Page 62 of Sizzling Desire

She stiffens the second she hears me, her hands balling into fists against the tile.

“Go away, Kane,” she says, her voice raw, wrecked.

Not happening.

Instead, I step closer, close enough that I can see the way her spine trembles, the way water glides down her skin.

“Not gonna happen, Gracie,” I murmur, my voice low as I slide my hands over her shoulders. “I’m not going anywhere.”

She shakes her head, her breath hitching. “I just need a minute.”

“You get as many minutes as you need,” I tell her, pressing my chest to her back. “But you’re not taking them alone. Not anymore.”

A shudder wracks her body, but she doesn’t pull away.

So I wrap my arms around her, splay my hands over her stomach—our baby—and justhold her.

She grips my wrists, squeezing hard, like she’s holding on for dear life.

“I was so scared,” she whispers, her voice barely audible over the rush of water. “With the fire, with all the smoke—I thought…” Her breath shudders out, and she swallows hard. “I thought something might’ve happened to the baby.”

My throat tightens. Fuck.

I turn her in my arms, cupping her face, making her look at me.

“You’re both okay, right?” I murmur, brushing my thumbs over her cheekbones. “That’s what matters.”

She nods, but fresh tears spill down her cheeks, mixing with the water. “I didn’t know how to tell you.”

I press my forehead to hers, breathing her in. “You should’ve told me.”

She lets out a choked laugh. “Yeah, well, I was a little busy trying to figure out how the hell I ended up pregnant with afirefighter’sbaby after spending the last year and a half avoiding you.”

Despite everything, I chuckle becausedamn it, that’s Gracie.

“I guess fates got a sense of humor,” I say, my lips brushing against hers.

She sniffles, her fingers curling into my sides. “You’re not freaking out?”

I meet her gaze, steady, unwavering. “I’mshocked. I’mterrified. But mostly?” I pause, pressing a slow, lingering kiss on her forehead. “I’mexcited, Gracie.”

Her breath catches, her fingers flexing against me. “You are?”

I slide my hands down her sides, spreading my fingers over her lower belly. “Yeah. I am.”

Her chin wobbles, and I can see it—that crack in her armor, the part of her that’s been holding onto this alone for too damn long.

I press a kiss to the corner of her mouth. “I’ve loved you since the day we met.”

She stills, her lips parting, eyes wide.

“I didn’t always know what to do with it,” I admit, brushing my nose against hers. “Didn’t always know how tohandleyou.” I let out a low chuckle. “Hell, Istilldon’t. But this?” I slide my hands back up to cradle her face, holding her like she’severything. Because sheis. “I’m all in, Grace Fletcher.”

She blinks up at me, something shifting in those dark eyes of hers, something raw and vulnerable.

“Youloveme?” she whispers, like she doesn’t believe it.

I exhale, tilting my head, letting my lips brush hers. “Yeah, Gracie. Iloveyou.”

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