The Vessel - Jenika Snow Page 0,50

something so… emotionless?

“You were going to give up everything—”

“For you, Elise. I was going to give up everything for the prospect that one day I’d find a woman who could love me and who I could love with all my heart.”

My heart skipped a beat.

“You don’t have to be afraid, Elise.” He tightened his hands on mine. “You don’t have to be afraid, because you have me.” My heart skipped a beat. “You have my love, and I’ll never leave you. I’ll never let you go.” He was sitting on the couch beside me then, surprising the hell out of me by pulling me onto his lap. “I’ll always be here for you and our baby.” Lucius placed a hand on my belly, and I closed my eyes, feeling a different kind of tears prick at my eyes.

“You want… me?” The look he gave me was pure shock, as if he couldn’t believe I’d just asked that. “I mean, you want me and the baby? I know you just need a baby to keep your business.” I prayed he didn’t say that, because right now, I might’ve been vulnerable, but I wouldn’t go down without a fight. I wouldn’t let my child be used as some fucking pawn.

“Elise,” he said with a hard voice, one that brokered no argument. “Look at me.” I hadn’t realized I was focused on the floor, but when I looked into his eyes, a soft sound escaped me at his expression. It was fierce. He took my chin between his thumb and forefinger, keeping me close so we could stare into each other’s faces. “I’d give up everything for you, baby or not, Elise.” I saw a flash of vulnerability in his blue eyes. “I’d give up my business, my money, everything I have in my life. And you know why?”

I shook my head, not trusting my voice.

“I’d give up everything, because I know the only thing worth anything in life, the most precious thing to me, is you and the baby in your belly.” He placed his hand on my stomach, and I did cry then, tears tracking down my cheeks. He brushed them away with his thumb, then kissed the pad of the digit. “I love you, Elise. I loved you before I found out about this baby. I loved you before I knew I’d give up everything for you.” He leaned in and kissed me softly

“There’s nothing more valuable to me than you, Elise, and I’ll spend the rest of my life proving that to you.”

He pulled me in and just held me, hugged me like I was his lifeline. What he didn’t know was he was my anchor, and as long as we were together, tethered, we’d never drift apart.

Lucius

The ultrasound

God, was this real? Was this my life?

I was staring at the ultrasound screen, the tech moving this little wand over Elise’s rounded belly, and I was amazed at the sight of my baby, our baby.

Little hands, little feet… that tiny little nose.

God. Perfection.

I glance at Elise and saw she was grinning from ear to ear as she stared at the little miracle in her belly. She glanced at me as if she felt my stare, her eyes lighting up.

“You see her? Him?” she whispered and looked back at the tech. “Do you know what it is?” There was this excitement in her voice, and I felt the same thing.

I looked at the tech and saw her smile. She gave a small nod and started typing on the screen before looking at us. “I do. Want to know what the sex of your baby is?”

Elise was nodding before I could say yes. We both chuckled.

Possessiveness slammed through me. My baby. My woman.

“A little boy,” the tech said, and Elise laughed softly as her grin widened.

“A baby boy,” she whispered to me, and I grabbed her hand, giving it a little squeeze.

And as I stared at Elise, the one thing that kept moving through my head over and over again was how much I loved her, how I’d do anything for her, lose everything for her. I’d die for her. As I looked at the screen again, at our little boy who was moving around inside Elise like he was excited to be there, I chuckled again, feeling tears in my tears, telling myself I’d be the best damn father to this little boy.

“Aiden,” Elise said softly, and I grinned.

We’d been thinking about baby names, little boy and girl ones, because we