Donovan Xavier lifted his eyes to et hers, his breath slightly ragged. "I am a man."
And a man in the pri of his life, full of vitality and vigor.
"I know," Chloe Preston said.
Donovan raised an eyebrow. He inched closer, pinning her against the wall and gripping her chin. "Aren’t you worried I’ll make a move on you?"
Chloe answered honestly, "I’m not. Before I got pregnant, you were improper with every night."
"Otherwise, how would I have gotten pregnant with your child?"
Donovan was rendered speechless.
When a few servants passed by and witnessed the scene, they all lowered their heads. They wanted to watch, but they didn’t dare let their eyes wander.
Seeing this, Chloe quickly pushed him. "There’s... soone."
"Step back a bit. You’re too close."
Donovan squinted his dark eyes and chuckled. "So, you do know how to be shy."
With all her previous antics, kissing and hugging him like so sort of female bandit, he never imagined she had such a bashful side.
Chloe’s gaze darted away as a faint blush spread across her fair cheeks.
Donovan’s dark eyes deepened. Without thinking, he blurted out, "You’re quite pretty when you blush."
Chloe’s heart skipped a beat, and her face turned even redder.
Donovan seed surprised by his own words. He imdiately released her and put so distance between them.
After a few seconds, he casually tugged at his tie and cleared his throat. "Anyway, I said you can’t wear that, and I an it. Tomorrow night, wear sothing more conservative."
"If it’s still that sheer, I’ll..."
"You’ll what?" Chloe asked, looking up.
Donovan fell silent.
If she still dressed like this, he wasn’t sure he could control himself.
A mont later, he started walking. "Let’s go back to our room."
Chloe followed by his side, reached out her hand, and said poutily, "You should be holding my hand."
Donovan pretended not to hear and kept walking without a word.
Then, he glanced from the corner of his eye and saw she hadn’t followed.
Donovan stopped and turned back to look at her. "Not coming? You want to sleep in the hallway?"
Chloe stood her ground, saying nothing.
Donovan frowned.
Is she throwing a tantrum?
Donovan sighed, walked back to her, and took her hand. "Is this okay now?"
Chloe deliberately furrowed her brow.
Donovan held her hand, caressing it gently. A smile touched his eyes. "How about this?"
Chloe blinked her bright eyes, leaned closer, and whispered, her lips curving into a smile, "Still not good enough. Why don’t you carry instead?"
Donovan leaned in slightly, a cold smile on his face. "Chloe Preston, don’t push your luck."
Chloe reached out and touched her belly. "But your baby says he’s tired and wants to be carried."
Donovan asked, "You can hear him talk?"
"Of course," Chloe replied. "It’s the bond between a mother and child, after all."
Donovan let out an exasperated laugh.
He fell silent for a few seconds before carefully scooping her up into his arms, bridal style.
Chloe instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, her eyes crinkling in a smile. "Hold tight and walk slowly. Don’t you dare drop ."
Donovan was speechless.
As he walked, he asked, "How many months?"
"A little over three months," Chloe said.
"In a while, when my belly gets bigger, you won’t be able to carry anymore."
Donovan’s gaze was fixed ahead, his thin lips pressed into a line as he asked in a deep voice, "Is being pregnant tiring?"
Chloe shook her head. "No, it’s not. I feel happy every day."
"Why?"
"Because I’m having a baby for the man I love."
As she said this, she lifted her head and leaned in to give his handso face a quick peck.
Donovan stopped walking. A flicker of emotion passed through his dark eyes as he looked down at her.
The man she loves... Does she an ?
After a long mont, he started walking again and spoke. "When’s your next prenatal appointnt?"
"Hmm?"
"I’ll go with you."
Back in the room, he gently placed her on the bed.
Donovan took off his suit jacket, pulled off his tie, and said in a deep voice, "I’m going to take a shower. You can go to sleep; don’t wait up."
"Oh," Chloe said.
"Do you need to go in and help?"
Donovan raised an eyebrow, a slight smile playing on his thin lips. "If you co in with , you’ll be the one at a disadvantage."
Chloe smiled. "Is that so?"
Donovan leaned down and lifted her chin, exuding an air of superiority to intimidate her. "Want to co in and try? I can’t always control my strength, so don’t bla if you end up crying."
