"You don't know that."
"I do." Turning to her side, she cupped his face between her palms, her eyes luminous with love. "I made a mistake in not telling you how I felt before, because I was young, foolish, and scared. I missed my chance to be with you and paid dearly. I thought I could stop loving you-"
A whimsical smile touched her lips. "It never happened. I love you and will continue loving you until I draw my last breath. No-"
She shook her head. "It's not going to be any time soon. I want us to live to be a hundred years old because I want enough time with you and our children. I want more, darling. Not just David and this one I'm carrying. I want a house filled with children and you're going to realize eventually that there's nothing to be afraid of."
His heart melted as he stared at her. He was tired of being afraid, tired of fighting an unseen battle. Tired of being unhappy. He loved her, plain and simple, and had loved her for a very long time. Something that he had suppressed until recently.
"How many more?" he asked huskily.
"At least two more. Four is a nice round number, don't you think?"
"You're going to send me to an early grave."
"Not at all." She traced the lines of his strong jaw slowly. "And yes, I want to marry you more than anything in the world."
"Good." Pressing her back on the pillows, he followed her down. "Now, if you don't mind, I want to take this opportunity to sleep with you. Just sleep." He sighed. "I haven't had a good night's rest since I stormed out of here that night."
"Then we'll sleep together."
Kissing her softly on the lips, he slid down until his head was resting on her breast. One hand curved around her waist and the other rested possessively on her slight bump. Within minutes, she heard the sound of his even breathing indicating that he was fast asleep.
Turning her head slightly, she gazed down at the beloved face of the man she had adored since she was a teenager. She was relieved to see that the harsh lines around his eyes and mouth had all but disappeared and he looked completely relaxed.
She knew there was no quick fix to their issues. She was not naïve enough to believe that everything would be solved tonight. He had gone through a terrible trauma and had lived with the unhappiness and guilt for a very long time.
But he loved her. She smiled slightly in wonder. He had loved her back then. How foolish they had both been to deny themselves of something so wonderful. And all because of miscommunication.
But he had his son. He had David, so there could never be any regrets. She loved his son and was going to treat him as if he were her own. Lifting a hand, she brushed back tendrils of hair off his forehead.
When she shifted to be more comfortable, he tightened his grip and murmured in his sleep.
"Don't leave me, Thea." Turning his face, he burrowed on her breast, his warm breath making her skin tingle. With her arms wrapped around him, she drifted off, a contented smile on her lips.
*****
She woke up to love and the heat building slowly in her lower body. At first, she thought she was having an erotic dream, until she felt the tongue on her nipple. Her eyelids flickered open. As if sensing she was awake, he lifted his head, eyes smoldering with the passion and desire raging through his body, the minute he woke up to find his mouth within inches of her breast.
"It's about time," he murmured huskily. "Good morning."
"It is a good morning." She stretched languidly. "Don't let me stop you."
His deep chuckle made her smile.
"Fully awake, are you?" He cupped her breasts and weighed them in his palms.
"Absolutely."
"Well then." Bending his head, he nibbled at the nipple, sending fire shooting throughout her body. "I cannot wait to see my baby suckling at your breasts."
"In the meantime, you're doing a very good job of it." Her fingers wandered up and down the bunched muscles of his back. "That feels so good," she purred. "Take your time."
"I intend to." When he drew the tight bud into his mouth, she bowed her back, fingers digging into his skin.
"Vincent." Her voice was a husky whisper as he continued to lave the flesh with his teeth and tongue. "Vincent," she murmured again as he switched to the other nipple.
He was very thorough, so much so that by the time his mouth trailed down to her stomach, she was in the throes of a passion buildup that was so intense, she could not keep still. Shejumped, startled when he clamped his hand down on her sex, pressing down, fingers toying with the swollen flesh.
