"Oh, God...Brandon."
Brando kissed the side of my neck with our fingers laced together over my head. My moans grew louder with each thrust, but he was in no hurry. He lifted his head and looked at me, his eyes dark with passion. I held his gaze for as long as I could, but as my orgasm built my lids began to flutter closed.
"Look at me," he whispered, and I opened my eyes. The intensity in his face turned me on even more. I reached up and placed a hand on his cheek. His tiny stubble felt prickly against my palm. "Carina." He rolled his hips a little faster, his eyes still on mine. "I love you, baby."
I gasped then blinked several times. Those words were unexpected. He didn't look away or feel ashamed that he'd said it. Every part of me belonged to him. Body and soul. I'd felt the boom long ago, I just didn't think I was worthy of him.
"I love you, too," I whispered, holding his eyes as my inner muscles contracted around him then cried out as I surrendered to my orgasm. My gaze stayed on him as I witnessed the ecstasy of release on his face. He let out a low, deep groan as his stomach muscles contracted and his cock twitched inside me as he came long and hard.
We stayed that way, joined and kissing, rocking against each other until every last tremor had faded. It was a meaningful moment. We had just professed our love for the first time, though I'd known for a while that I was in love with him. The only thing I still worried about was how he felt about me having a kid.
Brando had gone to the bathroom to clean up, slipped back in bed, and pulled me to him. With my head on his chest, I traced little circles over his skin, then followed the pattern of his tattoos.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Hm." He made a sleepy noise and nodded.
"You know when this is all over, Bash will be here." Then I added hesitantly, "With us."
"Uh-huh." Brando yawned.
"How do you feel about that? Are you okay with a four-year-old hanging around?" He opened his eyes and turned his head.
"Of course. He is your son."
"It's just that I don't even know how you feel about kids or any of that."
"I'm not going to lie. Before you, I never thought much about kids. I'd never been around them. I didn't have a feeling one way or the other.”
"What do you think about them now?"
"Carina, when I say I love you, I love all of you. Your son is part of you. I can't wait to get to know him." Brando rolled us until he was lying on top. "Then I want to make one with you." He lowered his mouth and kissed me slowly. I knew we'd still had so much to learn about each other, but the idea of a family with him made my insides mushy. When the kiss ended, he pulled me against him and I rested my head on his chest.
"I can't wait for you to meet Bash. He is a pretty great kid."
"Well, you're a pretty great mother."
I scoffed at his compliment and rolled my eyes.
"Seriously, you are. Look at what you have gone through for him. It's all going to be fine."
"Tomorrow, we'll find out."
We were set to fly out to Tennessee in the morning to meet with Mr. Roman and Mr. Merrick. There had been an update.
****
Britta showed us to the same conference room as before, and we waited. Mr. Roman and Mr. Merrick entered wearing their dark suits.
"Hello again, Miss Risto. Mr. King."
We shook hands, and they sat down across from us. My leg bounced under the table as I waited nervously for them to speak. The lawyers flipped through their folders, faces void of emotion. I knew whatever they were about to tell me couldn't be good.
"Well?" Brando finally asked, when he'd run out of patience. "You said you had news?"
"Yes," Mr. Roman spoke up, flipping through pages on his notepad. "Yes. First, I must offer my condolences. It's never the outcome we want. Especially, when a child is involved." His expression was solemn. Brando and I exchanged confused glances.
"Condolences? What do you mean?" I asked. It was their turn to trade looks.