Chloe’s lips curved upward. "Sure. We’ll see who’s crying in the end."
Donovan hadn’t expected her to say that and was taken aback.
He moved closer, gripping her jaw tightly as he sneered, "Challenging ?"
Sitting on the bed, Chloe blinked her clear, limpid eyes before getting up and pressing a kiss to the corner of his mouth.
Donovan clenched his fists, his mind a tangled ss.
How audacious.
He pushed her away.
She continued to look at him obediently, her gaze soft and calm. The next mont, the strap on her right shoulder snapped, and her nightgown slipped down.
With just one glance, Donovan averted his eyes, not daring to look.
He reached out, fumbled for the blanket, and quickly threw it over her.
"Go... go to sleep," Donovan stamred.
With that, he turned and strode quickly to the bathroom, locking the door behind him.
At that mont, a phone rang out.
Chloe picked up her phone and glanced at the screen; it was a call from Caleb Xavier.
The smile on her face vanished.
The next second, she took a breath and answered, "Hello."
Caleb Xavier’s voice ca through the phone, deep and powerful. "Preston! How are you managing the servants at The Xavier Residence? Rosalind ca to see Donovan today, and your servants had the nerve to stop her from entering!"
"I’m asking you, did you order your servants to bully Rosalind?"
Chloe hurriedly explained, "No... no, I didn’t know Miss Rowan was coming today, and the servants didn’t tell ."
Caleb shouted angrily, "Stop pretending! Rosalind didn’t get to see Donovan today and has been crying all afternoon. She hasn’t eaten a thing! Do you have any idea how heartbroken I am?"
"I’ve made up my mind. Tomorrow, I’m bringing people to take Donovan back to the ancestral ho to be cared for. I won’t let him stay at The Xavier Residence any longer!"
Chloe was silent for a long ti, then pursed her lips and spoke. "I’m afraid that’s not up to you."
Caleb demanded furiously, "What? Are you saying you dare to stop ?"
"I wouldn’t dare," Chloe said. "It’s just that... Donovan has already woken up."
"What did you say!" Caleb’s voice shook with shock on the other end of the line. He urgently asked, "Tell clearly! What’s Donovan’s condition?"
...
After a while, the bathroom door opened.
Donovan Xavier walked out, tall and erect, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. The collar of his robe was slightly open, revealing a strong, muscular chest, and his whole body was enveloped in cool water vapor.
Every gesture was brimming with a raw tension, radiating a unique, aggressive masculine aura that threatened to overwhelm anyone in his presence.
Dangerous, yet alluring.
Donovan’s handso face showed little emotion as he walked to the bed, sat down, and glanced at the woman lying there.
Her eyelashes were fluttering gently; she was pretending to be asleep.
A smile curved Donovan’s lips as he reached out, his fingertips lightly brushing against her fair, beautiful face.
"Asleep?" he asked deliberately, his fingertips sliding further down.
It tickled. It was warm.
That was Chloe’s first sensation. She kept her eyes shut tightly, her lashes trembling even more violently.
An amused expression flickered in Donovan’s eyes. He didn’t call her out on her pretense. Instead, he rose, walked to the other side of the bed, lifted the covers, and slipped in.
CLICK. The lights went out, plunging the room into darkness.
Donovan lay down and pulled the blanket over himself.
Perhaps it was because there was another person beside him, but he felt strange, completely unaccustod to it.
He turned over, his back to her.
They lay far apart, leaving an empty space between them large enough for at least two more people.
Just as Donovan closed his eyes, ready to sleep, he felt a gentle grasp on his hand.
He didn’t struggle and simply let her.
The next second, she snuggled up against him, her body warm and overwhelmingly fragrant.
Donovan’s entire body stiffened.
"Husband," Chloe called him.
Donovan kept his back to her, eyes closed, and sucked in a sharp breath. "We’re not married yet. Don’t call that for now."
Chloe opened her eyes, pressing her cheek against his broad back. "Donovan," she murmured softly.
Donovan struggled for control, his voice hoarse. "You don’t have to call that. Just say my na normally."
Chloe lowered her gaze and pursed her lips. "Don’t you like calling you that anymore?"
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