Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 61 - Chapitre 70

Third person povThe morning sun spilled through the wide windows and the sheer curtains into the bridal suite. Delilah sat in a high-backed chair, facing the vanity mirror and looking like an angel in a pearly-white silk robe with lace-trimmed sleeves. The glam team buzzed around her with a dedicated focus. One stylist curled her hair into soft waves, pinning them gently so they’d fall just right under her veil. Another brushed peach-tinted blush across her cheeks. The makeup artist leaned close with steady hands, tracing liner over lids that blinked a little too fast.“Just a few more minutes, darling,” the makeup artist murmured, her touch as light as a feather. “Your skin is just perfect.”The soft scent of jasmine from a vase on the dresser mingled with the aroma of strong coffee in the whirlwind of activity.Delilah offered a small smile, her gaze fixed on the city’s views visible from the window. Below, the world was going about its business, unaware of the important occasion

Delilah's povThe wind curled around us, carrying the scent of seasalt and citrus trees from somewhere down the cliffside. I leaned into his embrace, my back against his chest, the warmth of his skin chasing away the evening chill.I turned in his arms, my hands finding their way to his face, my fingers tracing the line of his jaw. The wind, still whipping my hair around my face, made my eyes water a little, but I didn’t care. The world faded into a soft blur. There was only him. When I kissed him, it was slow at first—just a light press against his lips, the kind of kiss that said I was not ready to let the night end.Calix deepened it, one hand cradling up my neck while the other pressed low against my back, holding me firmly against him. The moment I parted my lips for him, the kiss turned hungry, almost impatient.Without breaking the kiss, he scooped me into his arms, and I let out a surprised laugh, my arms wrapping around his neck instinctively. I felt safe, cherished, and comp

Delilah's povBy our third morning in Italy, the sun was already high in the sky when I woke up, the light a warm kiss on my skin. I stretched, a deep, satisfied stretch that ran all the way to my toes, and found myself alone in the bed. I sat up, a little confused, and then I heard the sound of pots and pans clattering from somewhere below. A quiet smile spread across my face. Calix was making breakfast. The thought was both amusing and incredibly endearing.A folded card sat on his pillow. Dress comfortably. Bring your appetite.I arched an eyebrow at the cryptic instruction. “What are you up to, Calix?” I chuckled, sliding out of bed.I grabbed a silk robe from the closet, and walked barefoot down the stairs, following the scent of brewing coffee and something sweet. I found him in the villa’s kitchen, standing at a marble island, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, a perfect plate of golden-brown croissants and fresh fruit in front of him.Even though he was casually dressed, he

Delilah's povThe first thing I felt was a lurch, a sudden, violent disruption in my stomach that had nothing to do with the dream I’d been having about a soufflé that wouldn’t rise. My eyes snapped open almost immediately. The digital clock on the bedside table glowed—4:17 a.m. Beside me, Calix was still asleep, his breathing deep and even. For a second, I thought it was just a strange bit of indigestion from the late-night pasta we’d eaten, but then the lurch came again, harder this time, a cold wave washing over my skin.One second, I was curled in the sheets, my cheek pressed into the warm spot on Calix’s pillow. Next, I was bolting upright, my stomach flipping like it wanted to crawl out of my throat.I scrambled out of bed; that sudden movement was a big, fat mistake. The world tilted, and I had to put a hand on the nightstand to steady myself as a low groan escaped my lips.“Shit,” I muttered, my bare feet hitting the cold floor.I didn’t make it halfway before the third wave h

Delilah's povThe fluorescent lights cast blurry shadows across the exam room. The room was quiet besides the gentle hum of the air conditioner. The nursing assistant applied a layer of gel on my belly to prepare me for the scan. Calix was seated on the edge of a chair next to me.Dr. Sheila wheeled the ultrasound machine closer and smirked at him. “Mr. Knight, if you hover any closer, I’ll have to charge you for assisting.”“I’m not hovering,” he deadpanned. “I’m only monitoring.”“Monitoring?” she chuckled in amusement. “You’ve got the intensity of a Secret Service agent guarding the President. You know that, right?”I laughed, unable to help myself. “Oh, he knows. He just doesn’t care.”Calix didn’t look away from the machine. His jaw was tense, his eyes focused. “When it comes to my wife and child, caring about them is all that matters.”“Mm-hm.” Dr. Sheila flipped a switch and the hum of the monitor filled the room. “Do you ever let him out of the house, Mrs. Knight? Or do you ne