Long Time Running - By Hannah Foster Page 0,82

beg?" she asked desperately. "Because I will. I will get on my knees and beg."

"I don't want you to beg" he replied in a strangled voice.

He knew he should walk away, that he should send her home but there was something about her vulnerability that made it impossible for him to do anything other than take her in his arms. He hugged her tightly, rubbing his hands along her back as he left a tiny trail of soft kisses along her cheek and neck.

"Don't beg Sarah," he whispered. "I have you."

Lifting her head, she went in search of his mouth and fused her lips to his. There was no resistance from him as he returned her kiss with equal passion and need. As her hands threaded through the fine hairs at the nape of his neck, she felt his slide around her hips as he pulled her to his lap before getting to his feet. She hooked her legs around his waist as he carried her to the bedroom.

"I have you. You aren't alone." he whispered, kicking the bedroom door shut.

Chapter 30

Picking up the remote control tarantula and placing it in the toy box, Eric sighed happily before flopping on the couch. It had been three weeks since Nathalie and Jack had come to live with him and while they were working out some bumps along the way the three of them were thriving being together. He loved watching Nathalie rediscover her maternal instincts and while Jack had been vocal about his worries in leaving Sarah, his bond with his mother was proving stronger every day. He also loved coming home to both of them. There was no greater feeling for him than to come home from a long shift at the hospital and have the chance to tuck his son into bed and gather his girlfriend in his arms.

He and Nathalie would talk long into the night most nights, some times about the past and some times about the future. It was as though having finally been reunited after all these years there was just too much to say and sleep got in the way. He did still wake up and reach for her, just to make sure she was still there and almost as though she knew what he needed, she would inevitably mold herself to him or brush her lips against his shoulder or chest; the cracks in his heart were slowly healing.

Hearing the key in the door, he looked up and smiled as Nathalie slipped inside. "Hey," he called to her.

Nathalie returned his smile as she closed the door behind her and joined him on the couch. "Hey yourself," she replied softly.

"Jack all set for his sleepover?" he asked as he nipped at her lips.

She nodded. "They're going to get in their pajamas and watch movies. She's made caramel popcorn for them."

"How is it going with Sarah?" he asked, tucking her growing hair behind her ear.

Nathalie exhaled slowly. "It's going as well as it can, I think" she said as she linked her fingers through his. "I just need to be as patient and loving with her as she's been with me."

Wrapping his arms around her, he softly kissed her. "Have I told you today that I love you?"

Smiling, she gave a small shake of her head. "No you haven't. In fact you've been very negligent in that department. I'm feeling very hard done by," she teased.

"That's terrible of me" he replied with mock indignation, kissing her again. "Allow me to rectify that." Cupping her face with both hands he smiled lovingly at her. "I love you," he told her before closing his mouth over hers, his tongue diving inside the velvety warmth of her mouth.

Nathalie moaned as she deepened the kiss, her fingers curling through his hair. As they broke apart she grinned. "I love you too." Turning in his arms, she leaned back against him and brought his arms around her. "I spoke to Mylea today."

"Oh?"

She nodded. "I have a house there that needs to be sold and emptied."

He dropped a kiss on her shoulder. "Does that make you sad?"

"A little" she admitted quietly. "I have everything I have ever dreamed of here with you and Jack and Sarah but my life was there for a while and I miss it."

She was quiet for several moments. "I'd...I'd like to take you and Jack to Mbamba. I'd like to show you both where I lived and meet my friends. Do you think-" Pausing, she turned