Page 86 of The Russian's Kidnapped Bride
The sheets are a mess while they’re half kicked over the foot of the bed, and the soft glow of the bedside lamp pools across us, cutting through the otherwise dark room.
Lily’s lashes lightly brush against my skin while I look down at her, taking in every curve and shape of her body. Then she exhales lightly with a smile.
“You’re staring,” she whispers, voice softer from her sleepy state, sweet and teasing. Subtly, she angles her head to look up at me.
“I have much to look at,” I murmur, brushing strands of her hair back. “And I’ll never get tired of it.”
She hums and closes her eyes while my fingers lightly brush along her soft cheek. “You always say that.”
“And I always mean it. That won’t change.”
Her lips tug even further, and her quiet laugh makes my heart stir in a way only she can cause. “Then I guess I can’t complain.”
That pleasant bubble lingers between us, and in a bid not to disturb it, I don’t move. I don’t rush her.
These moments, the small pockets of time that feel like they’re just for us post-bliss, are ones I’ll never grow tired of. It’s when we’re the most raw and vulnerable, and when I want to handle her with the utmost care I can.
We lay there for a while, tangled up and shifting subtly to stay comfortable with our bodies exchanging enough heat to keep us warm. The safety of this right here isn’t something I want to run from.
I’ve lived a life full of brutal violence, power, and never-ending strategy. But this, here and now, is the peace I’ve worked hard to reach. It’s different from anything I’ve ever felt before, and because of that, I have every intention of safeguarding it.
My thumb lightly brushes over her upper arm. “You feeling okay?”
Lily nods as she shifts upward to settle against my shoulder while she holds my gaze. “I’m more than okay.”
“Good. That’s the only condition I’ll accept,” I return softly, feeling her fingers across my stomach with quiet affection.
She traces lazy shapes against my skin, moving across my abdomen before slowly moving upward, causing the faintest shiver to move through me. The tenderness in her touch makes my throat tighten.
With all of my love for her swelling in my chest at once, I lightly brush my fingers through her hair and against the side ofher head before kissing her forehead. My opposite arm comes up to pull her as close as possible.
When her brown eyes meet mine again, she gives me a sleepy but content smile. “You’re always so gentle with me after.”
“Of course I am,” I say with a low hum as I move my hand to cup her cheek. “Since you’re the responsible one, I’ve entrusted you to carry everything I care about—my heart, our baby, and our future. I’d never do anything to hurt you.”
A glimmer of amusement lingers in her gaze at the comment, and she rests her hand above my heart. “You said that since the beginning…and I guess I believe you now.”
Chuckling, I lean my head against hers while my fingers idly move through her silky locks. “You better.”
That perfect silence settles over us for another moment, so full of spoken and unspoken care that I don’t want it to ever pass. Moving a bit, I let my hand drift over the curve of her waist to follow the contour of her slowly growing belly, which I’ve become obsessed with. It may still be subtle, but it’s there.
It’s tangible proof of everything we’ve gone through, and everything we’re building. It’s proof of our connection and those feelings neither of us could ignore.
Tracing along her stomach, my touch is slow and reverent, and I know I’ll never get enough. If I’m already this entranced by the sight, I don’t know how I’ll keep it together when she’s further along.
Lily hums and watches my movements. “They’re going to be spoiled.”
“They don’t stand a chance,” I muse, grinning while running my palm along the delicate swell. “Between you and me,they’ll be spoiled. But with my siblings on top of that? It’ll be sickening.”
She chuckles. “I’ve seen how Elena is as an aunt. She won’t know what to do with herself once this one is born.”
“I’m sure she’ll volunteer herself for plenty of babysitting.”
“It’s better she does it rather than your brothers, right?” She asks with a knowing lilt.
I laugh to myself and let my hand roam along her belly and against her waist, tracing everywhere I can reach. “Absolutely. I know they’d be fine, but I can’t guarantee there won’t be some learned habits after the fact.”
“I’m sure Elena could supervise for the time being.”
