He pulled her gently toward him and sat her down.


    Victor settled next to her, picked up a spoon, and brought it to her lips.


    Isadora felt a little embarrassed. "I can feed myself, really."


    She reached out, intending to take the spoon from him.


    But Victor moved it just out of her reach, his gaze deep and unwavering, though his tone was almost casual. "I want to feed you."


    Isadora bit her lip and tried to exin again. "Victor, I''m not that fragile. Tonight was just..... a fluke. I got emotional, that''s all. You don''t have to worry about me now I''m fine."


    Victor let out a quiet sigh, sounding a little exasperated. He spoke slowly, each word deliberate:


    "Isadora, when you''re with me, you can be sad, you canugh, you can be unreasonable—it''s all fine. I''m not going to push you to be strong all the time. I just want you to know, when you''re hurt, you don''t have to pretend around me."


    As he spoke, Isadora''sshes fluttered softly.


    She looked at the spoon he offered again, and finally, she opened her mouth to take a sip.


    "Well?" he asked.


    "It''s... not bad."


    Victor''s lips curled into a smile. "Not bad? The cook spent hours making this, and after I got home, I spent another half hour perfecting it. Miss Vaughan, I think you''re getting a little picky."


    She shot him a look. "Isn''t that normal? Pregnant women are supposed to be like this."


    Victor''s eyes glinted with amusement, his voice low and coaxing. "All right, my picky mother-to-be. Whatever you say."


    With the patience of someone feeding a beloved pet, Victor continued, spoonful by spoonful, until she''d finished the entire bowl.


    When she was done, Isadora stood up, ready to go back to her room and rest.


    But as soon as she got up, she felt his hands settle gently on her waist.


    Victor pressed his cheek to her stomach. "If this little rascal keeps kicking, I swear, once it''s out I''m going to have words with it."


    Ever since she got pregnant, Isadora


    had seen plenty of parenting books photos of expectant fathers


    with their heads pressed to the mother''s belly, listening for their


    baby''s heartbeat.


    But when Victor did it, it made her heart skip a beat.


    At the hospital, ever since he''d arrived, even the pain in her abdomen seemed to have eased.


    Isadora shook her head. "I''m fine now."


    Outside, through the big bay windows, the night sky was a deep, pure ck-like


    a giant gemstone sprinkled with stars.


    After a while, she headed back to her room to rest.


    She heard Victor''szy footsteps following behind her down the hall.


    At her bedroom door, she half-heartedly blocked the way. "You said the bedroom was mine tonight."


    Victor nced down at her, an amused smile ying at his lips. "My clothes are in there."


    Isadora pursed her lips but stepped aside.


    Victor strolled into the room,


    y undoing his shirt buttet


    as he walked, then pulled it


    t a second thougContent


    His bare torso was all tight, sculpted muscle, the lines disappearing into his ck cks—his long legs tense and powerful.


    Isadora quickly looked away. "I thought you just came to get your clothes!"


    Victor arched an eyebrow. "Getting my clothes-and taking a shower, while I''m at


    it."


    Isadora''s cheeks flushed. She knew it—this man was impossible!


    "Fine. I''ll sleep in the guest room."


    But before she could leave, Victor caught her slender wrist and, with just a gentle


    pull, drew her straight into his arms.


    She collided with his bare chest, feeling the solid heat of him.


    His strong arms were suddenly wrapped tightly around her waist, holding her close.


    The intimacy of it made escape


    impossible-she was re


    the warmth of his body and the


    by


    unmistakable scent of him, nowhere to run.