Page 55 of Bought By Santa

The grin she gives me is absolutely lethal, and I fucking love it. “Fine,” she relents.

Before she can leave the bathroom, I open the small cupboard above the sink and pull a white, rectangular package out. “I think it’s time you take one of these,” I say as I hand her the pregnancy test.

She bites her lip as she accepts it. “Wow,” she breathes. “Yeah, I guess I should. We only have nine days left, right?”

“We have all the fucking time in the world,” I lie on a growl.

This might have all started because I wanted an heir, and I still want one. Carolina, however, isn’t just a hired womb, she’s now my fiancée. It might not have happened in the traditional way, but who fucking cares? I don’t, and so far it doesn’t seem like she does either.

“Go on,” I urge. “Pee on the damn stick.”

“With you watching—” She cuts herself off, already knowing there’s no point in arguing.

I don’t turn around or look away; I watch her as she sits down on the toilet, and then she slides the stick between her thighs, covering it in her urine.

Hmm, I’ve never been into piss play, but right now, I’d consider letting her pee on me. There’s something so insanely intimate about watching her like this, and greedy as I am, I want everything life has to offer with her.

Once she’s done, she wipes herself and gets some extra toilet paper to lie the test on. Then she washes her hands while I set the timer on my phone for two minutes. We don’t talk while we wait, we’re both focused on the single line. I barely blink, too scared to miss the appearance of a second line.

But it never comes. Not when my timer goes off, or within the extra five minutes we wait. I take the test and throw it into the trash can. “We’ll do another one tomorrow. I think I read that the morning is the best time.”

There’s no hiding the disappointment we both feel, but I feel guilty as she averts her gaze and just nods. “Yeah, fine. Whatever.” Her shoulders slump as she leaves the bathroom and crawls into bed. “It might be a bit too early for a test to show.” I’m not sure if she says it to herself or me.

Although I have things to do, I follow her, lying down next to her. I wrap my arm around her and pull her closer—her back against my front—and nestle my face against her neck. “Are you disappointed?” I ask.

“A little,” she admits. “But mostly, I’m afraid you’re disappointed in me. That you’re not getting your money’s worth.”

“Fuck the money,” I growl menacingly. “All I want is you, Hellcat. You and me, that’s all that matters.”

“Really?” she asks, hope bleeding into her voice.

I move her so she’s lying on her back, hovering over her so she can see just how serious I am. “Yes, really. I fucking love you, Carolina—”

“You love me?” she gasps, her mouth forming an O.

Nodding, I answer, “I do. That’s why I keep telling you that you’re mine. It’s why I put a ring on your finger.”

“You love me,” she repeats, only this time, it doesn’t sound like a question.

Chuckling, I lie back down, pulling her against me again. “Forevermore,” I vow.

She doesn’t say it back, which is fine. She will eventually. There’s no escaping me, and if she tries… well, I’ll just have to tie her up until she gives up.

Carolina Sterling is mine.

Her body feels amazing against mine, and as her breath grows deeper and deeper, I almost forget that I need to stay awake. But as soon as I remember why I can’t give in yet, my blood boils, running hot with the memory of that bastard’s hands on her.

I wait until her breathing steadies, confirming her descent into dreams where I hope she’s safe from the darkness that clings to my soul. Then I slip from the bed, my movements ghost-like as I make my way to my torture room.

He’s there, tied to a chair, the remnants of fear and pain etched into his face. Good. He should be afraid.

“P-please,” he starts, the tremble in his voice music to my ears.

“Shut up,” I snarl, my hands itching to deliver the retribution burning through my veins. I circle him like a predator, each step measured, each breath filled with purpose.

“B-but—”

“You touched what is mine,” I say, leaning close, my lips brushing his ear with deceptive softness. “For that, you’ll pay.”

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