Chapter 157 – Preparations

• The next morning I wake up to the feel of Christian’s hand on my hip, sliding around to my stomach and pulling him closer against him. I go stiff, still angry and upset about everything that happened yesterday, but he dips his head low and presses a kiss first to my shoulder, and then lower to my neck, and then pulls me tight against him as he sighs and tucks his head down close to mine.
• “I’m sorry, Iris,” he whispers, his lips so close that I can feel them moving against my hair. “It hasn’t been fair – it hasn’t been right. I’m sorry about it – all of it.”
• Something in the stark honesty of his words makes me turn in his arms. Christian helps me, settling me close to him, and we speak in a whispered hush in the dawn light.