MOLLY JOLTED out of her sleep, her stomach painfully tight and her throat tender. Tangled in Tensley’s arms, she didn’t want to leave, but the longer she stayed in his warmth, the more her stomach ached, the acid building in her throat.
Oh, god.
Molly slipped from Tensley’s grip and rushed to the bathroom, cupping her mouth.
She fell to her knees in front of the toilet and expelled every single thing in her system. The acid rose and she couldn’t stop. The horrid noises of her gagging, the splash of water, the stench of acid.
She sat back after she felt safe. She rubbed her sore stomach, but paused. What would have made her sick? She ate the same meal every day and she didn’t drink anything last night or eat dinner or—
Dread set in fast and she glanced at her purse in the bedroom on the floor. Maybe Lance was right…maybe she was pregnant.
She needed to take the test. To find out for sure and be done with this worrying.
Maybe it’s just stress…
She groaned and gripped her head.
“Molly?” Tensley’s hoarse voice called from the other room, and before she could think of something to say, he appeared, naked in all his glory.
He frowned at her on the marble floor and bent down.
“What’s wrong?” His broad hand brushed across her wet forehead and into her hairline, his brow heavy with worry.
She shook her head and flushed the toilet, standing up. “Must have been something I ate…”
She chanced a look at Tensley, who had briefly glanced at her chest. It was then she realized she too was naked from last night. She didn’t need to wear anything through the night when she had a furnace like Tensley.
“I need to brush my teeth,” Molly muttered, turning to the sink.
“Here.” Tensley stepped behind her, his chest brushing her back, and she bit back a groan. Her nipples hardened, either from his touch or the cool air. Either way, she was still sensitive, still craving his hands or mouth on her. He opened the cabinet and pulled out his toothbrush, handing it to her.
“Thank you,” she said and squeezed toothpaste onto the brush, soaking it under water. She brought it to her mouth, trying to erase the taste of bitter acid. When she spat out into the sink, she turned back to him, shyly glancing down at his thick length.
“Come here,” Tensley whispered and scooped her up, walking back to the bed. He placed her down and bundled the covers up to her neck, tucking her in safe and sound. “Rest. I’ll order breakfast for us. Something for you to drink.”
He rolled on his dress pants, but didn’t bother doing the belt up, leaving her to admire his dark happy trail that held secret promises.
She smiled at him, unable not to watch the man make a simple phone call and find it absolutely sexy. The way he rubbed his jaw, his mouth a dead straight line, and his dark brows furrowed as if debating what to order for breakfast was an important business deal.
She sighed into the warm sheets, blissfully happy.
He was in Paris. The man who held her heart and didn’t even know it.
“Merci,” he said into the phone and hung up, striding back to the bed.
He climbed in behind her, wrapping her back in his strong arms and kissed her tensed temple.
“They’ll bring up food in five minutes,” his raspy voice sung to her core, and she snuggled back into him, feeling his manhood stiffen. His hand found her bare breast, and when he simply left it there in his large palm, she giggled.
“What are you doing?”
He hummed and pecked her bare shoulder. “Resting. This is the most sleep I’ve gotten since you left.”
Her lip dropped. “Well, you’re here now. We’re together.”
“Hmm.”
The last hum didn’t sit well with her, but before she could muster words, someone knocked at the door.
He groaned, squeezed her breast one more time, and then stood, striding lazily, but somehow with power, to the door. She heard muffled words exchanged and then he returned, carrying two silver trays of food.
Molly sat up, the sheets pooling around her waist, and she didn’t miss the way Tensley’s eyes darkened at her large breasts exposed.
“Come eat something. You need something in your stomach,” he muttered as he placed the trays on a small iron table in front of the Juliet porch.
She toyed with her lip and tiptoed over. “Can I wear your shirt?”
His brows lifted, but he nodded.
She lifted his tossed shirt off the desk and did the white buttons up, Tensley watching every one of her movements closely. It hung to just mid-thigh, innocent and teasing.
She walked back over to the table and plopped herself down, smiling at his scowl. A scowl she loved just as much as his smiles.
“Have some fruit and oatmeal,” he said, placing a steaming bowl of oatmeal in front of her and a small cup of fresh fruit.
Looking at the messy oatmeal, her stomach churned, and she instead, picked up a strawberry, nibbling on its sweetness.
“So,” she began, licking her lips.
Tensley busied himself with black coffee and a newspaper in his lap in front of the small French iron bars of the balcony. The open windows let in the early sunrise and the smell of fresh baked goods filled the room. Molly placed a croissant on his plate, and he raised a brow, but didn’t say a word and took the offer. She smiled to herself. Too perfect, the two of them living together domestically.
“How’s everything with Scorpios?” She knew how lame that sounded, how she hadn’t bothered to ask him about his life.
His shoulders tensed and he sipped at his coffee. Once he settled back into his seat, he looked up at her. “Ares declared war.”
Molly dropped her purple grape. “What?”
He waved a dismissive hand and took another sip of his coffee. “Don’t worry. I have it under control. They’ll be ours by next week.”
She fidgeted with his shirt hemline. The Ares deal had fallen through because of her. Ares had wanted Molly to be married off to one of their sons in exchange for Scorpios taking over their territory and group.
Tensley broke that contract when he chose Molly over them.
At Tensley’s dismissive tone, she decided to talk about something more pleasant. “I was thinking maybe tonight we could sightsee, maybe go out to supper after.”
A muscle feathered in his cheek. “I have to leave by noon today.”
Molly’s heart dropped into her stomach, and she let her shoulders follow after. “You’re leaving? But you just got here…”
He pressed his lips hard together and sighed. “Scorpios need me back in New York. I was only able to sneak away for a bit and even this, I shouldn’t have done.” He tsked, more so at himself.
Molly swallowed down her disappointment. She knew he had commitments, but after having him, she didn’t want him to go so soon.
“I understand,” she whispered, shyly catching his eyes. “I’m just going to miss you.”
Four more days. I can manage.
His features shifted to one of softness, so rare, so sensitive she wanted to remember what his eyes looked like tender.
Maybe, maybe now would be the best time to tell him about her fears. Of the pregnancy test. Of what Lance said.
Together, they’d know the truth.
She just feared his wrath. She had the tamed beast, as much as she liked him wild, his fury pointed at her was not what she wanted.
Just as she opened her mouth, his phone rang.
He glanced at the caller ID. He frowned and answered the phone, pressing to his ear. “Father?”
Molly’s ears perked.
Tensley’s fingers bit into his phone, his body shaking, and Molly tasted the wave of aggressive pheromones suffocating the room.
Something was wrong.
She watched closely as whatever was said took hold of Tensley and ripped him to shreds.