Chapter 140

Chapter 140


REINA

Warmth. That was the first thing I felt as consciousness slowly pulled me back into the world. A soft, wet heat surrounding my left nipple, gentle suction that sent lazy sparks of pleasure through my still-heavy body. My eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the morning light filtering through sheer curtains. I was in Domenico’s bedroom—his massive bed, silk sheets tangled around my naked body. I didn’t remember how I got here. The last thing I recalled was falling asleep on the couch in his arms, exhausted and emotionally raw. He must have carried me, cleaned me up... taken care of me while I was lost to the world.

And now, here he was.

Domenico lay beside me, propped on one elbow, his dark hair tousled from sleep. His mouth was latched onto my breast with such tender devotion that my breath caught. His eyes lifted to meet mine the moment I stirred, and the smile that spread across his face was breathtaking—beautiful, almost boyish in its happiness, yet laced with that intense possession I’d come to both fear and crave.

“Good morning, my love,” he murmured against my skin, his voice husky with sleep and desire. He didn’t pull away immediately. Instead, he gave one more slow, deliberate suck before releasing my nipple with a soft, wet pop. “I woke up and saw how full they looked. So heavy. So beautiful. I thought they might be hurting you again like last night.”

I glanced down. My breasts did look different—fuller, the veins more visible beneath the skin, a subtle blue tracery that hadn’t been there before. They ached with a deep, tender weight. A nervous flutter twisted in my stomach, sharp and insistent. What does that mean? The question screamed in my head, but I swallowed it down, forcing my face to stay neutral.

“They... feel sensitive,” I whispered instead, my voice still rough from all the moaning and crying the night before.

Domenico’s fingers traced the curve of one breast reverently, as if it were something sacred. “They’re getting bigger, Reina. Heavier. The veins... they make them look even more irresistible. Like your body is blooming just for me.” He leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to the side of my breast, then another to my nipple, making me shiver. “If they’re painful, let me take care of them. I could spend all morning like this—worshipping you.”

The romance in his tone, the way his eyes drank me in like I was the only thing that mattered in his universe, made my heart clench. Part of me wanted to melt into him. Another part—the panicked, guilty part—wanted to run. But my body betrayed me again, a fresh warmth pooling between my thighs despite the raw ache there.

I sat up slowly, pulling the sheet around my waist. “I need a bath first,” I said, trying to sound firm. “Before breakfast. Make sure my meal is ready by the time I’m done.”

His smile widened, indulgent and loving. “Of course, amore mio. Whatever you want.” He reached for the phone on the nightstand without hesitation, dialing quickly. As it rang, he kept one hand on my thigh, stroking lazy circles that felt both soothing and possessive.

“Chef,” he said when the line connected, his voice smooth and commanding. “Prepare breakfast for two. Something special this morning. Reina will tell you exactly what she wants.”

He handed me the phone, his eyes sparkling with amusement and affection. I took it, my mind suddenly swirling with strange, intense cravings that felt foreign even to me.

“Hello,” I said, clearing my throat. “I’d like... avocado toast, but with pickled onions and a drizzle of chocolate sauce. And mango slices with chili powder. Oh—and a spinach omelette with strawberries inside. And ginger tea. Very strong ginger tea.”

The chef on the other end hesitated for just a second. “...Certainly, ma’am. Anything else?”

“Maybe some yogurt with... sardines? No, wait—pickles and ice cream. Just a small bowl.” The words tumbled out before I could stop them. They sounded ridiculous even to my own ears. Why was I craving these bizarre combinations? My stomach twisted again, but not entirely unpleasantly.

Domenico didn’t laugh. He simply watched me with that same adoring expression, like my every whim was precious. When I handed the phone back, he relayed the full order without a hint of judgment. “You heard her. Make it exactly as she asked. And add fresh orange juice with a touch of mint.” He hung up and turned back to me, cupping my face gently. “Your cravings are adorable. They suit you—unexpected, bold, sweet with a kick. Like your heart.”

His words wrapped around me like a warm blanket, stirring that confusing mix of emotions again. I felt tears threatening, but I pushed them back. “Let’s bathe,” I said softly.

He insisted on carrying me to the bathroom, even though I could walk. His arms felt safe, strong, and I hated how much I leaned into his chest. The bathroom was warm, a deep soaking tub already filling with steaming water that smelled of lavender and rose. He lowered me into it carefully, then joined me, kneeling behind me so he could wash me himself.

“Relax, amore,” he whispered, pouring warm water over my shoulders. His hands glided over my skin with soap, massaging gently. “You were so incredible last night. Giving yourself to me like that... trusting me with your pleasure, your tears. I meant every word I said. You are my dream. My only love.”

I closed my eyes, letting his voice and touch wash over me. The water felt heavenly on my sore muscles, but as his hands moved lower, cupping my heavy breasts again, a wave of nausea hit me hard. My stomach churned violently.

“Domenico...” I started, but it was too late.

I lurched forward, gripping the edge of the tub as everything came up—violent, sudden vomiting that left me gasping and shaking. The strange breakfast I’d just ordered flashed in my mind, but this was happening now, before any food had arrived. Tears stung my eyes from the force of it.

He was instantly alert, one arm wrapping around me supportively while the other held my hair back. “Reina! Breathe, my love. I’m here.” His voice was thick with genuine worry—no calculation, just raw concern. He rubbed my back in soothing circles as another smaller heave wracked my body. “What’s wrong? Did I make the water too hot? Talk to me.”

I spat into the water, trembling. Panic clawed at my throat. Bigger breasts. Weird cravings. Vomiting. The implications screamed in my head, but I couldn’t voice them. Not yet. Not to him.

“I... I don’t know,” I lied shakily, leaning back against his chest. His heart was pounding fast against my back. “It came out of nowhere.”

He held me tighter, pressing kisses to my wet hair, my temple. “You’re safe. I’ve got you, love. We’ll figure this out, just like I promised last night. Whatever your body needs, I’ll provide it. Doctors, anything. You don’t have to carry any burden alone anymore. I'm here with you.” His tone was so full of love it hurt—romantic, hopeless, completely devoted. “Seeing you like this... it makes me want to protect you even more fiercely. You’re everything to me, Reina. My future, my present. My fucking world.”

I turned in his arms, burying my face in his neck as the nausea slowly subsided. The water lapped gently around us. Despite the panic, his warmth, his scent, the way he cradled me like I was fragile and priceless—it all created a dangerous comfort. Suspense hung thick in the air between us, unspoken questions swirling.

He helped me rinse my mouth, then continued bathing me with even more tenderness, his hands never lingering too long where I might feel raw. “We don’t have to rush anything today,” he murmured. “Breakfast can wait. Or I can have it brought in here. Just tell me what you need.”

I nodded weakly, my mind racing. Part of me wanted to push him away, to run from the terrifying possibility growing inside me. Another part—the one that had cried in his arms last night—wanted to stay right here, letting this dangerous man love me with every breath.

As he helped me out of the tub and wrapped me in a plush robe, his eyes never left mine. Full of worry, yes, but also that endless romantic fire. “I love you,” he said simply, kissing my forehead. “No matter what happens next.”

I didn’t reply. I couldn’t bring myself to. The suspense of what my body was trying to tell me hung over us like a storm cloud, beautiful and terrifying all at once. And Domenico... he stood ready to face it with me, whether I wanted him to or not.