Page 108 of For One Night

“It’s not, but Carter…” She studies me and decides to say it. “He said it was my fault we didn’t have children, that I didn’t try hard enough. He says we would still be married if I had done my job.” Her face is ashen, and my rage is out of control. If I ever get my chance, I’m going to kick his ass.

“Your job?” My heart breaks for her. “Children are a blessing, not a requirement for happiness. Do I want them one day—I would love nothing more, but I’m pretty sure you can love any child.”

Her words waver. “Even if it wasn’t your child?”

“My mom watches this movie with a bunch of women in it, something about a metal flower; anyway, there’s a part in the movie we always laugh at together because she had problems with fertility.” I chuckle thinking of it.

“Every time, no matter where in our home Dad is, when the line that says ‘we’ll buy them if we have to’ comes on, they say it unison. She tells us it was because they prayed so much for us and how far they would’ve gone to get us.

“Hell, I still think I come from the stork.” She giggles with me. “Lola, I wouldn’t care if we had to buy them. What would be most important to me is to have them with you and being a family with you.”

Lola’s eyes teem with emotion. “I’ve lost so many, Lennox, it became the last thing I wanted. What if I’m being punished for not wanting to bring them into a world with no love?”

“Lola”—my chest is heavy with all she’s carried—“baby, I may not be the best example, but I still believe the God I know, whether He wants to admit He knows me or not, would never be that cruel.

“And besides, there are so many children who need loving homes. Between adoption, surrogacy, and me being a big baby, we’d keep you busy for the rest of your life. Pouring all the love you have stored up into us.” I lean in, placing my lips on her forehead.

“All this time I’ve blamed myself.” She sniffles. “I knew he didn’t love me when I married him, and I convinced myself I could change him. That if I did everything he told me, somehow, maybe even magical, it would all work out.

“I blamed him for not loving me enough, when the entire time, it was me not loving myself. It’s been a hard lesson, learning to love myself.” I’m lost in her eyes as she gazes at me. “Are you sure you’re up to the task?”

“I’m already fighting the good fight, Lola.” All I can hear is my heart thundering and her breathing. “The day I met you, you ruined me for any other woman, and I pledge to follow you to the end of the earth, if you’ll allow me.

“Within lays my perfect world. Where I get to love you and destroy it for any other man to try. You have put your mark upon my heart for all eternity and I fear I will never be the same.”

Her finger traces my jaw and across my lips. “Kiss me.”

I sweep her mouth with mine, and her lips part from the contact, giving the perfect chance to take her and make her mine. Our tongues play, teasing, needing, wanting more as we melt into the other.

Her hand in my hair, I slip mine under her shirt, pressing her into me and marking her as mine, knowing I’d fight to the death for her. She has taken me body and soul. She relinquishes to me, and I pledge everything to her.

I release her mouth with hesitation to stare into her eyes. “You chased the dawn with me; how about the setting sun?”

“I believe you just hung the moon, Lennox, setting the sun shouldn’t be a problem.” Her warm touch melts my heart.

“Close your eyes; I’ll be here when you wake.” I lay here until her body relaxes and her breathing slows, before I allow sleep to overtake me. Admitting to myself, I’m afraid it’ll all be a dream and wanting to relish every last moment with her.