We’re together, right where we’re supposed to be.
“Thanks,” he says to the driver when we stop in front of his building.
As he leads me out, I grip his hand, feeling the heated tension rolling off him as we reach the elevator. Once inside, we’re alone.
And he snaps.
I gasp when he pushes me against the wall, assaulting my lips in a kiss so passionate, I feel it in my bones.
His lust.
His love.
The intensity of this man is something I crave, and I’ll never tire of it.
The elevator dings, and the doors open on his floor. He lets go of my hair and grabs my hand instead. I skip to keep up with him, and once we’re inside his loft, we don’t waste any time.
We keep the lights off, and his apartment is quiet, except for the soft echo where he drops his keys to the floor.
He flings his shirt off in one swift motion.
I pull my dress up over my head and am left in only a lacy red bra and black panties.
He licks his lips.
I squeeze my trembling thighs together.
Heat creeps down my back like a low whisper across my skin.
He kisses me, placing his hands on my waist to hoist me up, and I wrap my legs around him as he carries me to his bed.
When he sets me down, he doesn’t pull back. Instead, he hovers over me, fumbling with his belt.
“Let me.” I grab his pants, pulling him toward me as he peppers kisses on my temple, in my hair, right below my ear.
I moan, and he growls in response as he unclasps my bra. “Hurry,” he rasps. “I need you.”
I pull his pants down, and his length springs free, making my mouth water.
My body hums as the anticipation grows.
He lays me back, covering my body with his, and places warm kisses along my throat, running his hands up my sides until he cups my breasts.
Dipping his head, he swirls his tongue around my sensitive nipple, making me arch my back against the bed, into his touch.
Squirming, I reach for him, clawing at his shoulders—his teasing is frustrating yet delicious, making the ache in my core grow.
I angle myself so that his tip is at my entrance, and my whole body trembles.
He looks up at me, his hazel eyes brighter in the dark. “I love you.”
The determination in his voice matches his expression. There’s a strong crease in his brow as he says the words I’ve waited all my life to hear, from the one person who means them the most.
I gulp as the emotions surround us like a backdrop of this night. “I love you too,” I whisper.
He inches himself inside me, and I memorize the feel of him stretching me.
The feel of something new waiting for us at the start of a new day, the start of something real for us.
He rolls his hips, and I writhe beneath him as we get re-acquainted after the last few weeks apart. And I lock everything he gives me in my heart.
He stays close as he picks up his pace, his cheek against mine, his breaths coming out in pants like my own.
We move in sync as the cool sheets rustle beneath us. As the bed molds to our shape. As the city blinks beyond the window behind us like it’s cheering us on.
I wrap my arms around his back as we make love. Sensual, tender love that makes my eyes water with happiness.
Aiden has always held my heart, all the broken pieces of it.
But with him by my side, living as one, we truly are unbreakable.
Chapter Thirty-Three
AIDEN
“Your poem was…”
I trail my fingertips from her shoulder down to her elbow and back. “I hope the end of your sentence is good. You should’ve seen how hard I worked on it, especially when Jared kept trying to help.”
Laughing, she grips my arm like she needs the support. “I can hardly imagine.”
“All I’ll say is that he can rhyme a lot of words with ass.”
Her eyes sparkle, dancing with amusement, and after a moment, she sobers. “I always knew you were a poet.”
“Only when it comes to you.” I tuck her silky hair behind her ear.
“It was beautiful,” she whispers.
I move across the pillow to kiss her forehead, then wrap my arm around her shoulders and hold her close. Her body fits into mine like it’s always meant to be there.
After a few beats of silence, she untangles herself from me and stands. Pacing by the bed, she fidgets with her hands in front of her.
I sit up and cross my arms around my knees. The longer she remains quiet, the higher my heart rate spikes. “Jersey?”
“Aiden, I need to tell you something.”
“What’s wrong?”
She shakes her head, smiling. “Nothing’s wrong. I’ve wanted to tell you this for a couple weeks, but I wanted us to be sure about our feelings for each other first. And, well, I can’t wait another moment to tell you.”
I slide to the edge of the bed, waiting.
“I’m pregnant.”
My stomach lurches. “What?”
“I’m pregnant, Aiden.”
I blink.
Shocked doesn’t even begin to cover what I’m feeling.
“I’m on the pill, but things happen…” She takes hesitant steps toward me, her lips trembling. “I know this isn’t what we planned, and maybe the timing isn’t great, but this is our second chance. Our second chance to be a family.”
I remain frozen, my mind racing with a million thoughts.
My Jersey’s swollen stomach. Cradling a baby in my arms.
A tiny hand wrapping around my finger.
“Please say something.” She wrings her hands in front of her.
“A baby… we’re having a baby.” I exhale and jolt forward to scoop her up. “Fucking hell, we’re having a baby!”
Her giggles echo around us as I spin her in my arms, my head buried between her breasts.
“I’m going to be a dad,” I whisper, setting her back on her feet. I rub my hand down my face, my eyes welling. “We’re going to be parents.”
