“Alexander Thomas Krum.”
His shoulders bunch up around his ears as he makes a slow turn to face me. “Whoops.”
I step into the garage and give him my best glare. “Whoops is right. The doctor said you need to rest.”
He grimaces. “I’m getting antsy sitting in bed all day.”
I tip my chin toward his bike. “So, whatcha doin’?”
“Just tinkering.” He drapes a rag over the seat. “I don’t know what to do with myself.”
My tone softens. “I know you miss riding, and playing hockey.”
He nods, the corners of his mouth tipping downward. “I hate knowing the guys are out there on the ice without me.”
“You’ll be out there with them soon.”
As much as that thought bothers me, I shove it down. Athletes don’t have the luxury of taking their time to recover. Once Alexander is cleared to play by the medical team, he’ll go right back to playing as if nothing happened.
But something did happen.
Something I never want to relive.
And he reads it on my face like he always does, reaching out a hand for me. “Come here.”
I slip my hand in his, and let him tug me close. He presses a kiss to the top of my head as he wraps his arms around me.
“How are you doing?”
“I’m fine,” I start to say. “Just feeling overwhelmed with the gallery, and—”
“The truth, baby.” Alexander’s grip around me tightens. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
I let out a long sigh. “I’m terrified of the thought of you putting on those skates again.” I pause, forcing out the words I’ve been holding inside for the last two weeks. “Every night before I fall asleep, I see you lying there in the hospital all over again; that bandage around your head; the tube down your throat; your body hooked up to machines.” Emotion stings my eyes. “I can’t get it out of my brain.”
He pulls back just enough to tip my chin, and I lift my gaze to those puppy eyes of his. “I’m sorry you had to go through that. I can’t imagine how I’d feel if the situation were reversed. But I’m okay. We’re okay. I don’t want you to torture yourself with the memory of what happened. We have to keep moving forward.”
I nod. “I know.”
“But you don’t have to pretend to be okay for me. You can talk to me. I want to hear what’s going on inside that beautiful head of yours. I want you to tell me when you’re worried, when you’re scared. I want to carry that load with you. We’re in this together.”
I close my eyes as he rests his forehead against mine. “I love you, Alex.”
“I wasn’t sure I’d ever hear you say those words.” He presses his lips to mine. “I hoped for it. I dreamed of it. But I didn’t know if you’d allow yourself to feel it.”
“You didn’t leave me much choice.” I smile. “Your love made it impossible for me to keep my guard up.”
“You never need to have your guard up with me.” He leans in for another soft kiss. “I love you.”
Warmth rushes over me, spreading from my chest out to every nerve ending in my body. I tilt my head and open my lips, my tongue sweeping inside his mouth, needing to deepen the kiss and pour myself into him.
“We don’t have much time,” I murmur, knowing we have to pick up Giuliana from school this afternoon.
“I know.” Alexander sweeps me into his arms and carries me into the house. “I just need to be inside you. Now.”
We’ve been insatiable since Alexander got released from the hospital. It’s like we can’t get enough of each other, can’t get close enough, trying to make up for lost time, or for the time we almost didn’t get to have.
We don’t make it past the kitchen as Alexander sets me down on the island. We’re frantic as we claw at our clothes, ripping off each piece and tossing it onto the tile.
“No condom,” I breathe against his lips. “I’m on the pill.”
He pauses, letting his forehead fall against mine as he catches his breath. “Are you sure?”
I nod. “I want to feel you. All of you.”
He gives his dick a slow pump as he swallows. “I’m clean. I got tested after—”
“I’m clean too.” I gaze up into his eyes. “Please, make love to me, Alex. And don’t stop until you come inside me.”
His mouth drops open and his eyes dilate. He runs the smooth head of his cock through my wetness, coating himself in me and teasing us both, notching himself at my entrance. I spread my legs, resting my heels against the edge of the counter while I lean back on my palms.
Then he pushes himself inside, in one agonizingly slow motion.
We both moan, unable to contain the feeling of being skin to skin with nothing between us.
“Fuck, you feel incredible.” He clutches my face and draws me in for a mind-blowing kiss, ravishing my mouth while he buries himself all the way inside me.
