Page 51 of My Prince

She laughed softly, leaning in to kiss me.

I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close. “And you have a way of making me feel alive.”

We stood there for a while, letting the water cascade over us, enjoying the intimate moment. Eventually, I turned off the shower and grabbed a towel, wrapping it around both of us as we stepped out.

“That is definitely the best way to start the morning,” Adalee sighed as she dried her hair, standing in front of the bathroom mirror.

It had been almost a week since she had been fired, and while I knew she was trying to figure out what she was going to do next, I already knew that whatever it was, I was going to be right next to her. Watching her move about the room, stopping to dry her hair, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of pride and concern. She was strong, but I knew this uncertainty was weighing on her.

“When are you going to unpack your bags?” I asked casually, leaning against the doorframe.

Adalee stopped drying her hair and stared at me, her eyes wide and unsure.

“Did I say something wrong?” I laughed, trying to lighten the mood. “I just figured you didn’t want to live out of duffle bags forever.”

“That seems kind of... permanent,” she whispered, looking away.

I looked down at my naked body and then back at her, meeting her eyes. “Isn’t that what we’re building?” I asked gently.

“Well, uh...” she stammered, clearly caught off guard.

I pushed off the doorframe and walked over to her, grabbing the towel from her hands and letting it drop to the floor. I pulled her into my arms, her warm, damp skin pressing against mine. She tipped her head back to look up at me, her eyes filled with uncertainty.

“What’s going on in your head?” I asked, my voice soft but insistent.

She chewed on her bottom lip, a habit she had when she was deep in thought or worried. “Uh, I mean, it’s a lot up there right now. I’m unemployed, on the brink of homelessness, and sleeping with you, who is a target of some crazy politicians.”

I sighed, resting my forehead against hers. “You don’t have to worry about being homeless, Adalee. You’re with me now. This is your home, too.”

She closed her eyes, leaning into me. “It’s just... everything happened so fast. I wasn’t prepared for any of this.”

“That’s life, cupcake,” I said softly.

“I’m just going to spew all my thoughts, okay? I don’t know what else to do.” She sounded so vulnerable, and I could feel the weight of her worries pressing on her.

I gently made her tip her head back, and our eyes connected. “Tell me,” I urged her, wanting to hear everything she had to say.

She took a deep breath. “I like you. Like, like you more than anyone I have ever liked in my life. I think it might be... another word, but I know it’s too soon for me to say that. I think you want me to be here, to stay in your room, but then my brain starts working overtime, and I wonder why you even want to be in the same room as me. But then you kiss or touch me, and I forget about all of that. And then while I’m trying to deal with that, I lose my job, which I know was a godsend because I truly did hate that job, but then I know I need a job because I can’t just spend the rest of my life in bed with you. I love to decorate cakes, and I know I’m good, but am I good enough for people to pay me?” She cringed. “The past says I’m not.” She finally took a breath. “I’m not even going to get into all the crap you guys are dealing with because that stuff is way more important than what I’m dealing with, but yeah... that’s what’s going on in my head.”

That was a lot, but I figured she was dealing with all that, except for her thinking that she’s not good enough for me. That was bullshit.

I tightened my hold on her and kissed her forehead. “First off, let’s get one thing straight. You are more than good enough for me. In fact, you’re the best damn thing that’s happened to me. Don’t doubt that for a second.”

She looked up at me, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “You mean that?”

“Every word,” I said firmly. “And about the job thing, we’ll figure it out. You love decorating cakes? Then, we’ll find a way to make that work. Screw what the past says. This is about the future. You have me and the club behind you. Look at the Fiends. Our gym and garage exploded, and we’re still going.”

She nodded slowly, absorbing my words. “But what about all the other stuff? The MC stuff?”

“It’ll get figured out,” I promised. “One step at a time. The club is trying to figure it out. As long as you’re here with me, you’ll be safe.” The club was at a standstill with Boone and Gibbs. As much as I hated it, it was like we were waiting for them to strike again.

A small smile tugged at her lips. “You make it sound so easy.”

“It’s not gonna be easy,” I admitted. “At least not the stuff with Boone and Gibbs. But you and I? Shoot, cupcake, being with you is easy.”

She hugged me tightly, and I held her close, feeling her heartbeat against mine. “I feel better,” she whispered.

I pressed a kiss to her head. “Good, cupcake. If you need to spew out your thoughts, lay it on me.”

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