Page 55 of Romancing the Reaper

I hear Maeve and Cristiano before they actually enter the kitchen. Both of them stop dead the moment they see me. Maeve clears her throat pointedly and goes about getting herself coffee and something to eat so that it creates a semblance of normalcy in the room. She and Ada have both been doing that a lot lately. Cristiano, however, is frozen by the door. I see the surprise register on his face as he looks from me, my hand, and then to the mostly empty bowl of fruit in front of Ada.

She pops the last berry in her mouth, sucking all of the juice from the strawberry before chewing it. Her fingers reach back into the bowl to find it empty. Her brow knits and she pushes the bowl toward me. “Can I have some more, please?”

“Of course,” I kiss her cheek, unable to stop myself as I walk across the room to the massive fridge and get her what she’s asked for. Cristiano looks like I could knock him over with a feather. He doesn’t seem to be breathing. I watch him pointedly as I sit back down and slide the bowl of fruit back into her reach. She plucks up a blueberry and holds it in her teeth, smiling at me around it before crunching down and popping the skin.

I lean into her ear. “Such a good girl, keep it up, my queen.”

Ada giggles - and I think that’s what does her brother in. He stammers for something to say and then Maeve shakes her head at him. I don’t know how much she knows, but I know it’s a rare thing for her brother to see Ada eating. Small bowls and distractions have been the key, that’s what we’ve learned. I have to keep her occupied every time that we eat and right after… but it’s working. I’m making sure to keep her body as satisfied as possible so that she doesn’t notice the slight weight gain. Whether it’s just healthy weight returning or the baby, only time will tell.

She’s perfect no matter what size she is.

Cristiano’s look is one of disbelief and subtle joy. I can’t help but smile smugly. It’s a silent victory, of course. There’s no denying that none of us are going to bring it up until she does. It’s Ada’s business and hers alone. She’s been very adamant since this whole resolution that nobody will make her choices for her anymore. Going forward, she will have her own voice and use it as she pleases.

Makes my dick hard how proud I am of her.

Maeve’s the one to break the silence finally. “Fashion week is coming up. Were you invited this year?”

Ada pulls herself from her magazine then. “I was.” she swallows, then pushes the bowl away from her. My fingers indent her thigh in warning, and she pulls it back toward herself, eating slowly. Nobody around us is the wiser. “But I declined.”

Maeve almost spits out her coffee. “What?! You declined!?”

Ada nods sheepishly. “Yes. I just… I want to continue my break. I think that it’s high time I took more time for myself, for my baby… I thought that maybe you might even be interested in helping me with some ideas that I have for opening my own agency?”

Maeve’s smile nearly splits her face. “I would love that! Oh my gosh, I had no idea you were even thinking of it!”

Ada blushes. “The agency I’ve been working with is so toxic that I just want to have a safe space… something that girls like me never really got the chance to have. Where I can foster young talent in a healthy way…”

“That’s perfect! We could have auditions and dorms… we could hold classes someday maybe? Where they can get hands on experience and meet with designers…!” Maeve gushes, leaning over the table. “I can’t believe we never thought of this before. Ada, you’re a genius!”

Ada’s blush deepens. “I mean it’s still just an idea…”

“Of course, I’ll help you in any way that I can!”

I can’t help but feel a swell of pride as they continue to talk about Ada’s dream. Her vision is not just about her own future, but about creating a better environment for others. It’s a testament to her resilience and her desire to make a meaningful change.

I don’t think it’s possible to love anybody more than I love the woman sitting beside me.

At dinner, Ada helps me set the table. It’s all I can do to keep my damned hands off her. With nothing else to keep my hands occupied, all I do is want her all day and night. If I could lock her right back up in that bedroom and fuck her to my heart’s desire, we would all be in a much better place.

I want to bend her over this dining room table, all of the others be damned, they can find somewhere else to eat. I want to make her my feast. She’s humming softly, putting out plates and napkins. It’s such a domestic sight that if she wasn’t already carrying my baby, I would put one in her right now.

“Those plates are supposed to go onto the table.” Ada says, looking up at me through her lashes. I can see clear down the front of her shirt and she doesn’t even know it. Or, she’s doing it on purpose. It’s distracting enough that I don’t see the tense look on her brother’s face until he takes a deep breath and sits heavily into the chair at the head of the table. Don’t like that look. The fuck is that about?

My instincts are immediately on high alert. My eyes narrow as I watch them silently confer with one another, Maeve and Cristiano. She places her hand on his shoulder and squeezes softly. Whatever the hell he’s about to say, it’s going to be something significant.

I set the plates down so that the urge to smash them against his face fades somewhat.

“I’ve thought a lot about your proposal, Doyle.” Cristiano pauses, the bastard. “I’ve decided to approve the marriage… you’re right, it will solidify the alliance with the Boston clan and your cousin.

Relief and gratitude washes over me as I glance to Ada, who is beaming with happiness and relief of her own. The approval means more than just an alliance; it signals acceptance of me and our union. It’s a step toward a stable future for us both.

Ada rushes around the room, hugging her brother tightly and kissing his cheek three times. I shouldn’t be jealous of something like that… and yet…

Then she’s there, slipping her hands in mine and kissing me sweetly.

“That’s enough of that.” Cristiano says flatly.

I can’t help but smile, and nod my gratitude toward him. My eyes convey everything that they need to, and when he returns my nod, I know that he understands. I truly will take care of his sister, and I’ve done more than enough to prove it.

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