Two years later

I could hardly believe it. My thirteen-year sentence had suddenly been reduced. I’d be on parole for another few years, but I was getting out of prison today. Even though the time without Bella had felt like more than thirteen years already, my time in prison wasn’t wasted. I’d returned to my art, learning everything I’d never been able to explore as a child. I loved it dearly, and I had some commissioned projects a few of the inmates asked me to do, mostly portraits of their families.

Wearing the prison-issued street clothing, I stepped out into the front portion of the building for the first time in two years. Even though there was a crowd of people outside waiting for the other inmates who’d been released at the same time, my eyes found Bella without problem.

She saw me at the same moment, jumping up and down a bit and waving, a huge smile on her beautiful face.

Damn. She was even prettier than our last visit two weeks earlier. Now, I was actually going to get to touch her. I could hardly wait. Rushing the people in front of me, I finally broke out of the ranks and raced into the parking lot and to her side.

She leaped at the same time as I held my arms out, and I caught her, pulling her into me for the first embrace we’d shared since my sentencing. “Oh, lord, but I’ve missed how good you smell, beautiful.”

She giggled. “You smell like sweaty men. Prison is not a good look on you.”

I laughed along with her, happy that we could laugh so freely. Every phone call we’d shared, ever letter exchanged, and every visiting hour we had over the past two years had only strengthened the bond between us. All our meetings were filled with laughter.

Well... after she’d forgiven me for turning myself in, they were filled with laughter. The first few weeks had been tense, and there was a time I had wondered if she would leave me. I would have deserved it, but Bella stayed as steadfast as could be, never once saying she regretted falling in love with me despite the selfish way I’d left her.

She kissed me deeply, apparently not minding the prison odor as much as she had claimed. “Oh, damn, but I missed these lips,” she said, a bit breathless once she pulled away. “As much as I wish we could make out with each other all day, Sally, James, and the rest of the family are all waiting at the apartment.”

I tilted my head to the side. “What? Why?”

“They wanted to throw you a welcome home party, of course!”

While I should be happy about it, and in a way I was, I’d really wanted to be alone with Bella for today. I had figured we’d see the rest of them tomorrow. Was she afraid to be alone with me?

“You...” I started to ask, then stopped and shook my head.

“What is it?” She looked at me with adoring eyes, the warm brown seeming to see into my very soul. “You always get that look when you’re worrying about something you shouldn’t be. You forget, dear husband, I know you inside and out now.”

She was right. I should just ask so I could either fix it or stop worrying. “You aren’t afraid to be alone with me, right? You truly have forgiven me and still love me?”

She giggled, kissing me lightly on the mouth. “I knew you were worrying about something stupid. Come on, let’s go home.” She pulled me toward the car, surprising me by climbing into the driver’s side herself.

When I’d left, she couldn’t drive. I had figured it was because she was too afraid, but now she seemed fearless. She was even more beautiful than before, and all I could do was climb in the passenger’s seat and gape at her.

“Everyone was just too excited about you getting out,” she explained. “I wanted a day to ourselves, but they promised they wouldn’t stay long. They missed you. Even your parents are there.”

“My parents are there?” That was a surprise. Although I’d spoken to them a couple times, apologizing for going back on my word and telling the truth, I had the impression my father was still pissed. “I didn’t expect to see them, honestly.”

Without starting the car, she furrowed her brow and turned to look at me. “Why wouldn’t they come? You do know how hard your dad’s been working on passing laws to protect women, don’t you? He’s pushing for higher penalties against violent crimes and rape. He’s also gone with me to a few of the seminars for women.”

“What?” I’d had no clue. Granted, I’d been wrapped up in myself and Bella for the last two years, focused on what I needed to do in order to make our lives better.

She shrugged. “I guess I forgot to mention it, though I could have sworn I did.”

“So, everyone forgives me?”

She nodded. “Even Sally, and my surrogate sister is a hard one to win over. They love you, Damian, just like I do.”

“Really?” Uncertainty once again clutched my heart. This confident, wonderful woman in front of me was still the woman I loved, but she was so much stronger than the one I’d saved from that factory. “Do you really think you can still love me? I hurt you so much, and then left you on your own so I could deal with my shit.”

“Oh, Damian. You silly, silly man. I know you aren’t used to the new me totally yet, but I haven’t sat on my ass doing nothing while you improved yourself and served your time, ya know?” She took my hand, squeezing tightly. “Neither one of us are those same people from ten years ago. The boy who stabbed that girl and stole the money no longer exists. That girl is no longer a scared little mouse who can’t function without someone holding her hand.”

She had a point. We’d both grown. I wasn’t sure why I’d let insecurity get at me, simply because there were no longer bars keeping me from everyone else. Nothing had changed since the phone call I’d shared with my wife the night before. We were united, we were in love.

I pulled her across the console, stroking her cheek tenderly as I looked into those eyes that I loved so very much. “You rescued me, Bella. I could have turned into a horrible person, but instead I get to live the life I want with the woman I love.”

She gave a nod, closing her eyes and pressing her cheek against my hand. “I can’t believe I get to feel your touch again whenever I want to. This is a dream come true. We’re so lucky the judge went easy on you and let you out now. He could see how hard you’ve worked to become a good person. I’ve worked hard too, trying to become a woman you’d be proud of, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t missed you terribly.”

“I feel the same. Almost as soon as I heard the sentence, I regretted turning myself in, regretted the time I’d lose with you. When I thought it would be thirteen whole years...” I sighed, stroking the skin by her eye tenderly. “I’m just glad I got out early.”

“They knew you weren’t a threat. They made an example by sending you to jail in the first place, so people wouldn’t feel like you got away with it because you’re rich.” She opened her eyes once more. “Neither one of us is who we were, but that’s okay.”

“We’re better than we were,” I said. “Even two years ago, I wasn’t a man who could have been good enough for you. You’re so amazing. I don’t know how I got so lucky to find you at that marriage broker’s office under the anonymous name of Sapphire, but I finally feel like I’ve shed my past. I’m now the man who can really take care of you. I will never leave you again.”

“You promise?” Her lower lip trembled just a bit, telling me how much she had really missed me.

“Promise. You’re mine forever, and I’ll never spend another night away from you. I love you more than anything in this world, and I’m so lucky you waited for me.”

“I’m yours forever, just like you said. Of course I waited. I love you.”

Pulling her against me, I eagerly sought her sweet lips. Everything was finally right with the world. The woman I loved was strong and happy, and she loved me as much as I loved her. Life had never looked sweeter.

“Let’s go home, my love,” I whispered against her lips. “The rest of our life is waiting.”