Chapter 353
Chapter 353:
I rolled my eyes, pulling my sweater over my head. “I’m fine, Ryder. For the hundredth time, I’m fine. Pregnant, not broken p>
His gaze dipped, lingering on the curve of my stomach, even though it wasn’t showing yet. He stepped closer, his fingers brushing against my hip as he searched my eyes.
“You don’t have to be strong all the time, Jasmine. You know that, right p>
And there it was. That softness in his voice, the one that always unraveled me. I sighed, tilting my head to look at him.
“I don’t need to be strong, Ryder. I have you p>
The words seemed to hit him harder than I expected because his jaw tightened, and his hands found my waist, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us.
“Say that again,” he whispered, his lips brushing against my temple.
“What p>
“That you have me p>
I smiled, my hands resting on his chest. “I have you, Ryder p>
His lips crashed against mine before I could say anything else, and I melted into him, into the way his hands gripped my hips like he couldn’t bear to let go. His kiss was desperate, raw, and full of everything he couldn’t say out loud. Ace stirred in the back of my mind, growling his approval. He wanted Layla, wanted her so badly it was almost comical.
“Oh, so now you want him?” Layla snarked, her voice dripping with sass.
Shut up.
“No. Seriously. You’re practically drooling for him. It’s embarrassing p>
“Really, Layla? When does craving my husband become embarrassing?” I ignored her, focusing instead on the way Ryder’s hands slid up my back, his touch sending shivers down my spine.
“You don’t know how much I’ve missed you,” he murmured against my lips, his voice rough with need. “Missed us p>
Lᴀτєѕτ chⲁρτєrs ιn g𝓪l𝗇ovєls.𝑎𝓂
His words sent a pang through my chest. I missed us too. More than I’d realized.
“I’m here,” I whispered, my fingers threading through his hair. “I’m not going anywhere p>
That seemed to snap something in him. He lifted me effortlessly, carrying me to the bed like I weighed nothing. He laid me down gently, his body hovering over mine as his eyes roamed over me, like he was committing every inch of me to memory.
“My vixen,” he murmured, his lips trailing down my neck. “My mate. My addiction p>
I shivered at his words, my breath hitching as his hands slid under my shirt, pushing it up and over my head. His lips followed the path of his hands, worshipping every inch of skin he uncovered.
When he reached my stomach, he paused, his hands trembling slightly as he placed a soft kiss there.
“Our baby,” he whispered, his voice filled with awe. “You’re incredible, Jasmine p>
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I blinked them away, threading my fingers through his hair.
“Ryder,” I breathed, tugging him back up to kiss me again.
“Say that again,” he whispered, his lips brushing against my temple.
“What p>
“That you have me p>
I smiled, my hands resting on his chest. “I have you, Ryder p>
His lips crashed against mine before I could say anything else, and I melted into him, into the way his hands gripped my hips like he couldn’t bear to let go. His kiss was desperate, raw, and full of everything he couldn’t say out loud. Ace stirred in the back of my mind, growling his approval. He wanted Layla, wanted her so badly it was almost comical.