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“You’re mine now,” he said, and though his tone was light-hearted, he meant every word. “I’ve claimed you.”
Juliette lifted her face and half-grinned at him. “Is that how it works?”
“It is.”
“Maybe I’ve claimed you instead.”
Wilhelm chuckled. Juliette had always been clever and fiery. He had expected nothing to change just because they’d made love.
“Maybe you have,” he said. “I’m all right with that.”
She laughed and put her palm on his chest. “Good.” Then her expression turned serious, and she gazed at him wide-eyed, leaning close enough that they were almost nose to nose. “I am yours, Wilhelm. I like the idea of that, of being claimed by you, a lot.”
“Good,” he repeated back to her. “Because I meant it.”
Juliette’s eyes were damp, and her bottom lip quivered just enough for him to notice, as if what he’d said had moved her to tears. Wilhelm did the only thing that made sense, and kissed her more slowly and tenderly than before, his tongue sliding along her lips before dipping between them. He pulled her as close as he could get her, and poured every bit of emotion he felt into that kiss.
“Please don’t feel like you have to say anything back, Juliette, but I think you should know … I’m falling in love with you.” He whispered the words against her lips. “I’ve never felt about anyone the way I feel about you.”
He covered her mouth with his kiss before she could say anything back.
Chapter Twelve
I’m falling in love with you.
Those words shouldn’t have affected her the way they did, not after guarding her heart the way she had. But Wilhelm had been slowly chipping away at her walls for months, and somehow seeing him look lost with two babies he didn’t know had shown her a side of him that she thought deserved a chance. A man who took on his brother’s family and tried to do right by them was a good man.
Seeing him with the twins made that obvious.
Any resistance she’d had to truly falling for Wilhelm had evaporated when he’d kissed her and joined his body with hers, sending her to heights of pleasure she’d never even imagined with anyone else.
He said he was falling in love with her. And despite all the sadness surrounding Wilhelm’s situation and her worry for the motherless babies, Juliette didn’t think she’d ever had a happier moment in her life.
He kissed her so softly and sweetly, she didn’t try to stop him just to tell him that she was falling in love with him, too. The moment was too perfect for her to impose her will on it. Maybe he was afraid she’d try to talk him out of it, or feel awkward if she wasn’t ready to hear it or say it.
For whatever reason, he hadn’t given her a chance to reply, so she simply melted into the kiss and tried to be patient.
When he finally pulled away, golden eyes staring into hers and looking surprisingly vulnerable given Wilhelm’s alpha nature, Juliette knew he was waiting and hoping to hear the same thing.
“You’re all right,” she said.
Wilhelm froze for a moment, then threw his head back and laughed. His dark stubble enhanced the lines of his neck. It looked so delicious, Juliette leaned in and kissed his throat with a chuckle.
“I’m falling in love with you, too.” She nipped at his Adam’s apple, then dared to meet his gaze again. “I’ve been fighting my feelings for you for some time, if I’m honest with myself. But I can’t anymore.”
Wilhelm pulled her on top of him, a hand sinking into her thick hair. “No?”
“No. I don’t want to fight this. I just want you.”
She kissed him and felt his gasp.
“Grab your clothes.” He gently pushed her up.
“Do you hear the babies?”
He cocked his head to listen. “No. I think I hear one of the staff coming in the back. I forgot there might be someone else here.”
Juliette laughed and gathered her clothes, but didn’t worry about the buttons. She’d have to wear one of his shirts. Wilhelm grabbed his clothes and Juliette’s hand, and ran with her to the guest bedroom where he’d been staying. They ran in, breathless, and fell together on the bed.
