Chapter 324
We lie there for a while, and honestly, I’ve never felt this comfortable with any man before.
Usually, by now the urge to get away would have already taken over. After anything even remotely intimate, I would feel this overwhelming need for distance. It was almost like my skin would start crawling if a man stayed too close for too long.
What Adrian and I just did wasn’t technically sex, but it was intimate—very intimate—and instead of wanting to push him away like I normally would, I find myself wanting the exact opposite.
With Adrian, I want to pull him closer. Closer and closer until there’s no space left between us. Until I can just hold on to him and never let go.
I never thought I’d feel this way about any man after Noah. Back then, it felt like something inside me had died. Like the part of me that could love someone had simply shut down for good. But now… here we are and it feels like my dead heart has somehow come back to life.
Adrian makes me want things I never allowed myself to dream about before. A husband, ahome and a family. With him, I can picture it so clearly in my mind that sometimes it scares the hell out of me because of how the images are so vivid and how badly I want them to become a reality.
“Okay, come on.” His deep voice interrupts my thoughts: “Time to feed you and our little munchkin p>
My heart stops for a moment as I just stare at him and tears start to fill my eyes.
“Are you okay?” he asks, his thumb still brushing gently along my cheek as worry settles into his expression.
I blink quickly, trying to stop the tears from spilling over, but one escapes anyway.
“Hey,” he murmurs softly, sitting beside me. “What happened? Did I say something wrong p>
I shake my head immediately, my hand coming up to wrap around his wrist before he can pull his hand away.
“No,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. “You didn’t say anything wrong p>
His brows knit together in confusion. “Then why are you crying p>
I take a shaky breath, my gaze dropping to where his hand now rests lightly over my stomach.
“You said our little munchkin,” I finally admit.
He goes still and for a second he looks down at my stomach too, like he’s replaying his own words in his head.
“Oh,” he says quietly.
“I don’t think you even realized what you said,” I continue softly.
Maybe his tongue just slipped.
I mean, it’s one thing to date a pregnant woman, but it’s an entirely different thing to claim her child as your own, right? Those two things aren’t the same at all.
Anyone can say sweet things in the moment, especially after something intimate, when emotions are still running high, but claiming a child? That’s different. That’s a promise and promises like that aren’t something most people make lightly.
His expression changes as something softer and deeper settles into his eyes.
“Sierra,” he says gently, his fingers brushing over my bump in a slow, careful motion, “I meant it p>
My throat tightens as I finally get the confirmation I wanted.
“You did p>
He nods without hesitation as his gaze lifts back to mine. “Of course I did…You and the little munchkin come as a package deal p>
Emotion floods my chest so suddenly it almost steals the air from my lungs.
“And if you’ll let me,” he adds quietly, “I’d really like to be part of that package p>
Another tear slips down my cheek, but this time I’m smiling because honestly, I’d always been worried about our strange dynamic but after hearing his words, relief washes through me, and before I can stop myself, I lean forward and wrap my arms around him, hugging him tightly.
“Careful,” he chuckles softly, his arms coming around me as he steadies me. “You’re going to make me emotional before breakfast p>
“Well, you started it,” I laugh against his shoulder. “And just so you know, you’re already part of the package… you have been since the beginning p>
Adrian has been there for this baby more than Noah ever was, so it only feels right to say he’s part of this. Part of us.
“Thank you, princess.” He presses a kiss to the top of my head.
For a while we stay like that, wrapped around each other in comfortable silence, but eventually my stomach betrays me when a loud growl breaks the quiet.
Adrian blinks down at me before a slow grin spreads across his face.
“Well,” he says, amusement dancing in his eyes, “I’m pretty sure you trying to send a loud enough message p>
Heat rushes to my cheeks. “That wasn’t me p>
“Oh really?” he asks, grinning mischievously.
“Yes,” I insist. “That was the baby p>
He laughs softly, the sound warm and unguarded. “Sure, Princess… Let’s blame the baby p>
He shifts carefully, helping me sit up before sliding out of bed. The moment he stands, he stretches lazily, and I can’t help but admire the view… All those abs, the smooth skin over hard muscles, that damn V with a hair trail that disappears into his boxers… I swallow.
He notices and his brow lifts.
“Enjoying the view?” he asks, teasing.
I bite my lower lip. “Definitely p>
He chuckles before gently pulling me out of bed.
“Come on,” he says, grabbing his trousers from the floor. “Let’s feed you before the little human starts a full protest p>