Zane rips the sheets off his body, sitting up with me with wide eyes. “What is it?” he asks, his voice hoarse from sleep.
“Relax,” I say, placing my hand on his sweaty chest. “It’s nothing. Just a bad dream.”
He sighs, falling backward onto the bed. “I’m stressed beyond belief,” he mutters. “You’re the only one I can tell.”
“You don’t even have to tell me,” I say, lying back next to him. “I can feel it.”
He rolls over on his side, his eyes focused on me. It feels like he's seeing right through me.
"What's wrong?" I ask.
"You haven't said anything," he replies. "You haven't said a word about what happened yesterday."
I laugh. "Well, it's not every day you get involved in a shootout. You're a Bratva boss. This is the world you live in, but for me it's a lot to process. I hope you can understand that."
He turns back over and stares at the ceiling. "Of course I understand, but that's not really what I'm talking about. Do you remember the conversation we had in the car before I left? Well, it wasn't really a conversation. It was more of a thing I said to you."
My cheeks grow warm, and I roll onto my back as well, not wanting him to see my flushed face. I don't know why he has such an effect on me, but it hasn't gotten any less intense since the day I met him. If anything, the butterflies in my stomach flutter harder when I see him now, and my heart beats a bit faster.
"You know, you can't just say those words to me so casually," I reply. "There was so much going on yesterday. I figure you didn't want to die without seeing how it felt to say, but I take that kind of thing very seriously."
"As do I," he says, his voice deep and confident. His hand finds mine, and I know he's looking at me. I just can't make eye contact with him yet.
"You really do have to mean it," I say, my voice so soft it's barely a whisper. "Because if you break my heart, I'm never going to forgive you."
He chuckles, pulling me on top of him. "I wouldn't dare."
I still can't look at him, so I close my eyes, letting the moment wash over me. His scent fills my lungs, and his heat seeps into my body. "It's hard for me to believe that this is real. Everything feels so crazy."
He kisses the top of my head, and the butterflies in my belly start to flutter. "I understand, but that's life. It's always going to be a bit crazy, and the only thing you can do is enjoy the good times. That's why you have to tell me how you feel, so I know where I stand."
"I love you," I whisper, feeling the weight of the world lift off my shoulders. I finally let the truth pour out, and the relief is so immense that tears rush to my eyes.
"You're not crying because of me, are you?" Zane asks, his fingers running down the side of my cheek.
I laugh a little. "I'm crying because I love you so much it hurts."
"I love you too, Monroe," he says, his voice smooth and soothing. It's all I need right now. He's everything to me and it's as incredible as it is terrifying.
He puts his hands on my waist and gently pushes me onto my side. His body is flush against mine, and his erection is pressed against my belly.
"I thought you'd be tired," I say, glancing down between our bodies.
"How could I ever be tired of you?" he replies, leaning in and capturing my lips with his.
I'm surprised by the intensity of the kiss, but I return it with just as much passion. It feels different this time, more intense and desperate, like we're trying to pack all of our feelings into one single moment. His hands explore my body, sliding over my breasts and down to my hips. He grips me tight, pressing himself even closer.
I can feel his cock twitch against my stomach, and I'm aching for him to fill me again. I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him closer and kissing him deeper.
"Fuck," he groans, his fingers digging into my skin.
"Please," I gasp, arching my back and grinding against his shaft.
He reaches between us, grasping his dick and guiding it to my entrance. He slips inside, and my pussy stretches to accommodate his girth. It feels like we're made for each other, the way our bodies fit together perfectly.
We move as one, our rhythm synchronized, and the pleasure builds slowly inside of me. My orgasm is inevitable, and I surrender to it, letting myself be consumed by the waves of ecstasy crashing through me. I cry out, clinging to him, my body trembling.
Zane follows close behind, his cock pulsing deep inside of me. His seed spills into my womb, and I can't help but smile. It's so primal and satisfying, the knowledge that this is what we did to create a new life together. I wonder how many more will follow after this one.