So slowly.
I try to rock my hips up, but it’s impossible with my belly pressing against his marble stomach. I reach for his bottom and urge him deeper. “It’s okay, Sam, you’re not going to hurt me,” I whisper.
He stares into my eyes as he pushes all the way inside me, then he squeezes his eyes shut and grumbles against my neck, “Oh, God, Luc.” He stills for a moment, throbbing inside me, and I savor the familiar feeling of him, and the way our hips are pressed together. He pants softly against my neck as he begins to move, slowly rocking in and out of me, extinguishing the flames and igniting new fires inside me.
“You sure you’re okay?” he asks huskily.
“More than okay,” I pant up at him, and he smiles softly.
He runs his hand up my body and reaches for my hand. He laces our fingers together and holds my hand tightly, pressing it against the bed as he takes me to a place I’ve missed for so long. The fire sears beneath my skin, flames licking places inside me that have been asleep since the accident, and I feel Sam bringing me back to life.
He rolls onto his back, pulling me on top of him, and I moan at the feeling of him reaching and filling me as he rocks his hips up and I sink down on him.
“Is this okay?” he pants, putting his hand on my hip again.
I grab his hand and lace our fingers together again. Then I reach for his other hand. “Stop asking me if I’m okay,” I whisper, smiling as I slowly move up and down on him.
He drops his head back and closes his eyes. But after a few seconds, he opens them and watches me move, consuming me with the look in his eyes. He raises his painted arm and rubs his palm between my breasts. “You’re so beautiful.”
I exhale a quiet breath and lean forward to kiss him, holding his scruffy face in my hands, and with our mouths pressed firmly together, he sits up and wraps his arms around me. He reaches for my hair tie and gently slides it down my ponytail, letting my hair fall loosely over my shoulders and around my face. He runs his fingers through it, holding it off my face as he kisses me, tugging my lips between his the way that I love.
We move up and down together, rediscovering the connection that’s been patiently waiting in a shadow of sadness. “I love you,” I whisper, inhaling the breath he exhales against my lips, and it swirls through my lungs, making me dizzy. He kisses me and our tongues move together, coaxing the flames higher. They wrap around me, searing up my thighs and racing to the tips of my fingers and toes. He holds me tighter, and I tense under his strong hands as I surrender to the flames, letting them consume me until all that’s left is a smoldering husk. I cry out as Sam pulls me down against him and shudders beneath me, groaning against my neck.
He stills and looks at me with satiated eyes. “I love you, Lamb.”
I smile and exhale a satisfied breath. “I know.”
He falls back against the pillows, and I lie down next to him and put my hand over the lion that covers his heart. “We’re going to get through this, Sam. Together.”
He pulls my shoulders onto his chest, my tummy pressed against his side, and wraps me in his strong arms.
“Everything’s going to be okay,” I whisper, and for the first time since the accident, I have hope that it’s true.
Chapter 15
Lucy
I wake to the smell of coffee and bacon, and it puts a smile on my face. I stretch my arms and legs out in the middle of the bed and look outside at the bright blue sky. May is my favorite month in Atlanta. The mornings are cool, the afternoons are warm, and all of the trees are full and green again. I exhale a contented breath, throw the duvet back, and look at my growing bump, which has worked its way out of my pajama top. “Good morning,” I say softly, and she rolls under my belly button, making me smile. “Can you hear me?” I ask louder, patting the spot, but she doesn’t move. “Baby,” I sing, gently pushing on either side of my stomach, but she stays still.
Sam walks into the room, looking freshly showered, carrying a tray of pancakes, bacon, and coffee. “What are you doing?” he asks, watching me with a concerned look on his face.
“Trying to get her move”—I sit up—“but she’s not cooperating.”
He puts the tray down on the nightstand and sits on the bed beside me.
“You made me breakfast?” I ask with adoring eyes.
“Well”—he leans over and kisses me softly—“I decided to take the day off. I was thinking that maybe you could too.”
I smile and nod. “Okay,” I say without an ounce of hesitation.
He puts his hand on my tummy and rubs it softly, and the baby bumps it twice. He smiles with wide eyes and rubs it again.
“Maybe she was waiting for you.” I glance up at him. “Tell her good morning. She knows your voice now.”
He gives me a wary look, but leans down and says softly, “Good morning, baby.”
I smile and lie down again. “A little louder.”
He puts both of his hands on my protruding stomach, hiding the entire bump behind them, and says again louder, “Good morning, baby.”
She rolls and kicks hard against his hand.
“See,” I say over the tight feeling in my chest, and he laughs. “She knows you.”
He rubs his hands back and forth and leans down again. “I have a surprise for your mom today. But I think you’re going to like it too.” She kicks again and he looks up at me. “We’re going to go see a house.”
I sit up and pull my shirt down over my stomach. “We are?”
“The realtor called this morning. She has one she wants to show us. She said it has potential…” He narrows his eyes.
“Potential is good.”
“It has to be great. This is the house we’re going to raise our kids in.” I smile at him and he hands me a cup of coffee. “This one’s decaf.”
“Thank you.” I can’t stop smiling. For the first time since the accident, everything feels right again. I take a sip and look up at his freshly shaved face. “Hey.”
He looks up at me from his coffee.
“I love you.”
He smiles and puts his coffee down on the nightstand. “I love you too.”
“It’s been a while since we had pancakes,” I say, eyeing the tray.
He reaches for a plate and hands it to me. “It’s been a while since we did a lot of things. But I want to change that.”
My heart bubbles with hope.
He scoots back against the pillows beside me and stretches his legs out. “I want to make a deal with you.”
I narrow my eyes. “What kind of deal?” I ask, smiling over my mouthful of pancakes.
He laughs and wipes the corner of my mouth with the back of his finger. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking this morning and…” He inhales a deep breath and exhales it slowly. “I’m going to retire.”
I choke a little on my pancakes.
“You okay?” he asks, patting my back.
I swallow and clear my throat. “You what? Sam, have you really thought this through?”
“Actually, I’ve given it a lot of thought over the last couple of months,” he admits. “I’m going to be twenty-eight soon. I’ve been fighting for over a decade. I’ve had a great career, and that’s how I want to be remembered. As a champion. Not as some guy who didn’t know when to quit.”