Page 154 of Love Me

“No. All I need is you.”

And in what I dub the sweetest moment possible, he kisses my lower belly and says tenderly voice brimming with love, “Here’s a small request. Be gentler with her. I love her.”

Emotions overwhelm me. When I think there’s no possible way I could fall deeper in love with him, he proves me wrong. He lays his head on my stomach, and I caress it, threading my fingers through his hair.

“I can imagine you being pregnant.”

“Maybe one day.”

“No. One day.”

I smile at his confidence, but first we must get over this hurdle.

“What if it’s true that Felix is holding my mom captive?”

His eyebrows furrow. “What is this? Are you testing where my loyalties lie?”

He will be so mad at Blake. My heart breaks for their friendship and brotherhood. We all think we are doing the right thing.

“He’s not a father to me. And if he does have your mom, he’s dead to me.”

“I want you to promise me something.”

“What?”

It’s incredible how he doesn’t question my request. That might change when he finds out.

“We forgave each other. We overcame the strain because our love is worth it.”

“You’re it for me. I have no idea where you’re going with this?”

“Loyalty is subjective. Nothing is black and white—everything is mostly on the gray spectrum.”

“Celine?” He tenses. I quickly add, “Promise you’ll listen. And when you calm down, I don’t want you to react like a volcano that has no choice but to erupt.”

“You’re hiding things again, aren’t you?”

He pushes himself off the bed. Instead of making things better, I’ve made them worse.

“Kaden.”

“No, tell me.”

“Baby, it’s nothing.” Yes, lie, way to go. “I couldn’t sleep, and I am emotional, and… forget it, okay? Come back to bed.”

He turns halfway to me, and I pat the mattress. “Please.”

But the version that comes to bed is not the sweet Kaden. It’s the angry one, because he knows something is wrong.

“You’re mine.”

“I swear, just yours. Only yours. Today, tomorrow, always.”

When I wake up sometime later, Kaden’s not next to me, but I find a note.

You’re perfect—the only woman for me. I love you to insanity.

I put it on my chest when he steps inside the room carrying a breakfast tray.

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