak against her lips. “Since when do you have a choice? I bought these for you, and also for me, to see them on you. Not a single stone can compare to your beauty, but damn, do you make them look good.”

A faint pink flush rises up her neck and into her cheeks. I ease her hair away from her face, trapping the wayward curls behind her ears.

She lets out a long sigh and nuzzles her face into my touch. “I don’t know what to say. Thank you, I guess…they truly are lovely. I’ve never owned jewelry like this. My fa…well…thank you. It’s stunning. All of it.”

I know she shifted away from discussing her father, as she probably will for some time. My chest aches all over at how she had to handle that situation on her own. If I’d been there, keeping her safe like I promised, maybe she wouldn’t have had to.

The ugly guilt rises, mingling with my still smoldering anger at her leaving, but I shove it away, unwilling to taint this moment with her. This moment when we celebrate the new life she’s bringing into the world and into our family.

I lean in and touch my forehead to hers. “I know we didn’t discuss it much when we got married, but I’ve always wanted a child of my own. A baby to erase the sins of my own father, to show light, and love, and joy to.”

Her eyes snap open, and she pulls back to meet my gaze. “Our child’s life will never be like ours. Not ever. I won’t allow it to be raised thinking it’s hated or have him feeling like a target.” Her voice trembles with her conviction. As if she can say the words forcefully enough to bring them into existence.

But she doesn’t need to convince me. Not about this. “He will never, ever feel like we did growing up. I promise you, Angel. He’ll feel safe, powerful, and protected every single day of his life.”

“What if it’s a girl?” she teases.

I nip at her bottom lip, making her squeak backward. “Then she will feel safe, powerful, and protected. But I can’t guarantee she’ll appreciate it when she gets older, especially when men come sniffing around.”

She laughs and cups my cheeks again, her hands warm and firm as they mold to my face. “I’m sure. But Mom will be here to make sure you guys don’t get out of hand with it.”

Mom. I almost choke at the word on her lips. Mom. Fucking hell, we are going to be parents. It hits me all over again in a wave of anxiety. How can anyone prepare for this and think they are actually ready for the moment?

Her fingers slip down my jaw and curl around the sides of my neck as if she can’t keep herself from touching me now that she’s started. “You don’t know how badly I needed to hear all of this. I never expected you to be the kind of person to hurt a child, but I guess I just needed reassurance. To feel like you know exactly what I want in case something happens.”