Epilogue - Harper

Four months later…

“Zach! Zach give me your hand!” I reach over in bed as Zach grunts, just barely awake. “Come on give me your hand!”

I grab his palm and place it over my stomach. My skin is warmer than his and the touch is refreshing. After a few seconds, Zach sits up and looks at me, wide-eyed.

“Was that a kick?!”

“Yes! It just woke me up!”

Zach’s eyes are still as big as saucers. He glances from my face to my stomach, moving his hand around gently. “Wow,” he breathes.

The giggles burst out of me. “It’s kicking! That’s such a weird feeling.”

“It’s kicking so much! It has to be a boy!”

I roll my eyes. “It doesn’t mean anything. And I know you, your heart would melt if you had a little girl.”

“I don’t care what it is,” he says as he runs his hand up my body, cupping my breast and dipping his chin towards me. “As long as it’s healthy and you’re healthy it doesn’t matter what it is.”

I smile as his lips touch mine. My happiness is complete. I’ve finally moved the last of my things into his apartment and we’re having our first lazy Sunday morning in bed together in our apartment. I run my fingers over the scar on his chest and he shivers. He puts his hand over mine and we lay there, our hands over his heart, over his scar. I can feel his heart beating and I lean into him.

“Getting stabbed was the best thing that ever happened to me,” he says. “Now I have this as a reminder of what I almost lost.” Zach lifts his head up and strokes the side of my face. “I love you.”

“I love you too. I wish you didn’t get stabbed though,” I grin. “There’s lots of less painful reminders that I’m the best.”

He smiles and then chuckles and my heart melts. I’ve never felt the kind of bursting feeling in my chest before. It’s like I’m so full of love and happiness that I’m coming apart at the seams, like my body can’t contain the sheer emotion that fills me up.

Zach runs his hand over my chest and down my arm. He spreads my hand and slides his fingers in between mine. His lips find mine and they fuse together. I’ll never get sick of kissing him.

He grips my hand a little bit tighter and then pulls away, looking down at our interlocked fingers. He turns my hand around and watches as my grandmother’s old ring glints in the morning light.

“You only ever wear that one ring.”

“Yeah,” I reply. “I’ve always worn it.”

“Would you ever consider wearing another one?”

I frown and my heart starts beating a little bit faster. Is he saying what I think he’s saying…?

“I mean… I guess?”

Zach grins. “What I mean is, if I gave you a ring would you wear it?”

“Are you asking me to marry you?”

“Would you say yes if I was?”

I laugh. “What is this, Sunday morning riddles? What are you saying, Zach? Spit it out.”

“I’m saying marry me.”

I can feel my eyes crinkling as the smile breaks my face open. If I felt like happiness was bursting through my chest before, I had no idea what I was in for. It feels like I’m about to float away, and the only thing holding me down is the weight of Zach’s body over mine. My vision goes blurry as the tears of joy flood my eyes. All I can do is nod.

“Yes,” I croak.

Zach’s kiss is more ardent than ever before. Suddenly his lips are on mine, his hands are over my body. He strokes my stomach gently and then runs his fingers down over my mound to my aching centre. I wrap my arms around him and my legs fall open as his hand inches closer.

Every night we spend together is better than the last. Every touch is more intimate, every kiss is more passionate. I’ve never been this happy. That feeling reaches a new peak this morning. It feels like I’m vibrating with love, with emotion, with passion. I let myself be taken away by it, letting my hands sink into his flesh and my lips explore his body.

Our bodies start an intricate dance that only instinct can explain. His movements are my movements, his touch is electrifying and comforting and exciting and intoxicating all at once. My body spasms and contracts and his does the same. My hands roam over his skin, hungrily touching every single inch of him. I can’t get enough.

We grab and grope and touch and moan as we let ourselves be carried away. It’s passion on another level. I throw my head back and listen to myself moan and say his name over and over. Zach, Zach, Zach.

I’m panting, he’s groaning, I’m moaning, he’s grunting. The sounds of our passion fill the room. I’m riding an indescribable high. His hands are everywhere, our bodies are fused together until finally we both fly over the edge together. I grab onto him and he grabs onto me and we don’t let go until our heartbeat has gone back to normal. Even then, our legs stay intertwined and our arms are thrown over each other. My lips are near his and our breath mixes as we recover.

“I love you,” I whisper.

“I’ve never loved anyone as much as I love you,” he replies. He kisses the tip of my nose and I close my eyes. The baby kicks and Zach makes a noise.

“We love you too,” he says, sliding his hand over my growing bump. His words send another shiver down my spine and I nuzzle my chin into his chest. Zach wraps his arms around me and I sigh contentedly.

I’ve moved into a new house and I’ve found a home, a husband, a family. I smile as I think of the doctor who told us we were pregnant. Miracle baby, he’d said. I’m starting to think he was right.