Page 87 of The Russian's Kidnapped Bride
“It’s an essential role.”
We both settle in the lighthearted atmosphere between us, and the longer I think about it, the sooner that lump in my throat forms. Resting my hand against her belly again, I press another kiss to her temple and sigh softly.
“I never thought I’d have this,” I admit quietly, feeling like I’m giving out a confession. “Something so honest and pure. My family has built everything on blood and business, but this is different. It’s real, and you’ve given me that.”
“You’ve given me it too,” Lily returns gently, voice tinged with emotion just like mine. “I never allowed myself to look for love before, and I didn’t even know what it looked like. But now I do.”
Closing my eyes, I pull her as close as I can without it being uncomfortable, and I breathe her in completely. From her scent to the feeling of her skin, and the soft rhythm of her every breath. Her heart syncing with mine.
I was never one to be soft or vulnerable before, but if I could, I’d live in this moment forever. At the very least, I wish I could bottle it.
“I never knew how it felt to be accepted so completely despite everything else in my life. Despite who I am in the family business. Nobody else can make me feel this way,” I murmur, not letting even a second with her escape me. “Not in this life, and not in any other. It will always be you, Lily. You and this baby mean everything to me.”
When she looks up at me again, there’s a trace of emotion in her eyes while she smiles. Reaching up, she gently cradles my jaw and leans closer, pressing her forehead against mine. “You and your lifestyle scared the hell out of me before, but now I know there’s more to you than your work. You aren’t some violence-crazed fiend. You can be intimidating when you need to be…but you’re caring, and you have a better moral compass than most out there.”
Her honesty stirs more of that vulnerability in my chest, and I lean into her touch without question. “You’ve strengthened my morality.”
“I’m glad.”
As she stares back at me with nothing short of love and affection in her eyes, a deep, raw emotion moves through me, and it’s almost too much to bear.
Moving closer, I let my lips hover above hers, hearing the subtle catch in her breath.
“You’re everything to me…and I won’t ever let you forget it.”
Her smile pulls into a slightly teasing one. “And if I forget?”
I hum. “Then I’ll remind you over and over again.”
Without warning, I shift around and slip my arms beneath her back and under her legs, scooping her up while I stand.
Lily’s eyes widen slightly in surprise before she laughs at being picked up and carried across the room. “Starting now?”
“Starting now.”
Moving into the bathroom, careful in how I hold her, I head over to the tub and sit on the side. She stays in my lap, bare and as perfect as ever, while I turn the taps on and let the warm water pour out.
I keep my arms wrapped tightly around her to stave off the chill of the bathroom away, pressing as many affections against her face and neck as I can while she tries to hold back her giggles that only make my heart warm more.
“Step one is a bath, hm?”
“Not just a bath,” I murmur, lightly nipping against her jawline while I grin. “One featuring your very thoughtful husband.”
Lily squirms more from my ministrations, laughing to herself while the tub fills up. “Very thoughtful…”
“And that’s another thing I’ll never let you forget.”
Once the tub is full and there’s a healthy dose of bubbles on the surface, I carefully guide her in before settling in behind her and resting my arms around her.
A renewed peace settles over us while Lily leans back against me, soaking in the warmth.
Even if the bath is mostly for her sake, I allow myself to relax alongside her as the water draws out any lingering exhaustion in my limbs.
We move between moments of absentminded conversations to our easy bantering and teasing, but in those periods of quiet, I find my body slipping into a resting state while my mind wanders to the future.
It seems like we’ve already endured so much together, yet I know there’s a lot more ahead of us. Everything from parenting to beyond.
I envision the first steps, the bedtime stories, laughter echoing between the walls, and seeing how the rest of my family melds into the equation. I picture Lily blossoming in her career and finding as much fulfillment as possible.
