Page 54 of Trash the Dress

She stares at me. “You can still love a person despite the awful things they’ve done,” she says, chin wobbling.

“That may be true for some people, but it wasn’t the real thing between us. That’s why I can say I don’t love her anymore and mean it. There’s nothing she could do or say to change that,” I tell her. “I think some people can let someone they thought they loved go, and it’s just over. But then there’s those people who were always meant to be together, and those are the ones that even if you try to let them go, you can’t or they come barreling back at exactly the right time and you just know.”

She smiles. “That makes sense. I just don’t ever want to hold you back, or be the reason you’re not happy,” she says quietly.

“I don’t know how many more times I can tell you…you are my sunshine. And I’ll show you that every day until you believe it.” I kiss her forehead.

“Do you have regrets about being here with me and trying to give us a chance?” I can’t help but ask since she’s asking similar questions.

“I have no regrets and no doubts. But I won’t pretend I’m not scared to love you, because I am. But I also know in the depths of my soul that loving you is worth risking heartbreak because I’d rather have loved you and been loved by you than to never know this love at all. And I’ll give you all of me and hope every day that we’re one of the lucky ones who make it,” she tells me, baring her innermost thoughts to me.

“I think it’s time for me to show you something,” I tell her.

“Um, okay, I think,” she says sounding a bit hesitant.

I pull on my boxer briefs from the floor and then hand her my T-shirt. Even with her pregnant belly it’s too big for her. Once she has it on, I take her hand and guide her to my office door. She stops me and stares at the door.

“I’m not sure?—”

I cut her off. “Trust me.”

She nods and squeezes my hand. Then, I push it open and watch her expression as she takes in all the pictures of her on my office walls.

“What is this?” she asks.

“This room is where I keep my art and things that are special to me,” I tell her.

“I don’t know what to say,” she says as her eyes shimmer with unshed tears.

“Hey. Why are you crying?” I ask taking her delicate face in my hands and bending so I’m at eye level with her.

“You have pictures of me here, in your private space.”

“Is that wrong?” I asked, confused.

“No. She said there was no way I meant anything to you because you had no evidence of me anywhere in your house. Buthere I am, in the beating heart of your house,” she says as tears drip off her chin.

I swipe her tears away with my thumbs and then kiss her perfect pink lips. I take her hand and press it to my chest so she can feel the steady rhythm. “You’re right here, in this beating heart of mine everywhere I go.”

“Zander, I’m in love with you. Irrevocably and hopelessly in love with you,” she says.

“That’s funny…I’m in love with you, sunshine,” I tell her immediately.

She smiles against my lips before kissing me again. Her tongue swirls around mine with precision. Her kisses are more intoxicating than any drink I could ever serve at the bar.

I groan as she slides her hand over my length bulging against the thin fabric of my boxer briefs. “Sunshine, I need you.”

She walks to my desk and pulls off my shirt, revealing her beautiful body to me. I stare for a minute wondering how I got so lucky. This gorgeous, kind-hearted woman is spread out on my desk for me and she’s carrying my child. I’m filled with something I think most would call pride at seeing her like this.

I move toward her while ridding myself of my boxers. Once they’re gone, I pull us together and kiss her more, and just appreciate the feel of her bare skin against mine. Her legs are already parted and waiting for me to slide home.

When I slide inside her, she flutters around my length. I lean her back over my desk gently as I take her nipples one at a time in my mouth. Then, I pull her up and close to me again as I thrust in and out, making her whimper each time until I feel her start to tighten around me, spurring me to move harder and faster, chasing our release.

We both reach it at the same time, and I capture her sweet moans with my mouth. I kiss her and hold her close until our breathing slows.

“This is a random time to ask, but do you want to do a gender reveal soon?” I ask her.

She laughs. “Are you excited to let the world know you’re having a son?”

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