Spicy Sugar

The Issue with Trust

Author's note: This is another one. There will be another steamy part in this chapter. So feel free to skip it or enjoy it depending on what you want to. Just like I mentioned before there will be some key information in this chapter though, so, if you want to follow the story keep reading.

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Andrei's POV:

Later that night, I was sleeping in the hotel room Briar kindly provided me with at her Casino. It was a lot more comfortable and elaborate than my crappy apartment in Depravity Alley. When I began working here, I used to drive the distance every day, but couldn't stop myself from complaining now and then how tedious that was. One day she just presented me with a key and told me that I could stay here for as long as I'm working for her. She also told me that she planned on offering me a stay at the Valley in a tent, but since her people didn't like strangers, she settled for a room at her casino.

It also had the perk of some nightly visits from Briar when the way to the valley was too long or the workday got too late. She didn't have a certain room here normally, but since I was staying, she had a bed closer to her job that was easier to access. Tonight should not be a difference, as I would soon see.

It was around like four to five o'clock that I was woken by a noise in my room. Opening one eye halfway, I saw Briar just closing the door.

"Sorry, didn't mean to wake you." she apologized in a whisper.

I just shook my head a bit with a smile and scooted over in the bed, pulling the sheets back, so she could climb in, "No need to apologize, Sugar. Lots of paperwork?"

She nodded and made her way over, beginning to undress while her eyes were resting on my nearly naked form that was just illuminated by the faint moonlight, "Yeah. Business is really picking up. And the whole deal with Alec didn't make it easier."

"Alec? What were your consequences of this?" I said and stroked her back gently as she sat down to take off her shoes.

"I told Wayne to bring him to my office to have a talk with him. He didn't confess anything, so I put his work here on hold and the police are currently doing their investigations."

"Normally I would offer to get the truth out of him." she turned to me with a raised eyebrow. "I said normally. You know, I quit that job. That's why I won't bother. Besides, you would not want me to anyway."

"No, You're right. I'd rather have the police handle that situation their way. I'm sure he'll give in at one point."

"Figured." I simply pulled her in close, feeling her back pressing against my chest, and gently began stroking over her belly with one hand.

Covering her in the blanket, she turned slightly and kissed my cheek, "I'm so thankful for all this. How you do everything you can and leave all you know behind to protect me and our child."

My brows furrowed, but I said nothing.

Our child? She surely meant that as in a purely technical sense. I mean, I do love her and the child, even though it's not mine. I bet she just says this because she wants me to be part of their lives.

"You will be a great father in a few months." she added and nestled herself closer to me.

At this point I could not hold back, "You know ... You keep calling the little one our child. Like if I was the father. But it's Ulf's baby, is it not?"

She turned and shifted, so I rolled onto my back for her to rest her head on my shoulder, "You are just as much of a father to the child as Ulf is."