Page 75 of Baby For My Ex's Brother

That’s another thing that’s been on my mind—Thanksgiving. She’d mentioned that Chris discouraged her from applying to graduate school, and it feels like a major victory for her to have gotten in.

Shiloh laughs, a sound that seems to dance with the sea breeze. "Chris? He always said I wasn't smart enough to do... well, anything really." She shrugs, and I feel the sting of her words. "I don't know how he'd even find out."

"Actually," I start, heart beating a little faster, "that's what I wanted to ask you about. Thanksgiving dinner at my father’s house. I want you there, with me." My voice is steady, but there's an undercurrent of something else—hope, fear, maybe both.

"Thanksgiving?" Her eyebrows rise in surprise, and her pace slows as she turns to face me. "With your family?"

"Okay... why?" Her voice carries an edge of disbelief, and she looks like she's bracing herself for a punchline that will never come.

"Because you're a diamond, Shiloh," I say with conviction, my hands finding hers. "You've always been one. And Chris is a fool who didn't see it." My grip tightens as I draw in a deep breath, ready to lay it all on the line. "And because that dinner, two years ago, was when I realized something important about you."

Her eyes lock onto mine, wide and expectant. The moment feels charged, the air around us almost crackling with the weight of my next words.

"That's where I fell in love with you, Shiloh." The admission is a risk, but it feels right—like it's been sitting at the tip of my tongue, just waiting for this perfect, raw moment.

We’ve reached the stretch of beach just outside my house, where waves lazily kiss the shore, and seagulls cry their harshlullabies. The sun dips lower, casting us in a soft, golden hue. Shiloh turns to me, her hand still locked in mine, her eyes reflecting the fading light.

"Did you really fall in love with me back then?" she asks, her voice a mix of wonder and vulnerability.

I don't hesitate.

"Yes," I say, and it feels like a vow. My hands slide from hers to her hips, traveling up her sides, memorizing every curve as if for the first time. "Your charm, your smile, your mind," I list, each word imbued with the depth of my feelings. "You captivated me completely."

My thumbs brush against the fabric of her shirt, tracing the outline of her body beneath. "And your body," I confess, looking into her eyes, needing her to see the truth in mine. "I fell for that too. For the idea of showing you off, of letting everyone know you belong with me." It's raw, this need to claim her, to mark her as mine in the eyes of the world.

"Back at the office, when you walked in, I was cruel because..." I trail off, searching for the words to explain how her very presence tilted my universe. "Because you've floored me. You knocked my world off its axis." I draw her closer until there's barely any space left between us. "Now, my world revolves around you, Shiloh."

Her reaction is immediate and intense. She gasps, a sharp intake of air that seems to fill the space around us with its significance. Then she's up on her tiptoes, her lips finding mine in a kiss that starts sweet and quickly deepens. "I love you," she murmurs between kisses. "I love you too."

My heart clenches at her words, every kiss sealing those words. The world falls away until it's just Shiloh and me, our hearts beating in tandem. I wrap my arms around her tighter; the need to protect her, to keep her close, overpowering.

The kiss grows hotter, more passionate. I'm lost in the feel of her lips, the taste of her mouth. My hands roam her back, drawing her even closer if that's possible. A voice inside me shouts, a voice filled with conviction and longing, demanding that I make this forever.

I want to get down on my knees right here on this beach, with the autumn leaves and the glittering sea as witnesses, and beg her to be mine for good. I don't just want a fling or a brief affair; I want her as my partner, my equal, my everything.

The realization hits me like a wave: I'm going to propose. And I'm going to do it as soon as humanly possible. Because a life without Shiloh isn't something I want to contemplate. She's the dream I didn't dare to have, but now, she's my reality, and I'll do whatever it takes to keep her.

Lifting Shiloh into my arms, a burst of laughter escapes her, the sound like music to my ears. Her joy is infectious, and I can't help but grin as I trudge through the sand, feeling its grainy texture against my foot. The door closes behind us with a soft thud, muted by the sand that clings to my skin.

"Watch your head," I murmur as we navigate the narrow hallway, her smile never fading. It's a perfect moment, one I'll lock away in my memory forever.

When I gently set her down on the bed, her laugh still echoes in the room. I step back, pulling my sweater over my head and tossing it aside, followed by my shirt, which joins the growing pile of discarded clothing.

On my knees now, the space between us is charged with an energy that has become familiar, yet it thrills me every time. My fingers work the buttons of her oversized flannel, each one slipping free effortlessly until the fabric falls open to reveal a delicate bralette hugging her curves.

These damn things always drove me crazy when she’s come into the office wearing one under her blouse… now, I love them.

Because she’s mine.

Leaning in, my lips find the lace-covered peaks, and she moans—a sound of pure pleasure that sends a jolt straight to my core. But as I grow bolder, her hand on my shoulder stops me.

"Be gentle," she whispers, a hint of vulnerability in her eyes. "I'm sensitive."

I nod, my breath hitching with the weight of her trust. I retreat to her lips, pressing mine softly against hers, feeling the heat radiate between us. My hands move with purpose, fingers tracing the delicate line of her spine until they find the clasp of her bra. It gives way under my touch, and the bralette falls away, leaving her bare beneath me.

"Shiloh," I breathe out, my voice rough with desire as I lean down once more.

This time, my mouth is tender on her skin, suckling at her nipples with the softness she craves. Her response is immediate—she groans, a deep, guttural sound that fills the room and wraps around me. Her fingers tangle in my hair, pulling me closer, urging me to explore further.

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