“My checkup went well, but there are still many uncertainties, especially given what happened the last time.” She gulps. “But you’re happy?”
I cup both her cheeks and kiss her. “Of course, I’m happy. I’m ecstatic, and I can’t wait to scream it to the world. A baby.”
She kisses me, squeezing her arms around me. “Yes, but we shouldn’t say anything, not yet. I’m still early in my first trimester, and I’d prefer to wait until I’m almost to my third before we tell people.”
“Whatever you want.” I pull her to me, wrapping my arms around her, breathing her in.
My world.
I’m holding my entire world right here in my arms, and I’ll never let go.
Chapter Thirty-Four
SAGE
The next morning, I wake up in Aiden’s arms, a new sense of peace settled in my chest.
I hum as I stretch my arms above my head, and Aiden’s scruffy jaw tickles my cheek as he kisses me there, then places a hot kiss below my ear. His fingertips travel down my arm, my side, until they grip my bare hip.
He captures my lips with his, delving his tongue inside my mouth to gently explore.
The way he wants me—it drives me wild.
“Good morning,” he whispers, a smile tugging at his lips.
“Mmm…” I snuggle into him, kissing him as my hands roam his back. “What’s for breakfast? We need food. Energy. Coffee—decaf for me, of course.”
“Definitely coffee.” His gruff voice makes goosebumps erupt down my arms. “That’s what I was thinking.”
He palms my ass—he is definitely not thinking about coffee.
“How about we grab breakfast from the bakery around the corner, and then we come back here for…” I clear my throat. “A shower.” My expression is coy when I pull back, and I lift my eyebrow suggestively.
He jumps out of bed like I shocked him and tosse
s me my bra and shirt.
I laugh as I halfway dress, and he races around the room like this is a restaurant and the health inspector is stopping by.
“You sure are hungry for pastries,” I tease.
“Yeah, that’s what I’m hungry for.” He rolls his eyes, then comes back to bed. Leaning over, his nostrils flare before he nibbles on my bottom lip. “Get your sexy ass out of bed. We need to eat, and then I can have my way with you.”
“Yes, sir.”
He groans, squeezing his eyes closed. “Don’t do that, or we won’t make it to breakfast.”
“So, you like it when I call you sir?” I throw my feet over the edge of the bed and walk to him. Tugging on his shirt, I whisper, “I’ll keep that in mind.”
He crushes his lips to mine, fisting my hair in his large hand.
Pulling back, he groans again and slaps my ass. “Put some pants on. You’re killing me, woman.”
Once we’re fully dressed, we walk down to the bakery, and his hand grips mine the entire way.
I practically skip, and not just because I’m excited about tasty pastries and hot coffee.
It’s because of Aiden.
Because of last night. It was so romantic. What many girls dream of—the guy they love being vulnerable and real with their feelings. Aiden isn’t one for the spotlight. When he stood in front of a group of strangers and recited poetry, it made me melt.
It was a grand gesture if there ever was one.
“Are you having any special cravings or anything?” Aiden asks.
“The opposite—I haven’t wanted ice cream. Makes me sick even looking at it.”
He stops and faces me. “Excuse me? Ice cream? That’s blasphemy.”
“Right? That’s what I said to the baby, but he or she did not care about my needs. Crazy, huh?” I laugh.
“He or she is the boss, so we’ll go with that.”
“But until then, I’m the boss, and I want butter… flaky… everything.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he mumbles against my lips, then squeezes my hand as we continue walking.
Once inside the bakery, the smell of sweet treats and coffee fills the air, along with the exciting buzz from people starting their day. When we get in line, Aiden kisses the back of my hand and whispers in my ear, “Want to get this to-go? Breakfast in bed?”
“Good idea.”
We move up in line, and he never lets go of my hand.
I never want him to.
Chapter Thirty-Five
AIDEN
I swallow the last bite of my breakfast sandwich and pick up the remaining item in the box of breakfast foods. “You have to try this cronut.”
“I’ve never had one.”
My jaw drops. “You’re living in New York now.”
“Well, Jersey City, but so?”
I roll my eyes. “I know, Jersey, but it’s too close to the city to never have tried a cronut.” I hover the pastry by her thin lips. “It’s not Dominique Ansel’s, but it’s one of the best I’ve had. Crunchy, yet creamy and thick. Heavenly.”
“Who’s Dominique Ansel?”
I sigh and almost drop the pastry. “You need to be a better New Yorker.”
She lifts my hand to her lips and takes a bite of the cronut, while my gaze follows her every move.
Her throat bobbing as she swallows.
Her chest heaving when she moans.
She licks her lips, drawing my attention there. “You’ll have to teach me.”
I drop my voice. “I can teach you. I can show you many things. New York”—I kiss her neck—“pastries and bagels”—another kiss—“how to shower.”
She giggles. “Now, I’ve had plenty of bagels, and I know how to shower.”
“You still need me to reach those… sensitive spots.” I kiss her lips, savoring the lingering sweet cream there.
She shifts on the bed, moving the box away from us, and kisses me back, her tongue eager to find and explore mine.
