Before I can take another breath, he thrusts into me, seating me fully in his lap.

"Ahhh . . .”

"You can’t tease me like that and expect me to wait. Don’t you know by now that your desire acts like dynamite in my system?"

It wasn’t teasing—it was need. But I don’t want to talk; I want him to take me. "Harder," I plead.

He lifts me by my hips, guiding me up and down his length with his powerful arms. I feel completely vulnerable yet utterly consumed by the pleasure of his possession.

"I’ve been dreaming about this all week," he says, his voice strained, "filling you up completely with my cum."

His relentless thrusts leave me breathless. He meets each descent with a sharp lift of his hips, driving even deeper inside me. The intensity builds, and I feel my climax rushing toward me like a tidal wave.

I bite down on his chest to muffle my cries, worried the driver might hear.

When he feels me clenching around him, his movements grow even more primal, his hands gripping my ass like claws.

"I’m going to fill you up," he warns. "I want my cum dripping out of you. Say it. Ask for it."

"Yes," I gasp. "Mark me. Fill me."

His lips crash into mine as he thrusts a few more times, hard and deep. When he finally comes, I feel his release flood me, and his low growl vibrates against my lips as he bites down gently to stifle the sound.

"What are you doing to me, Brooklyn?"

"I want more of everything we share, Athanasios. But I’m scared, and I won't take this path alone. If you promise to stayby my side through it all, I won’t hold back. I won’t deny you anything."

Brooklyn

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

Six Days Later

"Did she belittle your profession?"Madison asks, irritated.

Normally, my sister isn’t exactly sweet, but the closer we get to her due date, the more it seems like her hormones are driving her out of control.

"I don’t care. She’s not the first snobbish person I’ve come across. I just wasn’t expecting her to be so rude."

"Rude how?" Eleanor asks, her face hardening.

"I’m biased, Mom, because I really disliked her. His father, on the other hand, seemed very laidback. He even asked me to bring the twins over."

"I don’t think that’s a good idea," my sister says.

"Me neither," I reply. "Honestly, that didn’t even cross my mind. For his sake, I’ll be nice and give the witch another chance, but involving my kids in this equation is a whole different story."

"Mama, nice!"Soraya shouts in her unique language—what I call 'baby talk'—clapping her hands.

"That’s right, love. Mama is nice."

We’re in the kitchen of our house. Madison has been staying with us, following a request from Zeus, who doesn’t want her to be alone in the weeks leading up to the babies’ birth.

It’s late afternoon, and my kids are already back from daycare. They usually nap after they get home, but today they’re unusually hyper.

They’ve danced to their imaginary music—music only they can hear—clapped their hands, scattered toys all over the floor, and handed out kisses.

"See what’s waiting for you, huh? They’re in sync, like they can read each other’s minds."