Chapter 468

Sophia's fingers trembled as she cupped Ethan's chiseled face. A soft whimper escaped her lips. "I was wrong..."

A dark glint flashed in his eyes as his thumb brushed her damp lower lip. "Explain."

"I'm sorry..."

He knew every sensitive spot on her body too well. Sophia's eyes reddened at the edges, overwhelmed. The secret weighed on her like chains, forcing her surrender.

"Can't hear you." His fingers dug into the dip of her waist, cruel and deliberate.

"I'm sorry!" Her voice cracked with tears.

A sharp slap landed on her backside. "What exactly were you wrong about?"

"Shouldn't have talked back... shouldn't have said those things..." Her toes curled in humiliation.

Another smack. "Still thinking of running?"

"Never again..."

"Who do you want to bear children for?"

"Only you..."

"Who owns your heart?"

"Just you..."

He suddenly braced above her, casting a shadow. "Final question." His palm hovered over her rear. "Has anyone else touched you?"

Sophia stared at that threatening hand and frantically shook her head. "No! Only you—always you!"

"Then who pleases you more?"

"You're cheating!" She bit his shoulder in frustration.

"My math teacher was the gym coach." He chuckled darkly before retaliating with a nip of his own.

Sophia's ears burned crimson. "How can I compare when there's no one else to compare to?"

Ethan smirked, kneading the flushed skin before suddenly lifting her thighs. "Good behavior deserves a reward."

"No!" She pressed against his chest in panic. "I'm... on my period..."

"Liar." His fingers slid beneath her skirt. "I already checked."

Tears welled instantly. With a resigned sigh, she looped her arms around his neck and nuzzled close, voice thick. "My stomach hurts... be gentle..."

The prenatal report said intimacy was safe after four months. If she couldn't escape, she might as well bargain for tenderness.

Ethan didn't respond, but his movements turned unusually careful. His scorching lips traced her shivering skin with uncharacteristic patience.

As pleasure crested, he suddenly sucked her earlobe. "Sophia, let's have a baby."

That way, she'd never run again.

Imagining her cradling a rosy-cheeked bundle, he smoothed a hand over her slightly rounded abdomen—

Something kicked against his palm.

Both froze.

"Did you just—" Ethan's eyes narrowed.

Sophia's heart stopped. She hastily sank her teeth into his collarbone. "It hurts... slow down..."

The baby's protesting, she thought secretly.