“Time for that shower yet, or what?” I grip her thigh that’s draped over me.
She nods against me, and I waste no time standing up, scooping her into my arms, and taking her to the bathroom.
“The cronuts!” Her voice strains between laughs. “You knocked them to the floor.”
“We’ll get more.” I set her on her feet in the bathroom and turn the water on. “Right now, we have more pressing matters.”
I strip her shirt over her head, then cup her breasts over her bra, noticing how full they are. More than they were a month ago, and it drives me wild.
I tug on her bottom lip with my teeth, swallowing her moan, as she works on undoing my pants.
Once all our clothes are at our feet, I follow her into the shower, my gaze glued to the curve of her perfect ass.
Reaching out, I palm it and lick my lips.
I close the shower door behind us and let the water cascade down our naked bodies.
She rests the back of her head on my chest as my hard length presses against her lower back.
Steam rises around us as I slightly turn her head toward me, so I can nip at her ear, then her shoulder.
I worship her.
I will always worship her like she deserves. She’s brought so much light into my life, and now a baby… I’ll do whatever it takes to show her how special she is. How much I love her.
How much I’ll love our family.
Bending at my knees, I let my length press between her cheeks, rubbing it up and down until her pants are audible over the rushing water.
Without exchanging words, with nothing but our bodies for communication, she places her hands on the tiled wall opposite us and arches her back.
And I’m certain I’ve died.
I’ve died, and this is heaven, where I get to have Sage spread out and eager for me anytime we want.
I use my foot to nudge her ankle to the side, so her legs are spread wider.
She’s trembling with want.
Desire.
And I’m all too happy to oblige, especially when she glances back at me, her gaze hungry, her lips parted. Tiny droplets of water fall from her bottom lip, then chin.
Waiting.
I grip her hips with both my hands and bring her back to me, sliding into her tight heat in one smooth thrust.
She clenches around me.
I grind my teeth and reach around her to knead her nipple between my thumb and forefinger, making her jerk against me.
The water pelts against my shoulder as I pull out and thrust back in, looking down between us, licking the warm water off my lips as I disappear inside her.
Her moans echo against the tile, and each one fuels me to move faster, harder, deeper. I pump into her with vigor.
She slumps against the wall, her breasts pressed against the tile, her back curved as her ass hits my stomach with every thrust.
I rest my hand against the wall next to her cheek, and her slow cries grow louder the faster I move.
Until her body tenses and explodes in my arms.
I soon follow, tightening my hold around her limp and satisfied body as I empty my release deep inside her, marking her until my dying breath.
And when that happens, when it’s time for me to go, I’ll imagine Jersey’s glowing smile, her feminine sounds, her sweet taste, and I’ll die with a fucking smile on my face.
I pull out and turn her around to kiss her, pushing my body flush against hers as the water slowly cools. “We better hurry and use what’s left of the hot water.” I smooth her hair back, admiring her lazy eyes.
Her flushed cheeks.
“Then, you better get to work and show me how to properly bathe already. I’m filthy,” she whispers, her voice low and seductive, then grabs the shampoo.
I cup my hands for her to pour some into my palm, then lather it in her hair. She does the same for me, and our gazes remain locked as we massage the shampoo onto one another’s head.
It’s simple, but with her, this is sensual. Intimate.
I’ve never been this intimate with anyone other than Sage. Never recited poetry I wrote for anyone. Never loved anyone as deeply as I do her—so deeply that I’ll do anything to make her happy. Anything just for a small smile, even.
We take turns rinsing, then repeat.
Afterward, I rub every inch of her soft skin with soap—her shoulders, arms, and back. I take extra care when I get to her breasts, lathering them with circular motions.
We move in sync. In a relaxed rhythm like this is a normal Sunday. And suddenly I want this to be every morning for us, enjoying each other.
When I reach between her legs, rubbing along the swollen seam of her, her eyes flutter. I fight my urge to get lost there again.
I’ll never get enough of her.
I then move out of the way and let her rinse off while the water is still at a bearable temperature.
Once we’re both clean and rinsed off, all I want to do is dirty her up again.
To hear my name on her lips.
To consume her like she’s consumed me.
We remain standing in the shower, both staring at each other like we’re waiting for the other to make the next move.
So, I take the lead and run my hand down her stomach, past her belly button, between her legs again. I swallow her gasp as I kiss her lips without removing my fingers from her most sensitive spot.
I rub circles on the bundle of nerves that are tensing once again.
“I can’t tell for sure, but you’re wet again, aren’t you?”
She nods, then gulps as her eyes slowly open.
“You’re so perfect.”
“And you—” She sharply inhales, digging her nails into my skin, when I sink two fingers inside of her.
“Yes?” I breathe against her jawline as I continue working her.
“How do you… do… that?” she asks between pants.
“What? Make you hot? Needy?” I run my nose along her cheek, breathing her in, wanting so badly to taste her.
Growling, I pull my fingers out, and her eyes widen when I reach for the door to the shower.
“What’re you doing?” She grabs my arm.
Unbreakable: A Salvation Society Novel Page 23