Page 17 of Her Innocent CEO

“Did you feel that?” I ask, shaking my head, hoping I’m not just imagining things.

“I did,” Jasmine gasps. “Today is like a dream, Maddox. Don’t let it end,” she begs me, clutching herself closer to my chest before I roll us over, and playing big spoon as we both catch our breath I promise her it won’t.

“Oh, this love story never ends, Jasmine. You’re all mine and I’m yours from now on. You don’t ever have to worry about things being any different. I swear that promise to you,” I tell her, not meaning to sound so determined but I really do mean it.

The memory of my former life gradually returns to me, the whole business from this morning. The fact Hunter and his mistress were here in this very suite.

The whole concept of my defense.

Against what?

Myself?

No.

In a single moment, I feel whole again, my mind is so clear and I know exactly what I have to do, with Jasmine finally at my side I know I can do anything, let alone right a few pesky wrongs some moron is trying to pin on me.

But before any of that, before I even leave this suite, I want to enjoy my Jasmine. I want to breathe her in, but most of all I want to give her more pleasure than she’s ever known in her life.

“It’s gonna be a strange ride for a while,” I caution her, kissing her shoulder. “But we’re here now, where we belong. It can only get better from this moment. And I promise I’ll take care of everything.”

“I know you will, Maddox. I know,” she assures me. “But?”

I lean up onto my elbow. “But what?” I ask, filled with concern as she rolls over, smiling dreamily.

“But, can you arrange some laundry or clothes? We can’t get around in hotel bathrobes forever, can we? And some food… I’m hungry,” she pouts, pulling me closer to kiss her again.

“I do love you, Jasmine,” I remind her, hearing her breathe catch at the words, her forehead on mine, she squeezes my hand in hers and I know she can’t say anything for fear of those tears again.

Tears I feel inside.

The sheer joy at finally having landed back to earth. Finally having found my real reason for existing.

“We’ll get all that and more,” I murmur, laying back down with the ultimate sense of relief.

Knowing I have her, that our family has started too.

Like everything else I’ve willed into my life so far, this is going to work and I know it’s going to be just perfect.

I’ll be damned sure to make sure it is, Maddox Mapleton style.

Chapter Fourteen

Jasmine

As soon as Maddox tells me he feels the same, as soon as he says he loves me and he knows the incredible has just happened – that we could make a baby our first time and just knows it. I know I’m not dreaming.

This is real.

I’m teasing about clothes, but I am hungry, and although it’s technically my boss’s suite, my real boss is Maddox. Always has been, and now I’m his well and truly.

No shame in a girl asking for something to eat.

He laughs, satisfied with my requests after kissing me so hard we almost get right back to where we just came from, but I can tell he’s a man on a mission now,

He has things to do and getting us both fed and clothed is a reflex compared to what I can only imagine he has brewing in his mind now.

Now that he knows I’m his and we have more than just the two of us to think about.

The hotel concierge is very apologetic, from what I can tell once Maddox presses the phone in my hand, asking me to order some privacy as well as the one hour laundry and some food ASAP.

“I just assumed it was a party of four,” the concierge, Jason stammers. “Ms. Singleton has had plenty of those. She’s definitely gone now. I’m so sorry,” he continues before I shut him down.

Hearing some real power in my voice for the first time in a long time.

“It’s fine, Jason. But I’ll need privacy from now on, and if we need to change suites because that’s an issue for you, I can pay in cash,” I offer, but his embarrassment and eagerness to please, ensures our solitude for as long as we need it.

“I am sorry again for the misunderstanding,” he starts, but I’m already over it and only want what we both need right now, apart from each other and complete seclusion.

I arrange some food, fresh everything and decline the offer of a free massage over the concept of getting our laundry done in under an hour.

Plenty of time to have something to eat and give Maddox the time he needs to consider his next move, which I hope isn’t too far away from me.

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