Page 20 of True Hearts

I’m guessing he was discreet about it. I would have remembered if he’d pulled one out, because it would have killed the moment for me. It sounds crazy, but it would have made me focus on what we were about to do, allowing reality to set in instead of just giving in to the moment. My mind wanders a bit, wondering if he grabbed one from a new box or if he keeps one in the side drawer. It’s a ridiculous thought, but I can’t help it.

I never knew you could get lost in another person in such a way. God knows it’s not my way of things. I tend to be a planner. I am meticulous about organizing my life.

All of that had been discarded when Graham's mouth was on me. Nothing else mattered but the way his mouth felt on mine, the way his hands caressed me and how his touches brought my body to life. It was freeing but also reckless.

Graham’s big body is pressed against mine from behind. I slowly turn, wanting to see him but trying not to wake him. His hold on me tightens a fraction when I start to move, but I manage to roll over to see his handsome face.

I’m perplexed how this man runs an empire, yet his expression is always so relaxed. He doesn’t get worked up easily; nothing is ever really a problem to him, while I’m the opposite. The slightest things worry me. It makes me realize how different we are.

I care far too much what people think. Graham not caring got him into trouble already. What will people say if Graham and I really do try to be together? My name has never meant anything. His family name, on the other hand, has weight in society. I could be easily forgotten, but he wouldn't.

For a brief moment, I ponder what life would be like if we somehow could make it work. When I start to think of us getting married and having children, a dream I have always longed for, I quickly push those thoughts down.

I want children much more than I ever have before. Those dreams are different with Graham than they'd been with Michael. I’m in far too deep with Graham. In this aspect, Michael had always been safe. My heart had never been in it with him. He couldn't break me. Graham, however, could destroy me.

A sense of panic starts to fill me. I can’t think straight when I’m this close to Graham. Moving slowly, I start to untangle myself from him. I manage not to wake him up; as I get to the side of the bed, I start to stand before an arm wraps around me, pulling me down. My back is on the bed, Graham coming over the top of me.

“You trying to sneak out of my bed?” He has a playful smirk on his face at first. His expression quickly turns into one of concern. “What’s wrong?” I would honestly love to know how the hell this man that has known me for such a short period of time reads me so damn well.

“Nothing. I need to pee.”

“All right.” I think he is going to let me go, but I’m wrong. He’s up out of the bed, taking me with him, carrying me into the bathroom.

“Graham.” I laugh when he sits me down on the toilet naked. See, a few touches from him and I’m forgetting everything.

“I’ll start taking a shower.” He kisses me on the top of the head before turning to go. When I’m done, I debate grabbing a towel to cover up, but I know Graham will pull me into the shower with him, and I won’t be able to protest.

I step out toward the shower, trying not to be shy about my nakedness. Before we’d been in bed, lying down and in the throes of passion. Now everything is lit up by the bright lights of the bathroom along with way too many freaking mirrors.

When Graham's eyes land on me, the heat in them has any shyness melting away. No one has ever looked at me the way he is right now. I can’t even explain how that makes me feel.

“Come here,” he orders but is the one who moves toward me. “I’m not going to be able to keep my hands off you.” His honesty about the way he feels about me is refreshing. I’ve never felt so attractive before.

Graham pulls me flush to his body, skin to skin. Being this close to someone is new to me—not only in the physical sense either. Graham sees far more of me than I’ve ever allowed others to. He presses a kiss to my neck. “Or let you out of my hold,” he adds.

For now.

Sadly, it’s the first thought that pops into my mind. Everyone that says they want to keep you grows tired of you after a while. Your quirks are not so cute as time passes. At least for me that has always been the truth.

I watched other kids be adopted and never go back into the system. Unfortunately, I wasn’t one of them. No matter how much I wanted a family to choose me, I was never good enough to keep.

“Come on. Let me wash you.” He tugs me into the shower with him. Emotion has me choked up as I let him, enjoying it while I have it.

Thankfully, the water masks my tears because I could never explain them to Graham. I barely understand them myself.

ChapterSeventeen

GRAHAM

“And while truth is a defense in defamation cases, you have no proof that the gifts and ring that Ms. Miller were gifted were fake. Therefore, her statements were defamation per se, which allows us to recover both ordinary and punitive damages. We believe the case is strong and aren’t willing to negotiate on the number.” Montclair’s lawyer has such a smug expression on his face that my hands curl involuntarily into fists.

My own lawyer coughs into his hand as if to warn me that punching out the opposing counsel will not make negotiations go easier.

Luna’s leg is shaking again, which makes me angry at Montclair but also at myself for not being able to protect her better. I move my hand down to cover her clenched ones to provide what comfort I can. She stops shaking, but her hands remain cold and clammy.

Montclair doesn’t have many secrets, according to my investigators. He lives a debauched life, but it’s on full display. He’s known to have paid for abortions, drugs, hookers, settlements to angry spouses, and damages to many establishments for trying to rearrange the interiors by throwing bottles at mirrors and jumping on tables when he was drunk or high or both. Luna was an attempt at appeasing his family. They thought if he found someone, he would settle down. It bothered them that Luna wasn’t from a wealthy family, but she was pretty enough and had nice manners, and because she wasn’t moneyed, they thought they would be able to control her.

They misjudged her by a lot.

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