Page 103 of Secret Heir

He continues his exploration, his soapy hands sliding over my ribs, my waist. Then he stops, both hands resting on my stomach on the small swell where our baby grows.

“My baby,” he says roughly with emotion. “Our child. I still can’t quite believe it sometimes. That you’re pregnant with our baby. That I get to have this.”

Tears sting my eyes. “Maksim—” I break off before I take a deep breath. “I love you. I’ve been in love with you for eight years.” The words spill out, unable to be contained any longer. “Even when I thought you were conspiring to kill your brother, I never stopped loving you. Even when I hated you for finding us. I never stopped loving you.”

His hands go still on my stomach. For a moment, he’s as still as a stone. The water streams between us, steam swirling around us like we’re in our own private world.

Then he’s pulling me into his arms, crushing me against his chest, his face buried in my wet hair.

“I never stopped loving you,” he says, his voice breaking. “Not one day in eight years. That’s why I couldn’t stop searching. I couldn’t let you go. You and Daniel and this baby are everything to me. Everything.”

I pull back to look at him, and his eyes are bright with unshed tears, water streaming down his face.

“I love you, Aria.” His hands frame my face, thumbs brushing my cheekbones with infinite tenderness. “I’m going to protect you and our children, and we’re going to get through this together. I promise you. I swear it.”

“I love you too.” My voice breaks. “I’m so sorry I didn’t trust you sooner. I’m sorry I kept Daniel from you. I’m sorry for all the years we lost⁠—”

He cuts me off with a kiss and it’s deep and desperate and full of eight years of longing. I kiss him back just as fiercely, my hands sliding up his chest to grip his shoulders, needing to be closer and erase every inch of distance between us.

The kiss deepens and turns hungry. His tongue sweeps into my mouth, and I give myself over to it completely. His hands slide down my body, gripping my hips, pulling me flush against him.

I can feel him—hard and thick against my stomach—and heat floods through me. My hand slides down between us, wrapping around him, and he groans into my mouth.

“Oh fuck,” he hisses.

I stroke him slowly, feeling the weight and heat of him in my palm. His hips jerk forward involuntarily, and I can feel him pulsing in my hand.

“God, that feels good,” he breathes against my lips. “I’ve dreamed about you touching me like this.”

I stroke him again, firmer this time, and his head falls back with a groan. I watch his face—the way his jaw clenches, the cords standing out in his neck, the way his eyes squeeze shut like he’s fighting for control.

“Open your eyes,” I whisper.

He obeys and the look in them takes my breath away. They’re molten silver, dark with desire. I hold his gaze as I stroke him again, squeezing him gently.

“Fuck.” The word hisses out between clenched teeth, his chest heaving. “Aria, if you don’t stop, I’m going to embarrass myself like a teenager.”

The vulnerability in the admission makes me laugh softly. “Would that be so terrible?” I ask, stroking him again.

“Yes.” But he’s smiling now, even as his hips thrust into my hand. “Because I want to be inside you, and if you keep doing that I’m going to fucking come right now.”

I release him, and he lets out a shaky breath. But before he can recover, I’m sinking to my knees in front of him, the warm water streaming over both of us.

“Aria, what are you—” His words cut off on a strangled groan as I take him into my mouth.

He’s thick and hard on my tongue and I sigh at the familiar taste of him. I missed the feel of him, and the sounds he makes when I do something he particularly likes.

His hands fist in my wet hair. “God, your mouth,” he moans. “I’ve missed your mouth so fucking much.”

I hum around him, taking him deeper, and his hips jerk forward. I can feel him trembling, fighting to stay still.

“Aria,” he says desperately. “Love, you need to stop. I’m too close. I want⁠—”

I release him with a soft pop and look up. The sight of him—chest heaving and eyes wild fills me with satisfaction and love in equal measure.

“What do you want?” I ask, my voice husky.

“You.” He pulls me to my feet, his hands urgent now. “I want you. All of you.”