My Unexpected Vow: California Billionaires Book 2 by Harlow James (top 10 inspirational books txt) 📕

out in each other’s arms. And fuck if it doesn’t have my chest bursting with that need again, the one that has only grown exponentially since she became my wife.

However, in all of our lust-filled desire last night to lay claim to each other’s bodies, we never initiated the conversation that I know we need to have, and by the way Waverly’s smile is falling right now, I’m sure she’s sensing the same thought.

“Hayes… I… I think we need to talk.” She reaches down to bring the sheet back over her body as she turns on her side, propping her head on her hand to mimic me.

“Yeah, you’re right.” I inhale deeply and then struggle to get comfortable, adjusting my dick since he thought it was time to play again, but it looks like that’s just going to have to wait.

“Do you want to go first… or should I?”

Reaching out to tuck a strand of her wild bed hair behind her ear, I contemplate my answer. Do I want to know what’s going through her mind? Or do I man up and tell her how I’ve been feeling? What if she’s not on that level though and it freaks her out? Thinking the latter circumstance might shatter me, I decided to hear her out first and adapt to what she’s thinking.

“You can go.”

She takes a deep breath as her eyes find the bed. “Yesterday was… intense.” For a moment I think she’s talking about the sex we had, but then I remember what happened at the baseball game. Fuck, that seems like months ago, not hours.

“Yeah, I agree.”

“I didn’t anticipate running into Brett, obviously, but that was not how I imagined our encounter would end.”

“I’m not going to apologize for defending you, Waverly. No man should ever talk to a woman that way. And I’m serious about what I told him. We can press charges against him for sexual harassment and file a restraining order if need be, but I will never let him touch you again.”

Her face softens as her hand finds the scruff on my chin as she softly drags her nails through it. “I know, and I appreciate that. I’m sorry if I didn’t sound grateful last night, but everything that happened… was a lot to process. He’s… he’s actually been sending me texts for months asking to talk to me, and when I didn’t respond, he’d start sending nasty things too,” she admits, which just makes my blood pressure rise further.

I grab her hand on my face and squeeze. “Fuck, why didn’t you tell me?”

She glances down at the sheets, pulls her hand from mine, and pretends to pick up a piece of lint. “I didn’t think it would be an issue. I just kept ignoring him and actually blocked his number a few months ago. I honestly never thought he’d corner me in public or try to put his hands on me. I feel like a fool.”

Extending my arm, I tilt her chin up so her eyes meet mine again. “You have nothing to be ashamed about. Nothing you did excuses his behavior.”

“I honestly thought too that maybe once he realized I was married, he’d back off and take the hint.”

My heart plummets, realizing that she did have other reasons for staying married to me that didn’t just have to do with her career. But at the same time, I can’t blame her for thinking that. “I understand, but hopefully after what happened, he’ll definitely get the message now.”

She offers me a small smile and then puts her hand on my chest, dragging her nails through the light smatter of chest hair there. “But running into Brett wasn’t the only surprise of the day,” she says, her lips turning up now into a much more pleasant expression on her face, her eyes sparkling to life again as she studies me.

“Hmmm…” I play dumb, yanking her closer to me by her hips, and she yelps. “What could be more surprising than running into your ex and your husband punching him in the nose?”

“We had sex, Hayes.”

“Yes, I’m aware, Waverly.”

“Three times.”

“Care to make it four?” I reach around her hip to squeeze her ass while pressing my dick against her stomach.

“Is that all this was to you? Just sex?” Worry graces her features now.

“Not at all, Wave,” I answer honestly, leaving no time between her question and my response.

“So what does this mean?”

“This means that we’re married and having sex, and I care about you. I’ve …” I pause, wondering how much I should reveal to her, but then knowing that this is my opportunity to bare some of my feelings, I continue. “I’ve been wanting to touch you for months, Wave. I just… I just wasn’t sure that’s what you wanted too.”

Her brows rise and her lips part. “Really?”

“Yeah. Fuck, ever since you moved in with me, things shifted. But it took me by surprise, and given how we’ve always interacted, I didn’t want to press for more.”

“But you’ve wanted it?” Her eyes are wide, searching mine for clarification.

Pulling her in closer, I lean down and press my lips to hers, lingering for a moment before parting from her and saying, “Fuck yes, I have. I want you, Waverly, and now that I’ve had you, I don’t know that that’s ever going to stop.”

“Is it crazy to say that I want you too? And because it was you, and us, I didn’t know what to think about that fact, so I’ve just been trying to feel you out and hope it would all make sense somehow?”

“More like feel me up. I’ve felt you pressing your ass into my crotch on the couch when we cuddle, babe.”

She rolls her eyes but laughs simultaneously. “God, I was wondering how long you’d be able to hold out.”

“You were doing it on purpose?” I tickle her ribs as she squirms beneath me.

“Oh God, stop!” she cries, flailing around on the bed as I continue to torture her. “Yes, I was,