“For how long?” Her voice is barely above a whisper, and I hate that I don’t know if that’s longing or fear laced into her words.
Maybe it’s both.
But she’s still gripping my forearm.
Still leaning close enough for me to study the fascinating ring of gold around her brown irises.
“Forever,” I whisper back.
“Jonas—”
“Please let me stay. Let me in. Let me try to be what you both deserve.”
We had something in Fiji.
Wehavesomething here. I don’t know if I believe in fate. If I believe in soulmates. If I believe that there’sone personout there, and only one person, whose life I’m meant to share.
But I know that I’ve never been in a relationship with anyone who feels as much like everything I’ve been missing in my life as I’ve felt in the times I’ve been with Emma.
She squeezes my arm. “This is a massive, life-altering decision.”
“And it feelsright. I don’t know if I’ve ever felt anything this right.”
Wariness creeps into her eyes.
I cover her hand with mine. “I can keep you out of the spotlight. Both of you. You don’t have to hide. You don’t have to move. I won’t let them attack you again.”
Her chin quivers. “I am so mad at you right now,” she whispers.
“Why?”
“Because you make me want to dothis.”
Before I can ask whatthisis, she’s kissing me. Brushing those soft lips over mine while everything inside me stills. All of the parts of me that have been on alert, watching, worrying, waiting for some sign that she was done with me and this chance was over—all of me melts into kissing her back.
My friend. My addiction. The mother of my child.
So fragile, but so strong.
Completely irresistible.
Fuck, I’ve missed her.
Her fingers curling into my hair. Her nose bumping mine. Goosebumps pebbling on the smooth skin on her arms.
Her lips.
Her mouth.
Kissing her takes me back to the hillside in Fiji. The clearing in the jungle. Laughing on a picnic blanket. Grabbing her hand while we were snorkeling to point out a colorful fish.
Making love with her.
I have missed this woman so much more than I let myself feel the past two and a half years.
But now she’s kissing me, and nothing has ever felt more right.
Or more worth it.
