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I read the message with tears streaming down my face. Once. Twice. By the third pass, my vision was too blurred to see the words. My emotions were tangled, and there was so much I didn’t know how to say.

Talia: Are we going to make it?

The dots jumped around. My stomach twisted while I waited for his answer. When it finally arrived, I wished I hadn’t asked.

Rafe: I don’t know. Is love enough?

CHAPTER 37

A few days later, I was about to head out for a walk to clear my head. When I opened the door, I jumped at the sight of tall, lean muscle and golden locks framing the most gorgeous face I’d ever laid eyes on.

My heart beat faster as I placed my hand over my chest. “What are you doing here?”

Rafe pulled me into his arms. “Isn’t it obvious?”

“You weren’t supposed to be home until tomorrow.”

He rolled his suitcase inside. “I couldn’t take it anymore. I missed you too fucking much. I took an earlier flight.” He squeezed me tight, his cologne wafting through the air. “I was trying to figure out whether I should use my key or knock, because I didn’t want to startle you, but at the same time, I wanted to surprise you. Then you opened the door before I had a chance to figure it out.”

As I inhaled his delicious scent, for a moment, all felt right in the world again. And while we had so much to discuss, right now there was only one thing I needed.

Rafe lifted me, causing me to squeal. Our lips smacked together as we kissed all the way to the bedroom.

“I’ve been dreaming about this all day,” he murmured over my lips. “I thought I was gonna have to jerk off in the damn airplane bathroom, I was so damn horny.”

In the bedroom, he put me down, and we wasted no time taking our clothes off, everything flying in a frenzy.

Both totally naked, Rafe pinned me on the bed. He stopped to stare into my eyes before he shook his head. “This was so worth changing my flight.”

I grinned giddily.

He slid his hand down my body and placed it between my legs. “So damn wet and ready for me. I can’t wait to feel this beautiful cunt around my cock.”

I gasped when he pushed inside. I loved how unabashedly he took me.

Rafe kept his eyes on mine as he fucked me hard, placing his hand behind my head to protect it from hitting the headboard.

“You feel better than ever, baby…” His eyes were hazy, his golden locks falling over his forehead with every thrust. I threaded my fingers through his hair to pull it back, needing to see his face while he moved in and out of me.

We made love rhythmically for several minutes until Rafe’s breath hitched. He gritted his teeth. “Fuck…I can’t take it anymore. I need to release this.”

“Come. Come inside me.” I bucked my hips. “Now.” I panted, feeling ready to explode.

My muscles squeezed around him in firm pulses. Rafe swore under his breath and groaned as he pumped his hot cum into me. We moved together in a slow rhythm until neither of us had anything left to give. We lay together lazily for a while, sated and in ecstasy from our reunion. Then Rafe looked into my eyes.

“Do you think you’d ever want kids someday?” I asked. I shook my head and looked away for a moment. “I mean, I know in the past you’ve alluded to not wanting them because of your experience with your stepdad… But I guess I’m asking whether that’s set in stone or if you could change your mind as you get older.”

He caressed my cheek. “Where is this coming from right now?”

I inhaled sharply. “It’s just something I feel like we should discuss if we’re going to take things any further. The pregnancy scare brought out a lot of complex emotions, and I realized I do want children, even if I don’t want them now.” I swallowed. “When the subject came up in the past, I’d said I was open to adoption. But I do want a biological child if I can have one someday. For me, it’s a deal-breaker.”

Rafe nodded and stared up at the ceiling, seeming to consider his response. “The honest answer is that I truly don’t know,” he said. “I never thought I wanted kids, but if not meeting you halfway means losing you, I need to strongly consider my stance.”

That didn’t sit right with me. “Okay, but having children is not something you should have to meet someone halfway on. It should be something you want with your whole heart. And if there’s any doubt, you shouldn’t have them.”

“I understand that.” He sighed. “But you need to give me a little time on this, okay? I do think having kids is something I could grow to want with the right person. And I might have only realized that when Calder told me about your pregnancy scare. He sounded so sure that it was his, and my reaction was telling. Not only did the idea of you carrying his baby make me ill, but I found myself wishing it were mine. That says something, doesn’t it, on a subconscious level?”

I nodded, conceding that this wouldn’t be settled in one day. I mentally shelved the issue and moved on to another subject. “Kids aside… Where do you see yourself in five years?”