1 CHAPTER 12 - STRAWBERYY SHORTCAKE

"What did you just say?" he asks me in a guttural voice stepping ridiculously close to me. Well as close as he can get with my pregnant belly in the way.

I match him with a devilish look and a pout, "I said yes, sir" I repeat in that innocent tone I know would throw any man off his game.

His nostrils flare and color rises up his olive toned neck. Bingo.

I'm getting Piero exactly where I need him but I know it wont be that easy. One thing I've noticed living with Piero the past few months, despite our lack of communication is that he has a buttload of self-control.

I'm proven right when he steps in and brings his nose to my neck, taking a huge sniff and stepping far away from me.

"You're trouble Marigold Alistair. But you see, you have no idea what it means to be with me. If you did, you would run with your pretty little legs right out of here before I got a hold of you."

Dann. Now I'm curious as hell. I lick my lips before replying him because I feel very dehydrated all of a sudden.

"At least give me the chance of knowing before writing me off," I said and he looked at me from to to bottom, staring at my boobs quite a bit before turning around and out of his office; a dumb fish with pretty legs.

-

That same night, I stir in my sleep when I feel a disturbance in the Force and open my eyes groggily to find Piero standing very close to my bed, leaning over me and reeking of whiskey again.

"You know," I sigh, "you're gonna have to get way more original when you're being creepy at night."

He shakes his head, "I thought you were going to be freaked out considering the last time you were woken up like this."

"And yet, here you are."

"It might help a little if I freaked you out and you hated me," he admits.

"And why is that?" I ask, turning on to my back so I can face him properly but he just shakes his head.

"I can't tell you and risk you running from me while you're pregnant. So you know what? When you've delivered this baby and you're recovered from the labour, I will tell you what it entails to be with me. Whatever you decide to do at that point, we will work it out; even if you wish to move back to America."

I gulp because the intensity of his obsidian gaze is making me nervous. What could he possibly be talking about? I am curious as a cat but nod despite myself. What choice do I have but to wait anyway?

"I'm just sick of you acting all hot and cold" I say, "you deposited me here and then left without a word, not to mention you acting like a dick to me on more than one occasion. If we are going to co-parent a child in three months, we might as well learn to be around each other in uncomfortable situations."

"I have been a swine, haven't I?" he asks and I nod in response.

He lets out a long sigh and stands straight. I'm confused when he walks into the bathroom but the sound of water beating on glass and tiles when he turns on the shower calms me and I fall asleep again.

-

The next morning, I wake up and pick up my phone for my early morning dose of notifications and social media when a grunt beside me on the king-sized bed nearly makes me fall right out of said bed, fetus and everything. I glare at the other end of the bed, already in a foul mood Piero stirring and stretching. What the fuck?

"Good morning," he says more cheerful than I think I've ever seen him, "I really hope you slept well. I slept amazingly."

What the fuck?

My face must show my utter discombobulation because Piero chuckles at me (what the fuck) and explains, "You were already asleep when I came out of the shower and having contemplated your complaint about me leaving you here, I have decided to actively share this room with you."

I nod but I'm scowling because his Strawberry Shortcake mood is pissing me off. First time that I'm waking up beside Piero and he's in this amazing mood while I feel like a bucket of coal. Awesome! I don't know why I'm angry; I just know that I am and I'm in one of those angry moods where I don't want to associate with anybody and especially not Mr Smiley-Pants over there.

I roll out of bed (because that's all I can do now) and leave Piero already tapping away on his iPad, probably checking the stock market or something else I know little about. After a warm shower, my mood is no better so I text Abelie to please help me bring my food to the bedroom seeing as I'm not in the mood to socialize over breakfast.

I scowl again when I see that the only option I have if I don't want to look at Piero while eating breakfast (even though it's a ginormous room) is to have my breakfast in the en-suite living room thingy. Breakfast in bed would have been really nice but I guess that's out the window.

Abelie knocks and after gaining entry, she walks in with the smell of bacon, eggs, bread and so many other delicious aromas. Her eyes widen when she sees Piero and her small mouth falls into an 'O'. glad I'm not the only one surprised to see Piero here this morning.

Abelie quickly bows her head to Piero and squeaks, "Good morning, sir. I did not know you were here or I would have announced myself. Very sorry, sir."

I roll my eyes, Piero gives her a small smile and nod before going back to his iPad, not even having the decency to reply here. What a pig.

"Don't worry, Abelie," I say to soon-to-be assistant, "Just set it up in the en-suite. I'll have my breakfast there."

"Nonsense!" Piero declares immediately, startling both of us and nearly making poor Abelie almost drop the tray she's holding, "I will leave for you because you will be much more comfortable in bed."

He immediately stands up and gathers his iPad and it's charger and walking into the en-suite, closing the door softly behind him.

A few hours later, I hear heavy footsteps behind me as I walk down a garden path not far away from the house. Not far away because a) walking is getting increasingly tiring and b) Sergio would probably have an aneurysm if I strayed too far from the safety of the house. I turn around and find Piero looking delicious as usual in a pair of soft jeans and a Polo Ralph Lauren shirt, jogging towards me with a small smile on his face.

Again with the happiness, ugh. I feel better now but if he starts singing about rainbows and sunshine, I swear I'm going to lose it.

"I thought I might walk with you so we can talk," he says when he catches up to me and I swear his voice goes straight to my nether regions. I really thought I was over the horny phase of my pregnancy but it just turns out Piero just brings it out of me.

"What do you want to talk about?" I ask him.

"Nothing specifically," he replies, "okay, I've never actually asked you how your pregnancy is going."

I look down at my round belly and let out a small laugh, "You're kinda late."

"I know," he says, "I'm really sorry for not being supportive during this pregnancy. It's been very difficult handling my attraction to you while being around you without doing something about it. But I have realised that I am a father-to-be and I must act accordingly. I never expected to feel this way about you when I asked you to mother this child but it was my decision to have this child and I must be sensible about it. If it is to damn my feelings, well, damn them. Things must not get complicated but I will be here for you every step of the way from now on and that is a promise."

Absolutely shocked. I'm finding it hard to wrap my head around his last few sentences and I'm stood in one spot watching the back of his head as he walks on already talking about Morning Star having impregnated some mares he was set to stud.

I shake myself out of it and waddle back up to him, having also made up my own mind as well. Piero is right. These feelings are inconvenient and might not be in the best interest of this baby. What happens if we break up and it's sour? Besides, I'm not the kind of woman Piero is usualLy interested in. What's the assurance that I will be able to keep his interest? Especially with the way this pregnancy is messing my body up; the gym can only do so much. He's in a much better position to properly take care of this child. If things were to go bad between us, I would be the one getting the shorter end of the stick and then lose this child that I already love so much. It might just be time to abandon mission.

It's just not worth it.