Page 79 of Kyle
"Yep. So, you get him Friday. Dad has agreed to spend the night at the manor so that they all get to spoil him rotten including Jessica."
"She looks happy."
"She is."
"And Mom?"
"Another time. I still cannot get over what she put me through."
"It's going to take time. Okay, I'll settle for a day and night for now. Go and seduce your man."
"I plan to."
*****
At first, he balked at the idea of leaving their baby boy.
"He'll be with family, and we need some time alone. I cannot believe I have to be begging you for this. After what I went through--" She knew it was emotional blackmail, but she was willing to bring out the big guns.
When he started to reach for her, she stepped back. "If it's too much to ask--"
"No, dammit. No." Raking his fingers through his hair, he paced away. "You're right. We need to get back to where we were or toa better place. I see the scars on your beautiful skin and want to lash out." He stopped in front of her.
"I love you and the last thing I ever wanted was for you to get hurt. Yes, let's go away. We can leave our son with the family and just be with each other." He touched her cheek gently. "I've missed you."
"I've missed us. Leave it to me."
*****
The minute they carried their bags inside, they came back to sit on the porch swing. "This is where I would love to grow old. Sitting right here holding hands and looking at the sun setting. Just look at the way it colors the sky. Right here, right now, it seems like all is right with the world. All the ugliness is beyond us."
"You were right as usual." She was cradled between his thighs, and he was using his feet to move the swing back and forth. The evening was mellow with the sounds of creatures scrambling in the brushes.
"I'd forgotten about this place." His lips teased the delicate lobe of her ear. "Grandpa Jack and William used to come here to fish. They would take me with them on occasions."
She leaned back and breathed in the fresh air.
"We're happy."
"Was that a question?"
"No." She shook her head. "I was afraid of verbalizing it because I did not want to jinx it." She turned sideways.
"Make love to me, darling."
His eyes glittered. "Let's go in--"
"No. Right here on this swing. In full view of nature."
He looked over at the bushes growing wild and untamed along the cobbled drive. It was true they were isolated, but there was always a chance--
"Yes."
Her eyes, the golden-brown beauty of them, showed that he had made the right response.
"Right here. Now. It's perfect." He cupped the back of her head and tilted it to close his mouth on hers. The kiss was warm, silky, and sweet. He stayed right there and could have taken them deeper, wanted to do just that, but the moment called for sweetness and time to enjoy each other.
Her hands drifted up, up, gliding over his chest, where she could feel the gentle thudding of his heart. She had borne a child, carried this man's seed inside her womb. He had been an enemy, a person she thought she despised and had turned out to be the most important person in her life. Aside from her precious son, one he had created with her, he was everything to her. She wanted to show him. It had to be more than words.
