Darren’s eyes hit me like a tidal wave, and I didn’t even have to return his gaze to know he was practically eating me alive.Ignoring the burning pressure of his stare, I made my way closer to the table, gripping its edge to ground me in place.But I knew Darren wouldn’t allow the distance as he moved around the table, the predator in him sliding up behind me to glide his hands across my abdomen, pressing me against him.
I stiffened, wanting nothing more than to throw my head back and bust his nose in, but unfortunately, my head was inches below his chin at the moment.
My skin bristled as I felt him lower his mouth to my ear, his voice low for only me to hear.
“Are you going to behave tonight?”he asked softly.“Because your dog misses you terribly.”
I bit the inside of my cheek to stop my bitchy retort but nodded.If polite dinner behavior got me Camaro back, then I could survive what would likely only be an hour of torture anyway.
“Good girl,” he said and then kissed my temple before stepping away to pull out my chair for me.
Darren tucked in my chair for me as I sat down, and everyone else took their seats.Daniel then took his champagne glass and raised it for a toast.
“Well, I’m glad your wife is finally embracing her duty to expand our family.Here’s to hoping for the sons youdeserve,” he said, the snark in his tone unmistakable.
What a dick.
Darren and Katherine raised their glasses to join Daniel’s toast while I only stared at mine, noticing a similar colored liquid.
“It’s only grape juice,” Darren clarified.
I hummed in acknowledgment, then reluctantly raised the glass to clink against the others, taking a sip and wrinkling my nose at the overly sweet taste.Yuck.
“How’ve you been feeling, Jaden?”Katherine asked, her eyes wide with interest.
I pursed my lips at her question, unsurprised by her curiosity.Even if I wasn’t happy about the forced stealth pregnancy, she would still concern herself with my well-being in general.
“Nauseated,” I answered, ditching the grape juice for the glass of ice water in front of me.
“I know the feeling,” Katherine replied in sympathy.“It was like that for me too in the first trimester.But it should go away in the second.”
“Great,” I said as my tired eyes slunk back to the empty gold charger placed in front of me.
“You have brothers, don’t you, Jaden?”Daniel suddenly asked.
My gaze shot up to his at the mention of my family, my stomach flipping into a tight frenzy.I could see Darren’s deadly glare aimed at Daniel, a clear warning in his gaze not to push further.He didn’t like it when my life before him was brought to light.
“Yes,” I said simply, keeping my answer short.
“Much younger than you?”he continued, unfazed by the awkward atmosphere he was clearly intentionally creating.
“Yes,” I answered again, my heart rate picking up.
Daniel nodded in satisfaction.“Good.Then you should have no problem with raising a boy in this family.I know you weren’t raised to be a proper caretaker, but that experience will come in handy for you.”
I frowned, unsure what to say to that little insult.“I’m not sure it will matter either way, but thanks.”
“Of course it matters,” he retorted snidely.“You’re going to want to be prepared for his upbringing as best you can so you’re able to properly support him as he grows into a man.”
I cocked a brow at him, noticing the bait he was clearly dangling in front of my face.I wondered if he would take mine just as well.
“And what is it about his upbringing that I need to be prepared for exactly?”I asked.“Assuming we ever even have a boy.”
A wicked grin flashed across his face.“Oh, I’m sure Darren won’t stop breeding you until you do.”Daniel snickered, causing Darren to side-eye him.“But let’s just say your son’s childhood won’t be as easy as your brothers’ was.”
“Enough, Daniel,” Darren warned, his gaze hardening with irritation as he glared at his brother.
I tilted my head at Daniel, the sharpness of my tongue too quick to catch.“Why?Because my brothers weren’t tortured every year for three days straight the same way you two were as children?”I deadpanned.“Sorry, but I don’t think any mother could ever be prepared for that.”