Page 80 of Finding Fate

“Happy what way?” He’d known she’d be upset, but she wasn’t making much sense.

“I never…wanted…you to feel…trapped,” she sobbed.

“Trapped? What is she going on about?”“Isabel…please…calm down,” he soothed. “I don’t feel trapped. I’m exactly where I want to be.”

Her tears slowed a little at those comforting words. “Do you really mean it?” she asked once her sobs had subsided enough for her to speak clearly. She turned just enough so that she could look into his eyes for his answer.

“Of course I do.”

“But you don’t really want the baby, do you?”

He shook his head. “I never said that. How could I not want our baby? It’s a part of us. Just further proof that it’s our destiny to be together, that fate brought us together.”

She looked away from him then.

“What?”

“I want to believe that you really feel that way, Tucker. I really do. But I just don’t know.”

“What don’t you know? You need to tell me so that I can help you understand.”

Isabel’s hands moved to play with the strands of hair on her shoulder. Her voice was on the brink of tears once again. “How do I know you’re not just saying that because you feel it’s your responsibility to be here for the baby and me? You never mentioned it until after we knew I was pregnant, and you just said that this isn’t how you imagined things for us to be…”

“I meant that I never imagined us to have a baby in high school. I saw a slightly different future for us. That’s all. Can’t you say the same thing?”

“Well, yeah, but what about the other stuff?”

“Where is all of this coming from?” he sighed.

Isabel thought back to Lisa’s words that had triggered all of her fears, but she shrugged in response. “Just letting my mind run away with me, I guess, or maybe not. You haven’t denied much.”

He sighed. He had worried she might not believe he meant those words, that she was meant for him and vice versa. “Look at me, please.” He waited for her to look before he continued.

“Yes, it is my responsibility to be here for you and the baby, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t mean what I said. I wish I would have told you earlier how I felt that night we were first together. Then, maybe, you’d believe me.”

He moved so that he was leaning over her, careful to position himself to avoid pressure on the baby, and tenderly placed his hands on either side of her head, locking his fingers in her hair. His thumbs stroked her cheeks, wiping away her leftover tears.

His gaze met hers, brown eyes meeting green. Hers were still red and puffy around the edges from crying. She looked so sad. How could he make her see how much she meant to him?

“Isabel Faye Dearly, you are my world. You mean everything to me. My life would be nothing without you. You and our baby are my future. Nothing will ever change that.”

Tears slipped from the corners of her eyes, and he gently wiped away her fresh tears with his thumbs.

“You really mean it, don’t you?” she asked.

“With every bit of me,” he assured her.

She smiled her wide, crooked grin that he loved. “I love you, Tucker Ryan Patterson. My heart will always be yours.”

He smiled. “And you will always have mine. I love you,” he said as he leaned in.

The kiss was soft, yet strong, and it helped to soothe any fears that may have lingered. It didn’t last very long, but when they broke away, both of their breathing were labored, their hearts beating wildly in their chests. They pressed their foreheads together, reveling in the rush when Isabel whispered, “Make love to me, please.”

Her words that were so simple held so much meaning in his ears, and Tucker knew she needed the reassurance of his love for her, could feel the passion she felt for him, and needed so desperately to feel in return.

He wouldn’t make her ask twice. Not when he needed to make sure that any doubts she had about his love for her were washed away for good.

His lips met hers and moved to trace her jawline until she shivered beneath him. He kissed her neck, listening to her breathing quicken before finding that spot behind her ear that made her squirm. She pulled his mouth back to hers, and he nipped at her bottom lip, making her arch against him as he deepened the kiss. Curious, he nipped again and grinned through their kiss as she gave a soft gasp of delight, her body arching to his once again.

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