Chapter 153
“That was amazing,” Arabella said, turning to her side. “I could do this every day.”
She placed her hand on Blaze’s chest, caressing it.
“Arabella,” Blaze groaned, glancing at his twitching dick. It was alive again and ready for another round. Only Arabella had this effect on him; he had never considered a repeat with any other woman.
“What?” Arabella said, leaning into him. She kissed his jaw, moving downwards, stopping at a nipple.
“I might not be able to resist taking you again,” Blaze admitted, gripping her shoulder as she hovered over him, her breasts near his face.
“I wouldn’t want you to,” she replied.
“We need to talk,” Blaze said, torn between his desire to lose himself in her again and the urgency of the matter that had brought him there in the first place.
Arabella paused, her brows raised, then shook her head. “Can’t it wait?” she asked, frowning.
“It could, but I might not have the chance to see you again after today,” Blaze confessed.
Arabella sighed, settling back into the chair and quickly donning her discarded clothes. “What’s it about? You look and sound so serious.”
Blaze wanted to retort that it was indeed serious, but he chose silence, watching her instead.
When she finished putting on her last piece of clothing, he sighed, gazing into her eyes. “You’re pregnant,” he said without beating around the bush.
He wanted to ask her immediately and be sure of the truth. Blaze’s heart sank as he saw her eyes widen briefly before she stared at her hands. Sandro was right. Arabella was pregnant, and she had kept it from him.
He couldn’t help but wonder why. Also, the thought of who the father might be troubled him.
“How did you know?” she asked. “Did Thalia tell you?”
“Oh, Thalia knew too?” Blaze murmured. “I’m the only one left in the dark.”
“It’s just… Blaze,” Arabella began, but he cut her off.
“It’s fine. You must have had your reasons for keeping me out of it,” he said.
“No,” Arabella shook her head. “I intended to tell you as soon as I returned from Sandro’s pack, but the opportunity never came. Plus, it was the same day we were all transported back here.”
“I understand,” Blaze nodded. “I would have preferred to hear it from you rather than Sandro.”
Arabella nodded, biting her lower lip. She wondered if Blaze would bring up the question of paternity.
He gently clasped her hands, prompting her to meet his gaze. “I won’t inquire about how the child came to be.”
That was initially his intention, but Blaze knew it might hurt to hear her response. He didn’t want to know if he or Sandro was the father. It was best left unknown, and he would gladly claim it as his own.
“You won’t?” Arabella asked, surprised. “I mean, that should have been your next question. Considering I’ve been involved with both you and Sandro…”
“I won’t ask, Arabella. Regardless of who the father is, I want to consider this child as mine. I want you and the child within you to be mine,” Blaze stated firmly.
Arabella saw the determination in his eyes and couldn’t help but be moved. She had been worrying for nothing.
Blaze gently cradled her face, drawing his lips closer to hers. “I love you, Arabella. I love you deeply, and I want to be with you, grow old with you, and have as many children as we can…”
“But Sandro…” Arabella’s words were silenced by Blaze’s kiss.
“That’s why I’m here,” Blaze said when he released her lips. “Sandro wants me to bring you to him, or he won’t spare my life.”
“W-what?” Arabella stammered, nudging him.
“Don’t worry. I’ll do everything in my power to keep you from him,” Blaze assured her.
“Which means you might risk your life!” Arabella exclaimed, clutching his hand.
“I’m not easily defeated,” Blaze chuckled softly. “I’ll fight to the end, just for you.”
“No, Blaze, you can’t do that,” Arabella insisted, shaking her head. She tightened her grip on his hand.
Blaze snarled, shrugging her hand off. “And would you rather I let him have you, Arabella? Would you rather I stand by and watch him destroy you? Would you rather I see you in pain and do nothing about it?!”
“I’d still prefer that to you risking your life just for me!” Arabella’s voice grew more impassioned.
“You’re being selfish,” Blaze said, averting his gaze from her widening eyes. “If you knew how deeply I care about you, I don’t think you’d say those things. I’m starting to wonder if you feel the same way about me.”
“What on earth are you saying?!” Arabella glared at him. “Do you think I’m someone who’d let herself but fucked in the back seat of a car without a second thought? We’ve shared so much, and I don’t appreciate you doubting my feelings for you, Blaze.”
“Then let me do what I need to do,” Blaze insisted.
“And how do you think that would make me feel if you get hurt for my sake? Tell me, Blaze.” Arabella’s eyes shimmered with tears.
It seemed a happy ending was out of her reach. With Sandro entangled in every aspect of her life, disruption was inevitable. She wiped at her tears with the back of her hand, sniffling. “You could have spared me all this pain by not coming today.”
Blaze tried to steel himself against her tears, but they still affected him. “I’m sorry, Bella,” he murmured, reaching out for her hand, but she pulled away.
“You can’t say all those things to me and expect me to believe you’re sorry. Why would you want to risk your life for me?!” She sobbed.
Blaze sighed, frustrated. He reached out to her again, this time succeeding in pulling her into his arms. He wrapped her in a comforting embrace, letting her cry while he gently caressed her back.
After she finished crying, he gently lifted her head, planting a soft kiss on the tip of her nose and then on each cheek stained with tears. “I never meant to make you cry.”
Arabella pushed at his chest, but his hold on her remained firm. “You’re such a jerk, you know that.”
“Point taken,” he acknowledged. “I was just trying to watch out for you.”
“You should watch out for yourself, too,” Arabella insisted. “I can’t bear the thought of you being hurt or in mortal danger.”
Blaze nodded, deep in thought. He supposed there was a Plan B. At least he had one in mind.
“What if you leave this place for now? Your whereabouts are already known, and any moment now, I’ll be coming here on Sandro’s orders. It would be smarter if you’re gone, and I arrive to find no one here,” Blaze suggested.
Arabella pondered it for a moment and then nodded. It seemed like a better idea than him sacrificing himself.
“I’ll go with that suggestion,” she agreed. “But promise me you’ll come find me.”
“I promise,” Blaze assured her, leaning in for another kiss.
A notification sound interrupted their kiss, and he groaned, pulling away. He stared at his voice, which was now vibrating.
“It’s time for me to go,” Blaze said, raising an eyebrow as Arabella straddled him once again.
“How about one more time before you leave? I don’t know when I’ll get to see you again,” she suggested, starting to unbuckle his belt.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.
Blaze grasped her hand, stopping her. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”
Arabella’s lips curved into a seductive smile, her voice dropping to a huskier tone. “I think it’s a very good idea, Cole. Tell me you don’t want it, too.”
She guided his hand to her inner thigh, her arousal already evident; she bit his earlobe and whispered, “See, this naughty kitten is ready for you.”
“Fuck,” Blaze breathed, his gaze darkening. “When you put it like that, how the hell am I supposed to resist you?”
“You can’t resist me,” Arabella giggled as Blaze flipped her over.
It would only be for a few minutes, Blaze reasoned. That surely wouldn’t get him into trouble.