Page 21 of Samuel

“Are you asleep, Izzy?” he asks. He settles in the bed, pressing his body against my back. His hand wraps around my waist and the heat from him seeps into my bones. It feels like heaven.

It feels right.

“No,” I whisper. “I’ve been thinking.

“What about, sweet Izzy?”

I roll over on my back and Samuel shifts so he’s kind of leaning on his elbow, his upper body hovering over me, while his hand is pressed against my stomach. I bite on my bottom lip as I stare at him. He really is too beautiful. It should be against the law for a man to look as hot as he does.

“Did you mean it when you said you would be proud to have a daughter like me?” I ask lamely. Afraid to question him about what I overheard.

“Absolutely. I meant what I said about wanting to make this thing between us work. I think the two of us could be spectacular together, Izzy.”

“You make me want to believe you, Sam, and I think that is kind of insane. We don’t know each other.”

“We will. I’m not going to rush you. We’ll go as fast or as slow as you want.”

“What if I want you to kiss me but nothing else right now?” I ask, hypnotized by his beautiful eyes with golden flakes in them.

“I would kiss the hell out of you. Fuck, Izzy, I want to so bad right now that it’s hard to breathe.”

I reach up to slide my hand against his neck, rubbing softly against his pulse point. “Kiss me, Sam. Make me forget all the bullshit and just feel like a normal woman kissing a man she really wants in her life.”

“Thank fuck,” he growls quietly, his lips crashing down on mine. I open my mouth immediately, granting him access. I lose myself in the feel of being close to him and the way he conquers my mouth.

When we pull apart, his eyes are darker somehow and filled with lust. “Maybe marriage to you won’t be so bad,” I whisper. His full lips spread into a smile. He kisses me again while his hand slides under my pajama top. I stiffen slightly. Although, I don’t want to stop kissing Samuel, he pulls back.

“I’m sorry. We’ll just kiss. Whatever you need, Izzy. I’ll give it to you. You’ve asked for time. I promise you, sweetheart, you can have all of it you want.” He kisses me again and I forget about everything but letting myself feel the pleasure he gives me.

This man is making me believe that I could have a future with him.

16

natalia

One Month Later

“Now how did I know I’d find you here?” Samuel asks. I give him a soft smile as he sits down on the sofa beside me. He pulls my legs up and puts them back down, so they lay across his lap. I angle my body so I can face him. He leans over and kisses my forehead.

“Because you know I love to sit here and look at the Christmas tree?”

“You okay, sweetheart? You’ve been quiet since we left my uncles’ home.”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I can’t believe Ivan is using that thing we bought him,” I giggle. “I thought he might use it for target practice or something.”

“He loves it. I’m not sure Mikhail and Sebastian feel the same, however,” Samuel chuckles.

“Yeah, that much wasperfectlyclear. It was nice of them to invite Daniel over.”

“He’s family now, Izzy. You are my life. I hope you see that. I never want you doubting that you’re important to me. You’re my wife. I’ve never been happier, Izzy. I’m addicted to you—all the forms of you.”

“All the forms of me?” I question, cocking my eyebrow up in challenge.

“The sleepy-grumpy-but-I-had-to-get-up-early Izzy is adorable and sexy as fuck. The woman-in-charge Izzy is sexy as fuck. The devious but cute Izzy is sexy as fuck. The?—”

“I think I’m getting the picture,” I laugh. “You may need therapy.”

“Nope, all I need is my wife.”

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