I looked up at him, seeing the same desire and heat in his eyes as that night five years ago.
He took the camera from my hands, setting it aside, then cupped the back of my head and leaned down to kiss me.
This kiss was fierce and urgent, just like five years ago, making me instantly surrender.
His tongue invaded my mouth possessively, making thought impossible—I could only surrender to this overwhelming emotionalassault.
My legs went weak. Without the wall behind me, I would have collapsed. His hand gripped the back of my head while the other pressed against the wall, trapping me completely between him and the wall.
"Alexander..." I gasped his name between kisses.
His kiss grew more intense, as if he wanted to devour me completely. I felt myself drowning in this overwhelming emotion, rationality slipping away bit by bit...
"Mommy, where are you?"
Sofia's voice suddenly called from the garden, like cold water thrown over us.
We broke apart frantically. I smoothed my disheveled hair with trembling hands, my cheeks burning like fire. Alexander was also steadying his breathing, but the fire in his eyes hadn't completely faded.
"Mommy?" Sofia's voice got closer.
I quickly stepped away from Alexander, trying to look normal. But I knew my face was probably tomato-red and my breathing still unsteady.
Sofia ran into the study, saw both of us flushed and breathless, and her little mouth formed an O.
"What were you doing!" she shrieked, then covered her eyes with her hands. "I didn't see anything!"
She spun around and ran off, shouting as she went, "Shame, shame! Shame, shame!"
Alexander and I looked at each other, then both burst out laughing.
At lunch, Sofia kept stealing glances at us, her bright eyes darting around, obviously thinking about something.
Alexander and I tried to act normal, but when we occasionally made eye contact, we'd remember that kiss and inevitably blush.
Suddenly, Sofia put down her little fork and looked at us very seriously.
"Mommy," she said, "am I going to have a little sister?"
I was drinking water and choked violently at her question. Water sprayed from my mouth—pretty embarrassing.
Alexander immediately got up to help, patting my back while handing me a napkin.
"You okay?" he asked with concern.
I waved that I was fine, but my face couldn't get any redder.
When I finally caught my breath, I looked at Sofia helplessly. "Baby, why would you ask that?"
Sofia said proudly, "That's how it happens in cartoons! After mommy and daddy kiss, there's a baby!"
Her words made me even more embarrassed. I didn't know how to explain this complicated subject.
"And," Sofia continued, eyes sparkling, "if I have a little sister, I'll take really good care of her! I'll teach her to draw and sing, and protect her from bad people!"
After saying this, she skipped away, obviously excited about the impending "little sister."
Only the two adults remained in the dining room, staring at each other.
