I swallow hard. Is that what he’s been doing?
“I thought you were fulfilling some promise you’d made Mark.”
“I was. But I’m also selfish, and I wanted every single second I could get with you.” He sits on the end of the bed. “That first day at the hospital. I could barely believe my eyes. I thought I’d gotten over you and moved on, but seeing you again? We had so much unfinished business.”
I take a seat beside him. “That’s what Mark said to me. That we had unfinished business. I knew it was true—just didn’t want to face it.”
“And now?”
“There are definitely things I wished I knew more about—like how you ended up in bed with Vicki. If what you say is true, then the truth about how you got there is unimaginable.”
His eyes search mine. “You know I’m telling the truth, right?”
“Patrick, it was nearly fifteen years ago. Why would you be lying now? If you didn’t want to be in our lives, then you would have disappeared once Mark died.”
He slips his arm around my waist. “I never wanted to let you go. Not then, and definitely not now.”
We sit there for a moment, before he grasps my chin and pulls my gaze to his. “Our new beginning starts tonight. Are you going to let me show you how much I want you?”
He kisses me, soft at first, but takes my breath away as he builds the kiss’s intensity. I’m so lost in this man, the one who broke my heart so long ago but now cradles it as if it’s the most precious thing in the world.
“Yes. Yes. I want this. A million times yes,” I whisper.
He stands and removes his shirt. It’s like all those years ago, but even better.
“I love the way you look at me,” he says.
“I love touching you.”
“Then do it.”
I let my hands trace his abs, pressing my palms to them as I rise to my feet.
“Your turn.” His lust-filled eyes give me the strength to do what I did all those years ago. And when I’m standing topless in front of him, he cups my heavy breasts and runs his thumbs over my nipples.
“I’m getting a sense of déjà vu.” I laugh.
“Is that so bad?”
“Show me what you’ve got, Patrick Cross.”
He nods toward the bed. “Get on there.”
Patrick pounces on me the second I’m on my back on the bed, pinning my arms above my head and unleashing his tongue on my nipples. The years have only made them more sensitive, and I close my eyes and moan at the sensation.
“You’re so responsive. I mean, you were before, but this is a whole other level.”
“That’s what pregnancy did to me.”
He chuckles. “If that’s the case, then I am getting you pregnant as soon as possible.”
“Don’t I get a say in that?” I laugh, but when it does happen, it’ll be wonderful. I’ve been clucky the past couple of years, and the thought of Sophie having a sibling makes me so happy.
“Of course. I want to make more babies with you, Cassie. I’ve never wanted that with anyone else.”
“Why me?”
“Because we already made one perfect one. There are more in our future even if they’re a bit delayed.”
