Dom Fever (Devlin Black #2) (5 page)

“You
’re a wonderful mother, Victoria. So much stronger than I imagined.”

I paused. Although I knew how much work and love I put into my life, hearing him say that made it all come together.
It touched something deep within, easing some form of invisible weight. “Thank you. It means a lot to hear you say that.”

All he did was nod as he followed me back to the room.

As I climbed in my bed, he didn’t hesitate to
join me on the other side. I sat down on my side while he went back to flipping through the stations on the television. Was this the way things were going to go? There was a TV in the living room, yet he was here. In my bed, relaxing against my headboard as if he owned it.

There was a pat on my pillow, but he didn’t look at me or say anything. I eased down, getting comfortable as I tried to adjust to how things were playing out. If this continued, it wouldn’t be good. Sure, I could guard myself living under the same roof…if we weren’t constantly together. But this, surely the dam holding our lust would break at some point. Well, mine would.
And then what?

Chapter 5

Devlin

“Don’t jump,” the pig said. “You can’t fly.”

I looked down at Ava, smiling, as I read her one of the books in her massive collection.
“I can, too. Watch. The bird spread his wings, flapping them and moving a few inches off the ground.

“But I don’t have w
ings,” the pig said, snorting. “How did you get yours?”

Ava’s hand came out
, pointing at the page.

“Yeah, that’s a bird,
” I said, watching as she studied it.

“Ma ma ma.” She giggled, dragging her finger over the page.

“Well, your mother is sort of a like a bird.” My smile fell. “She likes to fly.”
She likes to run.

“So, if I’m the bird, does that make you the pig?”
Victoria laughed as she walked into the room. I stood, my mouth parting at her appearance. She was wearing make-up and a wine colored dress that reached just above her knees. It matched the lipstick and I longed to run my finger over it, smearing the shade across her cheek as my mouth ravaged hers.

Ava squirmed and I adjusted her in my arms
as I tried to focus on Victoria. “Wow, are you going somewhere?”

She shrugged. “You had a date tonight and
…well, Daniel called and asked if he could stop by to talk over a few things. I invited him to have dinner here. You don’t mind, do you? I mean, Ava will be asleep and you won’t have to see him or anything.”

Jealousy
clawed at my insides. “You’re having dinner with Daniel? And he knows you’re pregnant…by me?”

“I told him. But it’s not a date,
not really. Just dinner over some options he said he came up with.”

“Legal?
” Flashes of the other man’s Family Practice had my lip practically snarling and I didn’t need her answer. “For Ava.”

Victoria
glanced over at her. “I went to him originally to see where I stood for when I told you—”

“And then you started dating him?”

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “That came first. I didn’t even know what type of lawyer he was then. Devlin, let’s not do this. I have no intentions of trying to keep Ava away from you. He just wants to go over everything and see how things are with me. Lorraine told him I was in the hospital. I think he’s just concerned.” She stepped forward. “Why don’t you give her to me and I’ll put her to sleep while you go get ready for your own date.”

It was getting late. Reluctantly, I handed her over.

“Da da da.” Her tiny arms came back out to me and I froze, meeting Victoria’s surprised expression. Those three words…they took my breath away. Burning once again stung my eyes and I could hardly see the beautiful little girl who stared at me like I was actually someone important. Like someone she wanted to keep around. The completion she gave me inside, I didn’t even have words for.

“That’s right,” I whispered, taking her back from
Victoria. “I’m your dad.” Her tiny body rested against my chest and I started bouncing her, something I noticed she liked over the last three days. It didn’t take me long to get her to sleep that way.

Victoria’s hand rubbed down my bicep
and she smiled, leaving the room. My heart still pounded in my chest and the burning in my eyes only made my throat tighten. I paced, slowly, keeping the movement that had Ava’s face burying into my neck. It didn’t take long before her soft snores filled the room, but I didn’t want to let go. Didn’t want to put her down or go on my date. I sure as hell didn’t want to leave Victoria alone with Daniel. This situation was bizarre—but I reminded myself I couldn’t
be
with a woman who was deceitful. At least not in that way.

