Page 54 of Ardent Desires

He helps me up, his arms firm around me. “Absolutely.” He kisses me softly, and the warmth in his eyes is unmistakable. He looks at me like I’m the only thing in his world right now.

“What about Vanessa? Everything’s so complicated.”

His hand slides to my belly, making me laugh softly. He grins. “None of that matters right now. Only you.”

In that moment, I feel my doubts melting away. He’s here, with me, and even with the fear and uncertainty, a glimmer of joy starts to take root.

*

I lie in bed, watching Alexander pull his shirt over his shoulders, each movement deliberate, smooth. It’s like he doesn’t even know the effect he has on me, the way he fills the space with his presence alone. My heart swells, a warmth spreading as I realize—I love him.

I love him. The thought is sudden, and yet it’s been building for days, maybe longer, until I couldn’t ignore it if I tried.

He buttons his shirt, giving me a small grin when he catches me staring. “What?” he says, playful but a little curious.

I shrug, pushing myself up in bed and wrapping the sheet around me. “Just… admiring you. So, French Riviera, huh?”

He crosses the room, sitting on the edge of the bed, leaning down to kiss me. His lips brush mine, soft, warm, lingering.

“Yeah,” he murmurs, his fingers trailing down, stroking my bare skin, tracing my collarbone, lower until his thumb flicks my nipple. I shiver, caught between wanting him to stay and knowing he has to go.

He smirks as I bite my lip. “We’re making some changes to the property there. I want it to be more than just another resort. And now… I can finally see it coming together.”

I watch his eyes, glowing with excitement. “I’m proud of you, Alexander.”

His smile softens. “Thank you, baby. I needed to hear that.”

He kisses me again, slower this time, but then sighs, shaking his head. “I really do have to go.”

I exhale, nodding as I sit back and stretch. “I’m going to rest up a bit, then maybe take it easy for the day.” I catch his hand, squeezing it. “Call me when you’re free?”

He nods. “I will. And as soon as Vanessa’s okay, we’ll handle the press.”

“I understand.” I squeeze his hand again, trying to ease his worry.

Alexander straightens, but his eyes flick back to me as he grabs his jacket. “I’ll be thinking of you.” He winks, and with a final look, he leaves, the door clicking shut softly behind him.

As I sit there, silence settling around me, it starts to feel real—the baby, him, us. The mix of excitement and wonder bubbles up, and I can’t stop the smile spreading across my face. I’m going to have a baby.Our baby.

I shower, slipping into my softest pajamas afterward, feeling warm and calm, like the hot water’s washed away every worry. I order a pizza and settle on the couch, my hand instinctively moving to my stomach as I imagine the future—what it’ll be like to raise a child with Alexander.

With a deep breath, I let myself sink into this new reality, the start of everything changing.

Twenty minutes later, there’s a knock at the door. I grab my wallet, expecting it to be the pizza, but as I open the door, confusion hits me.

It’s not the delivery guy—it’s a woman. Middle-aged, with short brown hair that frames her face in sharp lines, hints of silver at her temples. She’s dressed in a tailored navy blazer over a pale blue blouse, her posture stiff, expression unreadable.

“Oh, um, hey?” I say, feeling immediately awkward. She just looks at me, taking me in with a strange intensity.

I try again. “I think you might have the wrong house?”

She doesn’t answer right away, and my nerves spike. Who is this woman? And why is she just… staring at me? The thought that she could be a journalist flashes through my mind, and my stomach drops. The last thing I need right now is some reporter sniffing around.

She finally speaks, her voice soft but steady. “You’re so grown now.”

“Excuse me?” I ask.

“You’re Ellie Sanders?”

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