Page 82 of Dark Consequences

My eyes go wide at his admission just as the clock strikes midnight. The air around us explodes with sounds of celebration from the television and the family as they yell out, “Happy New Year!”

Raphael leans down and softly kisses me. He doesn’t push for more, but somehow, the kiss feels more intimate. Like an unspoken promise, we’ve sealed with a kiss. He pulls away just far enough that our noses barely touch.

His deep amber eyes bore into mine, scorching my soul and pulling the words free. “I love you too. Happy New Year.”

His smile is dazzling and contagious. “Happy New Year, Lily pad.”

We celebrate with his family for a few minutes before I pull him away to the outdoor lanai. It’s now or never.

I hand him the box and step back, waiting as he opens it carefully. He lifts the top and goes still.

Watching his expression, I wait for a look of disgust or anger. Instead, when he raises his head, I swear his eyes are misty, but that must be a trick of the low light.

“Is this what I think it is?” He sounds almost hopeful.

“What do you think it is?”

“Your IUD.” It looks like a smile is tugging at his lips.

I nod slowly. “You said you wanted a big family, and Mei’s been asking for a little brother or sister. So I thought—”

Whatever words were about to spew from my mouth were cut off when Raphael grabs me and slams his mouth against mine. He devours my mouth like a man gone crazy, and I’m breathless when he retreats.

Grinning like a madman, he says, “Then we need to go practice.”

39

Raphael

When your girl gives you her birth control device as a gift and then talks about having a big family, you don’t question it.

You get her fucking pregnant.

Or at the very least, you begin working hard at it. Because practice makes perfect, right?

Grabbing Lily’s hand, I lead her upstairs to my old childhood room, choosing the back way to avoid the living room and where the family is still celebrating. As I shut the door and flip the lock, she turns toward me with a seductive gaze.

It’s been beautiful watching her come out of her shell and bloom just like the flower she’s named after. The nightmares still continue to haunt her, day and night, but instead of giving in, she fights. Hard. Every day. She fights for her future. A future entirely hers and Mei’s. And I’m happy to just be along for the ride.

“So what now?” She asks, taking small steps backward as she does.

“Now, you’re going to strip naked, climb up on that bed, spread your legs, and let me put a baby in you,” I tell her while I undo a button with every stride toward her.

Lily flushes but does as she’s told. Something else we’ve been working on. Having a man give direction with the freedom to say no.

Like I’m watching my own personal strip show, Lily slips out of her dress, revealing my second gift of the night. And this one I get to unwrap, too.

She’s wearing an all-white lacy lingerie set that barely covers a single inch of her skin, and there’s a garter holding her matching white stockings up. She turns and gives me a seductive glance, her perky round ass on full display in that revealing ensemble.

Climbing up on the bed, I physically groan and nearly go to my knees when I notice her panties are crotchless.

“Do you want me to get you pregnant?” I ask when she finally centers herself on the bed and turns to face me, propped up on her elbows. “Or do you want to kill me, Lily?”

“Depends on how many orgasms you give me,” she sasses back.

Approaching, I drag my belt off and hold it up with a raised brow. When she raises her arms and holds her wrists together for me, I smile wide, pleased with how she continues to take steps forward. Still, even as I wrap the belt around her wrists, I keep it loose enough that if she wants or needs to, she can break free with little resistance.

Lily lies back on the bed, her arms above her head. She smiles up at me as she spreads her legs, giving me a clear view of nirvana.

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