Unlikely Avenger by Lisa Cullen

Author:Lisa Cullen [Cullen, Lisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-03-18T00:00:00+00:00

23

ALINA

I’ve never seen Mishka so shocked. He looks rocked to his core.

His back stiffens as soon as the words leave my mouth, his whole body tensing like a deer caught in the headlights. And for a heartbreaking moment, I’m confident he’s going to make a run for it—literally sprint from the apartment and leave me standing here. Alone.

His deep-blue eyes hide a storm of emotion that makes my tears come harder once more. The deep furrow in his brow tells me I’m not going to like what he’s thinking. But I can’t wait any longer. I think I might explode.

“For God’s sake, say something, Mishka. Please,” I whisper, my heart in my throat and my nerves so tightly wound, I feel like they might just snap.

I’m glad we started by resolving my trust issues around my family, because I don’t know how to take Mishka’s reaction to learning he’s going to be a father. I’m starting to worry that he really might choose to walk away, that having a child together is a deal-breaker—despite everything he just said.

My heart breaks into a sprint, my hands growing clammy as I think about it as a reality. I will raise this child with or without him, but I hadn’t realized until now just how desperately I was relying on the idea that he would be around to steady me when things got hard, that we would be in this together, a team—a partnership. The thought of doing it alone terrifies me.

Then Mishka’s arms are around me once more, pulling me close. One hand cradles the back of my head as he kisses me passionately. The heat of his embrace sears through my flesh, warming me from the inside and positively melting me. I’m overwhelmed by him, consumed by the ferocity with which he claims my lips.

And when he finally breaks the kiss, I’m left breathless and panting as he presses his forehead to mine.

“Does that mean you’re happy?” I ask, hope bringing a knot to my throat.

His deep chuckle sends a thrill through my body, and my heart skips a beat.

“I’m beyond happy, Alina,” he says, drawing back to look into my eyes. A radiant smile softens his strong features. Then his face falls, and a deep concern replaces his momentary joy as he seems to realize something. “But are you happy? I didn’t think… I mean…” He swallows hard, his hands tensing convulsively as he searches my face. “You started crying when you had to tell me. Does that mean you don’t want to keep it?”

The remorse in his voice makes my very soul ache, and at the same time, it fills me with astonishing relief. Nothing could have convinced me more completely that he wants this baby as much as I do. And suddenly, I feel like I could sing—or cry again. Maybe both.

“I want to have this baby,” I assure him fiercely.

“Then why…?” His strong brow presses into a frown once more. “Why are you still crying?”

I laugh, brushing

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.