A Kiss of Color: A BWWM Interracial Pregnancy Romance (Book 2) by Cristina Grenier Read Free Book Online Page B

knew, and her first and foremost interest was finishing her degree; but it seemed hard for Helena to think of anything beyond her eventual career. On one level, Xavier understood completely. Success was very important to Helena, especially coming from the background of poverty and exploitation that she had.
    Her father, the only positive influence she’d ever had in her life, had been stolen from her before she’d finished college, leaving her with an amazing legacy but no real emotional support. Helena was bound and determined to become a physician that he would be proud of – and to prove her mother wrong.
    In that respect, they were very much alike. While Xavier’s parents were filthy rich, they had never given him the love or attention he craved. Atop that, they had pulled even their financial support when they realized that he wasn’t going to allow them to control him like a puppet on a string. Helena’s mother never had the money to provide her daughter with what she needed, and she had used that very fact to try and control her, sucking her dry emotionally, spiritually, and financially. Helena, too, had broken free of her poisonous influence and was now chasing the dream instilled in her by her father. While her mother rotted in jail for attempting to kidnap her and force her to sell her body for the money the woman had so desperately needed.
    Yes, Helena was now very safe from her mother, but Xavier saw Janette’s presence linger in his lover’s behavior – in the way she reacted to certain situations.
    She was still scared – not only of the woman who had never loved her properly, but of what kind of mother she herself might become because she had never experienced a proper mother-daughter- relationship. The very thought of having her own children seemed quite incomprehensible to her – so much so that he’d never gotten a straight answer about whether she wanted them or not.
    But, Xavier told himself, he still had plenty of time to work on her. There was no rush. She had, at least, let him purchase the house that they were moving into – which meant that she couldn’t be completely against the eventuality of starting their own family.
    Now, if only he could be so sure that she was at least being honest about her health.
     
    Lunch, at least, went off without a hitch. Everyone present was starving, and food began to disappear the moment it arrived. Brandy complimented him on his restaurant choice, as did Emily. Xavier was surprised to see that, despite his youngest sister’s willowy figure, she could tuck in with the best of them. When he looked to Brandy in inquiry, the elder woman’s expression said merely that she would have to speak to him about Emily later.
    Xavier forced himself to drop it and enjoy himself. Helena grew less and less pale throughout the meal, restoring his faith in her well-being. By the time they dropped his sisters off at their hotel and headed for home, he had forgotten how dejected he’d felt that morning.
    When they returned home, Helena collapsed on the couch, closing her eyes as Xavier tossed his briefcase onto the coffee table. They were scheduled to meet up with Brandy and Emily again the following evening for dinner, and he’d taken off the next day as well to show them around town.
    He was sure that when he told her, Margaret would blow a mini-gasket, but Xavier hardly cared. This was about family. He would do anything for his sisters – and anything for Helena.
    Sinking down onto the couch next to her, he wrapped his arms around the dark-skinned woman, pulling her close. Without a word, Helena buried her face in his chest, clinging to him almost frantically. Xavier was slightly surprised, as she would usually stave him off in favor of studying until they got ready to go to bed, but he certainly wasn’t complaining.
    It was very seldom that Helena showed him her softer side – so seldom, in fact, that sometimes he forgot how delicate she could be when she was