Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath

Next Morning

Stella woke up nestled in Ronald's arms. The instant their eyes met, she could see the exhaustion etched into his face.

"Did you have trouble sleeping last night?" she asked softly.

Ronald slid his hand behind her head and pressed his lips onto hers-hard. In that moment, it was like he wanted to devour her whole.

Stella let out a muffled protest, "Mmm-"

His kiss was fierce, almost desperate, as though nothing would satisfy him but to pull her closer, to have her completely.

It wasn't until ten minutes later that he finally let her go. Stella, a little breathless, pressed her small hand to his chest and stared up at his stormy blue eyes.

Ronald reached out and gently covered her gaze with his warm palm.

"Don't look at me like that," he said.

"How am I supposed to look at you, then?" she shot back playfully.

"Any way you look at me, all I can think is how much I want to eat you up," Ronald replied, a wicked grin tugging at his lips.

Stella's eyes widened. "You're impossible!"

Ronald was clearly struggling these days; if he'd known this would be so hard, he'd have avoided the whole getting-pregnant situation for a while longer. Life was just too torturous right now.

sent over a ton of baby stuff yesterday," Stella said, her voice growing tender as she mentioned Lottie. Just talking about her filled Stella with happiness. Ronald

downstairs. Stella had just picked up her

"Hello?"

Jaxon's voice came

she'd been his little sister for years, and now she was gone. Even after all the terrible things she'd done-even after Ursula had nearly destroyed the Larkin family—he still sounded

turned ice cold, "Is that why you

tone was biting,

her reaction. Stella pressed on, "You're not seriously looking for

case, Jaxon, it's no wonder Lola Zeller dumped you. She was the only one with her head

the top families in Boston, but what good was that if they couldn't

bristled at her words, his voice growing sharp.

to let the Larkin

wasn't the

Jaxon

do realize your

a nerve. Stella's temper flared instantly, and she was about et Jaxon have

ber

hand.

I wasn't finished yelling

You can't get

her hair, soothing her, then grabbed his own phone and