“What?”
“Go sit down and I’ll show you.”
“Show me?”
“Yes.”
She got up and walked away from Christos and he watched her go. She returned with an envelope, handing it to him. “I had this done because I don’t want to test you or your love. I need to trust you as well.”
“What is it?”
“Another paternity test. Open it and put your doubts to rest. I know that the situation you found me in with Stavros and the lies that I’d told you about my background all contributed to what you believed of me.”
“Ava, I trust you. I know?—”
She put her fingers over his lips. “Just let me do this for us.”
He pulled her down on his lap and she snuggled close to him as he opened the envelope and pulled out the paper inside. He didn’t look at it but instead stared down at her. “This can’t change the way I feel about you. I trust you with my entire heart.”
“That’s wonderful, Christos, but I want more.”
Chapter Thirteen
“Iwant more, too,” Christos said. “I want your love.”
A tear trailed down her cheek. “I haven’t stopped loving you.”
“Good.”
She smiled, thinking of the test results that waited on that paper. She wasn’t sure what he’d say, but it was the only olive branch she had. “Good?” He still hadn’t looked at it.
“I think I meant fantastic.”
“Why?”
“Because I love you, too. I think I always did. But I’ve been afraid to let you see how much you matter to me.”
“Oh, Christos, why?”
“Because…” Christos whispered in her ear. “If I didn’t love you, then it wouldn’t matter if you left me.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“I know,” he said, shifting her more comfortably in his lap.
“Your father was sure you were testing me.”
“I think I was testing myself. Can you forgive me for not believing in you?”
“Yes. I can.”
He took her mouth with his, letting his hands wander over her body. He untied the sash at her waist and pushed the sides of her robe open. She shivered and undulated against him. He leaned down to lick each nipple until it tightened. Then he blew gently on the tips. She raked her nails down his back.
“Oh, Christos, I’m afraid to believe this is real.”
“Doesn’t it feel real?” He shifted to lay her on the bed then moved further down her body, kissing his way over her stomach, his tongue tracing over the silvery stretch marks and lingering on her belly button.
He continued moving lower until he hovered right over her center.
