Selena had never really seen another man get caught up in desire, but she imagined it would be something wild and intimidating. Yet, even when Everett''s eyes were zing with want, he somehow managed to look irresistibly sexy instead of anything less.


    The tension in his jaw, the way his breath came in quick gasps, the captivating lines of his biceps as he held her waist, and the powerful strength in his core-it was as if every inch of him was perfectly crafted to tap into her deepest desires.


    Maybe it was just her age catching up with her, or perhaps it was the realization that she too had certain needs. Those days of pretending not to care were long gone, and, as if by some cosmic joke, every part of this exasperating man seemed to align perfectly with her fantasies.


    Still, Selena was a little mad, not quite willing to forgive him so easily. Her feminine pride and her body''s instincts were locked a wild tug-of-war.


    Everett''s dark eyes stayed fixed on hers, tuned in to her every emotion, fully aware of the turmoil in her heart. He could feel her resolve starting to crumble.


    Everett was always one to seize the moment and press his advantage. But this time, he put his own desires on hold. Lifting her onto the edge of the pool, he slowly lowered his head, catching herpletely off guard.


    Selena''s fingers instinctively wove into his hair, her breathing in ragged bursts. Tears slowly brimmed at the corners of her eyes, á sob caught in her throat.


    She thought to herself, Everett was such an infuriating man. Three years ago, she had sworn never to get tangled up with him again, convinced they''d each go their own way. Yet he''d pursued her without relent, using every trick in the book to win back her heart.


    How could a man be so persistently troublesome?


    In the bathroom, passion flowed endlessly. Afterward, Selena was nearly as pliant as water, wrapped in arge men''s robe as Everett carried her back to bed.


    Everett, still not entirely satisfied, drew her close, unconsciously caressing her smooth back. As Selena drifted toward sleep, he unexpectedly spoke up.


    His hand had somehow found its way to her t stomach, his voice raspy and filled with undisguised regret.


    "If there''s anything I regret now, it''s that our Lily isn''t here."


    She had been the little daughter he had longed for with all his heart. The pain from the ident years ago paledpared to the devastation he felt when he thought Selena had ended her pregnancy.


    Had Lily been born, she would have been like Mateo, calling him dad, reaching out for hugs, crawling into hisp for affection. Daughters. deserve to be cherished. He would


    J.n


    have treasured her, hould


    precious


    gem.


    He wouldn''t have burdened her with rules or heirloom responsibilities. She would have grown up happy, free to do whatever she wished. Even if the world fell apart, he would be there to support her.


    Perhaps feeling sentimental, he rambled on, sharing his thoughts more than usual. Selena was d Mateo wasn''t there; otherwise, it might have stirred up more unresolved feelings.


    Most people favored sons; he, on the


    other hand, was a doting father to a daughter. Selena had never felt the need to exin about Lily, but maybe it was because of his earlier tenderness, or maybe she was simply feeling soft-hearted. Her


    small hand covered hisrger one.


    In a gentle voice, she said, "Actually... I wasn''t pregnant back then."


    At her words, she felt his entire body stiffen.


    Selena bit her lip, knowing she had


    to finish what she started. "You were pushing me to have a baby, and if I really had been pregnant, I wouldn''t have been able to leave. So, Chad to resort to this n."


    "The story about ending the pregnancy was just to make you let go."


    "You don''t need to... hold onto that regret."


    His long fingers suddenly gripped her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze, his eyes deep and filled with a myriad of emotions.