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“Yeah, babe?”
“Oh n-nothing…”
“Tell me,” he urged softly, his thumb caressing her cheek again.
“I just thought that m-maybe… ah, well, I thought you were going to kiss me?”
“Do you want me to?” he asked tenderly, still waiting. Her heart was beating so loudly she was pretty sure he could hear it, yet he was still holding back… for her. Oh, she knew it, but someone had to give somewhere, right?
“I do want to kiss you, but…” he began, and she interrupted him.
Eris angled her head slightly, taking the initiative and closing the gap between them as that mental ‘bubble’ wobbled precariously in her mind. This magic had to end soon, and she was afraid to miss out on this unexpected moment between them.
The moment Colton’s lips touched hers, it was over. She heard him make a soft noise in his throat as he took over. His lips pressed against hers as she responded happily. He was an intimate taste of joy that she’d forgotten had existed… seductive, tantalizing, yet smoky with a hint of salt, and something just so wonderfully him.
His lips were urging and coaxing her silently for more, only to feel his hands leave her for a moment – as he picked her up under her arms, setting her on the counter there in the kitchen. They paused their kiss as she pushed the coffee pot away for a moment, his eyes holding hers, only for him to reach for her again. He slid her close to the edge, putting himself there against the counter to hold her safely, kissing her wildly. She crossed her ankles behind him as if giving him a bodily hug, entrapping him so he couldn’t back away and treasured his soft laugh in his throat as he smiled against her lips, sending his fingers into her hair on either side of her face, holding her close.
“Gosh, I’ve missed you…”
“I’ve missed this feeling,” she admitted tearfully against his lips as he spoke to her between kisses.
“I want us to reach for each other…”
“To be close…”
“To be a family…”
“Don’t hurt me again…”
“Don’t run from me,” he begged softly. “I’m going to make mistakes, but I need you in my life. I can’t handle losing you again – and I’m not too proud to admit that.”
At his words, she opened her eyes and saw he was already looking at her with that half-lidded sexy gaze that made her knees weak. She loved that they were opening up, reaching for each other, and it felt like she could see those invisible bonds starting to curl around each of them again.
“This,” she whispered knowingly, “has never been a problem between us. It’s been how we handle tough moments. We both pull back, retreating to our corners, and what if it happens again? What if we have a fight or meltdown again? What if I end up pregnant again? What if…”
“Eris,” he interrupted, his voice pleading. “We’re in different places now, and you are right. We backed away from each other instead of reaching for the other person, but I’m not running now.”
Her eyes searched his, and she felt her heart turn over at what she saw there. He was laying it all on the line, wanting to give her everything for a shot at a possible life together, and she wanted it with every fiber of her being – even the frightened ones.
“If we were blessed to have another child,” he said softly, not looking away. “I want to experience every moment with you. I want to hold your hand, change diapers, and get spit up on by an infant on my shoulder…”
Colton’s words were so weirdly normal yet precious. She chuckled nervously and felt him adjust his hands on either side of her face where he’d been holding her close to kiss her, only this time staring at her.
“I want us…” he breathed. “If that means we wait, then so be it… but reach for me, laugh with me, play with me like you used to. Remember how you used to pinch my side to tickle me? Gosh, I loved that so much…”
“You hated that,” she laughed softly, rolling her eyes.
“I loved it,” he stressed gently, smiling tenderly at her. “Because you were reaching for me and decided to let the real Eris come play…”
“I pway, too…” Zane said sleepily from the kitchen entrance, causing the two of them to look to the right immediately. Their son was standing there in his underwear and a T-shirt, rubbing his eyes and holding his Pooh bear.
Eris felt a pang of guilt for not being close when her son woke up and getting caught necking like a teenager in the kitchen with Colton. She tried to get down from the counter where he had her pinned – only to feel his lips press against hers for a moment as he whispered, ‘stay here.’
Colton backed away, scooping up Zane and kissing him on the cheek.
“Good morning, little man… did you go potty already?”
“Yes… uh oh, I forgots to fush it.”
