“You’re scared,” he says, understanding.
I nod again.
He places his finger beneath my chin and tilts my face upwards so that my eyes are staring into his.
“My father has no power anymore. Every single one of his alliances is broken. My inner-city alliances are stronger than ever, and my main alliance is still moving through the city, establishing the new regime. We have people in every corner of the city. If my father so much as shows his face, we’ll hear about it.”
“Everyone is on your side?” I ask.
“Everyone. Every network has been warned to let us know the moment they hear anything about him.”
“Okay,” I say, sighing in relief. “I guess…I guess he really doesn’t have any power anymore.”
“All we need to do is celebrate,” he grins, tilting my chin higher, his bright eyes piercing into mine, and a mischievous grin spreading over his face.
“We’ve beencelebratingevery night,” I giggle, my cheeks heating.
He chuckles. “No, I mean, more along the lines of taking you out and showing you off to everyone. I want my city to see how beautiful my wife is. No more hiding. Will you come for dinner with me tomorrow night?”
“You want to show me off?” I muse, throwing him a crooked smile.
He laughs, shaking his head. “Yes, obviously, but it’s so much more than that. Georgie, you’re my anchor. My driving force. You give me strength and purpose. I want to celebrateus.What we have is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of connection. Most people never find it. I want to celebrateyou.”
A wide smile spreads over my face. He always says the most perfect things.
I thread my hands around the back of his neck, locking my fingers together.
“I’d love to have dinner with you. After class? The last one ends at five-thirty. I can come home, shower, and be ready by seven?”
“Perfect. I’ll be home by then, too,” he says.
He pulls me close, kissing my lips softly. “You’re the reason I have hope, Georgie,” he whispers against my mouth, and my heart soars.
***
The next day, I’m so excited for the end of my last class that I’m fidgety all day long. I can’t wait to go out with Kris. Our relationship is growing stronger every day, and he isn’t holding anything back. He showers me with affection and love, and I hate being away from him. As much as he makes me feel special, I want to do the same for him. And any fear or worry I had about being pregnant faded ages ago. I can’t wait to have a family with him. He’s the most beautiful man I could ever have dreamed of having in my life.
My last class ends a little early, and I hurry from the building, heading towards the parking lot where my security guard is waiting for me. The sun is still shining bright in the skyas I walk over the campus lawn, past students studying on picnic blankets, taking notes from each other, and sharing thoughts on their recent classes.
On the way there, I pull my phone from my book bag and dial Kris.
He answers in one ring and I grin happily.
“Hello, beautiful,” he says, a smile in his voice.
“Hi, sexiest-man-alive. I have a very important question for you.”
“Oh, is that so? I’d love to answer your question. Shoot.”
“I wanted to know what you’d like me to wear tonight. Because I was thinking of that little pink dress, the one with the slit up the side.”
“Mm. That one is gorgeous, but it’s risky. How will I keep my hands off you?” he muses.
“Well, the other option is the black dress, the one with the sequins.”
“The one that dips low over your cleavage and shows off those perfect breasts. Again…how will I keep my hands off you?” he says, his voice growing husky. My heart races at the thought of him so turned on by me.
“What about the red one?” I grin.
