Heartless (Enemies to Lovers 1)

DELLA

We both stand for a while, watching our little girl sleep.

The party was a huge success. She had so much fun. The guys went out of their way to make her feel special.

Carter takes my hand and pulls me from the room. I’m surprised when he leads me to my room. He closes the door behind us and locks it which makes my stomach flutter with nerves.

“I’ve been thinking,” he whispers. He places a kiss to my forehead and I close my eyes, just breathing him in.

“Yeah? What have you been thinking?”

His eyes caress my face in a way that makes my heart expand.

“We should go look for a house. I want a garden Danny can play in. “

I smile at him, liking that idea very much. “She would love that.”

“Four years ago you gave birth to our daughter,” he whispers while looking at me with such wonder it makes me feel emotional. “The first time I saw you, you took my breath away. I knew you were strong but I had no idea just how strong. All I know of my mother is that she walked away from me.”

I place my hand against his cheek wishing I could erase that memory from him.

He kisses my palm and takes a chain from his pocket. My mouth drops open at the sight of the broken heart hanging from it.

My eyes dart up to his and when I see all the emotion on his face it makes tears well in my eyes.

“I swore I would never trust a woman after my mother broke my heart.” I can’t keep the tears from rolling over my cheeks and I don’t even bother wiping them again. “I’m giving you my broken heart, Della. I can only trust you with it.”

I wait for him to clip it around my neck before I throw my arms around him. I press a kiss to his lips and whisper, “I’ll keep it safe. I promise.”

He crushes my mouth under his and the kiss quickly turns heated.

He reaches behind him, and breaks the kiss long enough to pull his shirt over his head. I catch sight of his muscled chest and I struggle to keep my mouth from dropping open.

He’s always been the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen, but now he’s pure perfection. He’s all hard muscle, not an ounce of fat on him. I have a sudden urge to lick his golden skin.

"Carter, you're…" I whisper, unable to tear my eyes from his perfect chest.

He leans down, and, placing a hand on either side of my head, he kisses me, a warm and tender kiss that turns my bones to rubber.

He reaches behind me and unzips the dress. It falls to the floor, pooling around my feet.

This moment is perfect. We can finally be together with nothing between us.

My eyes dart up to his and I feel the spark of heat between us.

I feel a little self-conscious about standing in front of him in only my bra and panties. Just like any other woman that’s given birth, I have stretch marks. I definitely don’t have the same body I did when he last saw me naked.

My first instinct is to cover myself, but the scorching look in his eyes makes me stand still.

“You’re even more beautiful than I remember.” There’s so much lust in his voice, it settles like a bolt of fire between my legs.

Heat spreads through my body and tiny tongues of desire lick at my skin.

He quickly strips out of the rest of his clothes. I take in his naked perfection, so exquisitely male in every way.

I reach behind me and unhook my bra, never taking my eyes from his. I let the material fall to the floor and immediately Carter's eyes drop down to my breasts. He makes a sound of pure pleasure which gives me the guts to step out of my panties.

“Fuck, babe. The sight of you leaves me breathless.”