Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right by Rosie Steppe

Chapter 838

When he finished, I found myself curling even fighter. Hayden shifted closer, his hand brushing mine. "Are you scared of what I've told you so far?"

The truth was, not really. So far, it was just a rundown of shady deals and insane tests he'd endured. But my mind had already spun it into something straight out of an undercover spy movie-life-or-death situations, Impossible choices, brutal sacrifices, "Hayden," I whispered, cutting off my own spiraling thoughts. "Hold me."

He hesitated, his grip on my hand firin but cautious, like he wasn't sure if I'd pull away again.

I didn't. Instead, I leaned forward, wrapping my arms around him,

His chin came to rest lightly on the top of my head, that small, familiar gesture unraveling the doubts still clinging to me. This wasn't Xander, wasn't some stranger. This was Hayden. My Hayden.

Without thinking, my hands slid under his shirt, gliding along his waist.

"Kiki," he said, his voice tight, "there are no injuries."

I kept going. "Let me see for myself."

"Are you sure?" His lips twitched like he was holding back.

"Yes, I'm sure," I said flatly. I mean, I was pregnant-he wouldn't dare try anything sketchy now.

"Still bossy," he murmured, his tone indulgent. Then, with one smooth motion, he pulled his shirt off.

I blinked.

in my body short-circuited at the sight of him-the sculpted muscles, the sharp lines of his abs. For a second, I just stared, completely forgetting why I'd asked him to take it off in the first place. "Weren't you checking for injuries?" he teased, his soft laughter snapping me back to

37. 37.

my

fresh cuts, no bruises-nothing but the old scars I already

incredible," I said, exhaling in relief. "Whatever you've been through... I can't even

1/3

+25 BONUS

Chapter 838

hitting me hard. Back when we used to fall asleep together, my hand would always

just sat there, letting me touch him, letting me take my

grew, but it wasn't heavy. If anything, it felt peaceful, like

hug, his arms tight around me. "I thought

a million times that if

hanging between us,

up. Maybe I'd finally learned not to let

poking him lightly. "Want me

and settle it later." His

faded as I straightened, my voice serious. "Hayden, if Lena doesn't come back, or if anything happens to her, I won't forgive you. I don't care what your reasons were

explained it was a

something about needing Aaron's