"I wanted to hate you for that," I admit. "It hurts. But when I look at those three beautiful children sleeping upstairs, I can't hold onto that anger anymore."
I take both her hands in mine. "I forgive you, Elena. Not because what happened doesn't matter, but because what happens next matters more. We've wasted enough time. This is our chance, maybe our only chance, to build something real. Something lasting."
Without warning, Elena launches herself into my arms, nearly knocking me backward. Her body collides with mine, arms wrapping around my neck and legs around my waist. I catch her, steadying us both. This is a good sign, right?
"Why didn't you say this sooner?" she asks, her voice muffled against my neck. "All this time, I thought you could never forgive what I did."
“I won’t deny that I didn’t think I could forgive you either, but I can. I have. I love you, Elena. I always have. I always will. Nothing can break that. I guess the question is whether you meant it when you said you love me.”
“I always say what I mean.” She grins at me and then fuses her mouth to mine.
I groan as her kiss sends a blast of heat and joy through me. I push her against the door, and the heat between us ignites like a match to gasoline, sudden, explosive, consuming.
She arches, pressing herself against me, and my dick hardens to painful levels.
My hands fumble to remove her clothes.
I’m desperate to touch her, to slide inside her. It’s like I won’t be whole again until our bodies, until our souls are joined again.
“Tell me this means you’re staying,” I say as I cascade kisses along her neck while unhooking her bra and releasing her sweet, firm tits.
“I’m staying,” she gasps, her hand sliding between us, cupping me until I worry I might come too soon. “Luca… God, I need you.” She shoves my boxer briefs down.
This is the Elena I remember, the woman who knew exactly what she wanted and wasn't afraid to claim it.
Lucky for me, I’m the one she’s claiming.
I lift her, her legs wrapping around my waist as I press her more firmly against the door.
Our mouths clash in a desperate dance of tongues and teeth, neither of us willing to break contact for even a moment.
Until I realize…”Fuck… I don’t have a condom.”
Her legs squeeze me until I can’t breathe. “Well, you have two options.”
“My brain is short-circuiting. You’ll need to tell me them.”
“One, I suck your dick.”
My dick jerks, and I’m embarrassingly close to coming. “And two?”
“Two, you fuck me anyway.”
Holy hell. I’m about to self-combust.
“There’s a risk, of course… You might become a father again, but then you’d be a part of every moment.”
The world stops at that moment.
I look down into the green eyes of this amazing, brave woman who has just given me the commitment I’d been too afraid to ask for. A lifetime that includes more children.
I swallow. “I like option two.”
Her smile takes my breath away. “Good, because I prefer it too.”
For a moment, I think I should get her to a bed. Something this momentous should be in a bed, right?
But Elena leans in, sucks on my earlobe, and says, “Let’s make a baby.”
