Page 17 of Hayes

“Please.”

His control broke, and he drove into her with a force that sent her head up against the arm of the sofa. She came again, her body quivering as she called out his name. Dragging his head down, she sought his lips, her cries swallowed deep inside his throat.

It was not long before he was following behind her, his body shuddering as he poured his seed into her, watering the head of her womb.

Collapsing on top of her, he just managed to shift so that he was not crushing her. Still intimately joined, he wrapped his arms around her and waited for the storm to pass.

After a few long minutes, he spoke. “I am going to break it off with Simone tomorrow.”

“No.”

His body stiffened in surprise. “Pardon?”

Lifting her head, she met his gaze. “I cannot be with you.”

“I thought I heard you say you could not be with me.”

“Yes. I don’t have anything to offer you.”

“Camelia–”

“Please hear me out.” She looked at him pleadingly. “I cannot bear to be in a relationship, not now. We both needed this, and it was wonderful, but I cannot do this again. It almost destroyed me, and I cannot take that risk again. I am sorry.”

“Is that right?” The dangerous glitter in his eyes warned her of what was about to happen. “What do you suggest, Camelia? That we both go our separate ways and forget this ever happened? That I go back to Simone as if nothing went on between us?”

“You don’t understand," she whispered.

“Then please enlighten me," he said coolly.

“I hate when you get all snobby and king of the world.” she muttered.

The comparison had always amused him in the past, but now it just flew right over his head.

“I am waiting.”

“Okay, fine. I don’t want a relationship.”

“Because?”

“We—it was too much, and there have been too many things between us. I lost my parents, and I am still dealing with that. I lost our baby and almost lost my life in the process. I have been to therapy, and I still have nightmares. Besides that, I cannot give you an heir–”

“I don’t care about that.”

“You do!” She slapped her palms on his chest. “You know you do. You are the heir to a multi-billion-dollar company, and it’s required and don’t you dare insult me by brushing this aside.” Her eyes were glittering with tears.

“A man like you wants someone—a son to take over for you when the time comes, and I won’t be able to give you that.” She drew an unsteady breath. “You are going to say it’s all right now and further down the road, you are going to resent me for not conceiving. I cannot take that risk.”

“Are you through?” he asked her stonily, feeling his heart drumming inside his chest and realizing it for what it was—fear. He could not lose her again; he wouldn’t survive a second time.

“Yes.”

“I am not letting you go.”

“I cannot–”

“Shut up.”

She bristled at his tone but did not comment.

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