Page 59 of Out of Office Nights
She dragged her gaze from his, recalling the steps he’d gone to find her in Morocco when it was merely his collection on the line. She wasn’t foolish enough to believe she could just swan off while the possibility of carrying Teo’s heir was up in the air.
The enormity of this new situation bore down on her. How could this be another chapter of history truly repeating itself in three generations? Except…just like her mother and grandmother before her, she couldn’t find it in herself to feel shame or regret. Both women had proudly claimed the children they carried. So would she. The image of her grandmother’s chair made her heart squeeze. Because she knew that if she wasalive, herjidawould’ve stood by her, given unwavering support if she turned out to be carrying Teo’s child.
Teo’s child…
A helpless moan escaped. Hands closed over her arms. Opening her eyes, she was compelled to look into silver ones.
‘The fire isn’t done destroying the baggage weighing you down. It’s probably wise not to make hasty decisions.’
‘Are you saying without you, I won’t make it?’ she challenged.
Expecting a harshyes, he surprised her by shaking his head. ‘Of course not. Your strength alone will see you through. But am I interested in waiting for that to happen in your own sweet time? When I’m not guaranteed you won’t reverse all the progress you’ve made?’ He shrugged, an eloquent expression of dismissiveness that cut her deep. But she knew he wasn’t as aloof about this as he was projecting. Besides this new development, at the very least he had a vested interest in seeing her collection finished.
And damn it, so did she.
Besides, she wasn’t ready to let this go, even though the faint ticking of a countdown clock at the back of her mind warned her that end was coming. Possibly sooner than she was ready for. That, again like the women before her, she might have to do this alone.
Her face flamed when she saw where his attention had moved to the hand she’d dropped to her belly.
Where his child might be growing.
‘When will we know one way or another?’ he rasped, his deep voice rumbling through her with more force than a jet engine.
She scrambled to recall dates and a fresh consternation washed over her. She couldn’t have been in a more opportune window if she’d planned this to the second. Her teeth sank into her inner lip as a worrying thought struck. Surely, he wouldn’t think she’d planned this? Examining his face, all she saw wasgrating impatience as he waited for her response. ‘My period isn’t due for about ten to twelve days.’
He stared hard at her, then his nostrils flared. ‘You’re in your most fertile window?’ Was his voice deeper? Thicker?
Her face flamed hotter. ‘Yes,’ she muttered. His eyes stayed fixed on her. Until she fisted her hand in a bid not to visibly squirm. ‘Teo.’ She couldn’t tell if she was warning or pleading.
This time when his gaze dropped to her middle, it stayed. Seared. ‘How do you feel?’
‘Not pregnant, if that’s what you’re asking,’ she forced out. Then grimaced. ‘Sorry. But this might turn out to be a non-event. Till then—’
‘You wish to put it to the back of your mind, pretend like it doesn’t exist until it becomes an issue?’ Before she could reply to his acid tone he ruthlessly continued. ‘I need an answer, Sabeen. Will you stay?’
The lack of the familiar barked command threw her for a moment, adding to her confusion. Then the Pavlovian response kicked in nevertheless, pushing her to give him what he wanted.
Which in turn disturbed her greatly, because it turned out that even after this bombshell revelation, what Teo Domene wanted also happened to be whatshewanted. It would be almost parasitic, except at every turn she’d also ended up…fulfilled. Sated without trickery. Sated in a way she’d never been before. Professionally. Emotionally.Sexually.
In a mere handful of days, Teo Domene had turned her inside out in ways she could never have imagined she could be transformed.
And as he watched her with that almost sardonically smug expression, she wanted to go against the grain. Summon up a firmno. But who was she kidding? In this moment, besides her grandmother’s house, with Teo, there was nowhere else she wanted to be.
‘I’ll think about it,’ she hedged.
His nostrils flared with clear displeasure, but again he surprised her by nodding. ‘I must return to the palace. I’ll be back for dinner. As my guest you have free rein of the residence. If you need anything, Fernando will be around to provide it.’
Expecting him to leave immediately, she watched him hesitate at the door. Perplexity flashed on his face before he inhaled deeply and said, ‘Come with me.’ He held out an imperious hand.
‘Why?’ she asked warily.
‘There’s one more thing to show you before I go.’
Curious despite herself, she followed him up the grand staircase then down the long hallway to the opposite wing to the master suite.
Again he paused before the tall double doors then swept them open.
The room was easily twice as big as her grandmother’s entire house. Her feet propelled her to the centre, where she spun slowly in wonder.
