Page 115 of Mine to Worship

Any trace of amusement vanishes, and he props on his elbow, eyes seeking mine.

“Was there anything we did in bed you didn’t like?”

“No.”

“That won’t be any different, I live to bring you pleasure,” he says.

I lean my cheek against his chest, trusting and believing him fully and wanting to experience that too.

Chapter 40

Ellia

In Las Vegas, time moves differently and one month trickles through as if it were seconds in a sandglass. Here, everything happens faster, while at our chalet, I could almost contemplate the passage of time. Still, each place has a part of my heart and I’m fortunate enough to be able to live where I want and how I want. Kian and I have come a long way and the knowledge warms my heart. Love is beauty, rapture, life.

I am about four weeks away from holding my baby girl. I gained four more pounds, and the doctor expects another few before my due date. Everyone makes room for me, their smile bright and I take full advantage of the special treatment.

I reach Kian’s office and he says, “Come here.”

I approach, incapable of resisting him.

He pulls me down onto his lap and locks eyes with me.

“I love you,” he says, making my heart melt.

“A few more weeks,” he says and trails kisses along my collarbone.

“You’ll love her more,” I sigh, ashamed of my thoughts and that I blurted that out.

He tilts my head to him, his eyes narrowing.

“I will love you both more.”

He kisses me, and I lock my hands around his neck.

“Promise.”

“I swear. She’s my princess, you’re my queen.”

“You have good preserving instincts.”

“Thank you, angel. I adapt quickly,” he says, biting down a chuckle.

I grab a bottle of water from his desk and slug it down.

“I shouldn’t leave you alone. Work can wait.” He taps a finger on his cheek, a line digging between his brows.

“When is Melanie coming?”

“Tomorrow.”

His eyes probe mine, always searching for any trace of discomfort. He should do what he thinks he needs to do, then we can put it all behind us. Melanie’s presence is the least of my worries right now with my due date approaching.

“Stop looking at me like I might go crazy on you any moment.”

Kian cups my face. “Your well-being, emotional and physical, is what matters to me,” he says. “I am not jeopardizing any of that for my revenge. Nothing is more important to me than you, so yeah, I will look at you as much as I want.” He lowers his face and takes my lips in a hum-worthy kiss, making me an even more of an emotional mess.

Every one of his kisses is infused with his love, every gesture, every word, so much so that my soul brims with it. He gets on his knees and caresses my belly, placing a sweet kiss atop it.

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