I stood at the foot of the bed, unable to move. Unable to process what had almost happened. And in silence, we watched Adele through the night.
The days blurred togetherafter that. We took turns sitting with Adele, watching her sleep, monitoring every breath. Isabella barely left her side. Neither did I. Dr. Lucy came in every morning and evening to check on Adele.
That was how it was for the next three days.
By the third night, Adele’s breathing had grown stronger, and Dr. Lucy assured us she was out of danger. Only then did I notice the tension begin to leave Isabella’s body. She started to feel more at ease.
That evening, after Dr. Lucy had left the house, Isabella came to my room. I was just finishing a phone call with Edmund, tightening already-tightened security measures. She sank into the bed, and she allowed herself to cry, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs.
I went to her immediately, pulling her up and into my arms.
“It’s my fault,” she choked out. “I should have left the pool area. I shouldn’t have let my emotions get the better of me. I should have—”
“No.” I held her tighter, my voice soft. “No, this is on me. I left her alone. I thought we were safe. And I have never been so terrified in myentire life. The thought of losing her…it undid me. But more than that, it made me realize how I want to let her know the truth. How badly I want to hear her call me Daddy. How I want us to be a real family, Isabella.”
She looked up at me, and I wiped the tears from her cheeks.
“But we’ll only do these things when you’re ready.” I pursed my lips. “If ever.”
We stood there, holding each other. For the longest moment, neither of us spoke. Isabella just stared at me. And then she did the last thing I was expecting…she pushed up from the bed and pressed her lips to mine.
I froze. But only for a second. Then the familiar wave of desire that flared whenever Isabella was near me took over, and I wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close, deepening the kiss.
When she pulled away, her breathing was uneven. She tilted her head up to look at me, thick lashes fluttering, desire flickering in her gaze. But there was something else behind it.
“It’s impossible to hate you when you always know the right things to say,” she whispered.
I frowned slightly. “Is that why you kissed me?”
“No.” A small smile tugged at her lips. “I kissed you because I love you. Adele was right earlier—you do make me happy, Dimitri. But with that happiness comes moments of doubt, of fear…and I’m tired of living in that space. I want to trust you again.”
My wolf stirred inside me, triumphant. It was all I’d ever wanted to hear.
I cupped her face, drawing her closer until there was barely air between us. “Then trust me,” I murmured, my voice rough with emotion.
She pushed forward to kiss me again, and this time, I met her halfway.
I tugged at Isabella’s shirt, and she flung her hands over her head, easing off it. Thankfully, she wasn’t wearing a bra.
I wasted no time dipping my head and latching onto her nipples.
She sighed and moaned at the same time, wrapping ahand around my neck and pushing herself into me. But not long after, she began to stir restlessly, nudging me.
“What do you want, Isabella? Hmm?” I lifted my head to look at her.
“I want you to fuck me.”
I smirked. “Not just yet, baby. I intend to savor every last drop of you first.”
She inhaled sharply at my words.
I worked the buttons of her jeans. Frustrating as it was, I managed to get the damn things off. Then her panties went off next. I guided her toward the edge of the bed, sat her down, and then dropped to my knees.
Fuck.
My cock strained against the zipper of my pants. I was impossibly hard. And the sight of Isabella’s pussy—so wet for me—made me want to rip out my cock and thrust into her right this minute.
But I wanted to please her first.
