Page 81 of Tempted By Eden

There’s power in the way he looks at me, a silent demand that I surrender completely. The air between us sizzles, and I feel it everywhere—beneath my skin, in my chest, in the way my pulse quickens. Goosebumps ripple across my bare skin, my body responding instinctively to his dominance, to the command simmering just beneath the surface of that look.

“Come here,” he growls, deep and husky, sending a shiver down my spine. His gaze drags over my body, lingering on my swollen belly, then across to the ring on my finger, his lips twitching with a possessive grin. No matter how many times he sees me like this—bare and submissive—there’s always that fire in his eyes, the hunger that never fades. He loves me like this, naked except for his ring, sometimes a collar. I belong to him in every way, and he never lets me forget it.

I take a slow step forward, the soft carpet sinking beneath my bare feet. The scent of him—mint, and that intoxicating cologne—surrounds around me as I approach. When I stop just inches away, he reaches out, his hand sliding around my throat, firm but not tight.

As his thumb strokes my pulse point, I feel not just the familiar thrill of submission, but the depth of everything we’ve been through. There was a time when I didn’t think I could trust James this deeply again, when love felt too dangerous. But it’s different now. He doesn’t just control my body—he holds my heart and he keeps it safe.

He glances down at my belly, his expression softening for a moment.

“I think I’ve found my new kink,” he murmurs. His eyes glitter with amusement, a twinkle that tells me exactly where his mind is heading.

I smirk, biting back a laugh. “Oh really?” I arch a brow. “If you think I’m going to stay barefoot and pregnant for years to come, you’ve got another thing coming, Hayes.”

His grin widens, his eyes gleaming, but he doesn’t bother with words. Instead, his grip on my throat tightens. The laughter fades as the tension between us swirls.

“Kneel,” he commands.

The word sends a thrill through me. As I sink to my knees before him, the power shifts between us. I’m fully his in this moment, and it’s a feeling I crave more than anything.

I can’t help but smile at how far we’ve come. It’s been a whirlwind ever since his public declaration at work. God, it feels like a lifetime ago. Dad, Leo, and I moved into his villa just a few months after, although I only agreed to stop his constant grumbling about my house and the neighborhood. He flat-out refused to sleep over.

Such a princess.

And six months later, James adopted Leo. One of the happiest moments of my life, and Leo’s too. I can still picture that day—Leo’s eyes lighting up as James scooped him into a hug; Leo calling him “Daddy” for the first time. That single moment made everything we’d been through worth it. James wasn’t just my love anymore. He was Leo’s too.

Saying goodbye to Eden was surprisingly easy. It was my choice, and I made it without hesitation. Not because James wanted me to, but because my desire for submission and everything that comes with it is tied to him, and him alone. I don’t want to explore this new side of myself with anyone else. I only want him.

James tilts his head, narrowing his eyes slightly, and I’m pulled back to the moment. He crouches down, his thumb tracing my jawline, and the familiar rush of heat pools in my core. He looks down at my belly again, his eyes glinting with pride and possessive need. “You look fucking gorgeous like this,” he murmurs, his hand sliding lower, resting on the curve of my stomach. “Pregnant with my child.”

I roll my eyes playfully, but the warmth in his voice sends another flood of heat through me. “Don’t get too used to it,” I tease. “This is a limited-time offer.”

He chuckles, his fingers returning to my throat just enough to make my breath hitch. “We’ll see about that.”

A soft smile dances on my lips as I remain on my knees before him. My body responds out of instinct, but it’s more than that now. It’s not just submission—it’s trust. We’ve walked through fire, faced every doubt and fear, and yet here I am. Not because he commands it, but because I choose him.

Every time.

Every part of me knows this is where I belong—by his side, on my terms, in a love that’s ours alone.

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