Page 14 of Tainted Reasoning

“I’m sorry for the way she died.” Tamara bows her head in respect. “It was cruel to have her taken away from you.”

“To have us both taken away from her, really. She was never allowed to be a mother to Nicholas. He was always supposed to be my father’s shadow. I’m just glad he was able to step out from under it.”

“I’m sure she’s up in heaven looking down proudly on her two sons, for everything you are achieving, and the way you are trying to undo all the wrongs of the past.”

We both lower our heads to my mother’s grave before making our way back to the house while I reflect on my answer.

“It won’t be easy to right all the wrongs. We will find obstacles at every turn, but we won’t stop trying. I don’t know if there will be a happily ever after, but I’m going to try my hardest to find one.”

We stop just inside the patio doors to the lounge. Tamara inclines her body so it’s facing me, and I feel a heated sensation cascade through my skin. She really is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Her eyes spark with intelligence, mischief, and a caring nature all combined.

“I think you’ll find your happy ending. The one thing I’ve learned is that you have determination.”

“Determination. I like that. Determination to have what I want.” I can’t help but push my body closer to Tamara, and she reacts with a hitch of breath as her eyes filled with lust stare up at me.

“When all this is over, what else are you determined to have?”

“A wife,” I reply instantly.

“And?” she questions with a playful bite to her lip.

“Children.”

“How many?”

“A whole army. I never want any of them to not have a playmate if they want one.”

“That’s a lot!”

“You up for it?” I ask her before lowering my head and pressing my lips against her plump ones.