Chapter 40

GRACE

I’d never seen Haven so stunned before. He was staring at me, mouth agape, like a fish out of water. I knew he’d expected me to run into his arms, apologizing for leaving him.

And I was sorry, but I’d made the decision to return. We needed to be together. This was bigger than my fears.

“How... How long have you known?” he asked.

“A few days,” I replied. “I kept feeling sick around strong smells, so...I checked my app and realized that...we were together on a risky day so...”

I felt a blush creeping up my cheeks. Maybe it was too soon after everything that had happened, after I’d broken both our hearts by leaving. It wasn’t the ideal reunion.

I was about to apologize when he pulled me into his arms. He held me so tightly that I couldn’t help but hold him back. It felt so right being in his arms. I’d missed him.

“Grace, I love you. Thank you, and I’m sorry for scaring you away last time. I can’t express how happy I am. Please come home.”

“Of course, I’m coming home,” I sobbed. “I don’t want to be apart anymore. I need you. I’m sorry it took this to make me realize how much I love you.”

“You’re so young. It’s understandable that you’re unsure, but I’ll always be here. Whenever you need to get away, I’ll wait for you because I know you’ll always come back. It’s the same for me. Now, it won’t be just us soon, but we’ll manage. There’s nothing we can’t handle.”

“I missed you so much, Haven.”

I cried in his arms, and I knew he was crying too. I was still unsure about this baby because it scared me, but Haven was the only one I wanted to share this with.

I’d just have to delay my marketing classes. I could live with that as long as I had Haven.

“Have you seen a doctor yet?” he asked, wiping my tears away with his thumbs.

“Not yet,” I replied, shaking my head. “I wanted to do that with you.”

“I’m glad because I don’t want to miss anything. I know the perfect doctor too. My sister is a gynecologist.”

“That’s...convenient,” I said.

“Yes, she’s the best, and she takes care of most women. I’ll ask her to come check on you. She’s been wanting to meet you anyway.”

I’d been wanting to meet his family since we were practically married. I hoped she’d like me, even though I was still human. It didn’t matter to Haven, but I’d seen how important status was to him when he rejected Raja’s proposal.

“Is everything okay, Grace?” he asked, looking at me.

“I was just...wondering if your sister would like me,” I admitted.

“Of course she will. They’re all excited to meet you.” He smiled reassuringly.

“I want to meet them too.” I smiled back.

“You will one day. My mom is...grieving my brother right now, but she’ll want to see you when she finds out you’re pregnant. She’s been waiting for this for centuries.”

He was beaming just saying the words. I was relieved because I’d been afraid he wouldn’t think it was a good idea.

“I’m happy,” I said. “I was...worried that you’d be mad at me.”

“I was never mad, Grace. You have every right to be traumatized, and... I’m partly to blame too. I knew you weren’t ready, and I shouldn’t have pushed.”

“I had time to think while I was away. I wasn’t scared of you. I was scared of the bite. You never scared me. I needed time to process that Silas was the only one responsible for my fear, and the bite has always been pleasurable with you. I felt ashamed, too, that I couldn’t protect myself when you told me how intimate and important it was. I’m ready to be everything you need me to be again. I’ll be your submissive, and I want you to drink my blood. I’m completely yours.”

He paused for a moment, and I saw his eyes shift to a deep ruby red. They were as beautiful as the first time I saw them. Haven would never hurt me. I knew that, so I tilted my neck to him.

“Grace, no,” he said firmly.

“I promise I won’t run away anymore,” I insisted, looking into his eyes.

He was still hesitant, afraid I’d run again. But I wouldn’t. Haven was my home. He was where I belonged. I realized that when I felt how miserable I was without him.

No more. Silas wouldn’t ruin our lives anymore. We were going to be parents. We’d have other worries. It was time to leave the past behind.

“You say you want to be my submissive, but you’re pushing me. That’s not how it works,” he said, his teeth clenched.

“Then punish me, Master,” I said, a small smile on my lips.

“Still as eager as the first time.” He chuckled.

He kissed my neck gently as he held me close. I felt his fangs pierce my skin, and the brief pain was quickly replaced by the pure pleasure only Haven could give me.

I felt weak, and a warmth spread through my body. I was wet, and I needed more.

“Haven,” I moaned.

He let go of my neck to lift me into his arms and lay me on his desk. He lifted my dress, ripped my panties aside, and pushed his pants and briefs down before thrusting hard into me.

I arched my back to meet him, crying out in pleasure. God, I’d missed him so much after a whole month.

“Damn it, Grace. I’m trying, but I can’t be gentle. You left me.”

Each word he spoke was punctuated by a forceful thrust inside me. His hands gripped my hips, holding me tight against him, limiting my movements.

He made me feel incredible. His words were a blur as pleasure clouded my senses. My body was reacting to him, tightening around him, craving release.

“You shattered my heart.”

He thrust again, harder this time, and I felt the heat building within me. But he wouldn’t let me climax yet. He was determined to make me listen to every word.

“You return—pregnant.”

It was a wonder he hadn’t lost control yet, given how tightly I was gripping him. But his willpower was stronger.

“And you have the audacity to give me orders?” His voice was a low growl.

“Master...please,” I moaned.

“You’ve got some nerve!” His voice was sharp.

He thrust into me so forcefully that the desk beneath me began to shake. My body was aflame with need. I needed to climax. I needed it desperately.

His fingers found my clit, pinching it hard. I cried out as pain and pleasure intertwined.

“I should punish you with a cane for that, and believe me, you wouldn’t enjoy it. But... I’m just too relieved to have you back. I’ll let it slide until we get home. Do you understand?”

“Yes! Please, Master. Let me climax.”

He thrust into me with such force that it felt like he could split me in two, but I accepted his punishment. He bit me again, and I climaxed, crying out.

“Oh, yes! Master! Thank you!” I screamed.

I felt him release inside of me as I rode the waves of my climax. He continued to thrust slowly, letting me ride it out until I was panting for breath. He licked the bite mark on my neck, cleaning it, and his green eyes locked onto mine.

“Don’t ever leave me again,” he ordered.

“Never. I promise,” I managed to say, my voice hoarse from all the screaming.

Leaving him again would be like tearing my own heart out. I couldn’t bear to go through that again.

He pulled out of me and retrieved some wipes from his desk. He handed them to me to clean up, and I stood up.

“You realize I’ll have to go commando under my dress because I didn’t bring a spare thong,” I pointed out.

“Then you’ll have to be careful not to flash anyone, sweetheart.” He smirked.

“Yes, sir.” I chuckled.

I knew I would never want anyone else. Leaving him had only confirmed my feelings.

Haven was my everything, and our world was about to expand. I couldn’t wait to experience it all with the love of my life.

^End of Book 1^