Page 88 of Fight from the Heart

“It’s so beautiful,” I whisper.

“You’re beautiful, Lilac,” he says, and finally kisses me, really kisses me. Our mouths meld together, sipping and savoring one another. My hand cups his cheek while his arms wrap around my waist. Jacob stands and climbs over me with our lips still connected, and I tip back to take his body over mine.

“Does this mean the hand-holding phase is over?” I tease. It’s been a week.

“We are moving on,” he says, propping up on his elbows and brushing back my hair with one hand. “But the hand-holding phase is indefinite. I’ll always hold your hand, angel. You don’t even have to ask, or sometimes you might have to ask. Say Jacob, I need you.” His eyes pierce mine. I told him in the hospital I didn’t need him. I wanted him but didn’t need him. I lied.

I nod to accept his suggestion. His eyes shift, watching his fingers comb at my short blond locks.

“You’ve been my destiny all along, Lilac. You found me when I had that accident years ago. You saved me. You’ve put up with my bullshit and patiently waited for me to get that bullshit in order. I only wish I’d done it sooner,” he says. “It’s the only thing I’ve ever regretted.”

“We have all the time ahead of us,” I tell him. We’re both a little scared. Between a budding relationship and our baby's birth, a lot is going to happen in the next few months.

“I didn’t need to change my destiny. I needed to recognize it. I needed to find you, angel. I’ll never need to change mine again.” His mouth comes to mine, soft and delicate like the petal of a flower, and too quickly, he pulls back. “Thank you.”

“For what?” I giggle, reaching up with my thumb to trace over his lower lip.

“For not giving up on me. For fighting with me, against me, and eventually for me. I love you, Lilac.” His mouth returns to mine, and finally, we move on from hand holding to eager kisses. Next comes the sex part, but we both know this is about love.

Epilogue

Back in Bed

[Jacob]

I needed to take a quick trip to New York once my apartment sold and to meet with Theresa about a book tour. I wouldn’t be taking one until after the baby was born. I enter the house to find a pair of shoes haphazardly in the middle of the front hall. My forehead furrows as it’s not like Pam to be messy. Stepping into the living room, I notice a shirt on the floor near my office door. The stairs start just outside the entrance, and I turn to find a skirt on the steps leading upward. My heart races as do I, suddenly taking the stairs two at a time to my room.

Our room.

I find a purple bra at the top of the stairs, and just inside the entrance to our bedroom is the matching purple thong on the floor. Ignoring the clothing, I glance at the bed to find my Lilac sitting in the middle of it. Her back is to me, exposing her skin. A sheet is tucked up against her front, but I’ll be removing that quickly, once I figure out what she’s up to.

“Lilac?” I question, walking to the side of the bed. Her head tilts, glancing up at me over her shoulder.

“Welcome home, Professor.”

I chuckle at the ridiculous nickname from the gym. “What are you doing, my little wood nymph?”

“You said you wanted to sleep each night and wake each morning with me in your bed, but we missed the past two days.” Her lips pout in the cutest of manners. “So I thought I’d surprise you by being in your bed when you returned home.”

“Does my assistant know you are here?’ I tease, tugging off my own shirt as I kick off my shoes. Pam never really quit me, not in my writing career or my personal life.

“I told her she had the day off.”

“You know I’m going to have to pay her for that time off.”

“Kisses?” she asks, arching a brow at me.

Pam starts at my left pec. True to what I promise, I had two additional lines added to my chest. I am not my beginning. I will not repeat the past. The font matches the previous work—change your destiny—so it reads seamlessly. In addition, I added a bright purple lilac. Working at my pants, removing my boxer briefs at the same time, I speak to her. “This tops the surprise of finding you sick on my couch.”

“What about the surprise of the baby?”

“Yeah, that was a surprise, too.” I chuckle, standing before her in all my glory. I reach out and swipe a finger along her hairline.

“But you’re happy, right?” Her voice turns serious as those blue eyes that match heaven stare back at me.

“Lilac, I’ve never been able to define happiness until now.” My hand pulls down the sheet covering her, revealing her luscious, swelling breasts. I’ll get to savoring those in a minute. First, I place my hand on her belly. “This is happiness to me.” I lower to kiss her there, and her stomach flinches with the tickling touch.

“And this is happiness to me,” I state, sitting up and placing a kiss on her mouth. Without words, I’m telling her that her in my bed, at any time of day, brings me the best of feelings.