Pregnant with the Enemy’s Heir

3

It took a few moments before the kittens cautiously emerged from the bushes, their trust in Donovan evident. I scooped up one with soft brown fur, while Donovan gently cradled the tuxedo kitten. “So pretty,” I said, still crouched on the pavement beside him. Donovan’s rough exterior seemed to melt away as he held the kitten with such tenderness that it almost shattered the tough persona he projected. His eyes were gentle, and for a brief moment, I felt a pang of regret for harboring negative feelings toward him.

“Missy?” Donovan said, and I turned to look at him, surprised by the casual use of the name. He spoke as though it were a familiar term of endearment, and I almost hummed in response. “You better cover up,” he added, standing up and turning towards his car parked just beside the pavement.

Confused, I glanced down and realized my skirt had flown up, revealing my thighs that were filled with love bites. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment as I quickly pulled the fabric back into place, my heart racing. “This is so embarrassing,” I muttered, gritting my teeth and closing my eyes in mortification.

Donovan carefully placed the kitten in a towel and closed the door behind it. “I’ll leave it in your care for now. Don’t hurt it!” he said, his voice carrying a hint of warning. The softness in his eyes had disappeared, replaced by a serious edge. I nodded, standing up just as my phone rang.

“Yes, Uncle?” I answered, trying to mask my frustration.

“The driver will arrive in half an hour. The road is blocked, so it’s taking him a little longer,” he said.

“Half an hour? What am I supposed to do here for that long?” I replied, irritation seeping into my voice. “Get him here quickly. I’m not feeling well and can’t wait that long.” I was about to hang up when I noticed Donovan’s car window rolling down.

“Want a ride?” Donovan asked, his offer sounding genuinely accommodating. I glanced at my phone and the kitten in my hand, feeling helpless.

“If it’s not too much of a burden,” I said hesitantly.

“Not at all. After all, I have to repay you for helping my darling out of the bushes,” he said with a warmth that made me almost jealous of the kitten for receiving such affection from him.

“That’s very kind of you,” I said with a smile, then proceeded to grab my belongings from my bag and walked towards the car. To my surprise, Donovan was already by the passenger seat, holding the door open for me.

“Gosh! Leo never did that for me,” I thought, feeling a twinge of surprise. What was it with Donovan? He could easily maintain his rough demeanor, but here he was acting like a gentleman. I began to understand why some girls found themselves enchanted by such a complex mix of traits.

I slowly realized that Donovan’s actions were confusing yet undeniably charming. As I sat in the car, hugging the kitten, he took my bag and helped me with the seatbelt. His chest brushed against me, and I caught a whiff of his cologne—enchanting and making me feel a little hazy. When he started to pull back, he paused just across my face, his eyes now fixated on something else. They fell to my neck as he reached out, his fingers gently stroking my collarbone.

I should have pushed him away, but instead, I felt a strange sense of pleasure, making me gulp involuntarily. His touch lingered for a moment before he carefully removed the pendant from around my neck, examining it with amusement. “Very pretty,” he said, his lips forming into a smile. The warmth of his touch was unexpectedly intense. I wondered if something was wrong with me.

He placed the pendant back and moved away, letting it hang from my neck. It was a gift from my mother on my fifteenth birthday, one I had cherished and worn ever since. Donovan settled back into the driver’s seat, and the scent of his cologne filled the car. I focused on the dashboard, not wanting to look his way as he drove.

“Do you want to stop by the hospital?” he asked.

“Why?” I replied, puzzled.

“You’re injured. Shouldn’t you get a shot or something?” he mentioned, referring to the love bites. I was embarrassed but couldn’t tell him they were from the recent encounter in the shower, so I remained silent.

“Wounds left untreated can get infected easily,” he added, his tone implying concern. I glanced at him, feeling his words carried more weight than they should.

“Well, it isn’t something serious, trust me,” I said, trying to downplay it.

“Trust you? I just met you. How am I supposed to do that?” He chuckled, his words carrying a dual meaning that only added to his enigmatic aura. I hadn’t cared about him this morning, but now I felt a strong urge to understand him better.

“Okay, don’t,” I said, shifting to the side and tickling the kitten’s head.

“You must have a very active s*x life to have those sorts of fresh wounds,” Donovan added casually.

I clenched my teeth, knowing he did understand the situation—he was just teasing me. “Yeah, I do have a particularly needy boyfriend,” I replied, trying to match his playful tone.

“If I were him, I’d be more needy, so you should be thankful,” he said without much effort. His remark left me puzzled. Was he speaking generally, or was there a specific undertone meant for me? His carefree delivery only deepened my mixed feelings about him.

After Donovan dropped me off at the foot of the mansion, he gave a brief goodbye before driving away without any further demands. I walked into the mansion and headed straight to see my mother waiting for me, concern etched on her face.

“Ele! Where did you disappear to? The driver said you were at the campus, but you didn’t pick up my calls!” she hissed, clearly upset.

“Mom, I was with a… friend,” I said reluctantly, using the term loosely.

“Bliss? I called her, and she said you weren’t with her. And what’s this?” She scolded, her eyes narrowing as she examined my appearance.

“No, it was someone else,” I said, avoiding mentioning Donovan’s name. I knew he wasn’t particularly favored around the household.

“Who is she? Is she a nice person?” she continued to probe.

“Yes, Mom! She is. Can I go to my room now? I’m tired,” I replied, my irritation starting to show.

She gave me a disapproving look, but eventually relented and allowed me to go. I headed to my room, eager for some privacy and relief from the day’s events.