Everything he’s ever done from the moment we met, it’s all been for me. Whether it’s because I needed to open myself up for him in this way or because I needed to hear him tell me again and again, I believe him.
And more than that, now I know I love him.
Damn it.
Another wobble of my bottom lip, and then I’m sobbing even harder.
Much to the panic of my husband. “What’s wrong? Did I hurt you? Was it too soon?”
“No.” I shake my head and wave my hands uselessly, but it’s not until the wave of emotion lessens a bit that I can get any words out. “I just…I just realized that I…I love you.”
Warren freezes for a moment, then the biggest grin I’ve ever seen splits his face as he flops back against the bed. “She loves me,” he announces to the ceiling. “My wifelovesme. Did you hear that, Emmaline? Your momma loves me!”
“Shh! Don’t wake her!” I haltingly laugh through my tears, but it changes to a breath of surprise when he rolls me on top of him.
“Swear to me that you mean it, wife,” he says with mock sternness as he gently wipes the salty streaks from my face. “It’s already too late to take it back, but I need to hear you say it.”
My heart threatens to burst at the plea beneath his words. “I love you, Warren Shay,” I whisper, daring to lean down and kiss him to show him just how much. He grabs hold of my neck, moving his mouth against mine in the sweetest caress. I can taste the remnants of me mixed with my tears, but I don’t mind. Finally, I break away and place a palm to his bare chest, searching for the heartbeat that never ceases to calm me. “I never thought I could be with a man again, let alone love one, but I do. I love you. Only one man. Only you.”
“Goddamn, wife.” Brown eyes scan mine as if gauging the honesty in my proclamation. He must find it, though, because his gaze softens into an endless pool of happiness. “If you knew how much I love you, it’d probably scare you.But you’re mine now, you hear? And the same goes for me. Only one woman for me. Only you.”
CHAPTER 16
WARREN
Sleep doesn’t come as quicklyfor me as it does Mara, not even being spooned around her while she hugs my arm to her chest. Even the fireplace rests in repose with its dim glow.
But not me.
Not with all these thoughts racing through my head and the taste of my wife still on my lips. I’m not the smartest man in the world, but I don’t take lightly how much it meant for Mara to push beyond the hurts of her past and open up to me in both body and heart.
And open up to me, she did. As much as I’d tried to focus solely on her pleasure, the taste and feel of her quim had me releasing in my pants like an untried youth. I can’t even bring myself to grimace or feel embarrassment that I had to change my trousers, though, because it was worth it to see her come undone in our marriage bed.
Pushing aside thoughts of what the next night could look like for us, I angle my nose into her sleep-mussed hair and deliver my confession into the silky strands. “I love you, my brave little wife.” Words low and hushed,but no less truth. “Love you so goddamn much. And this house is a home now that you and Emmaline are here and made me a husband and a papa.”
I never want to go back to having an empty house with only myself for company because now I know what I’d be missing. A cute baby who steals my goddamned heart every time she gives me a gummy smile. The softness of my wife as she clings to me in our bed. What more could a man ask for? I press a lingering kiss to the velvety skin of her neck and then force my eyes closed for a few seconds.
Only to come to full awareness at the sounds of a very awake baby. I’m surprised Emmaline let us sleep this long. Grateful, but surprised.
I lean over and run my lips over the curve of Mara’s cheek. “Hey,” I whisper.
“Hmm?” Her legs tangle with mine in a stretch before she pulls my arm in even further. “What is it?”
“Goddamn, you’re so beautiful,” I blurt out over Emmaline’s fussing. I don’t think Mara’s ever been so damn relaxed and peaceful, but now that I see a satisfied, drowsy smile on her pretty mouth and a blush of shyness that even the moonlight can’t hide, I want her to stay this way forever.
Of course, having my hand nestled between paradise doesn’t hurt either.
“Emmaline wants to eat. No, I’ve got her…you stay here in bed where it’s warm.” I reluctantly reclaim my arm and light the lamp on my way to pick up our baby. Her little legs kick up in excitement when she sees me, and I swear all that cooing she’s doing is her trying to say papa. My chest tightens at the love that settles atop my shoulders. This perfect little girl is my child, and I dare any man or woman to say otherwise.
“C’mere, you. I know you’ve got to be hungry becauseyou were such a good baby to let Momma sleep for a little bit, yes you were.” She gnaws on her balled up fists for a moment before growing frustrated at the lack of milk. For being such a tiny little thing, she sure has a healthy set of lungs and a good bit of squirm on her. I’d expect nothing less from a daughter of mine. “Now, now…” I tug the fist with the birthmark and drop a kiss on it. “Let’s not act like that. You know we’re not gonna let you go hungry.”
Still sluggish from lack of sleep, Mara stuffs a pillow behind her back and reaches out for our baby, nightgown gaped open in readiness to feed Emmaline. I can’t deny that I liked it better when the hem was rucked up around her hips, but this is a mighty pleasing sight, too. Emmaline roots around in her mother’s arms, her cries immediately cutting off when she gets what she wants.
I join them in bed and lean up on an elbow to watch the way Mara cares for her. “You’re a good mother.”
“Do you think so?” She traces over the shell of Emmaline’s ear before glancing at me. “I want to be better than what I had as a child.”
“You already are, I promise you that.” Bittersweetness sticks in my throat. My wife is so wickedly innocent with her hair in disarray about her shoulders, but everything in her life was forced on her. Scripture, motherhood, marriage…
