My reaction to the view in front of me hasn’t changed. If anything, it’s intensified. His eight-pack is just as prominent, a small amount of dark hair is still scattered on his chest. He’s thinner, but it doesn’t take away from the impressive mold of his body.
Taking another step in my direction, the air around us shifts, as he gets within reaching distance.
I throw my arms around him and bury my face in his neck. He’s warm and solid and I can’t believe he’s here. “Damian,” I whisper.
He takes my face between his large hands and kisses me. His lips gently caressing mine, his breath warm and familiar. “Love me Addison, forever, because, I can’t stop loving you. I don’t even want to try.”
Pulling away, I look deep into his eyes. “Can forever start now?”
His lids lower, and he pulls me tight to him. Sighing, he lifts me in his arms and carries me inside my apartment, shutting the door behind him. He finds my bedroom, and gently places me on the bed, his body hovering above me. “We have a lot of making up to do.”
“Maybe I should take the week off of work,” I suggest.
“Or the entire month.” His hands slide under the hem of my shirt, his fingers trailing up my skin as he removes it from my body. A slow ache begins between my legs as his eyes pool in desire.
“When did you rent the apartment next door?”
Shrugging, his lips pull my bra down over my nipple and he begins to run his nose around it in circles. “About three months ago.”
“This was always your plan?”
His face comes back to mine, his arms resting on either side of my head. “Addison, you asked me once what my end game was. It’s always been you. Whether you were on board with that plan or not, you’ve always been it for me.”
I trace his bottom lip with my finger. “Love me, Damian because I love you. I love you.”
“How exactly did the baby get inside Addison’s belly?”
I choke on a sip of water, my face flushed, my chest heaving with a coughing fit as I try to force the water back up into the right pipe so I can breathe again. Maybe if I make a big enough deal of choking, she’ll forget she asked the question.
I cough a few more times, take another sip of water and look into her big blue eyes. “Want to play a game of Battleship?” I ask.
Emily shakes her head. “No, I want to know how babies are born.”
I nod and look around the room for help. We’re having lunch at my parent’s house in Malibu, everyone is in town for the baby shower my mom is throwing tomorrow. Addison stands and kisses me on the head, “I need to use the ladies room. I’ll be right back.” The woman is seven months pregnant and she always needs to go to the bathroom. But right now, I’m thinking she’s using our baby as an excuse to get out of this conversation.
“My friend Macie says you have to kiss a boy, but Charlotte insists there’s a special hug and then the baby magically appears. Which one is it?”
Reed stands and clears everyone’s dishes, Mia and Paige following behind.
“Hey guys we’re gonna go catch a movie. We’ll see you later,” Mia announces.
“Reed, you’re not going anywhere. You need to help me set up for tomorrow.” I call behind his retreating back.
“Not on your life, Dude!”
Fucker.
I look at her sweet face and take her all in. Her blonde hair is growing in nicely. It’s short, but covers her entire scalp. If you didn’t know her story, you’d have no clue that twelve months ago she was lying in a hospital bed fighting for her life.
“They’re both right,” I say. “There’s a little bit of magic, some hugs and kisses, but most importantly Emily, there’s an abundance of love.”
She nods like she gets it, but her eyes tell me she’s still trying to figure it out. “But how does it get in there?”
I look around the house she now calls home, wondering how much information I’m supposed to divulge to a nine-year-old about sex. “You know how chickens lay egg—”
“I’m taking Emily to do some last minute shopping, Damian.”
I’m startled by my mother’s voice, but so damn thankful she just saved me.
“Sounds great,” I say quickly as I jump up.
Emily grabs her coat, conversation over, crisis averted and they leave out the front door hand in