Page 63 of Second Draft

He moves with me, his hips thrusting up, his hands guiding my movements to the perfect rhythm we’ve created.

This is happiness. And I let myself feel it. Really feel it. Without all the anxiety and fear that usually holds me back.

My body explodes around him, wave after wave of intense pleasure bursting through me, blinding me. A strangled sound erupts from the deepest part of me, and I’m falling, my body weightless, and yet filled with such complete ecstasy that I don’t care if I ever come down from the incredible high.

Inside of me, I feel his hard release, hear his guttural moan as his orgasm sends one last intense ripple of pleasure through my core.

Spent and exhausted, I collapse on top of him, careful not to put too much pressure on my stomach.

We lay there like that for a short time, before I slowly roll to my side, allowing him to wrap an arm around me.

“I love you,” he whispers, brushing my hair away from my cheek. “Do you believe me when I tell you that?”

I nod, because I do. I just don’t know if it’s enough.

“Thank you for the library,” I say, remembering the gift he’d given me this morning.

His lips lift in a small grin. “You’re welcome.”

Running my fingers over his chest, another surge of warmth spreads through me. I know what it is – hope.

“About what you asked me earlier…”

His muscles tense slightly under my touch. “Yeah?”

I can’t give him the answer he wants. Not right now, but I want to give him something. “Maybe…”

He presses a kiss into my hair and exhales a heavy breath.

“Maybe is better than no,” he says lightly.

I nod, wishing I could give him more. Because with him, life is good. Really good. The fairytale, happily ever after good. And it’s terrifying the crap out of me. Because one thing I’ve learned in my life, the one constant, is that disaster is always hiding just around the corner.

Chapter 24

Carter

“What the fuck?” A deep, guttural cry pushes into my dreams.

My entire body jolts awake, adrenaline spiking through my veins, preparing me to fight whatever danger is waiting for me.

I sit up, blinking hard until my eyes adjust to the morning light, and when I do, I curse under my breath, because Travis is standing at the edge of the bed, a deep scowl twisting his features as he glares down at Layla, who stirs beside me.

The bed creeks as I start to shift. “Keep your voice down.”

“Keep my voice down?” he repeats, blinking at me like I’m insane, his face blistering with rage.

“Go,” I say quietly, but the warning is still there. “We’ll talk downstairs.”

“Are you kidding me? I want to know what the hell is going on. Right now,” he yells, blue eyes wide with a fix of bewilderment and anger.

Layla comes fully awake and she gasps when her gaze falls on Travis. I can practically see all the fear that I’ve been working so hard to get rid of these past months fill her. She clutches the blankets to her chest, and her eyes are wide as she stares back at my brother.

“Jesus, Layla.” Travis drags his fingers through his long hair, his face red with anger.

She sucks in an uneven breath. “Travis, I didn’t mean–”

“You really are a dirty little slut. You couldn’t have my cock so you jump right into bed with my brother.”

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