Page 150 of Unleashed

“Is this your boyfriend?” Darla asked, glancing between the two of us with a knowing smile.

Before I could respond, Michael stepped forward, his voice smooth and confident. “Michael Elliott. Nice to meet you.” He extended his hand to her, then to Paul, his grip firm, gloved, and sure.

Paul chuckled, shaking his head. “You two heading out too?”

I smiled. “No, we’re going home. The trail’s not worth it with all this snow. What about you?”

“We’re going to check it out. If it’s too bad, Miami’s calling our name,” Darla said, sharing a grin with Paul. “I could use some warm weather after this.”

They said their goodbyes and wandered off toward the small store, leaving me alone with Michael again.

I turned to him, eyebrows raised. “You didn’t even correct her when she assumed you were my boyfriend.”

He didn’t miss a beat. His eyes locked onto mine, intense and unyielding. “Morgan, I don’t want to just be your boyfriend. I want to be your everything.”

The weight of his words hung between us, heavier than the snow that had just fallen. We hadn’t spoken much about our relationship over the past two days, and I appreciated that Michael hadn’t pushed. But in those quiet hours, I’d already come to my decision.

I sighed, a long, steady breath, and finally gave in. “Yes.”

Michael fumbled with his seatbelt, turning to face me. “What did you just say?”

“Yes, Michael. It’s you. It’s always been you.” My voice was soft but resolute, the truth finally coming to the surface.

“How long have you known?” he asked, his eyes searching mine for answers.

“Since the moment you showed up two days ago,” I admitted. “And I didn’t say anything because I was waiting for Slade to call. Waiting for him to show me that I still mattered to him. But he didn’t. Not even once.” My chest tightened, anger bubbling up as I thought about Slade’s silence. “He’s lied to me, cheated on me, and he thinks he still has me in the bag.”

Michael’s expression softened as he reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “Sweetheart, I would never do that to you.”

“I know,” I whispered. “That’s why I need you to take me home.”

He frowned, confusion creasing his forehead. “And when will I see you again?”

I shook my head, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips. “I don’t mean my place or Erika and Lincoln’s. I mean your home, Michael.”

A slow grin spread across his face, amusement flickering in his eyes. “Well, that’s mighty presumptuous of you to think I want you living with me.”

I arched an eyebrow, meeting his playful challenge. “Don’t you, Mr. Elliott?”

He chuckled softly, slipping off his gloves and cupping my face between his warm hands. “You know I can’t fool you. I want all of you, Morgan. Every part, even the bad ones.”

“Who says I have bad parts?” I teased, though the vulnerability in my voice betrayed me.

“I’ve known you long enough to know they exist. But they’re what make you special. I want it all,” he murmured before his lips brushed against mine in a soft, lingering kiss.

“I love you,” he whispered against my mouth, the words sending a shiver down my spine.

“I love you too,” I breathed, feeling the weight of the past lift from my shoulders.

He sighed as if he’d been carrying that weight as well, and let me go, starting the car. The hum of the engine filled the silence between us as we left the motel behind, heading back toward a new beginning.

At some point, I drifted off, lulled by the warmth of the car and the comfort of being with Michael. When I woke, he was gently stroking my cheek with his knuckles.

“Sweetheart, wake up. We’re home.”

I mumbled, blinking as the underground garage of his building came into view. But the moment I sat up, my stomach lurched violently.

“I feel sick,” I groaned, pressing a hand to my churning belly.

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