Bound By Love

Gianna’s phone rang. “No, we’re still at home. Aria is too slow.”
I scowled at her. Slow? I was surprised I could walk at all the way my insides seemed to be torn to pieces.

, the strongest contraction rocked through my body. I convulsed, my eyes closing, and I released a small cry.

“You are strong, Aria,” Luca murmured against my forehead. “And I’m here for you. I wish I could take the pain from you.”

f. Luca towered inside and his worried gray eyes zoomed in on me. Without a word, he strode toward Matteo and took me from his brother. Luca held me against his chest as if I weighed nothing. He lowered his face and kissed me gently before he headed for the elevator. I could feel his heartbeat racing, but his face was calm and it soothed my own worries. With him at my side, everything would be okay.

Gianna pulled her own cell out. “Yes, it’s Aria,” was the first thing she said. Of course Luca knew it was because of me when Gianna called him. My text had probably sent him into a panic attack

Aria? Are you okay?

Two hours. You okay?

I managed to send it off before another contraction rendered me a wheezing mess

. When will you be home

I must have dozed off, when a sharp pain in my lower abdomen jerked me awake. My eyes flew open, and I gasped

Okay,” I said, my nose wrinkling, and tried to get into a sitting position. A beetle on its back had more range of motion than me. Luca held out his hand, a smirk playing around his mouth, but in his eyes was something fierce and protective as usual when I displayed my current vulnerability.

Sighing, I let him pull me to my feet. I touched his muscled stomach. “I almost wish you’d gained weight, then I wouldn’t feel quite so ginormous.”