It was liberating in a way even his billions couldn’t provide.
And he’d never felt so free as he did in that moment, sitting in that breakfast nook across from his pregnant wife.
“Fine,” Kendra declared, “I’ll go back with you to attend the Winter Gala—but that doesn’t mean I’m coming home, Gideon. I am still so hurt; there is still too much I haven’t even begun to process…I just….” She blinked away tears, the sight tearing at his soul. “I’m not ready to forgive you, Gideon…and I don’t know if I ever will be.”
Heart in his throat, he couldn’t speak, so he simply nodded.
His wife was coming home…and he would do whatever he had to to keep her there.
Chapter Sixteen
The second Kendra walked into the glittering ballroom on the fourth floor of Maddox Towers she regretted her decision to wear the dress she’d chosen for the night.
The dress, an emerald satin Chanel gown with a trumpet silhouette, had been an impulse buy two months ago…back before her body had become home to a little person whose very presence made her plump up. Already a curvy woman, the dress now hugged her harder in all the places she’d rather hide, and that made her stand out among a sea of women so beautiful, physically perfect, and elegantly refined they made the whole event look like something from a Hollywood afterparty.
“You look stunning, my love,” Gideon bent to murmur into her ear, his lips brushing against the lobe, his warm breath drifting across her neck. “Like a present I want to unwrap with my teeth, slowly, then take my time devouring.”
She gasped, shuddering at the sensations against her neck. “Gideon,” she whisper-hissed.
He chuckled, low and sexy. “You’ve unleashed the beast,wife, so now you have to deal with him.” The way he growledwife…oh Lord, her panties wouldn’t survive the night.
She shuddered again; she couldn’t help it, because the man was dangerous before she’d left him, but now he was downright lethal—especially to her body rife with hormones.
Your body isn’t the only thing that wants him…you’re just too scared to admit it.
“Gideon, this isn’t the place,” Kendra reprimanded him, only making him chuckle again.
Bending, he pressed a hard kiss to her lips, making her gasp once more. “You’re my wife; wherever you are isthe place.” Another kiss, another gasp, and another low chuckle. His green eyes twinkled with humor, but the scorching lust that flashed through them made her pussy pulse with need.
Lord, he was devastating to her senses—and they hadn’t even really started the night yet.
If she survived that hungry look of his, she didn’t know how much of her would be left.
Let the man eat, woman!
Never had he been so openly affectionate with her, especially in public. Typically, they would arrive together, then he’d break off to talk business, she’d go sit in the corner observing until he called her over to play the mogul’s wifey until he summoned her to his side to playact the happy couple. Their physical interactions were limited to arm holding, leaning in, shoulder to shoulder, and the occasional stiff dance.
Tonight, though, the man was practically melted into her side, his body brushing against hers with every movement. And that kiss—he’d never kissed her in public before.
Maybe he was serious about changing, about being a real husband to you….
Well, that remained to be seen, because a few kisses meant nothing if no one was watching.
Yeah, like every eye in the room isn’t on you and your husband right now.
For the first time in their marriage, Gideon had deviated from the usual program, telling the chauffer to drive them around the back of the building to avoid the paparazzi in the front with the red carpet.
When she’d asked him what he was doing he’d replied simply, “Tonight isn’t about them, it’s about you…it’s about us. I want you to enjoy the evening, and I know how much you hate the cameras.” He shrugged. “So we’ll avoid them. Let Adrian and Cora handle being the face of the Maddoxes tonight.”
She’d sat in silence, stunned, until the car had pulled up to the security entrance in the back. He’d helped her from the car, he’d lead her into the building, and he’d lead her into the room—all without a single camera flash in her face.
Had that been to save her the awkwardness or had it been to keep the masses from seeing her in that poor choice of a dress?
Now you’re just looking for reasons to be an ungrateful bitch.
The man had done something thoughtful, and she was still stinging from what he’d said last week that she couldn’t appreciate his efforts.
Yeah, he’sfinallymaking the effort—too little too late?
