His Tesoro (Empire of Royals, #1)

by Emilia Rossi

I would erase the feel of any other man inside her, ruin her for anyone in the future. She was mine.

Sofiya. My Sofiya.

“You’ve done something to me. Bewitched me.”

“Was it… did I do something wrong?” “What?” I whirled back to face her. “You were perfect.” My words came out in an angry growl. How dare she even question herself when that was the best fucking experience of my life?

What if pregnancy was dangerous for her? It wouldn’t detract from how I felt about her, although it would be a complication in terms of securing my legacy. For the first time in my life, my loyalty to the Mafia didn’t feel like the most important thing.

“What if I can’t?” she whispered. “Then you can’t.” I ran my fingers through her hair and leaned down to kiss her cheek.

“You are not a disappointment. You will not even think that. I forbid it.” I glared at her and to my surprise, she giggled. Grown men would fall to their knees and beg for mercy if I looked at them like that. But here she was, laughing.

“I guess you’ll just have to take care of me, then.” I placed another kiss on her cheek, gently collaring her throat with my hand. “I guess so.”

The dog popped his head up from his bed in the living room and came over to me, nudging my hand. I begrudgingly patted his head. Sofiya had fussed over him all evening, saying he deserved extra treats after his trauma. At her request, I’d made him scrambled eggs.

“What if I can’t protect her?” As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I regretted them. I couldn’t allow any cracks in my armor to show, even to Romeo, this man I’d grown up with. “You can, you will. I know it. Because you always take care of those close to you.”

After years of spending late nights out monitoring my city or hunched over my desk in my office, it felt strange to slip into my bedroom to sleep. Stranger still that my bed wasn’t empty.

I ran my hand down her hair. “Yes, tesoro.” She smelled like lavender and I breathed her in,

I closed my eyes and gathered her close. “Yes. But I’ll protect you. I promise.” “You already protect me better than anyone.”

I need to wrap it again today and put some ice on it.” “I’ll get it now.” He practically ran out of the room, and my heart squeezed at his care.

“Sorry for intruding,” Dr. Amato said, smiling as she took in both my guys’ behavior. “Matteo said you had some questions for me.” “Will it hurt Sofiya to have a baby?” he asked. I raised my eyebrows. “Jumping straight in, I guess.”

“This isn’t my area of expertise. I’ve done a bit of research and it looks like people with EDS do have a higher risk of some pregnancy complications, but there’s no reason to think it won’t be possible for you to carry a baby.” I took Matteo’s hand and squeezed tight. He squeezed it back.

“I’ve always wanted to be a mom.” I swallowed hard. “But what if… what if our baby is like me?” He stroked my hair and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “We would be so lucky if the baby was like you.” I opened my mouth to clarify what I meant, but he cut me off. “And if our child had EDS, we would make sure they received the best medical care possible.”

I didn’t really understand it either, but I’d always dreamed of having kids and raising them in a loving, happy family—so different from the one we grew up in. And after Matteo’s care for me, and the intimacy of last night, I longed to have a baby with him. To see him be a dad.

Matteo cupped my face and ran his thumb across my cheek. “You could never be a bad mom.” “What would you think if we had a child who used a wheelchair? Especially if we had a boy?” I pressed. Matteo shrugged. “Then he would use a wheelchair.”

They wouldn’t accept him as Don.” Matteo scowled. “The fuck they wouldn’t. It wouldn’t make him any less capable, and I would kill anyone who said otherwise.”

“Anything for you. Or for any babies we’re lucky to have.” His hand dropped to my stomach and for once, I wasn’t anxious about my belly rolls. I imagined my body swelling with new life and wondered if maybe my Dream List could become a reality.

The slow-growing obsession I had with my wife had accelerated like wildfire after being inside her. I needed to touch her, hold her, confirm she was safe.

I gathered up the large gift bag and headed upstairs to our apartment. I came to a sudden stop when I saw her in the kitchen with three of my men. Angelo, Enzo, and Romeo were all crowded around the kitchen island while Sofiya sat on the seat of her rollator, a pretty smile on her face. I. Saw. Red. That smile was only for me, and now she was using it up on other men.

The only one who didn’t seem to sense my murderous rage was Sofiya, who moved to get up. I let out an annoyed huff. I should be the one walking to her, especially after her day yesterday. She’d managed to stand by the time I crossed the room, and my arms were immediately around her.

I looked down at my beautiful wife. Her hair was braided in a crown around her head, and her eyes were bright and happy. Killing three men in our kitchen probably would make her unhappy.

“I’m afraid we ate them all.” I closed my eyes and breathed through my rage. These bastards came into my home, spent time with my wife, and now they ate all of my cookies? My hand twitched towards the gun tucked in my waistband. “Just kidding!” Sofiya said with a giggle. “I wouldn’t do that to you.”

“Leave,” I barked at them. Enzo and Angelo looked relieved to get out of here, but Romeo grinned as he walked towards us and pressed a kiss to the top of Sofiya’s head. I growled, trying to figure out how to kill him without injuring my wife.

I lifted Sofiya onto the kitchen island. “They’re here to guard you, not eat cookies.” I kept my arms around her. “And if you need a taste-tester, you have me.”

“You’re sweet.” She kissed my jaw, and I decided in that moment I might not mind being called sweet by my wife.

“I won’t have them in here anymore. I’m sorry it made you uncomfortable. I just… It’s empty here when you’re gone. But that’s fine.” I hated the way she was forcing a smile onto her face, hated the way she averted her eyes as if she was ashamed. I wouldn’t have it. I gripped her chin again and forced her to meet my gaze. “You don’t apologize,” I gritted out. “You should have told me you were lonely.” “But that’s not your problem,” she said. When would she realize that everything that had to do with her was my problem? No, my honor to fix.

“Your guards can come inside the apartment, but only if you invite them. And you will tell me if any of them does anything to make you upset or uncomfortable.”

“But tesoro?” I said as I walked into my bedroom. Our bedroom, because she wasn’t about to sleep in the fucking guest room ever again. “If they ever eat my baked goods, made for me by my wife, I can’t be held responsible for their murder.”

She pulled me down for a kiss—the second one she had initiated today—and something in my chest softened.

I was determined to learn everything about her body. I needed her as addicted to me as I was to her.

“I want to see what’s in the bag.” I grinned at the little whine in her voice. I was going to enjoy spoiling her.

I planned to fuck her often, and I’d read pillows like this would make things easier on her joints. Her lips parted. “That’s so thoughtful.” I snorted. “Yes, very thoughtful.” No selfish motivation here at all.

She was chewing her lip again, and I scowled as I freed it from her teeth.