Ava barely stirred as I
eased her into the crib. Those full lips, just like Victoria’s, moved as if she still drank her bottle and I smiled as I watched her. It hurt to know all that I’d missed, but I had her now. That had to count for something.

I turned off the light and
left her door cracked while I went across the hall to my room. Sophia’s old room. It was a decent size for what I’d brought. My clothes fit in the small closet and that was the majority of what I had piled in my car.

I grabbed a pair of a jeans and a black
, button-up, long-sleeved shirt. A new date. A new woman I’d never met before. Supposedly she was into the BDSM lifestyle. I’d intended to take her to the club downtown, but something stirred inside of me. A sense of dread that made me want to pick up my phone. Dammit. I couldn’t put off another date. No matter how much I wanted. Victoria couldn’t fill my needs. So as torn as I felt, I had to keep going forward for myself.

The restroom
was at the end of the hall and I went in, locking the door behind me. All of my essentials were already in place. Shampoo, soap, toothbrush. I flew through the shower routine in a daze, all of my thoughts wrapped around the two main people in my life. I ached to for them, even though they were both right here. I had both of them, but something was off. It wasn’t enough. My anger might have still been present regarding Victoria, but now it was nothing more than a nuisance in the background. I’d forgiven her too quickly and I didn’t even seem to care when I should have.

As I wrapped the towel around my waist, laughter had me pausing
from wiping the steam from the mirror. I opened the door, hearing a man’s voice.
A man, in my house…
Nothing else registered. Not the fact that this wasn’t technically my home, or that I wasn’t dressed.

Before I could stop myself, I was walking toward the living and
kitchen area. Victoria paused from cutting the lettuce and Daniel looked up from the table. A flicker of fear replaced her happiness, but I didn’t focus on her. I turned to the man who wasn’t looking at me the way he had at the diner. This stare was different. Almost…challenging.

“Beast. Interesting tattoo choice.
”

I looked down at the
ink on my lower stomach.

“Very nice,” he said
, under his breath. The slight sarcasm had my eyes narrowing and my dislike for him growing by the second. I would have let it go had he not met my stare with something all too recognizable. Anger pounded into my chest as he didn’t break his gaze.

“
Victoria seemed to think so. If I recall correctly, she liked it a lot.” My lack of control and the words I’d spoken didn’t register until after I said them. I clamped my mouth closed as hurt washed over her features. But it was more than that. Embarrassment? Betrayal?

“Excuse me.”
The knife fell to the cutting board and she stepped around the counter.

What was wrong with me?
Was one-upping this man more important than the emotional stability of the woman carrying my child?

She headed for her room and I
stepped forward, searching for something more meaningful. Something to right my wrong. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that.”
Fail
.

“Sure you didn’t.”
I heard the bedroom door shut behind her and I glanced back at Daniel, who was looking at me like the bastard I was. I had a feeling I’d walked right into his little trap and even though he appeared unfazed, he was probably laughing his ass off on the inside.

I headed for
her door and he stood. “It might be best to let her cool off for a moment. You’ll just make things worse.”

“I know how to handle
Victoria. Don’t you worry about that.” I opened her door without knocking and shut it behind me. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, staring toward the restroom. Maybe I should have gotten dressed before I came in here.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t expecting anyone to be here when I got out
of the shower. I overreacted.”

She looked up as I
stopped in front of her. The way her eyes lingered on my tattoo, I could already feel myself getting hard. Our first night, she’d taken her time licking each letter. When she finally moved to my cock…damn, she nearly made me come within seconds.

Our eyes met, but she remained quiet.

“It won’t happen again. You have my word.” I held out my hand. “Come here.”

An
eyebrow rose and she dropped her gaze to look at the hardness that pushed against the towel, only to look back up at me. God, I wanted her so much and it tore at me with the anger and jealousy I still harbored.

“
Maybe not.” My hand dropped. “Your guy is waiting. Go have fun. Forget I’m even here.”

“I didn’t expect him to come e
arly. Trust me, if I could have avoided this, I would have.”

