Page 49 of Fighting For Light
I chuckle and move to sit next to her, taking her left hand in mine and putting my other on top of her hand resting on her stomach. “I want to make you my wife like the sun has to rise above the horizon every morning. It’s not a want anymore, it’s a need. I want you forever, Cordi, and I will do whatever it takes to keep you both safe.”
“But you said—how can you keep us safe if you don’t know where the threat is coming from?”
“I know what I said, babe. I don’t know what my father is willing to do anymore. But I will protect you, I promise.”
“Is this happening too fast, Kai? Should we…should I think about this? I don’t…my mom and dad...” Her eyes well and she takes a stuttered breath. “Kai, does this put all of them in danger?”
“No, it doesn’t,” I tell her sternly.At least, I don’t think so.“One has nothing to do with the other. Your mom has a different last name, and you just visited her after years. If anyone is watching, if they made the connection, I doubt they would move on it. It wouldn’t make any sense. And your dad is always around here. But if it makes you feel better, we will get someone to put eyes on both of them.”
She puffs out her cheeks. “You’re right. Mom should be fine, and I don’t want to make anything worse than it already is. I don’t want to scare her.”
“Whatever you want,” I say thickly. Reece can handle himself. She rubs her nose and sniffles a little. My throat goes tight, and my heart feels like it’s being squeezed in someone’s fist. I just want what’s best for her and this kid, even if that’s without me. I get down on my knees in front of her and put both of my hands on her stomach, leaning in to press my lips to her belly. I liftaway and look up at her. “I think the bigger question, gem, is if you still want to marry me. Especially after all of this.”
Her breath stutters, and she takes her hand, cupping my cheek.
“Rafe will never be what you need,” I whisper.
She scoffs. “That was never a question.”
“I should kill him for what he said to you.”
The corner of her mouth tips up, and she rubs her thumb across my cheekbone.
“I want to take care of you. I realize this got messy really quick, and you just walked into this, but I love you, and there will never be another for me. Regardless, I will respect your decision.”
Cordi giggles. I smile up at her and her giggles turn into a chorus of laughter so loud it almost echoes in the large penthouse.
“I’ve been looking for my opportunity with you for years, Kai. If I knew all I had to do was get pregnant, I would have done it a long time ago.” I frown at that and she giggles again. “I’m joking, Kai, it’s a joke,” she says, laughing.
I stay kneeling, smiling at her joy. I love her so much it physically hurts. Once she catches her breath, she leans over and grasps my face between her hands. “I’m glad you did what you did. I know I could have done it on my own, but I was terrified. Now I don’t have to be anymore.” She presses her lips to mine. “I’m not going lie to you. This all makes me really nervous. I don’t like the risks, but I love you, and when you love someone, you love every part of them. The good and the bad. And if loving you means a little danger…” She grins and kisses me again. “Well, that’s nothing new. I trust that you will keep us safe.”
I tilt my chin up to kiss her this time. “I will,mi amor. That is a promise. Until my dying breath, Cordelia, I will keep you both safe.”
“Let’s not speed that up, okay, daredevil?”
“Now, I don’t know if I can do that.” I smile. She shakes her head and yawns. I get to my feet and pull her to her own. “I think it’s time for bed.”
“I actually want to take a bath. That’s a luxury, you know.”
“I’ll get the water going, you relax,” I tell her, and walk her to our room.
The fancy hotel has bath salts and good-smelling things by the tub. I run the warm water and pour in the bath salts, the dried flowers hydrating and lifting to the surface.
Once the tub is full, I get Cordi. She’s lying on her side with her hand rubbing her stomach. “Bath is ready.” She smiles sleepily and gets up slowly. I follow her into the bathroom and grab her a towel. “Do you want anything else?” I ask her.
She shakes her head and gathers the hem of her dress. I quickly turn to leave the bathroom. “Kai?”
Keeping my back to her, I answer, “Yeah?”
“Will you help me?” she asks.
“With what?”
“For being so smart, you can be so, so dumb, babe,” she says with a lilt in her voice.
I turn, and she’s still holding the hem of her dress. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“That means I want you to stop running from me the moment I ask more of you,” she says, lifting the dress the rest of the way off her body, leaving her in her underwear and bra. She doesn’t waste a second and takes off her undergarments, tossing them to the side. I stand there frozen to the floor, not sure what I should do, but I can’t look away. She lifts her foot to step into the water, and that wakes me up enough to take the two steps to help her lower herself into the tub.
