Once the boxes are all moved in, Ev gives Gage a ride back to my old apartment since he refused to ride with Cole again, and Rune and I settle in with a movie.
I’m not even paying much attention to the movie. My mind is filled with everything that has happened in the month that Ev has been back in my life. It seems like so much longer than a month. Even if he wasn’t with Rune and me physically, I never let him go. And now, he’s here. We’re a family. And all this time, he was just ten minutes down the road from me. How we never ran into each other is surprising but with his hectic schedule and my hermit crab tendencies I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
Rune’s soft snores tell me he’s asleep, and soon after, Ev walks through the door. Coming over to us, he lays a kiss to my forehead then he cradles Rune in his arms, the arms that always seem to catch me, and he carries our son to his new room.
When he comes back, I am folding the blanket that Rune and I were snuggled in, and Ev comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist, nuzzling my neck and hitting my ticklish spot.
“Now to take care of my woman.” His tone is suggestive that I am going to be coming multiple times tonight.
I rub my butt against his hardening dick, and he lets out a groan. “Okay, okay, before that, we actually need to talk about something. Are you on the pill or shot, or do I need to wear a condom? Because I can’t continue to pull out. You feel too fucking good.”
Right. I guess we do need to talk about this.
Nerves fill my chest, and I can feel my heart pounding, but not in a good way. My last secret.
“Ev…” He lifts my chin from where it has fallen and meets my eyes, his laced with concern.
“What is it?”
“When Rune was born, I had a hemorrhage. I told you that. But they couldn’t stop the bleeding, despite all the medications they gave me. The only way to save my life was to… They had to remove my uterus.” I look up into his wide green eyes. He’s processing what I’m saying. “I can’t have any more kids, Ev. I’m so sorry. I know you wanted a big family.”
I can’t stop the tears that fall from my eyes.
I can see the flash of loss in his eyes. He’s so expressive with those pale-green eyes, and right now I hate it. I hate that I can see the future he thought we could have taken from him.
His jaw tenses, he inhales and then lets it go, closing his eyes. He’s fighting to accept the fact that he will never have what he has always wanted—a big family—and coming to terms with what his new reality is, just Rune and me.
He kisses my cheek, where a tear had paused its descent down my face.
“It’s okay. You and Rune are enough.”
“Ev, you could be with someone who could give you a big fam—”
“Stop, Leo. Stop thinking you aren’t everything I have ever wanted. Stop thinking that I won't choose you. I will always choose you, pretty bird. Always. You are enough. Rune is enough.”
“But—” I try to protest.
“But nothing. I will not allow you to run from me again because you think you know what's best for me.Youare what's best for me, Leo Phoenix, and I’ll be damned if you try to run from that. And if you do, I will find you. I will always find you.”
I am speechless, so I just nod.
“Now. Time to prove Gage wrong. I have a perfectly proportioned dick to my height.”
I giggle, and he scoops me up, wrapping my legs around his waist as he carries me into his room.
His bed is large and luxurious. His soft gray sheets are already pulled back, and he lays me on the bed, his thighs straddling my hips.
“What’s your safe word, pretty bird?”
“Phoenix,” I whisper with anticipation.
“Good girl.” He reaches down and grabs my right wrist and places a gentle kiss to the soft, delicate skin. Then places it above my head, wrapping a leather cuff around it. Where the hell did those come from?
“What—”
“Shhh. I got you.” His voice is coated in desire.
Then he takes my left wrist and does the same. I give a tug once they’re both secured, but it’s pointless. Then he lifts my shirt, pushing it up over my belly, then my breasts, finally using it to cover my eyes. With my hands useless and my sight gone, I feel every breath against my skin. The smell of his leather and cinnamon is heightened, and his touch… God, his touch is like fireworks dancing across my skin. Awakening my senses.