His hand slides down to cup my breast, squeezing it while the other hand grips onto my hip to hold me steady as he pulls himself almost completely out of me before plunging back in.
I roll my hips to meet him stroke for stroke as he fucks me in a slow, sensual rhythm, letting me feel every bare inch of him.
I lift my eyes to his, overcome with love and devotion to this man. “I love you, Alex.”
“Say it again,” he whispers.
“I love you.” I lift my hands and cradle his face. “I love you more than I’ve ever loved anything or anyone.”
His eyes close, as if he can’t believe the words I’m saying. When they open and meet mine again, they shine with emotion, so much adoration emanating from the depths of those dark eyes.
“I love you, Aarya. Forever and always, I will love you and cherish you, every day of my life.”
We rock against each other, moving as one, losing ourselves in the moment.
“I love the way you take me,” he murmurs. “Love the way your pussy wraps around me, like I belong inside of you.”
My head falls back as I press my palms into the countertop. He leans down and captures one of my nipples in his mouth, licking and sucking and making me wetter by the second. The sound of him sliding in and out of me fills the room, along with my moans of pleasure.
Then he brings his thumb to my clit, rubbing slow circles while he fills me.
I reach up and wrap my hands around the back of his neck, needing to feel him closer. “Don’t stop, Alex.”
“You gonna come for me, baby?” His hips move faster, fucking me in deliberate, firm thrusts. “I can feel you tightening around me.”
I’m pulled under by a wave of bliss, only able to mutter a string of nonsensical words, like yes and Alex and more.
“That’s it. Come on my cock. Soak me.” Alexander doesn’t stop moving in and out of me, letting me ride out the orgasm for as long as I can while talking me through it.
My body trembles, my pussy spasming around him, and then Alexander releases a guttural groan as he comes, releasing inside of me.
By the time we’re done, we’re breathless and clutching to one another, basking in the sated calm that blankets us.
Alexander’s forehead falls against mine as his chest heaves. “I love you, Aarya. I’m going to love you forever, do you understand me? You own me. I’m yours, and nothing is going to take me away from you, so you don’t have to worry, because I’ll always fight my way back to you.”
Tears sting my eyes as I squeeze them shut. “I can’t believe we’re here. I can’t believe the way you’ve changed my life over these last few months. I never thought I’d find someone like you. I never knew something could feel this good.”
His large hands come up to hold my face, forcing my gaze to lock with his. “Believe it, baby. Believe it and know that you deserve it. You deserve to be loved the way I’m going to spend my life loving you.”
My heart pounds a furious rhythm in my chest as I look up at this beautiful man, and I have no doubt in my mind that he will live up to his words.
He backs up and pulls himself out of me, and we both look down as the evidence of his release oozes out.
His lips part, and his eyes darken on the spot as he watches it. His tongue skates over his bottom lip as he swirls his thumb over the cum, rubbing it all over me. I watch as he pushes it back inside, pumping in and out of my pussy in short pulses.
He’s mesmerized by the sight of it.
I arch a brow. “You good, Big Man?”
“Yeah.” His voice is raspy. “I like seeing my cum inside you.”
I smirk. “I kinda like knowing your cum is inside me.”
He flicks his eyes to mine. “Do you think…have you ever thought about having kids one day?”
My eyebrows jump. “You saying you wanna put a kid in me?”
“I’m just asking if you’d ever want to, in the future—in general, not just with me.”
“I’ve never wanted a kid. Or a husband. Or a boyfriend, for that matter.” I lift my hand and caress his jaw. “But that was before I met you.”
He leans into my touch as I continue.
“A lot has changed for me, and now I want all the things I thought I didn’t want.” I pause. “Being with Giuliana has altered who I am as a person. I didn’t know I had this much unconditional love inside of me to give. I didn’t expect to ever be in this role—a step-mom; a caretaker; a nurturer. I didn’t think I’d be any good at it.”
“You’re so good at it, baby.”
“And watching you be her father? It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever witnessed. It’s one of the things that made me fall in love with you.” I smile. “Plus, it’s hot as fuck.”
