Shakarri almost laughed. As if her being black meant Ezio couldn’t love her? These women were catty, and a few of the men were no better. She’d heard their gossip from the moment she started attending these social events or networking gatherings. Whatever they were. A few of the people were okay, but so far she never gave any of them a chance. She’d kept to herself, talking to them only when Ezio led the conversation. Her view was that she would leave soon, but now it was different. She had a different plan.
Shakarri flicked her gaze for a second toward each of the men, and they stirred from their corners right away. They headed in her direction, but then she focused on Ezio, holding his gaze a beat longer. Her husband’s attention left Ms. Thing. In fact, he moved around her as if she weren’t bouncing right in front of him.
Ezio came straight for Shakarri, neither acknowledging those who spoke to him on either side nor apparently seeing them. He watched her, eating up the space between them. The men who had started toward her saw Ezio and halted. Shakarri bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing.
Ezio arrived in front of her and ran his palms over her bare arms. She suppressed a shiver. “You left me alone,” she said, keeping her voice low and vulnerable, her chin almost touching her chest. “People talked about me. They said some hurtful things.”
“Who would dare?” he demanded. His anger ignited. “What did they say? Never mind. Tell me who it was, and I’ll take care of it.”
She bit her lip again, harder this time and looked up at him. Her husband went still. She moved closer to him until their bodies touched. “I’ve been lonely. You’re working all the time.”
“Shakarri.” His voice came out hoarse. “I’ll take off work from tomorrow and take you wherever you want to go. Tell me where. I’ll make the arrangements.”
“But you have that deal you were talking about, the multi-million dollar one.”
“They’re all multi-million dollar. Romy will handle it.” He stroked a thumb across her lip, and right there in front of all of those who talked down about her, he kissed her lips and crushed her to him. Shakarri snuggled close to her husband, and when he released her mouth, she laid her head on his shoulder and shut her eyes. She was right.
“Ezio, do you mind if I go home now? You can stay, but—”
“We’re leaving.”
He made their excuses, and as Ezio led her toward Ms. Thing, who fumed, Shakarri winked. They drew alongside the woman, and Shakarri paused to speak to her in a low tone. “Not in this lifetime, girlfriend. He’s mine, and I plan to keep him for a while. Come near him again and see what you get.”
Madison gasped, but she couldn’t form words to respond. They headed out the door, and once they were in the car, Ezio took Shakarri’s hand and laced his fingers with hers. “What did you whisper to Madison? She seemed shocked by it.”
If Shakarri refused to answer, Ezio would get mad. She liked the mood he was in now. Kicking off her heels and tucking her feet up into the seat, she twisted to face him and curled against his side. She held onto his arm and pressed her boob against him while looking up at him. “I don’t want to talk about her. There’s something more important I want to tell you.”
Yep, he was putty in her hands. She wondered at what point she learned how to use feminine charms at command. Then she realized they came into play as soon as she knew the truth about how Ezio felt. He had kept his distance to hide it, but he moved too late.
“What’s that?” he said. His gaze slid to her cleavage. Ezio never tried to hide his desire for her. Whenever she caught him looking the way he did now, it lit her on fire.
She took one of his hands and laid it on her belly. “I’m pregnant.”
He sprang forward. “You’re kidding? Tell me you’re not kidding, Shakarri.”
“I’m not. I missed my period, and I took like three tests to be sure. I made an appointment with my doctor, but I know I’m pregnant.”
He dragged her onto his lap and stroked a hand along her back. She cradled his head against her chest as he sat in silence, breathing in her scent.
“Ezio?”
“Hm.”
“Are you happy?”
“I am. You’ve made me a very happy man.”
She played with a button on his shirt, rotating it between her finger and thumb. “I have to admit I’m worried.”
He drew back with a crease between his brows. “Why? Is there a health concern?”
“No, not that.” All she needed was for him to decide she had to be on bed rest. She just got him to lighten up when it came to her coming and going as she pleased. Dean had to practically glue himself to her, and she suspected Ezio had hired a second man to watch her while hidden out of sight.
