Page 26 (1/2)

“Yes, she’s all yours”

“Thank you, Maximillia You’ve been very helpful”

“Of course And… take care of her, Braden”

“I will” His voice becoe “I’ll always take care of her”

Tingles dance and shiver overevery part of me

The word always bounces aroundlike notes and joyous screams of hope – hope for the future, for our family, the sort I’ve never had before

The door closes and then heavy footsteps move across the apartment

Braden stands at the door in a dress shirt, the sleeves still rolled up, every part of hiainst the fabric as he sucks in a throaty breath, his possessive eyes roa up and down my body

“Is it everything you iined?” I murmur after a few seconds

I can’t take it, standing here and waiting for his verdict

“It’sslowly toward me

His fingers twitch like he’s trying to resist the urge to reach out and grab ant and expensive fabric fro s around him with complete confidence he’ll catch me, with complete confidence he’ll never let me fall

But I haven’t got it in me to behave so forward, not yet, maybe not ever

He stops just short ofdown toinside of me

My body sends out hungry hands for his scent, as though searching for signs of his seed

My belly pulses and h telling et the date and lose myself in my man instead

“You’re beautiful” He leans down, bringing his face close tohell, Bria You’re like soined how gorgeous you’d look You’re… you’re everything, Bria, everything I could’ve wished for”

His lips crash into ue attackspast the anxiety as we sink into the kiss

I expect his hands to grasp me as he usually does e kiss, but then he takes an abrupt step back, shaking his head

“What? What is it?”