“Yes.”
I lift my head to look at him. “How do I know that?”
“Because I’m telling you. I’m not going anywhere. This is my family now. You. Them. All of it.”
“People say things they don’t mean.”
“I’m not people. When I commit to something, I see it through.”
“Even if it’s hard?”
“Especially if it’s hard.”
I want to believe him. Want to trust that he means what he’s saying. That this isn’t just words said in the afterglow of good sex. But trust doesn’t come easy when you’ve spent years protecting yourself.
“Anna.” He tilts my face up. “I’m not leaving. Not you. Not them. You’re stuck with me.”
“That sounds like a threat.”
“It’s a promise.”
I settle back against his chest. His arms come around me. Solid. Warm. Real.
Maybe I can believe him. Maybe I can let myself trust this.
Maybe.
“There’s something else,” he says after a moment.
I lift my head to look at him. “What?”
“We’ll probably have more children. Eventually.”
The statement catches me off guard. “What?”
“You heard me. This works. We work. It makes sense to have more.”
“You’re talking about having children with me like it’s a business decision.”
“Everything is a business decision. But this one I actually want.”
“You want more children.”
“Yes.”
“With me.”
“Who else would they be with?”
I stare at him. “You’re serious.”
“Always.”
“I don’t know what to say to that.”
“You don’t have to say anything. Just think about it.” His hand traces patterns on my back. “Mila and Alexei need siblings. And I’m not getting any younger.”
“You’re fifty.”
