Page 81 of Almost Paradise

“I felt the same, despite how angry I was. Then I felt like a shitty mom because I was away from my son to be with a man who wasn’t his father. Then it ended. I wasn’t that upset to see him go, but I felt so guilty about it because of Carter. Like how could I have gotten it so wrong? I thought a single dad would be a great fit for us, but he wasn’t. It was a very hard time in my life, Drake. I don’t know what I would have done without my family’s support.”

“I’m glad you had that, baby girl.” I kiss her forehead. “But I want you to know that you have me now too. You should have had me from the very beginning. I never wanted to let you go. You were the best thing to ever happen to me.”

“I know, Paradise. I know,” she mutters.

“I don’t want to ruin our night. And yes, I hate the thought of you with anyone else, but I’m not angry at you. You were just trying to make a life for yourself. I get that.” It takes a lot for me to say that. I want to find out who this guy is and kill him. It wouldn’t take much effort to find him. I have an entire security team that could either do it themselves or find someone who can, but that would be betraying her trust, and that’s the last thing I want to do.

That’s the past. I’m her future. Besides, I have no right to do anything.

“Okay,” she says. “I won’t bring up your past mistake if you don’t bring up mine.”

“Deal.” I hold up my pinky, and she wraps hers around it.

“Let’s go back to bed. You wore this girl out.” I lift her off her feet and carry her back to bed. After kissing her good night, we both turn on our sides and I spoon her. She sighs and starts to snore almost immediately.

Chapter 44

Nia

I’m not going to think of the consequences until Monday. Hell, I won’t even think of them then. This is just one weekend that we agreed to. It’s a ceasefire. The other way we were going was exhausting, and if I continued as we were, it would drain me. I have a small child to care for, and I need all my energy for him.

I reach for his side of the bed, and the sheets are cold. He would always get up hours before I do. He’d workout, check his work emails, and start breakfast. He’d lure me out of bed with the smell of bacon. Sometimes he’d bring it to me on a tray and feed me.

I groan as I roll out of the bed. I’m sore all over. From my shoulders to my back and between my thighs. He was everywhere. Whether it was his hands, mouth, or dick. He didn’t leave a single part of me unscathed. He couldn’t touch, kiss, or fuck me enough, and it wasn’t one-sided. I couldn’t get enough of him either.

After stumbling my naked body into the bathroom and indulging in a hot shower, I put on a pair of jeans and a yellow sweater. The bed is a mess. Our clothes from last night are still on the floor, and I know he’ll just have the housekeeper clean up after us on Monday, but I can’t do that. I pick up the clothes and make the bed. It was so disheveled, the sheets had come off the mattress, leaving it exposed.

I find him downstairs in the kitchen. He’s in sweatpants, but his chest is bare and covered in a coat of sweat. His body looks better than it did then. He was always in great shape, but now he looks as if he’s added muscle. I felt it last night but seeing it in the light of day is something else.

“I was just coming to wake you.” He pours coffee into a mug and brings it to me. He tilts my chin up and plants a kiss on my lips. I feel a blush creep up my neck at the sudden display of affection.

“I don’t smell anything cooking, Paradise. What the hell? I’m starving.”

He pulls me into his arms, bends down, and runs his nose along the base of my neck. “I wore you out, didn’t I?”

“I admit nothing.”

“I already know. Turns out, you wore me out too. A guy can only eat so much pussy before he tires himself out.”

“I guess you’ll be taking a break tonight then, right? Don’t want you to pass out from exhaustion.” I spank his butt, taking him by surprise, then walk away from him.

“Oh, like hell I’ll be taking a break.”

“Yeah, you could never stay away from this pussy,” I tease while I gyrate my hips.

He snatches my wrist and pulls me back. “I’ll take you to breakfast at our old place.” He pulls me into his arms again. “We can walk there.”

“Our old place, huh?” Our old place is not a neighborhood diner or café. It’s a fancy restaurant at a five-star hotel. “Okay. Go shower. You remember how I am when I get hungry.”

We’re seated in a secluded booth toward the back of the restaurant almost an hour later. We walked here just like we used to. Like two lovers without a care in the world holding hands and laughing.

“Remember those egg sandwiches you’d make for me? The ones with the avocado slices? Those were the best,” I tell him.

“I spoiled you back then, didn’t I?” He did. He absolutely did. Whatever I wanted, he’d do. “You spoiled me too.”

“I did not,” I tell him. “How could I? You had everything.”

“You did. You gave me you. You’d listen to me complain about work. I’d complain about my parents too, and you’d never dismiss me because I’m rich. Most people think that because you’re rich, you have no business complaining, but we have the same issues as everyone else.”

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