Page 36
Story: The Billionaire's Bargain
She shatters around me, my name a prayer on her lips. I follow her over, emptying myself deep inside her with a gutturalgroan. For a moment, the world narrows to just this—our joined bodies, our synchronized heartbeats, our mingled breath.
I collapse beside her, pulling her against my chest. Her skin is slick with sweat, her breathing gradually slowing to normal. I brush damp hair from her forehead, pressing my lips to her temple.
"I meant it," I murmur against her skin. "About another baby."
She turns in my arms, studying my face. "I know you did." Her finger traces the line of my jaw. "I want that too. Isa would be a wonderful big sister."
The thought fills me with unexpected emotion. "She takes after her mother that way."
Alice smiles, soft and knowing. "Toby adores her. Says she's the little sister he never knew he needed."
"Your brother's a good kid." I pull her closer, resting my chin on top of her head. "He's going to do great things."
"Because of you," she whispers against my chest.
I shake my head. "Because of who he always was. I just removed the obstacles."
She leans back to look at me properly. "Five years ago, would you have said that?"
I consider this. "Five years ago, I thought money was the answer to everything."
"And now?"
"Now I know it's just a tool." My hand slides down to rest on her belly, imagining the possibility growing there. "The real wealth is this. Us. The family we've built."
Her eyes shine with unshed tears. "I love you, Alexander Grant."
"I love you, Alice Grant."
She settles against me, her body molding to mine perfectly. Outside our window, the city glitters, a reminder of the empirethat once seemed like everything to me. Now it's just the backdrop to what really matters.
"So," I murmur into her hair, "how soon can we start trying for that baby?"
She laughs, the sound vibrating against my chest. "You just did."
"Again," I clarify, already feeling desire stirring once more. "I want to make absolutely sure."
Her hand slides down my stomach, finding me already half-hard for her again. "Now who's being impatient?"
"Five years hasn't changed everything about me." I roll her beneath me again, capturing her laugh with my mouth. "I still take what I want."
Her eyes darken with renewed desire. "And what do you want right now?"
I press against her, leaving no doubt about my intentions. "Everything, Alice. With you, I want everything."
And as I sink into her again, slower this time, savoring every sensation, I know it's true. The shy waitress who crashed into my life gave me everything I never knew I needed. And I'm going to spend the rest of my life making sure she knows exactly how grateful I am.
I collapse beside her, pulling her against my chest. Her skin is slick with sweat, her breathing gradually slowing to normal. I brush damp hair from her forehead, pressing my lips to her temple.
"I meant it," I murmur against her skin. "About another baby."
She turns in my arms, studying my face. "I know you did." Her finger traces the line of my jaw. "I want that too. Isa would be a wonderful big sister."
The thought fills me with unexpected emotion. "She takes after her mother that way."
Alice smiles, soft and knowing. "Toby adores her. Says she's the little sister he never knew he needed."
"Your brother's a good kid." I pull her closer, resting my chin on top of her head. "He's going to do great things."
"Because of you," she whispers against my chest.
I shake my head. "Because of who he always was. I just removed the obstacles."
She leans back to look at me properly. "Five years ago, would you have said that?"
I consider this. "Five years ago, I thought money was the answer to everything."
"And now?"
"Now I know it's just a tool." My hand slides down to rest on her belly, imagining the possibility growing there. "The real wealth is this. Us. The family we've built."
Her eyes shine with unshed tears. "I love you, Alexander Grant."
"I love you, Alice Grant."
She settles against me, her body molding to mine perfectly. Outside our window, the city glitters, a reminder of the empirethat once seemed like everything to me. Now it's just the backdrop to what really matters.
"So," I murmur into her hair, "how soon can we start trying for that baby?"
She laughs, the sound vibrating against my chest. "You just did."
"Again," I clarify, already feeling desire stirring once more. "I want to make absolutely sure."
Her hand slides down my stomach, finding me already half-hard for her again. "Now who's being impatient?"
"Five years hasn't changed everything about me." I roll her beneath me again, capturing her laugh with my mouth. "I still take what I want."
Her eyes darken with renewed desire. "And what do you want right now?"
I press against her, leaving no doubt about my intentions. "Everything, Alice. With you, I want everything."
And as I sink into her again, slower this time, savoring every sensation, I know it's true. The shy waitress who crashed into my life gave me everything I never knew I needed. And I'm going to spend the rest of my life making sure she knows exactly how grateful I am.