My long hair falls to the sides of my face and partially covers my breasts. He places his palm flat against my belly and slowly lifts his hips, driving further inside of me.

We move together slowly, deliberately. “Garrett,” I whimper, biting my lip. He stiffens below me, and he suddenly lifts me off of him. He’s shifted himself so he’s sitting with his back against the headboard. We aren’t separated for too long when he grabs my hips and lowers me back down on top of him, crushing his lips into mine. “You were too far away,” he says frantically against my lips. I moan into his mouth and he devours me, his hands caress my face and become tangled in my hair. He continues thrusting upwards, filling me completely. I say his name again, this time incoherently as a wave of pleasure rushes through me. His mouth swallows my cries, and his last surge draws my climax in sync with his. “Sam,” he says again, and I fall on top of him, the warmth between our bodies keeping us joined together.

We stay like this for as long as we can until he needs to pull out and dispose of the condom. He rolls me off of him and does so quickly. He’s back in bed next to me before I know it.

He pulls me against him and nuzzles into my neck, and kisses my shoulder, letting his lips linger.

“That was incredible,” he whispers against my neck. I can feel his smile.

“It was,” I admit. The best I’ve ever had.

I can’t help but wonder what this means for us. “Was that goodbye?” I ask hesitantly. We’ve both wanted this, and now that it’s happened, I wonder if he’ll move on to the next conquest.

His body tenses next to mine and he lifts his head so his eyes are even with mine. “Definitely not goodbye.”

“No?” I ask and smile.

“Absolutely not.”

“Then what is this?” I ask, afraid of his answer. I’m not the friends-with-benefits type, and I know he’s not into long-term relationships. We’re doomed even before we get started.

“I think we can figure this out together,” he says and kisses me tenderly.

“I don’t do booty calls,” I say and push him away so he can see that I’m serious.

“I don’t want that. Not with you.”

“Oh,” I say and turn my head away.

“Sam, look at me,” he commands, and I turn back to look into his eyes. They’re dark and very serious.

He takes a deep breath and exhales quickly. “I’m in love with you.” His words cause me to stiffen in disbelief.

“What?”

“I love you,” he says again and lowers his mouth back to mine. His kiss is slow and thorough, and I press myself into him again.

I believe him. And his words scare me. We live completely different lives. I’m not cut out to live in his world.

“Why?” I ask, and he exhales heavily.

“You gave me something I thought I’d never experience. You triggered my capacity to love and to give myself fully to another human being. You’ve consumed my heart and soul. And you helped me find the place in my heart that I never knew existed. A place reserved for my child.”

His words grab my heart and I close my eyes.

“Look at me,” he says gently but firmly.

My eyes pop open and he says, “I’ve never felt this way about anyone, Sam. You give me breath. You give me life. I’m consumed by you.”

He continues, “I’m yours, Sam. All of me. I need you to tell me that you’re mine.”

“Yes,” I say, and he smiles as he brushes his hand over my cheek.

“Thank you,” he whispers against my lips. “You’ve given me everything I thought I’d never want or have. You changed me. You’ve made me want to erase all of the sins in my past and be worthy of you.”

I can’t speak. But I feel so much. His warmth surrounds me. Protects me. I feel his love. His walls have collapsed around me, and I know he’s mine, and I’m his. My heart races and I pull him closer.

“Please say something,” he begs. “Tell me I’m not crazy. Tell me that what I’m feeling isn’t one-sided. Tell me…”

“I love you,” I blurt out.

“Tell me you won’t leave,” he says, pleading with me.

I sigh and close my eyes.

“I have to, Garrett. Kai doesn’t need me anymore, not like he did six months ago. I need to go back to work. It’s time.”

His eyes are heavy and he exhales. “This isn’t goodbye. You’re not leaving me, Sam.”

I smile. “I don’t intend to. I’ll just be staying someplace else at night.”

Relief floods his face, and he pulls me against him like he never plans to let me go.

“Good,” he whispers in my ear.

“And I think that someplace else should be my bed, permanently.” I feel him smile against my cheek.

“I don’t think Aunt Peggy would approve,” I joke, and he rolls on top of me, pinning me to the bed.

“I see I have a lot of convincing to do, don’t I?” His eyes are filled with determination, and he prepares to make sure my body doesn’t forget a single inch of his.

Within seconds, he’s claimed me again. Our bodies move in perfect rhythm as if we were built only for each other. “Say it again,” he pants as his thrusts fill me.

“I love you,” I repeat over and over again.

Garrett

Present

Villanova, Pennsylvania

Age 27

I WIPE THE FOOD FROM KAI’S FACE, and he’s belly laughing.

“Did you ever think you’d see this day?” Peggy asks as she rinses Kai’s bottles in the sink.

“No,” I respond. “A day like today seemed almost impossible to reach.”

I can still hear Kai’s sharp, painful cries if I let myself remember the early days with him months ago. Days when I tried to avoid hearing his screams. I disappeared for days and weeks on end. Escaping the reality that was my life.

Looking at him now, I realize the mistake I made. I should have been here to absorb every cry of pain. Every whimper. Thank God for Sam and Peggy. They did what I couldn’t do and helped Kai without hesitation.

“Thank you, Peggy,” I say.

“For what?” Your niece.

I look at her and raise my eyebrows. “You forced me to face what I didn’t want to face. And you helped me heal my son.”

“You didn’t need my help, Garrett. You just needed to find it in yourself to open your heart and love someone.”

I love your niece, too.

“Are you ready, little man?” Peggy asks. He coos and claps his hands.

“I think he is,” I say, and she lifts him out of his high chair.

“It’s such a beautiful day. I’m going to take him to the park after his appointment, if that’s okay with you?” Kai has a check-up today, and Peggy always insists on handling the doctor appointments. It’s kind of her thing with him, and I don’t complain. It’s hard to see him get shots, and I know he’s in good hands with her.

“We’ll be back in a few hours. Enjoy the quiet while you can,” Peggy says. She knows Sam is going to go back to work soon, and I’ll be adjusting to a new schedule and routine on my own.

“Okay. Take your time,” I say and rush up the stairs as soon as I hear the car pull away. Sam slept in today, and I plan to wake her up the best way that I know how.

I open the door to my room and am surprised to see Sam pacing, holding a pad and pencil. She’s in her panties and tank top and looks so fucking hot. She’s startled when I burst in and close the door behind me.

“Hey,” I say and wrap my arms around her, burying my face in her neck. She smells like vanilla and sex. Two of my favorite smells.

She’s tense in my arms, and I back away a little. “What’s wrong?” I ask.

“I’m making a list for you to refer to when I’m gone, and I feel like I’m missing too many things.”

My heart sinks when I realize she’s really going to leave.

“Let’s not worry about the list right now,” I say and plant tiny kisses all around her lips.