It’s as if my soul sighs in relief as he kisses his way down my body. When he pops the button on my jeans, I start to panic. I’ve put in a lot of work to get my body back after having our son, but nothing is the same.
Bentley doesn’t miss a beat. He peels my jeans down my legs and kisses all over my skin. I sit up and lift my arms when he goes to peel my shirt off.
Unfastening my bra, he allows the fabric to fall into my lap, where I push it away. He eats me up with his gaze. I go to cover my breasts, feeling all types of self-conscious.
He shakes his head. “You never need to hide from me. You’re so fucking beautiful. I can see all the signs of you carrying my son.
“Thank you, Zahirah. Thank you for not?—”
I cover his lips with my finger. “I couldn’t bear the thought of destroying something we created together. You don’t have to thank me.
“We made him together. I’m sorry?—”
He takes my lips, cutting my words off. I’m breathless when he breaks the seal of our lips. He looks me deep in the eyes.
“No more sorries. Let’s reset the clock from this moment. We’re here, we have our son, and we’re going to spend the rest of our lives together.”
He drops his gaze to my neck. “You still wear it?”
I reach for the charm necklace and bring the bear to my lips. “I never take it off.”
“I have a ton of charms to add. Come here, beautiful. I want to make love to the love of my life.”
CHAPTER 35
AFresh Start
Zahirah
“Come on,baby. You know that was funny. I had the hardest time of my life trying not to laugh,” Bentley croons.
“Okay, okay, you’re not wrong, but you’re not going to do my buddy like that.”
My laughter fills the air as Bentley and I ride in his new sports car. We’re on our way to another date. This is our fifth date in the last two weeks.
“Eddy is a big boy; he can handle a little teasing. I’m still trying to figure out what he was thinking. Mom has always been sharp,” he says through his own laughter.
“He wasn’t thinking. I mean, come on. How much did you think things through when you were his age, wanting to impress the girls?”
He gives a small chuckle. “You were the only girl I was trying to impress, Zah. Remember? I had to think before I did everything.”
We’ve been to see a counselor, and we do a lot of talking and even journaling together. Bentley wants me to see he’s a changed man. He’s doing an amazing job.
I’ve seen it not only in his words but also in his actions. He’s an amazing father and a better boyfriend than I remember. It’s hard not to fall in love with him all over again.
I find myself smiling and laughing a lot these days. He reaches over and places his hand on my thigh. I look at the side of his face and smile, reaching to run my hand through his hair. He still keeps it long, the longest length reaching just past his shoulders.
Erica has been calling him John Wick. I’ve gotten a kick out of that. Yeah, Bentley’s haircut does come close, but that’s about it.
The one thing that has changed, which I noticed in Vegas two years ago, Bentley’s body is, hands down, crazy in shape. I mean, straight insane since college.
I thought he was fit back then. It is so different now. He has that grown-ass man weight and muscle. He carries it all so well too.
He’s also become a beast in the sheets. I have zero complaints there. Not that he hasn’t always been amazing in bed.
My nights are filled with more orgasms than I can count. Waking to him and going to bed in his arms at night has been heaven. Our connection has become deeper than it has ever been.
“Were you really going to kiss me that one time?”
