The Divorced Military Queen Awakens (by Sadie Baxter) novel Chapter 497

Chapter 497 Unbidden Heat

Chapter 497 Unbidden Heat

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To her, that heavy breathing was a siren’s song, inviting her to explore every uncharted inch of him.

“Stop!” Julius‘ hand shot out, capturing hers with sudden strength. “Please… no more…”

His chest rose and fell in ragged waves, lips parted on shallow breaths, eyes glassy with desire and a mist of unshed tears. A few dark strands clung to his damp forehead, and his open jacket revealed a shirt unbuttoned just far enough for moonlight to kiss the smooth plane of his chest.

Quinn’s breath caught as she realized she had just swept the tip of her tongue across her lips, an unconscious effort to soothe the sudden dryness left in Julius‘ wake. Good grief, does he have any idea how dangerously irresistible he looks right now?

Yet the nagging question of whether she might already be carrying a new life made it painfully clear that this was not the moment to push their luck.

All she had truly intended was a quick, innocent kiss, nothing more daring than the brush of mouths.

But the man in front of her was a living temptation, and temptation had a way of turning intentions into tinder.

“All right.” She gave a small nod as she slipped her hand from his and folded herself back into the passenger seat.

Julius tugged at the lapels of his jacket, straightening fabric that had somehow come askew, using the simple motion to wrestle his pounding desire back under civil control.

One reckless heartbeat more, and he would have taken her right here, the tinted windows of the car their only witness.

But the glove compartment held no condoms, and the packet of emergency pills Gavin had prescribed lay forgotten in a distant drawer.

If lust overrode caution tonight, the odds of pregnancy would spike in a way he dared not contemplate.

He could not risk her carrying a child that might inherit the shadows etched into his blood. He could not bear seeing hatred flicker behind the eyes that now looked at him with unguarded love.

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Chapter 497 Unbidden Heat

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The sudden wave of shame felt like ice water, dousing every last spark of heat in his veins.

“What’s wrong? You’ve gone pale again,” Quinn whispered, leaning closer. “Or do you need me to… help you?”

Her question melted into uncertainty as her gaze drifted down to the unmistakable tension in his body.

“I’m fine,” Julius said, forcing calm into each syllable. “I’m just worried about your health. Do you want me to come with you to the hospital?”

“No, that’s not necessary,” she replied. “A little rest will do the trick.”

She decided she would visit the hospital on her own tomorrow, just to be certain, sparing them both the sting of false hope.

Late night, Julius jolted awake, his lungs hauling in air like a man dragged from deep water. The room lay hushed, lit only by moonlight spilling past the drapes. Beside him, Quinn slept, oblivious, her profile soft against the pillow.

It was only a dream. The words thudded through his skull like drums, frantic for reassurance.

Moments earlier, he had watched Quinn cradle their newborn, a fragile shadow of a child whose labored breaths filled the dream with dread. She had sobbed until her voice was raw,

your fault.” accusing him again and again, “It’s all your fault, all

In that nightmare, he could find no words, only the crushing certainty that she was right.

Even awake, the echo of her grief clung to him, cold and damp as fog, making him fear the dream might be prophecy.

Quinn lay right beside him, their fingers still loosely intertwined, her love as present as her heartbeat against his arm.

Yet a terrible hollowness told him she could slip away, that love could become smoke in his clenched fist.

Why can’t I shake this dread? Why am I still so afraid? The silent cry rang inside him, unanswered.

He bent over the bed, voice no louder than a breath. “Quinn, what must I do so you never walk away? If the two of us can never have a child, will you blame me? Will you despise me?”

The room gave him nothing back, only the heavy hush of midnight and walls that refused to

answer.

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Chapter 497 Unbidden Heat

The next morning, Quinn went to the hospital alone for a quiet round of tests.

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