“Zee said she’ll teach them during the holidays.”
“A head start can’t hurt. Besides, Josh is a natural with languages, and Josie is a genius. She already said daddy.”
“Is that so?” My smile stretches. “She’s ten months old.”
“As I said, genius.” He drags a heated gaze in a slow evaluation over me. “Since they’re sleeping…”
The desire burning in those bitter chocolate eyes instantly sets me on fire. My voice is husky. “Since they’re sleeping what?”
He closes the book. “I can spend time with my wife.”
Biting my lip, I say, “Maybe.”
A calculated look comes over his handsome features as he narrows his eyes. “Are you teasing me?”
I keep my face innocent. “Never.”
He puts the book and glasses aside, and gently removes his arm from around Josh. I stand quietly. This is my favorite part of the evening. It warms my chest and fills my heart, night after night. I’ll never run out of love or grow tired of witnessing this.
Careful not to wake Josh, Damian lifts him in his arms. I step aside for Damian to squeeze past me and pad behind them to watch from Josh’s door as Damian lies him down on his bed and pulls the comforter with the space rocket motive up to his chin. My big, strong husband bends down to plant a kiss on Josh’s forehead before brushing away a curl. He leaves the blue lamp on so that Josh doesn’t get scared of the dark if he wakes in the night.
Flashing me a smile, he leaves the door ajar and goes back for Josie. Damian works hard, but he comes home before dinner every evening without fail so he can read the kids their bedtime story and tuck them in. That’s his special time with them, his time to unwind from the stress of the diamond business.
We’re lucky. Josie’s been sleeping full nights since she was five months old, and we never had to rock her to sleep. Put her down, and she’s lights out after a few minutes. Damian steps from our room with our daughter in his arms, staring down at her with such a tender expression I know this is one of those moments I’ll remember forever. It’s one of those images a person revisits on a deathbed, a moment of profoundness that gives meaning to life.
Like a puppy, I follow behind them. I can’t help it. I’m still telling myself every day this is real, that I won’t wake from a beautiful dream to discover I’m back in a nightmare.
Damian pauses next to Josie’s crib. Even if she’s fast asleep in his arms, he rocks her for a while.
“Love you, baby girl,” he says, planting a soft kiss on her head. “Sweet dreams, little angel.” He lies her down and puts her favorite cuddle toy within reach.
I slip around the frame and lean against the wall, listening to him move around the room as he flicks on a night lamp and switches on the baby monitor. When he finally exits and looms over me, my heart starts thumping like it always does when he stands so close. His masculine scent washes over me. He’s barefoot, wearing a pair of dark jeans and a faded T-shirt. I long to run my hands over the hard ridges of his chest, but I resist for as long as I can. When I finally break and touch him, it always feels like the first time.
“What would you like to do, Lina?”
The way he says my name, hot and husky, makes me clench my thighs. I can’t help but toy with him a little. “I need to study.”
Leaning a hand on the wall next to my face, he cages me in. “Do you now?”
I’m doing a correspondence degree in Psychology. I love being a psychiatrist’s assistant, but I love helping people more. People like me.
“How about this?” He presses closer, letting me feel his hardness. “I read your textbook to you in bed.”
I stare up at his beautiful face. “Will I get any studying done in bed?”
“Plenty.” He drags his fingertips from my shoulder down my arm to my wrist. Then he reverses the path, brushing a light caress over my scars. “I’ll test you to make sure you’ve paid attention.”
My breath catches when he lowers his head and drags his lips over the arch of my neck. “Will there be punishment involved?”
He kisses my jaw. “Absolutely.”
“Mm.” My knees grow weak as he trails a finger up my leg, lifting the hem of my dress in the process. “I’ll have to think about that.”
“Do you need some persuasion?” he asks as he reaches my underwear.
I’m helpless against the seductive tone of his voice. I have no defenses against the skillfulness of his hands.
“I love you, Lina.”
But those are the words that slay me, time and again.
“So fucking much,” he says with a sudden dark, desperate urgency. “Let me show you, princess.”
When he takes my hand and leads me to our bedroom, there’s only once choice.
I follow.
Anywhere he wants.
Wherever he takes me.
Always.
Afterword
Dear Reader,
Thank you very much for joining me on Zoe and Maxime’s adventure. If you enjoyed the story, please consider leaving a short review on your favorite review or vendor site to help other readers discover the book. Every review makes a huge difference.
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Hugs,
Charmaine
Also by Charmaine Pauls
Standalone Novels
(Enemies-to-Lovers Dark Romance)
Darker Than Love
(Second Chance Romance)
Catch Me Twice
Diamond Magnate Novels
(Dark Romance)
Standalone Novel
(Dark Forced Marriage Romance)
Beauty in the Broken
Diamonds are Forever Trilogy
(Dark Mafia Romance)
Diamonds in the Dust
Diamonds in the Rough
Diamonds are Forever
The Loan Shark Duet
(Dark Mafia Romance)
Dubious
Consent
Box Set
