Page 124 of Destined Lovers

“Our baby, and yes. Yes, it could.” I feel a flutter of hope in my chest. I want to be growing Declan’s baby. I wish for both of us to start our next chapter together already.

I know he wants to wait to talk about our future until after the court case so that we can start fresh. At the end of the day, there’s nothing to talk about. We’ve been talking about it since we were kids.

London, marriage, kids. End of.

At this rate though, it might be London, kids, marriage.

“Nora,” Declan whispers against my neck, where he’s still buried.

“Mhmm?”

“How did you know after everything you would find me again? Or that I wouldn’t have moved on. Weren’t you scared you would lose me forever?”

This is heavy stuff to talk about after such gentle lovemaking, but it’s an easy answer.

“I couldn’t think like that. I had to believe that protecting us was part of my destiny and that we would find our way back together again. Otherwise, there was nothing to live for.”

“I don’t understand what fate has to do with it.” He tilts his head, so his lips press against my skin.

“Not fate, my love, destiny. There’s a difference.”

“Mmm, explain,” he mumbles, making me shiver with goose bumps.

“Do you, Declan Buckley, not know what the difference is? Does that mean I know something you don’t, for once?”

He tickles my side, and we both laugh. “Just go on, will ya?”

“Your fate is set and stone. It doesn’t change no matter what turn you take in life. It will always lead you back to what you’re fated with. On the contrary, your destiny is based on the good and bad you do, the choices you consciously make, and how you deal with what the universe throws at you. That day they gave me a choice. Something told me it wasn’t our time yet, and I needed to let you live your life. I would have ruined your career and everything you worked so hard for. I knew that wasn’t the road I was meant to take. I’m here to support you, not bring you down. As much as it killed me every single day to be apart from you, I had to honor the promise I made to myself to keep this mess away from you. Then when I saw you for the first time in Ballyclare, I thought it was a coincidence. That’s why I didn’t stick around. I needed to see this through to the end. I know now that that was a mistake. When the universe made us cross paths again, after all these years of me trying to protect us, so close together, I knew this was finally our time to be together again.”

I hear a soft sniffle and feel a teardrop slide down my neck.

My sensitive man.

“So I’m your destiny?”

“Now you are my forever.”

“Okay.” He kisses my neck again. “Forever your destiny, always your lover.”

18

Nora

“Wake up, angel.”Soft lips caress my cheek, and fingers run along my naked spine.

“Huh?” I rasp. Why is he waking me up so early?

I’m so tired, leave me alone.

I bury my head in the pillow. Why the hell is it so bright in here?

“Nora, it’s half past ten. Wake up, babe.” Declan pats my bum and pulls the blankets off me, but I don’t move. I can’t.

Why am I so tired?The stress of everything is finally catching up with me, that’s why.

Wait.

“Half past ten? I fell asleep right after our bath, meaning I’ve been sleeping for almost fourteen hours.” I grumble into the pillow.

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