Page 99 of Silver Fox's Christmas Scandal
My heart shattered because I didn't want to let her go, but I knew I had to. She had what she wanted now, and she'd come to say goodbye.
"But I don't want just your baby," she continued in a rush, as if afraid I'd interrupt. "I want you. I know how wrong it is, I know everyone's against us, I know your career and your family and everything else should come first, but I can't help it. I fell in love with you, and now my entire future feels empty without you in it."
She was rambling now, the words pouring out with months of suppressed emotion.
She pushed away from me, but my hands found her shoulders and I refused to let go. "I see how exhausted you are, how this situation is destroying you, and I don't know if that's because of what it might cost your job or if you felt something real too. I keep thinking maybe I imagined the connection between us, maybe it was all physical for you, but I can't stop hoping that?—"
I silenced her with a kiss so hard and desperate, she had to cling to me or fall over, pouring every emotion I'd been holding back into the contact.
Her mouth opened under mine, and I tasted salt from her tears mixed with the sweetness that was uniquely hers.
My heart felt a zillion emotions all at once and I couldn't snag a single one to hold on to, so I held on to her.
"I love you." The words felt rusty from disuse, but they rang with absolute certainty. "I love you so much it terrifies me. I've been in love with you for months, maybe since that first night in my penthouse, and I've been too much of a coward to say it, Tess." I kissed her again, harder and more ragged. I couldn't stop. She was the water in the desert I'd been starved of for weeks.
Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks, but these were different—bright with joy instead of despair.
"Even if it seems messed up to other people, what we have is real," I continued, my hands framing her face. "I've never been happier than when I was with you. You made me remember what it felt like to be alive instead of just existing."
I'd spent long enough letting other people and their expectations dictate what I wanted.
I pushed through building my business and missing my children's lives growing up. I lost a marriage and drained myself of all passion and energy in exchange for duty, and this time, I refused to let life toss me aside again.
"I don't care who knows it," I growled. "I don't care what the board thinks or what Viktoria threatens or what it costs me. I love you, and I'm going to love our baby, and nothing else has ever mattered as much as this moment."
I kissed her again more softly, and she responded with the passion I'd missed so desperately, her arms wrapping around my neck as if she'd never let go.
It was everything I needed it to be and nothing I could've expected.
Until the door swooshed open again and Viktoria stood in the doorway, a coffee cup in her hand and pure venom on her face.
"Well, isn't this touching," she snarled, slicing through our intimate moment in such a hateful way. "Your daughter isfighting for her life, and you're pawing your little assistant in her hospital room like the cradle-robbing fool you are."
Tessa jerked away from me as if she'd been burned, her face flushing with shame and panic.
I reached for her, but she was already backing toward the door.
"Tessa, wait?—"
"How dare you," Viktoria continued, her voice rising. "How dare you come into my daughter's room while she's fighting for her life and throw yourself at my husband. You little hussy?—"
Tessa clutched her stomach and rushed toward the door.
"Stop," I said, but Tessa was already running, pushing past Viktoria and disappearing into the hallway. I moved to follow her, but a soft voice from the bed stopped me cold.
"Dad?" Elena's eyes were open, unfocused but aware, searching the room until they found my face.
My daughter was awake, alive, calling for me with the voice I'd thought I might never hear again.
I looked toward the doorway where Tessa had vanished, then back at Elena's confused but conscious face.
My heart felt torn down the middle, but I couldn’t go after Tessa right now. She would be there when I could, but right now, Elena needed me.
"I'm here, sweetheart," I said, moving to Elena's bedside and taking her hand. "I'm right here."
My eyes that had already cried so many tears welled up again as I brought Elena's hand to my lips and pressed a kiss there. "Daddy's here, baby, and I'm not leaving again."
Viktoria hovered on the other side of the bed and I heard a flurry of activity outside in the hallway, but my focus was my little girl.
