Page 56 of Hidden Heir, Italian Wife

She was so full of love that when they were joined, moving in perfect harmony, she couldn’t keep it in.

“I love you,” she whispered, stroking her hands over his powerful back, arching in surrender to him and this greater force that burned like white-hot light within her. It rose like music into a crescendo. “I love you so much, Jax. I love you.”

***

Jax felt her words twist through him with the same euphoric bliss as orgasm. Her voice turned to a helpless cry and he lost what shreds of control he still had, straining in the stasis of ecstasy with her.

It was intensely powerful. The throbs in his sex rang through his body, jarring every tensed muscle. His heart thudded so hard he thought it would explode. He tried not to bruise her with the strength of his grip, but he had to hold on to her through the cataclysm. She was his.His.He was both triumphant and conquered.

As the pulses faded, his muscles began to tremble with fatigue. She was panting and soft beneath him. So lovely. So delicate and welcoming.

Her heartbeat was still stumbling, but he felt it at a deeper level inside him. As though it sat against his own.

And that’s when he realized what a mistake he’d made. How vulnerable he’d made her.

He untangled their limbs and rolled off her, but his arm hooked out of habit around her, bringing her into his side while he lay on his back, still catching his breath. Stunned and slowly experiencing a seep of dread.

“Did you mean it?” he asked.

“I wouldn’t lie about that.” Her lashes lifted and her gaze was so defenseless, it hurt to look into her eyes.

He swallowed and shifted his gaze to the ceiling. He had wanted proof of her commitment to their marriage, but hadn’t realized this was her way. Not just giving him another baby, but giving him her heart.

She loved him.

How the hell was he supposed to protect her now? Hehurtthe people he loved.

“You don’t have to say it back,” she said in a small voice.

“You know I care about you.” God, that sounded tepid.

She thought so, too. Her expression flexed with agony before she set a firm hand on his chest and tried to lever from the bed.

He tightened his arm. “I care deeply.”

They gave each other incredible pleasure in bed and he enjoyed her company outside of it. She was the mother of his child. Children, potentially. For all of those things, he already loved her in a broad way, but love—

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Then don’t,” she said starkly.

“But it’s inevitable if someone loves you that you’re going to let them down. I’m doing it now.” He was disappointing her, which was precisely the emotion he hated to cause most, especially in people he cared about.

He was thinking about the message from Nico.

When are you back in NY? Tucker’s here.

“What do you want me to do? Apologize?”

“No.”

“Because I know this wasn’t our deal. I didn’t mean to. It just happened.”

“Bree, I’m not mad.”

“Just disappointed?” She lurched away. “I need a shower before we go.”

“Bree.”

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