He chuckles. “So, what are you saying?”
“I’m saying, I think I’d like to make a baby with you one day.”
Alexander crushes me in a hug, wrapping his strong arms around me and holding me against his warm body. “I’d put a baby in you so fast.”
“Okay, okay. Relax, Big Guy.” I push his chest and give him a playful shove. “I said one day, not today.”
“This place is incredible. I’m so happy for you.”
I beam at Chanora. “Thanks. I really love it here.”
She rubs her belly while she gazes around the gallery that’s finally coming together. “Have you heard anything new about Carter?”
“A few of the other girls came forward and corroborated our sexual harassment claims. That along with the fact that he assaulted me will give him some jail time.” I glance at Brittany and hike a shoulder. “I just hope he doesn’t continue to do this to anyone else in the future.”
“Well, everyone quit.” Brittany huffs out a laugh. “So, good luck to him trying to keep that gallery afloat without any employees.”
“About that.” I chew my bottom lip, my eyes bouncing between them. “Do you think anyone would want to work here?”
Chanora’s head whips to mine. “You’d hire us?”
“Of course. Once I get this place up and running, I’d be honored to have you here with me.”
Brittany reaches out and clasps my hand. “That would be amazing.”
“Absolutely.” Chanora’s eyes well. “Look at you, Aarya. Look how beautiful your life is.”
I chuckle. “I can’t wait for you to have this baby so your pregnancy hormones stop making you cry over everything.”
She flips me off before swiping away a tear. “I’m happy for you. Sue me.”
The truth is, I’m happy too. Truly and irrevocably happy. My life is blossoming in the most incredible way, and most of the time, I sit here in awe watching it happen, as if it’s someone else’s life and not my own.
The front door swings open, and Annie strides into the gallery.
“Annie, hey. What are you doing here?” My heart drops into my stomach. “Oh, God. Is everything okay?”
“Yes, yes.” She stops in front of me and clutches my arm. “Everyone is fine, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
I blow out a relieved breath. “Shit. I guess it’s gonna take some time to get over the trauma of this whole thing, huh?”
“Healing always takes time. Nothing we can do about it.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to show you my husband’s paintings. Figured you could sort through them and pick which ones you want, if any.”
“Are you sure you want to part ways with them?”
She nods and offers me a smile. “I kept his favorite at the house, but these will serve you better than they will me. It’d be a pleasure to see them hung in your gallery.”
Affection warms my heart. “Thank you. I’d love to take a look at them.”
Her smile widens. “Alexander had Sam pull the SUV around back.”
“Great. Let’s bring them into my office.”
Chanora and Brittany follow us to the back door and we carry the covered paintings into the gallery, and set them carefully against the wall in my office.
I uncover the first canvas, and gasp. “This is a Jackson Pollock.”
Annie bites back a smile as she watches me.
“That’s an original Jackson Pollock,” Chanora says.
I glance at the next painting, lifting the protective covering. Another original.
“Annie… I can’t accept these. They cost a lot of money, and I don’t have—”
“They’re yours,” she says, cutting me off. “I don’t want the money.”
I’m at a loss of words, flipping through each canvas and realizing that each and every one is an original piece from very well-known artists.
“Are you sure?”
Annie steps forward and takes my hands in hers. “They’re yours. Alexander’s parents can’t be here to meet you, to love you, but I am. And I want to watch you make your dreams come true. So, take these paintings and love them like I know you will.”
My own mother couldn’t muster the effort to provide a safe, loving environment for me growing up—the bare necessities from a mother to a daughter. But like I told Giuliana, your family doesn’t always run blood-deep; sometimes, it’s the people you meet along the way who show you the meaning of the word.
I don’t know what else to do other than wrap my arms around this sweet woman and hug her.
Where words fail me, I’m noticing that hugs can go a long way.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“Thank you, for making that boy so happy.”
My eyes flick to Alexander, who’s watching us with a content smile on his lips.
And then I glance at Chanora, who’s wiping her eyes, again, with the backs of her hands.
I shake my head at her. “Again? Jesus.”
She flips me off.
