This is the woman who changed everything. Who made me believe in love again when I thought that part of me died with Meghan. Now here I am, letting her draw me naked because it makes her happy.
I shift again, but this time it’s because my body is reacting to Hannah's heated gaze as she sketches. The way she studies every inch of me with such focused attention is doing things to me. Blood rushes south and I groan as my dick stands at salute.
"I told you not to move," Hannah scolds playfully, though her cheeks flush pink. "I'm trying to capture your… essence."
"My essence is getting rather hard to control right now, sweetheart." I’m starting to like this game. Maybe if I play my cards right, she’ll help me with my hard-on.
She laughs, her eyes dropping to where I'm rapidly hardening. "I can see that. But stay still. This is for art."
"Art. Is that what we're calling it?"
The teasing glint in her eye tells me she's enjoying my predicament far too much.
"You're ruining my sketch by changing position."
"You're ruining my self-control by looking at me like that." My voice comes out rough with need.
“I have to look to know what to draw. Now stay still.”
"Can't help it." I watch her face light up as she works. "You make me happy."
Her hand stills on the paper, those green eyes lifting to meet mine. The love I see there makes me feel like a million bucks.
"You make me happy too." Her free hand drifts to her still-flat belly. "All of this makes me happy."
I never thought I'd find this kind of joy again, but Hannah gave me back that piece of myself I thought was lost forever.
Ten years I spent drowning in grief and guilt over Meghan, convinced I didn't deserve happiness. Then Hannah burst into my life with her fierce spirit and endless optimism, slowly chipping away at my walls until I couldn't deny how much I needed her. How much I wanted her. Wanted her love.
But I want her to be happy too and I worry about her decision to put her dreams on hold. She'd been so excited about art schoolwhen I suggested it again, but now she wants to wait until after the baby.
"You know, we could hire someone to help with the baby so you could still go to school," I offer, trying not to shift positions as she works.
"I want to be there for every moment. School can wait." The contentment in her voice sounds genuine, but I still feel responsible for derailing her plans.
"At least let me get you more art supplies. Whatever you need." I'd buy her an entire art store if it would make her happy.
"Mmm." She peers at me over her easel. "What I need is for you to stop moving your shoulders when you talk."
I force myself to stay still, though every instinct screams to go to her, to hold her and make sure she knows how much I want to support her dreams. "I just don't want you giving up things that matter to you."
"I'm not giving anything up." Her eyes meet mine with that fierce determination I love and admire, even if it sometimes frustrates me. "I'm choosing what matters most right now. And that's us. You, me, and this baby."
The pure conviction in her voice eases my concern. This is why I'm sitting here with my hard dick exposed. Because making her happy is as essential to me as breathing.
"Besides," she adds with a teasing smile, "I get to draw my gorgeous husband naked. That's better than any art class."
“The things I do for love."
Who’d have thought I’d ever end up here? In love with my beautiful wife who’s carrying my child. Hampton Kean is locked up in his own basement while my brother oversees the takeover of the estate and the business, reclaiming my family’s business and reputation.
Part of me still burns to end the bastard who took Meghan and my parents from me. Who nearly took Hannah. I fantasizeabout it all the time. But Phoenix is right. Keeping Hampton alive gives us leverage. The remaining Kean loyalists are more likely to fall in line if we have their boss. Dead men can't give orders, and a power vacuum would only create chaos. Better to use Hampton to maintain some stability while we retake our empire.
There's a certain poetry to our victory. Hampton losing everything the same way he took it from my father. One moment of weakness, one shift in power, and an empire crumbles.
"You're tensing up again," Hannah murmurs, her charcoal moving in swift strokes.
I force my shoulders to relax, trying to push thoughts of Hampton from my mind. Phoenix will handle things. He’s the oldest and is ready to inherit what our father wanted him to take over. My job now is protecting what matters most. I look at Hannah and know I made the right choice letting Hampton live… for now. Starting a war would only put my family at risk.
