“That sounds ominous.”
“No more talk until we’re in the bedroom. All of our serious talks should take place there.”
“Again, ominous. How many serious talks are you planning to have?” She’s more curious than upset or afraid. I’m not sure how to take that.
“Only one.”
“What’s the topic?”
“You, of course.”
She seems less tense by the time we get to the main suite. I pause at the bed, wanting to put her there. In my mind, all of our conflicts could easily be resolved with the removal of clothing and some good fucking.
“Not the bed.” She wriggles in my grasp. “I can see what’s happening in your head. You think if we get naked, we won’t have to talk, but you’re wrong. After it’s over, I’ll lie there, and all the intrusive thoughts will come back, so we’d better deal with it now.”
I hate that she’s right. I make my feet move to the seating arrangement facing the terrace. After setting her on the sofa, I move next to the door, bracing one shoulder against the frame. “What are the intrusive thoughts you’re having now?”
“When we have sex, you never use a condom. Whenever there’s booze around, you make sure it’s taken away. Are you trying to make me pregnant?”
My gaze drops to her still flat belly. We haven’t been at this long, but I know that there’s a baby inside of her.
“I think you already are pregnant, but if you aren’t, I plan on spilling into you as often as possible so that you become pregnant. Yes.”
She lets out a small gasp. “Wow. I didn’t think you would admit it.” Her eyes narrow, and she pins me with a flinty glare. “What else have you given me?”
My own brows crash together. What have I given her? Nothing really. I’ve brought her here on a trip, but I have yet to buy her a single item. God, what an asshole I am. I push away from the wall and come to kneel at her feet. “Love, I am so sorry. You’re right to be mad. I should have showered you with gifts. I meant to, of course, buy anything you wanted off the runway, but that’s no excuse.” I lift her hands to my mouth and press an apologetic kiss to her palms. “We will remedy that immediately. Clothes can wait. I’ll bring a jeweler out here within the hour.” I jump to my feet and start to the door to call for the head of security. She grabs me before I can take one step.
“No! I’m not talking about gifts.” She jumps up and thrusts her hands through her luscious hair. The movement pulls her shirt up, and I spot a strip of bare skin above her waist. My mouth begins to water. Thoughts of jewelry and clothes and gifts fly out of my head. We’re in the bedroom. She’s baring her skin. Must fuck.
“Oh no, you don’t.” She holds up her fingers in a cross formation like I’m the devil and she’s a saint warding me off. “I’m not done with my intrusive thought list.”
I rest on my back heels and shove my hands into my pockets. “Fair enough. What else?”
“I mean, isn’t trying to trap me with a baby enough?”
“Do you not want to have a baby?”
“Yes, of course I do, or I guess I would’ve made you wrap it up. But how many other babies do you have? Rich men like you have secret ones. I read that Elon Musk has nine!”
I scowl. “Don’t compare me to him, and I don’t have any. I told you that I haven’t done this with anyone else.”
“Done what?” she presses.
“Anything,” I say with some exasperation. “I’ve been a choir boy. I live a fast life and have a lot of responsibilities, and never thought to add to them by getting a woman involved. None have interested me until you ordered your coffee at the bakery. I saw you. I wanted you. I had to have you. That’s the end of the story. There is no one else but you, and will be no one else but you.” It’s like everything I do in life. I zero in on something, and there is no going back.
Her chin goes up. “Do you love me?”
Now it’s my turn for my hands to go up in the air. “Milana, I’m turning my world upside down for you. Coming to Paris for a fashion show. Buying restaurants. Funding new fashion labels. Getting you pregnant. I’m doing this because I love you and for no other reason. Do you love me? Because you don’t seem committed to me right now.”
She lets out a small cry and throws herself in my arms. “I do love you. I was just scared! We haven’t been together long. How could a man like you want a klutz like me? I’m only going to break things and embarrass you. Don’t you want someone elegant and rich like yourself?”