Page 93 of Protected By the Billionaire Ex-SEAL

“I understand why—” he starts.

“That was my mistake.” All I can do is laugh; it’s a bit sad and tired. “How is it that a bunch of kids could figure it out but we couldn’t?”

“Age does not equal wisdom, apparently.” He gives me a sad smile in return, but then grows serious. “Raven, baby or not, I shouldn’t have let you walk out the door. I shouldn’t have let you believe for one second that the project was more important than you. I’m sorry.”

He’s standing so close that I can feel his breath ghosting over my lips.

Taking a moment to absorb his words, I come to a decision. I shake my head. He looks confused.

“What do you mean? You don’t forgive me?” He drops my hand and his eyes widen, heartbroken. “Raven, I swear, I’ll?—”

But I’m still shaking my head. “I mean no, no more apologies. Not from you or me, okay?”

Christian doesn’t know what to say, still looking a bit confused.

So I clarify. “Christian, I love you too.”

Joy transforms his face one second before I’m pressed against him, wrapped in his arms, and his lips are crushing mine. Drinking me in like a man dying of thirst.

It’s ravenous and glorious. It’s everything I could ask for and more, but there’s still that disbelief lurking that this is a dream and I’ll wake up any second now. So I kiss him harder, putting all my passion and love into it until I can feel his pulse quickening and I can hear his small, soft groan—and it’s in that moment that I know this is truly not a dream, but the rawest form of reality there is.

We break apart, out of breath but not wanting to let go of each other.

“That was…”

“Beautiful,” I confirm. When I find his eyes trailing toward my stomach, I take his free hand and place it there, much like I did to Sophia when she first saw it. He swallows. “I love you, Christian. But it’s not just us anymore…”

His hand trembles. In response, he kisses me again, then hugs me so tightly.

“I know. It’s wonderful. The greatest gift I never expected, but I love it.” He smiles at me, grateful and appreciative. “I love you.”

And that’s how I know that everything is going to be more than okay.

Chapter 29

Epilogue - Christian

One Year Later…

“Happy birthday, my love.”

The greeting tugs a grin from Raven’s lips. It’s the most wonderful grin, one that lights her whole face up. It matches her bright floral dress perfectly, one that has my hands tugging her toward me until she’s half-sitting on my lap.

“Thanks. My love? That’s new.”

“I thought it suited the occasion.” I kiss her cheek, then her shoulder. “Unless you wanted sweetheart or baby?”

“I don’t care what you call me.”

“I’m fine with anything you call me too.” I wiggle my brows suggestively at her. “Especially when you moan it?—”

“Christian!”

But she giggles when I draw her even closer until she’s straddling my lap on the edge of the bed. She wriggles to get away but the more she moves, the more my desire for her awakens until my cock is hard as a rock, and I can no longer keep my hands off her. Raven finally notices the hardness and her eyes widen.

“Christian, we have guests…”

“And they’re not here yet.” I kiss her throat, then her chin. I suck on her lower lip until she opens up for me, then yields until I can feel her breasts pressing against my chest.

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