“No, it’s fine. It had to happen at some point.” My head gestured. “Go ahead. I’ll just…”
the longer I looked at her, the harder I became. Those curves and just the right amount of cleavage…only the slightest glimpse, leaving the rest to imagination. But I knew the beauty she held under that dress. And I wanted it, just as much as I ever had. “I’ll just wait in here for a bit.”

She
eased to stand and took a few steps before I found myself moving in front of her. Jesus. I had to stop this. She didn’t want me! Plus, she’d lied. “Victoria…” I trailed off, not having a clue as to what I was doing. My hands itched to grab her face. To brutally kiss her and make her pay in the most delicious ways for what she’d done. The pain would push her to her limits and I knew she could take a lot. More than any other sub I’d ever had. But that was over now. She was pregnant. I had to stop this.

“Don’t
.” She side stepped around me and I fisted my hands so I couldn’t reach back toward her. My mouth wasn’t controllable. Not with her. “I think you owe me something for what you’ve done.”

Her dark hair flew over her shoulder as she spun to look
back at me. “I’m not a prostitute, Devlin. I’m not paying for my sins through sex. If you want that, you, more than anyone, should know where to go to find one.” She slammed the door on her way out and I sunk into the bed, once again lowering myself down to bastard level.

Minutes went by and
the sound of laughter eventually began again. My blood raced while I seethed. It was the perfect ingredient to the cock-kill I’d been waiting for. I stalked from her bedroom, glaring at the lawyer as he looked up from over her shoulder. Papers lay on the table and I almost beelined to see what in the hell they were. Instead, I kept my eyes on him until I was out of sight. He was leaning over her shoulder. Perfect view to see down her God damn dress. I grabbed my clothes, putting them on. If I didn’t get out of here, all hell was going to break loose.

My shoes were by the bed and I slid them on, stopping
in the restroom to fix my hair. It didn’t take long. Cologne misted around me and I stepped into it on the way out of the door. My keys were on the kitchen counter. I couldn’t stand the thought of going back in there, but I didn’t have much of a choice.

“If you’ll see right here,” Daniel stopped, looking up at me as I entered.

“What’s that?” I glanced over, having no intention of stopping until I saw the practice’s name at the top. I moved in closer. Victoria’s hands left the table to rest in her lap. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see her shifting nervously.

The top was filled with big words, but it didn’t take me long to catch on to what I was looking at. “You’re trying to get her to move this to the courts?
” I picked up the papers and burst out laughing. “A paternity test for child support. You can’t be serious?” My attention went to Victoria. “You want to do this? Go through the courts? You sure about that? I told you where I stand. Ava will be mine. And that one,” I said, pointing to her stomach. “Mine.” Fuck, if I didn’t want to tell that son of a bitch that
she
was mine too. Anger had left long ago and I was now bordering damn near hostile rage. This piece of shit was trying to turn her against me.

“They’re just suggestions. I haven’t decided to do anything,” she said
, lowly.

“Nor will you. We’re in this together. Me and you. We decide what happens with our children. No
lawyer
is going to try to change that.” I grabbed my keys, tearing the papers in half. “There are your
options
, Daniel.” I tossed them on the table, watching them scatter.

“I’m not mad at you,” I
said, turning my attention to Victoria. “But remember, you come to me first before you decide anything. We’ll work this out together.” My lips pressed against her cheek and I brought her face up to look at me. “Me and you.”

Before I could lose it any more than I already had, I headed for the door and didn’t look back.
Options.
I’d show him what he could do with those.

The e
ngine turned over and I threw the car in reverse, then slapped it in first gear as I headed in the direction of my penthouse. Justine would be waiting for me in the lobby. Conflicted on what I should do had me tearing into the main road like a maniac. The car squealed and roared as I gunned it even faster. What the fuck was this guy thinking? It couldn’t be about the money concerning his lawyer fees. It wasn’t like he’d make that much. She was a nurse and made good money, but still. It wasn’t like he was going to get rich off of it. Did he want her, carrying my baby and all? He didn’t need the courts to get involved if that was the case. Money, on my end? My head tilted. Possibly.