The Conspiracy of Baby-Switching novel Chapter 66

His tears do break the dam this time, and he wipes them away as they roll down his cheeks.

This is the first time I’ve ever seen him like this, beautifully vulnerable.

“Why are you sad?” Lucia asks.

“I’m happy.” He stands and pulls me out of my chair and hugs me tight. “Thank you. Thank you,” he whispers as he holds me close. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”

I let myself relax into his hug, and then, like clockwork, his large, strong body begins to talk to mine, and I feel the twinge of arousal surge between us. I pull out of his grip.

His eyes hold mine, and I know that he felt it too.

“Let’s get back to this game,” I announce to change the subject. “I’m about to kick your butt, Mr. Ferrara.” “Yeah,” Dominic growls.

“Me too,” Lucia chimes in. “I’m winning this time.”

He sits back down and smiles through tears as he looks around the table, and for the first time in his life, he’s utterly speechless.

And for the first time in a long time, I feel proud of myself.

“Into bed.” I kiss Dominic’s head as he walks up the stairs. “I’ll be up in a moment to say good night.”

“Okay.”

“Buona notte,” Gabriel says from beside me.

“Buona notte,” Dom says as he walks up the stairs. “Night, Mom.”

I walk into the kitchen to straighten things up and Gabriel lingers by the door; it’s as if he wants to say something but is holding his tongue.

“Thank you for tonight,” I say. “It meant a lot to the kids.”

“It’s me who should be thanking you.” His eyes hold mine and like a tide in the ocean the mood changes, electricity crackles between us. “I can’t . . .”

“You take my bed tonight.” I cut him off, I don’t know what he’s going to say but I really don’t need to hear it.

“No, no.”

“I’m fine on the trundle, you are twice the length of the couch. Take my bed.”

“Vee, I . . .”

“Let’s not ruin a good night, shall we?” I cut him off. “Whatever you are going to say…please don’t.”

His eyes hold mine and I know that deep down, he knows I’m right.

“Good night.”

Hard…

I bet he’d be hard… A vision of him naked and looking down at me runs through my mind. A vision I’ve never forgotten because it’s burned into my brain.

One night with him in the flesh has given me years of fantasies in my mind.

Stop it!

Ugh. I drag my hand through my hair and roll over and punch my pillow.

I stare at the ceiling for over an hour until I can’t stand it any longer, maybe I need to go to the bathroom? Maybe that’s why I’m not sleeping.

I climb out of bed and pull my white nightdress down. No wonder I can’t sleep, I’m all twisted in this stupid thing. I’m not used to sleeping in pajamas.

I tiptoe down to the bathroom. The little red nightlight that plugs into the power point throws a warm glow across the room. I do my business and am standing at the basin, washing my hands when I feel my hair being swiped to the side, soft lips open-kiss my neck.

He’s here.

Goose bumps scatter up my spine as my knees weaken beneath me.

He kisses my neck again; this time his teeth graze my skin and I feel a surge of arousal scream through my blood. His hand wraps around my body dragging me back onto his erection.