Page 37 of Risky Behavior: Submitting to the Ruthless Guard

“It’s no trouble at all. I have a whole kitchen staff here at Dante’s request.”

She rolled her eyes and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“He’s a bit much, huh?”

“You saw him at dinner, right? I mean, I love the man more than life itself, but I swear he’s going to give himself a heart attack with worry.”

“I think it’s sweet.”

“That’s because you aren’t married to him.” Valentina laughed and covered her belly as it shook. “Oh, this one just won’t quit kicking me today.”

My eyes went wide with wonder and she reached for my hand, placing it on her side just as a sharp bump hit my palm.

“Oh my lord, did that really just happen?”

“You should feel it from the other side.”

“Maybe someday.”

“Do you and Leo want children?”

“Me and Leo?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to assume.”

“No, that’s okay. I think we do. I know I do. He says he wants whatever I do, but that doesn’t really seem like a good enough reason, does it?”

“Men like Leo and his brother are very similar to Dante, Nico, and Ares. I’m sure you can admit they can be terrifying, but to be loved by them is otherworldly. I’ve met people who are married and I just don’t see what we have in them. Leo looks at you like Nico looks at me. You consume him, and that is a blessing. He may say he will give you children because you want them, but he knows in his heart he wants a family with you more than anything else.”

“How do you know?”

“Because my men did too. Adjusting was hard, but we’ve all found our places. Then once King came into our lives we were forced to move things along faster than we planned. None of us would have changed a thing about it. Eventually, you will look back on all this and feel the same way.”

I turned as Ares knocked on the open door. “Dr. Nikolaidis is here, Talia. Do you want me to send him in, or would you prefer to meet with him in one of the sitting rooms?”

“I’ll come down. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to waste away in here all morning,” I said as I watched Ares run to Valentina as she struggled to stand.

“Ugh, this child is huge,” she groaned as Area lifted her to her feet and placed a kiss on her lips while rubbing her belly.

I smiled at the two of them as they made their way out of my room.

“Talia?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t forget what I said. Otherworldly.”

I nodded and followed them down the long hallway that attached to the main part of the house. Ares passed Valentina off to Nico and escorted me to a room that looked as if it were something out of an art gallery.

“I’ll have him come meet you here.”

“Thanks, Ares.”

“No problem.”

I took a seat on the small couch by the window and admired the paintings and artwork. I could have sworn some pieces in the room were originals, but that seemed crazy since as far as I knew they were in museums and art galleries, not privately owned.

“Pretty remarkable, huh?”