Housebound with the Blackridge Heirs novel Chapter 60

**Change Begins With You — Jayden Collins**
**Chapter 60**

**Maya**

As I crossed the threshold, my breath caught in my throat, a sharp gasp escaping me. There he was, his broad back rising and falling with the rhythm of deep, steady breaths. His hair was tousled, an unruly mess that fell across his forehead, a sure sign of either a grueling training session or the weight of too much stress.

In slumber, his jaw appeared softer, the usual tension that etched lines on his face melted away, leaving behind a peaceful expression. His hand lay palm-down on my pillow, as if he had been reaching for me even in the depths of his dreams.

For a fleeting moment, I stood frozen, overwhelmed by a rush of emotions. Relief washed over me so intensely that I felt the sting of tears threatening to spill over.

He was here. He was safe.

The mark on my neck flared to life, warmth radiating from it, pulsing gently in recognition of our bond. It hummed softly, a delicate thread connecting us, fragile yet unbreakable.

I had been so distracted throughout the day that I hadn’t fully grasped how close he truly was.

With an involuntary pull, I stepped closer, drawn to him like a moth to a flame.

Of course, he had returned as soon as he was able. Of course, he had come back to me. He always did. The thought made my heart swell with warmth. Perhaps he had been searching for me, which was why he had collapsed into bed the moment he arrived home instead of seeking out his own space.

I couldn’t help but smile at the notion.

Carefully, I perched on the edge of the mattress, trying to be as quiet as possible, but the slight motion caused him to inhale sharply. His eyes fluttered open, revealing a striking blue that pierced through the remnants of sleep.

“Maya,” he murmured, his voice rough and thick with drowsiness, relief flooding his features like the first rays of sunlight breaking through a stormy sky. “Thank God.”

In an instant, he sat up, his strong arms wrapping around my waist and pulling me into his embrace before I could utter a single word. His head nestled into the crook of my neck, inhaling deeply, as if he had been starved for my presence for an eternity.

“I’ve missed you,” he confessed, his voice cracking against my skin, and I felt my heart clench in response. Guilt surged within me, thick and bitter, a reminder of the turmoil I had been grappling with.

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to push the guilt away.

“I missed you too,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

He pulled back just enough to meet my gaze, his fingers brushing a stray lock of hair away from my cheek.

“You don’t look okay,” he said softly, concern etched across his features. “Have you slept? Have you eaten? You feel warm.”

“I’m fine,” I lied, leaning into his gentle touch. “I just… needed you.”

His jaw tightened, a flicker of soft pride and desperate affection dancing in his eyes. “I’m here now.”

Yes, he was. And that realization filled me with an indescribable joy.

He pressed a slow, warm kiss to my forehead, and something inside me cracked open, releasing a flood of emotions. His hands were tender against my waist, his thumb drawing small circles on my hip, and the gentleness of his touch made my throat tighten with unshed tears.

I slid into his lap, straddling him, feeling the solid warmth of his body beneath me. His breath caught as my hands glided up his chest, feeling the hard muscle hidden beneath his shirt. The familiar heat darkened his gaze, igniting a rush of warmth that coursed through me.

“Maya,” he breathed, a hint of warning in his tone, but he made no move to stop me.

Instead, he kissed me—full, deep, and messy with unspoken longing.

It unraveled me in an instant.

His hand slid down my back, gripping my waist and pulling me closer until our bodies melded together, flush against one another. I kissed him harder, surrendering to the warmth of his mouth and the quiet groan that escaped him, a sound that sent shivers down my spine.

I wanted him.

I craved him with a desperation that frightened me.

Yet beneath that desire lay the guilt that had been gnawing at me for days.

The guilt for wanting two other men in ways I couldn’t comprehend.

The guilt for the brief touch I shared with Leo.

The guilt for almost kissing Tylon, a moment that lingered like a shadow in my mind.

I knew that completing the bond with Caden would resolve everything. It had to.

It would ground me.

It would silence the restless storm that had taken residence in my chest, a storm that seemed to reach for anyone who wasn’t him.

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