Page 188 of The Stolen Moments Trilogy

Carter

I walk up to my bathroom and sink down to the floor, my back to the door. I inhale deeply and close my eyes, waiting for the inevitable.

It doesn’t take long before I hear sounds of Emilia choking on sobs, the sound muffled by the water. If I hadn’t been sitting right here, I wouldn’t have heard her.

I don’t know what to do. I want to give her privacy, but I can’t stand the idea of her suffering by herself. Not when I’m right here.

I bite down on my lip and rise to my feet, my hand on the doorknob. I hesitate before walking in quietly and closing the door behind me. The bathroom is all steamed up, and Emilia is on her knees in the shower. She’s so lost in her pain that she doesn’t even notice me.

My heart fucking breaks seeing her like this. I don’t even bother undressing and walk into the shower, dropping to my knees in front of her. My clothes are soaking wet within seconds, but I couldn’t care less about that. Emilia looks up at me, her eyes filled with so much sorrow. She doesn’t say anything, she just wraps her arms around my neck, and I pull her close as she falls apart in my arms. “Carter,” she whispers, and I bury my hand in her hair, clutching her tightly.

It’s like she’s been trying her best to keep from crying, and the second I threw my arms around her, she let it all go. Emilia sobs and I hold her as she falls apart. We sit there together, the water keeping us warm. I’m not even sure how much time has passed when Emilia pulls away to look at me. She sniffs and wipes her face, and my heart fills with tenderness.

“I’m sorry,” she says, and I shake my head.

“Don’t be, baby,” I whisper.

Emilia looks at me, her eyes lingering on my soaking wet clothes, and when she looks back up at me, my heart starts to race. She places her palms on my chest and shakes her head. “I can’t believe you walked in here fully dressed,” she murmurs.

I glance down to find that my white shirt has become fully see-through, and I shrug. “They’re just clothes, Minx. It doesn’t matter.”

Emilia drops her forehead to mine and inhales shakily. “What would I do without you?”

I cup her cheek and look into her eyes. “You’ll always have me, no matter what.”

Emilia sniffs, fresh tears filling her eyes. She throws her arms around me and I hold her tightly, my heart shattering.

“What if he doesn’t make it? What if I’m left all alone in this world? Is this punishment for staying away as long as I did?”

I pull away a little to look at her and shake my head. “He’ll make it, baby. Your dad is the toughest man I know. He’ll defy all odds. But even if you didn’t have your dad, you’ll always have me, Emilia. Always. No matter what life throws at you, at us, I’m going to be there. I’ll be there to pick up the parts of your broken heart. I’ll be there to put the pieces back together. I will always be there.”

She looks into my eyes, raw vulnerability in them, and all I want to do is reassure her. I wish she could see how much I love her.

I sigh and drop my forehead to hers. “Baby, you’re my world. I will never leave you, Minx. I’ll be your family, your rock, anything you need. I’ll be all that you are to me.”

I lower my lips to hers and kiss her softly, my heart overflowing. Emilia inhales shakily and kisses me back, deepening our kiss. Her hands roam over my body frantically, as though she’s scared I might disappear if she lets go.

I thread my fingers through her hair and tilt her head, kissing her right below her ear. “I love you,” I whisper, and she trembles against me. I kiss her neck, and a small whimper escapes her lips.

Emilia’s fingers find the buttons on my shirt, and she undoes them slowly, her hands trembling. “You won’t ever leave me, will you?” she whispers.

I shake my head and brush her hair out of her face gently. “Never, Minx. I’m yours for the rest of my days.”

My shirt falls open and Emilia’s breath hitches. “Will you always love me?” she asks, and I nod.

“For as long as my heart beats.”

Emilia rises to her feet and pulls me up with her. She reaches up and wraps her arms around my neck. The way she’s touching me, the desperation in her eyes… it’s got me feeling emotional in a way I never expected.

Emilia rises to her tiptoes and kisses me, her movements rough. I kiss her back and lift her into my arms. She wraps her legs around me as I push her against the wall, the shower spraying down on us. The way she moves against me, the little moans that escape her lips. I need her, but this is more than physical.

“Tell me you’ll always be mine,” she whispers, her voice breaking.

I grab her chin and drop my forehead to hers. “I’m yours, Minx. I’ve been yours from the second I first laid eyes on you all those years ago. I will always be yours.”

She’s breathing hard as she reaches for my suit trousers, the button flying off as she pulls on it. Her eyes fall closed as she wraps her hand around my dick, and I groan.

“Will you always want me?” she whispers, aligning my dick perfectly. One thrust, and I’ll be inside her.

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