Page 74 of Good As Hell

HASSAN

Ilisten to her be sick. Getting up from the bed, I go over to the bathroom, leaning against the jam. I see her come out of the toileting area, creeping like a thief, heading over to the sink like she’s slick or some shit. Brushing her teeth in a hurried fashion. I just know she’s trying to be done so she can sneak back in bed with me being none the wiser.

Little does she know I’ve known from the moment she started getting sick. Before that even.

“So you were going to keep this one a secret too,” I growl, prowling over to her, ignoring the way her reflexion startles in the mirror.

Our eyes clash for a hot second before she slowly starts shaking her head.

“No, I just wanted to make sure everything was okay. Dr. Aaziz said I could have a hard time carrying another baby because of the poisoning.” The little negligent shrug she gives makes me incensed, because I know she’s only doing it to cover her fear. I know all her tells now.

“And you thought what? If you lost a baby, you’d keep it from me?” Stalking over to her, I grab her slight shoulders, turning her around to face me.

“We were supposed to be done with that shit.” Narrowing my gaze on her bruised cheek. All she’s been through rushes back to my mind. “I don’t care if we ever have another child, Lyric. I told you this. I’m in this for you — for eternity.”

I sigh. “With all the shit that you’ve had to go through, I get it, sparrow. Just let me do some of the heavy lifting for you.” Cupping her other cheek, I press a kiss to her brow.

“It’s futile trying to keep things from me at this point. Your cycles have been monitored from the moment you arrived at the palace.” I can’t help but chuckle at her gasp.

“You’re lying,” she shakes her head. “Of all the controlling?—”

“It’s a practice that’s been in place for millennia.” I shrug. “Now as Crown Princess you get to change that and other archaic practices like taking princes from their mothers for instruction before they can barely walk.”

I can already see her mind working on that as well as the progressives issues that will probably have me adding another layer of security. The palace officials are going tot hate to see my little songbird coming.

“Hmph,” she mutters noncommittally. I watch as she starts her morning face routine.

Moving so that I’m behind her, I bend to press a kiss into the hallow of the neck. “No more secrets, Habibti. I’d hate to take away your privileges.” Letting the warning register, I watch as her mouth form into the cutest little pout. I won’t be swayed. The moment she sees my determination. She crosses her arms across her chest, wincing a little when the pressure registers on her sensitive breasts.

“You’re being mean.” Tears well in her eyes.

Two things register. I missed these emotions the first time she was pregnant. The second — I’m blessed to witness it all this time.

“You knew I was a mean motherfucker from the start.” Circling my arms around her, I bring them to rest on her belly. “My vow to you, sparrow, is I’m your mean motherfucker. I’ll protect you and our babies.” Her eyes meet mine in the mirror. The love them fucking slays me.

“If you want to go back on tour, I’ll support you in that as well.” I mean it with every part of my being. Taking her away from what she loved was a bitch move.

“Hassan.” She pauses, taking a moment to let my words sink in. Biting her lip, she forges on. “I never even considered it.”

“Consider it.” My words are emphatic. “Loving you means letting you fly free, knowing and trusting that you will come back to me. And I know you will every time, Lyric. You never wavered, not once since you dawned the door of this palace. You stepped into your role as queen from the moment you took your vows. Never hesitating. Not even when I thought to take the power of the queen from you. You stood in your purpose as none other than an Empress could.

As mad as I was for thinking you tried to leave me, I still had to respect how you carried yourself. Then when I found out the truth?—”

“Truth—”

“Fariq has been my friend since we were five years old, habibti. Did you really think he wouldn’t tell me it was Fi concluding with Prosper?” I give her a sidelong glance. “It only proved to me that your loyalty is paramount. I knew then I wanted to earn that kind of devotion from you.”

“Ohmygoodness, Hassan.” Whispering the words, she brings her arms around my neck, linking them. “It broke my heart not being able to tell you. I want to earn yours too.”

“You already have, jameela.” Comes my gruff reply. “I’m in awe of you.”

Sinking down before my queen. “How about we try this again?”

Reaching up, I swipe the tears falling from her eyes. She nods, the words locked up. The smile brimming on her face says it all.

“Minus motherfuckers trying to kill you.”

Nodding, she comes to her knees, meeting me where I am. She’s always done that, I realize in that moment — met me where I was. I just wasn’t ready to be the man she needed, so caught up in my need to punish. All that is over, I promise to myself then, just as I had to her moments before.

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