Ava’s eyes teared up.
“I know I hurt you in one of the worst moments of your life. I know I made you feel rejected. I know I let my fear come out mean. That’s on me, and I am so sorry.”
She blinked back tears. “Thank you. I needed to hear that.”
For a second, neither one of us said anything. I just kept rubbing her foot, slower now, while all the anger that used to sit between us felt farther away than it had before.
“I don’t want parts of you, Ava. I want all of you.”
She looked at me like she didn’t want to believe that too fast.
“I want you as my woman. Not just the mother of my child. I wantyou, all of you, in every way you’re willing to give it.”
Her whole body went still.
I leaned in a little. “I assumed for a long time that I didn’t know how to love as deeply as it was needed. I’m learning that that ain’t the truth. The truth is I was scared of what it would cost me to love somebody for real. I was scared of failing at it. I was scared of becoming every weak, selfish motherfucker that came before me. But that ain’t the same as not being able to do it.”
Ava’s eyes dropped to my mouth, then back up.
I kept my hand on her ankle, holding her there with a gentleness that didn’t feel weak to me anymore.
“I can do it,” I promised her. “I want to do it. And I want to do it with you.”
She let out a shaky breath. “Reek…”
“I’m serious.”
“What are you saying?”
I stared right at her. “I’m saying you’re mine.” I brought her foot down carefully and set it on the couch, then turned more fully toward her. “I’m saying I love you. I’m saying I want to be with you. For real. Out loud. No more hiding behind fear.”
The tears slipped out of her eyes then, and she laughed through them like she couldn’t help it. I reached up and wiped under one of her eyes with my thumb. I rested my hand against the side of her neck and said, “You down?”
She lowered her head, saying, “But I’m scared you’ll change your mind.”
I lifted her chin to force her eyes back on me. “You love me?”
She winced, and I knew it was because she was scared that I wasn’t solid.
“I’m scared too, but do you love me?” I pressed.
“Yes,” she reluctantly admitted.
“Then let’s be scared together.”
Ava's eyes searched mine, wide and shimmering. "What are you saying?"
I held her gaze, while my thumb still traced slow circles on her ankle. "I'm saying I love you, Ava. All of you. The mother of my child, my woman. I want forever with you."
Her breath caught, and she leaned forward, cupping my face in her hands. "I love you too, Reek. God, I love you."
Our lips met then. It was a soft kiss at first, but it deepened as the weight of our words sank in. I tasted the salt of her tears mixed with the sweetness of her mouth. My hands moved with admiration and worship, sliding up her legs, careful of her swollen ankles and calves. She sighed into the kiss and parted her thighs slightly as I gathered the hem of her dress and eased it higher.
I pulled back just enough to look at her. Her belly swelled beautifully under the fabric. Self-conscious, she put one hand over it.
"You're perfect," I whispered, kissing her palm before guiding her hand away. Then I lifted her dress over her head.
Her breasts had grown heavier. Veins left faint blue paths across her brown skin. Her nipples had darkened and pebbled. Her stomach curved out and stretch marks fanned from her navel. Her hips had widened. Her thighs were thicker. Her pussy was framed by soft curls that were already damp with need.