“Talk to me, Shakarri. Whatever it is, I’ll fix it for you.”
She grinned. “You would think that way, and I guess you’re right. I need you to fix this.”
“Immediately.”
Her heart fluttered. She loved him so much. “I’m nervous you’ll divorce me and take our baby from me. You did that with your ex.”
“There’s always risk in marriage, Shakarri. You know that.”
She started to get down from his lap, but he held her where she was. His hands on her hips were possessive as they always were.
“My first instinct is another contract, but I no longer desire to go that route.”
“What do you mean?”
He drew in a deep breath and blew it out. For the first time, she saw hesitation, even insecurity, in Ezio. He cupped her face between his hands. “You are the donna più bella—the most beautiful woman on this planet. Stubborn and hardheaded, you fight me when I want to protect you but—”
“But?” She grinned.
“…it’s okay because…” He flushed. “Ti amo.”
Her heart soared. She knew those words. “I love you.” Tears sprang to her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. Ezio used his thumbs to wipe them away, but he was fighting a losing battle when it came to her waterworks. She was without question more emotional of late. When he saw that he couldn’t stop her crying, he drew her head to his shoulder and hiked her dress higher so she could straddle his hips. Ezio hugged her like he would never let go.
“I want us to see our marriage differently than the way it began,” he said. “I want you to forget about who I am and just be my wife and the mother of my children. I won’t demand that you love me.”
She chuckled. “Thanks for that.”
He frowned. “You know what I mean. I can’t expect that you’ll love me right away, but I will work to gain your heart.”
“Like this trip?”
“For starters.”
She looked into his eyes. “Ezio, would you do anything I ask?”
“Within reason. If you want something that compromises your health or safety, then the answer would be no. Anything else, I’ll give you. Shall I give you the moon, mio amore?”
“No, I have what I wanted.” It was time to stop hiding since he had come clean with her. He told her he loved her, although she suspected it was true for a while now. “Ezio, I love you too.”
“Sha,” he cried out, for the first time using her nickname.
Shakarri clung to him, kissing him and putting into it everything she felt, all the happiness he had brought her, all the pleasure at his touch, all the sensations of being safe in his arms. She didn’t draw breath until her lips were numb, and she twisted around to rest with her back to his chest.
Ezio hugged her, rubbing his hands over her belly. “You don’t think I love you just for the baby, do you?”
“No, I knew you loved me before I told you. That’s why I was okay with telling you.”
He stiffened. “If you didn’t think so, would you have run off knowing you were pregnant?”
She laughed. “Stop worrying. I’m done running. That one time was enough, and to be honest, I don’t want to go it alone anymore. Alone was so hard and lonely. You found me, and I want to be your wife. I want us to be a family.�
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“I will do all I can to reassure you. Talk to me. Tell me what you want, and I’ll move the earth to get it for you.”
“I know you will. I’m growing used to being spoiled.”
“I can’t promise not to be harsh or controlling.”
She patted his hand. “Not a problem because I don’t plan on being a doormat.”
He groaned. “How did I know you were going to say that?”
She cracked up, but Ezio got the last laugh when he seduced her with his mouth and his hands and his delicious body, all within the space of time it took to get home. By the time, Ezio carried her through the door to their bedroom Shakarri was a puddle in his arms fully ready to do her husband’s bidding.
The End
About the Author
Tressie Lockwood has always loved books, and she enjoys writing about heroines who are overcoming the trials of life. She writes straight from her heart, reaching out to those who find it hard to be completely themselves no matter what anyone else thinks. She hopes her readers enjoy her stories.
A Note From Tressie,
I would like to thank you for reading my book. If you enjoyed it, please take a moment to review it and to let a friend know about me. A good review can help an author reach more people, and others will take a chance like you did. Thank you for your help, and happy reading.
- Tress
Also by Tressie Lockwood
For Other Clean Works Try:
The Sartoris
Accepting His Name
Raising His Baby
Standalone
Involuntary Daddy
For Hotter Works Try:
The Marquette Family Series
Creed
Damen
Stefan
Duke
www.tressielockwood.com
Accepting His Name Page 10