Page 157 of Wild Tangled Hearts

UNEXPECTED SURPRISE

The sun dips below the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over the tranquil lake. Nestled amidst towering pines, their branches swaying gently in the breeze, this place, this moment, feels like the culmination of our journey together.

Damien's arms wrap around me, his lips brushing against my earlobe. "You know," he murmurs, his voice low and husky, "I can't resist you when we're here."

I chuckle and say playfully, “You can’t seem to resist me anywhere.”

He laughs. “That’s very true. But...” Damien says, his voice dripping with mystery, "I've got something special planned for tonight. It's a surprise, so you'll have to be patient."

I raise an eyebrow, feigning impatience. "You're killing me with suspense."

His rich and tantalizing chuckle adds to the allure of the evening. "Trust me, it'll be worth the wait," he promises.

"I don't need anything but you and this moment. This is perfect."

He gazes into my eyes, his love shining brightly. "God, I love you," he confesses before claiming my lips in a kiss that grows increasingly passionate. The kiss deepens, quickly igniting a fiery desire between us.

With a tender strength, Damien lifts me into his arms, carrying me towards the bedroom.

Laying me on the bed, he meticulously takes off my clothes, kissing each area he exposes. I squirm beneath him, loving the mixture of feelings: the roughness of his scruff, the velvety softness of his lips, the warm, wet strokes of his tongue.

“Oh god,” I moan, arching toward him, needing more.

Damien and I explore each other's bodies with a familiarity that comes from hours and hours of passionate encounters. Our connection is more profound than ever, each touch and caress a testament to our bond.

As our bodies entwine, the room fills with the sweet sounds of our whispered declarations of love and the soft rustling of sheets. The world outside fades away, and all that remains is our intense love for each other.

Hours melt into moments, and when we finally lie entangled in each other's arms, our hearts and bodies sated, I can't help but smile. Damien brushes a strand of hair from my face, his gaze filled with tenderness.

"I love you more than words can express," he whispers, his voice a soothing melody.

"I love you too," I reply, my voice filled with warmth and contentment.

I'm not sure anything can diminish the overwhelming happiness surging through me. But later, when Damien is outside chopping wood, and I’m rummaging through my bag to find the heavy sweater I’ll need when the temperature drops, my hands brush against a box that sends my heart racing: a pregnancy test. I've been feeling off lately. I’d told Maryam at work my symptoms, thinking I was fighting something off, and she’d returned the following day with the at-home test.

“There’s no way I am,” I mutter, even though I know there’s a hundred ways I could be just this past month.

And that nagging voice in my head that I’ve been trying to ignore all week is confirmed when I take the test.

Pregnant.

I let out a shaky breath, not knowing what to feel. I’ve always wanted to be a mom, but I thought I’d be married when it happened.

Panic and mixed emotions run through me. How will Damien react? Will this change everything?

I take a deep breath and decide to confide in him. There’s no reason to keep it a secret. He’ll react the same way whether I tell him now or in a few weeks.

He’s in the kitchen when I come out of the room, and I see in his expression that he instantly knows something is off.

His brow furrows as he storms across the room towards me. "What's wrong?"

I take his hand in mine, feeling the weight of my revelation. "I think…Well, I guess I know… ” Shakily, I continue, “I’m pregnant." I pull my bottom lip between my teeth and wait for his response.

His eyes widen, and for a moment, he's silent. The suspense is unbearable. "Bella," he finally says, "that's incredible."

“You’re not upset?”

“Of course, I’m not upset. You’re going to be an incredible mom.” He pulls me against his chest and then kisses me hard. When he pulls back, he grins down at me. “I guess we’re both getting a surprise this weekend.”

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