Page 85 of Fate

“Thank you.” His tone is indescribable. A mix perhaps of being sexually sated with a hint of longing. Not at all what I’d expect after a round of intense lovemaking.

“Uh…for making love to you?” I ask stupidly.

He grins and chuckles but continues to play with my hair as if he’s deep in thought. I keep my chin on his chest, enjoying the beating of his heart and waiting for him to pull his thoughts together.

“For knowing what to do,” he finally responds.

I sigh, not wanting to take credit for something I was completely clueless about, and frankly, rather scared too. “Honey, I didn’t know what to do. Not really.”

“You did. And you were right.” This time his words are matter-of-fact.

“Howso?”

“I needed to connect. Find a way to release all the anger and sadness that has been brewing in me since we came home. Loving you, you giving your love back, it’s all I’m ever going to need to find myself again. Because without you, without our connection, I’m notme.”

“Eli’s going to bring her home,” I remind him for what I feel like is the millionthtime.

His arms wrap tighter around me. “Yes, he is. I can feel it now. I have the power of your belief to pull me through.”

I rise up, resting my hands on his bare chest, and smile. “That’s a really nice thing to say. Among all the other things too.” I grin, push forward, and peck his lips in a simplekiss.

He sighs, curls an arm up my back, one hand going into my hair, the other wrapping around my waist, holding me close. “As long as I’ve got you, our baby, our future, Cora included, I’m going to be the happiest man alive. And I’m going to make sure you are too. I swear it. When this all evens out, it’s going to be all about our family. The one we’re making together.”

His confidence is renewed, and I couldn’t be more thrilled.

“Sounds heavenly,” I admit, because it does. It’s what we always wanted way back when we got together originally. If I hadn’t been hurt and lost my way, we’d probably already be married with a couple of kids like Gillian and Chase or Bree and Phillip.

Now we just need to get Cora back, put Misty behind bars, and take full custody of Cora. It sounds so simple, but the most important things in life rarelyare.

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