Page 25 of Unbreakable Connection (Connections Duet)

“I will eat, and Edric will too,” I said, thanking her again for her kindness.

“Good, see that he does,” Antonia may be small, but she was strong and pulled me forward into a hug I desperately needed. I locked the door behind her and felt his presence before speaking, a comfort flanking me like a warm blanket.

“She loves you,” I heard Edric behind me. I smiled and looked over my shoulder to see him smiling back at me.

“Yes, she does, and I love her back.”

“Another thing you have in common with Sabina, it’s no wonder why you two are so close. She has Anna, and you have Antonia.”

“Come here,” I opened my arms, surprising myself with such a natural gesture that men and women who love each other do. Once he was close enough in reach, he was the one pulling, and in a second, I was in his arms. I wanted him here with me and didn’t want him to return to London or anywhere else. “Edric, I love you,” I said, kissing him with all I had to show him that my words were genuine.

“I know that, and I love you a million times more, but thank you for telling me; sometimes, a man needs to hear it.”Yes, you do, and I promise always to tell you from this day forth.“I will assume that since you were down here with Antonia, you are feeling better?”

“I am; the rest helped.”

“Are you hungry? I can make us something from the basket Antonia dropped off.”

“Yes, and anything is fine. I’m going upstairs to shower, and then I’ll be back down.”

“Are you sure you will be okay up there alone? You’re not supposed to get your bandage wet and,” I cut him off with a kiss and assured him I was fine.

“Go and cook because that’s sexy, and then I’ll be back before you miss me.” When I returned downstairs, Edric was setting the table and lighting candles. “This is beautiful, thank you,”

“What did I say about thanking me? You’re smiling and love me, which is all I need.” We ate Antonia's delicious food and sat before the fire, with Edric holding me close.

“Edric,”

“Hmm,”

“Will you make love to me?”

“Oh, baby, I want to, but you need your rest, and I’m not sure I'll be able to stop once I get my hands on you.”

“Your hands are on me now, so do I need to ask again?” He turned me in his arms and held my face in his hands, a move he always did when he needed assurance.

“Baby, we have time, and there is no rush, not when we both have forever, so give me tonight to hold you against me?”

“Now, how can I object to that when you say the sweetest things?”

“You can’t, so let’s go to bed, and we will revisit this conversation tomorrow, okay?”

“Okay, but you have to carry me upstairs because, for once, I don’t feel like walking.”

“As if I was going to let you,” he kissed me, and then one swoop later, I was in his strong arms. Edric carried me to bed, holding up his end of the deal by not letting me go. I’ve never been one to track time as closely as I have since Edric arrived in Italy and to reclaim me as his. Here’s the thing about belonging to someone else: to reclaim, you would have to lose the person first, and I may have felt that way in the beginning, but I no longer do. He’smine, and I’m his, and I hold no more doubts about being with Edric.

“You’re staring,” he said as he rolled over to get closer to me. He kissed me in the crook of my neck, slowly descending until he reached my breasts and kissed each one before pulling back. He looked pained with himself, and then I knew why.

“You don’t have to stop; I’m alright,” I said, trying to convince him I was telling the truth. “I’m a doctor and understand the risks of a concussion, but I feel better, and the rest helped. Let’s make love, Edric; I need you.”

“You don’t know how much I want to, but not until you are well enough to take all of me because, as I already explained, I will not be gentle. I need to mark every inch of your body inside and out. I crave to hear you scream my name. I want it all, Ellen, and I need you strong so I can give you every part of me and love you the way I want to.”

I wanted to argue with Edric and tell him he was being overprotective and ridiculous. I’m strong and not made of glass, and then I thought, this is just who he is and the man I love. He protects and keeps others safe, and his need to do that for me is extreme, but there’s no point in fighting to change his mind. When I searched his eyes, I knew he was struggling with his want to intimately and physically love me and then shield me from anything that threatened to hurt me. The car bombing forced his fear, and men like Edric don’t show that side to others, but he has to me, making me love him even more.

“Okay,” I simply said and then kissed him gently.

He eyed me suspiciously and asked, “What are you up to? You never give up that easily.”

“I guess I hit my head harder than I realized,” he sighed and wasn’t amused.

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