Free The Lion's Pride (BBW Paranormal Lion Shifter Romance) (The True Date Agency) by Terra Wolf, Olivia Arran Page B

how I spoke, disagreeing and ridiculing anything and everything I showed an interest in. And then he started to sleep around, saying that if I couldn’t give him a baby, someone else would.” A tear rolled down my cheek as I remembered how weak I had felt, how out of control. It had been the lowest point in my life, my confidence hitting zero and life… Some days I hadn’t been able to look myself in the mirror. Archie had made me hate myself. “So, I understand not letting people get close, trying not to feel. Feeling means hurting.”
    A low growl filled the room, his lips curling back in a snarl. “I want to find your ex and give him the—”
    I squeezed his hand. “He’s not worth it. Believe me, I’ve dreamed of paying him back, of making him hurt, but you know what? I’m better than that, and so are you. I finally realized the reason he chose to make me miserable. It was because he was searching for happiness. That he hated himself so much the only way he could feel good was by being an asshole.”
    Zane stroked a finger down Xander’s cheek, his eyes full of adoration. “How did you get to be so wise?”
    “Time. Working through the hate. By deciding that the best payback would be by living a wonderful life filled with happiness and joy and everything he could never have.”
    “You’re an extraordinary woman, Lara.”
    “Extraordinary enough that you want to kiss me?” My heart skipped a beat when he looked at me, hunger flaring through me at the look in his eyes. That’s a yes then.
    Careful not to squash our son, he leaned forward, his lips sealing onto mine, rubbing and teasing in a kiss so gentle, so perfect, I couldn’t hold back the tears.
    He jerked back, worry in his eyes. “You’re crying, what have I—”
    “Nothing,” I murmured, tugging him back down. “Everything,” I added between kisses. Our tongues tangled, dueling in a slippery dance. “Yes,” I breathed into his mouth. “Yes, to everything.”
    His arms slipped around me, holding me tight. “Come live with me, I promise I’ll make you happy,” he whispered, deepening the kiss and stealing my breath.
    On a gasp I broke away. “You already do, you already have.” How he had crept into my heart without me knowing, when I had done everything in my power to keep him out? I wasn’t sure, but he had. I had refused to see it, too scared of being hurt again. Until now. “Yes, we’ll move in with you.” I traced the line of his jaw with a finger, my nail dragging on the rough stubble. “And I love you, too,” I whispered, the words almost lost as he devoured my mouth, his arms cradling me, cradling our son.
    Our family.

12
    Lara
    A couple of months later…
    H ustling into the nursery , I lifted a cooing Xander from his crib and gently laid him down on the changing station, unfastening his sleepsuit. He blinked his big green eyes at me, his lips puckering into a rosebud as he sucked at the air, his hands flailing. Finally managing to get one near his mouth, he latched onto a finger, sucking furiously.
    “Is little man happy?” I murmured, expertly whipping the diaper away and replacing it with a new one. I wasn’t planning on breaking my perfect score—so far I had escaped being peed on, but Zane hadn’t been so lucky, Xander managing to hit him square in the cheek. Remembering Zane’s face still made me chuckle, his look of utter bemusement and dismay as he fumbled for something to cover his son. Chalking the success on my mental scoreboard, I popped him back into his crib so I could tidy away.
    “What are you laughing about?” Zane whispered, coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist. “No, don’t tell me.” He groaned, adding, “You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?” He kissed the side of my neck, his voice gruff and tinged with amusement.
    “I had warned you just seconds before—”
    “What can I say? My son is fast.” He nipped at my skin, sending a shiver of need