Page 220 of Bossy Hero

I tip my chin upward, offering him a kiss. “How incredibly vague of you.”

He joins our mouths, and his arms encircle me tighter than usual. As my lips part for him, he doesn’t dominate the kiss or demand entrance. Instead, he tenderly touches his tongue to mine. Just the slightest graze to connect us without opening the door to lust, as is often the case when our tongues get involved.

Not this time, though. There’s nothing but adoration and love flowing between us. It’s warm and soft, comforting like your favorite worn blanket. The kind you can’t bear to throw away, even when it’s seen better days.

Because it feels like home.

When we break the kiss, only our lips separate. The rest of our bodies remain lined up as close as can be. Neither of us wants to let go.

“I’ve never felt this way before,” I confess, unable to stop the words tumbling from my mouth. “I didn’t think a love so consuming was possible. Certainly not at this stage of my life.”

Keeping hold of me with one strong arm around my waist, he uses the other to swipe a few strands of hair out of my face. His hand lingers against my cheek, caressing my scar. “I know.”

“You’re a man of many words tonight. Have you always been this verbose, and I’ve simply never noticed?”

The skin at the corner of his eyes crinkles, and something resembling heartache crosses his face in a flash. It’s there and gone in a breath. “I’ve said the wrong thing too many times before, always spoiling moments like these. And I don’t want to do that tonight.”

He doesn’t give me any further explanation. Not that I need one.

It’s true that he tends to jump into the deep end with both feet, assuming I’m finally ready to swim with him. And I haven’t been.

Until now.

I skim my palm over his shoulder, cupping his nape to keep him close to me. I need him to hear every word I’m about to say and see the earnestness in my expression.

“Alan, I want you to ask when you get back.”

He knows what I mean instantly. No hesitation.

I watch him eagerly, waiting for his face to brighten as he processes my words. Sadly, it doesn’t happen. Instead, his entire face hardens like it’s cast in stone.

“Don’t do that, baby,” he warns, his voice rigid.

A gasp escapes me, and my chest tightens. “Why not?”

He shakes his head, sealing his lips so firmly they lose their red hue. If he wasn’t keeping me pressed against him, I’d worry he was angry with me.

My instincts take charge, and I scramble to smooth things over. “I thought you’d be happy. But it’s fine if you don’t want that anymore. I know things change. It was?—”

“Stop it,” he whispers in a voice like silk. “Maddie, my feelings for you haven’t changed. If anything, I want you even more.”

“Then I don’t understand why you’re?—”

He silences me with a chaste kiss. “As long as I’ve waited for you to be ready forsomeday, I don’t want it because you’re scared of losing me when I go on this op. This is too big of a decision to make with fear clouding your thoughts.”

“Alan, that’snotwhat’s happening.”

I hold his stare, hoping he’ll see the sincerity of my words.

Either he doesn’t see it, or he doesn’t believe it.

“Not like this, Maddie.”

Well,well, well. If it isn’t the consequences of my actions. I pushed Alan away for too long, and it’s come back to bite me. I’m getting what I deserve.

And it stinks.

Fortunately, I have a balm for my aching heart in the form of these adorable silky feet and the baby boy they’re attached to.

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