Page 122 of Mine to Worship

“Soon, angel,” he says, kisses my temple, and sleep lures me in.

Chapter 41

Kian

I watch Ellia sleep, taking my time, staring at her chest, rising and falling, deep and steady. Her mouth forms a sweet pout, and her hands cradle one of mine over her heart. It’s a time where I contemplate the love of my life, unobstructed, undisturbed. I caress her belly, where my daughter grows. Every night, I ask myself if I am ready, but I have to be. Will I be good enough? That’s still in the open. Ellia has changed. Heck, we both have changed. She’s more confident. Usually, a meeting with Melanie would have had doubts crawling all over her beautiful face. But not anymore, as if she accepts that I have a past, and she is my present, my future, my all.

Since the moment I laid eyes on her, I was hooked. Then to find out she was the elusive artist behind my favorite painting, the girl I’d met when we both fled our previous lives, just made me believe there really is something akin to destiny. Destiny bound our fates together and now I have more of her to love. But the people who clipped our wings will pay the price.

Her fingers slide up and down my jaw, and my lips quirk up. Her beauty strikes every chord to my heart––serene blue eyes, filled with wonder, curiosity and love, those swollen lips from all the kisses I can’t abstain from, and those round and soft cheeks. Her beauty is unmatched.

“Are you sure it’s okay to leave for a few days? It can wait.”

Her eyes narrow with determination.

“Yes, it is. You’re going to New York for three days, then you’re coming home and we’ll wait for Kira to decide she’s ready to come out.”

I swallow the knot overflowing with worry in my throat. It’s for the best to put everything behind us. I caress her face, her neck, and dip my head to kiss her belly.

“Be my sweet girl and wait for me to come home,” I tell my daughter.

Ellia threads her fingers through my hair. “You won’t miss her birth. You’ll be gone for three days, and I am due in two weeks. Some babies take even more time. Maybe yours is a diva too and will take her sweet time.”

I groan. At the thought of missing the wonder of my life, my limbs shake.

“Stop overthinking.”

“It’s as if you want me gone,” I grumble and viciousness coats her face.

“Kian, don’t project your worries on me.”

I am rooted to the place and I cock my head as she reminds me that she’s a ball of sweetness with hidden claws.

Her features soften. “I promise if I feel something, anything, I’ll tell you right away. The first child usually takes hours, so we should be good. Go make Richard pay for what he has done to you and all the other innocent lives he ruined.”

When I get the call that the jet is ready, my heart constricts in my chest. Fuck this, it can wait.

It’s as if Ellia feels the change in me and she locks her hands around my neck.

“I love you,” she whispers, and I dip my head to taste the sweetness of her lips.

“Now go. Put this behind you, behind us,” she urges me.

I leave my heart with her, and on the way to the airport, I dial Brandon.

“This is the third call this morning. I’m sending you to voicemail from now on. Relax already. I’ll take care of them.”

Little brothers are the most irritating people alive.

“You better,” I threaten.

“There’s me and an entire hotel staff who will be there at the snap of her fingers.”

“Yes, the problem is she won’t use any of it.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose and he chuckles. I growl under my breath.

“You better check on her every hour and call me.”

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