Page 142 of Contract of a Billionaire

I reached for the shampoo, then sat on the edge of the tub. I uncapped the shampoo and washed her hair. The jet black hair reflected the light. I kept my movements meticulous, massaging her scalp with firm, deep strokes. Her eyes fluttered shut, her long dark lashes stark against her cheeks. Her breaths were even and steady, and I found that even if she told me to stop touching her, I wouldn’t be able to.

Months of tension and the fear of losing her to the fucking war seeped out of me with each second. I savored her every soft sigh. Months without her just about killed me. Each second touching her brought me back to life.

I started shampooing her hair at the roots and scrubbed her scalp, then slowly rinsed the shampoo out of her hair. Next I worked the conditioner into her strands. After I finished lathering it up into her hair, I rinsed it out with fresh water.

“We have a long flight. Want to soak longer?” She shook her head.

I helped her out of the tub, then softly patted her dry with a towel. I dried her hair next after carefully getting all the knots out.. It soothed me to finally be able to touch her. The pain in my chest slowly loosening with each inhale of her scent.

“Yoga pants or jeans?” I asked her. I’d had a bag packed with her clothes for weeks, dragging it with me anywhere I went. Byron was the only one that dared to comment on it. And it was only because he reminded me to pack comfortable clothes, socks and handed me a pair of new Ugg boots in her size that I didn’t punch him.

“Yoga pants, please,” she murmured, watching my every move. “Do you have an extra sweatshirt of yours that I can wear?”

I nodded and then helped her with yoga pants, my sweatshirt followed. The pants hung loosely on her and it broke my heart. Socks followed, then the Uggs. Her eyes closed and a small exhale left her lips. My shirt swallowed her small frame but it looked right on her. It made it clear to anyone with two eyes that she was mine.

Silence stretched. It wasn’t uncomfortable but there were so many things I wanted to say to her. I wanted to start a new life with a clean slate.

“I ended all my illegal business details,” I started softly. Her eyes opened and found my gaze. Green, then brown, back to green. “Seeing one of my guns pointed at you, it was a wakeup call. I didn’t care where those went, until I saw that footage. I ended it all. I’m done with it all.”

Her tongue darted out, sweeping over the bruised lip. Our gazes held, the eyes that have captured me from the moment we met. And in them I saw all I needed to.

“I love you.” Three simple words that held so much power. But only when she said them.

“I didn’t know what love was,” I rasped. “You taught me the meaning of it. You gave me hope for it. I have loved you from the first word you uttered. First smile and I was deeper under your spell. First kiss and I was all yours.”

“Ditto,” she choked. “You were the hottest, and only guy, to ever step foot in my bedroom.”

My lips tipped up. “I better be. Or there’ll be some spanking going on.”

This time she smiled too. “Promise, old man?”

There was my girl. She might not be a killer or ruthless, but she was strong nonetheless.

“I promise.” If she’d ask for stars, I’d find a way to bring them down for her. My hands smoothed over her shoulders and down her spine, and I didn’t miss the way she shivered under my touch. My cock instantly hardened, ready to pounce. “But first we’ll feed you,” I added, the need to take care of her trumping my own needs.

“Can you hold me?” she murmured, her face pressed against my chest. “Just for a bit longer.”

As I held her, as our hearts beat as one.

* * *

Ten hours later,the plane landed and the cabin door opened. Hand in hand, we stepped outside and her steps halted.

Kol stood with Autumn’s parents, waiting for his maman.

Autumn’s eyes darted my way. Green. Glistening with happy tears. The only ones I’d ever tolerate.

“I didn’t want you to wait a second longer than you had to,” I whispered.

“I love you,” she murmured. “So damn much.”

“Let’s go to Kol.”

Rushing down the steps, Autumn ran towards our son. He met her half way and my heart squeezed in my chest watching my family. She showered Kol’s face with kisses, hugging him tightly and tears glistened on her lashes. But she kept her gaze on him, then back to me, and again to our son. As if she was scared it would all go away.

“It was all worth it.” Sasha slapped me lightly on the back. “Remember this feeling right now when shit goes to hell.”

I had no idea what the fuck he was talking about.