A thousand questions were burning at me but I wisely shut my mouth except to latch my lips against Maggie’s burning skin.

Her fingers tightened in my hair as she guided me lower across her swollen breasts, pushing my face against her nipple for me to taste.

A low groan escaped her lips and I felt myself grow thicker inside the wrinkled dress pants I had been wearing since dawn.

Suddenly, I was very uncomfortable inside them, the need to free myself of their constraints overwhelming. As my tongue explored her breast, my hands freed my cock.

Lower my head dropped, my nose tracing against the sweetness of her belly.

As my face rested above her belly button, my heart began to pound, a wave of emotion sweeping through me.

I had everything I wanted right there, between my palms, at my lips.

In that moment, I vowed that I would give my life to protect it, to protect them.

“Lick me,” Maggie ordered and I almost didn’t recognize the guttural tone of her voice as her body bucked up against me.

Her naked thighs fell apart and I obliged her, my eyes trained on her face as my mouth caressed the smooth skin of her middle.

She still shaves it the way I like it, I thought, my shaft jumping at the realization.

My tongue lashed out to lap at the pulsating nub between her legs.

Maggie released a long, low moan as I pressed my lips around her fluid lips, tongue darting around her most sensitive spot.

She struggled to prop herself up against the mound of pillows, wanting to watch me as she always had in the past but I wanted her to lie back for once.

I placed a palm against her chest and she fell back as if I had pushed her down.

Her legs slipped onto my shoulders, ankles locking and she drew me closer, forcing my face into the depth of her crotch.

I could tell she was already raring to go, her hips falling into rhythm of my laps.

God, I knew her so fucking well—her tastes, her desires, her heart.

No matter what happened between us, she would always be mine and she felt it too. We couldn’t deny what we had together, not when her sighs were becoming short, excited cries.

Through my peripheral vision, I saw her hands reach out to grab onto the sheets, her fingers curling into the linen as she braced herself for climax.

“Oh fuck!” she moaned and I licked her harder, my fingertips deepening into her tiny, firm ass as she jerked toward me.

She gushed over my face. I exhaled, the rigid hardness in my pants increasing and I wasn’t sure how much more I could take. I would never get tired of tasting her, no matter how many years or how many orgasms between us.

I raised my head, her taste on my lips, and I inched up her body. I spread kisses along the searing flesh, allowing her legs to fall onto either side of me.

When our eyes met, her breaths were still escaping in short rasps, her crystalline eyes huge and filled with…

I paused as I studied her face.

There was so much desire in the depth of her expressive eyes—eyes that could not lie to me, no matter how stoic she tried to remain.

But there was uncertainty, too, and it filled me with guilt.

Slowly, I lowered my head to kiss her slightly parted lips.

I wanted to tell her that I would never hurt her again, that I was going to be the man she deserved finally but the words stuck in my throat.

Telling her wouldn’t do a damned thing. I had to show her. She had heard too many broken promised from my lips before.

“I want you inside me,” she said and I did not need to be told a second time.

Effortlessly, I slid into her tight core and Maggie reached up to pull me into her. I proceeded with soft, slow strokes, my hips making wide circles against her and she sucked me into her, filling her deeply.

She raised her thighs against my ribs, grinding toward me, her mouth reaching toward me again.

“You can go harder,” she whispered and I swallowed, worried about what it might to do the –

“It’s fine,” she assured me and her word was good enough for me. I knew she wouldn’t do anything that would endanger the baby.

Gradually, despite my hesitation to plow into her with piercing thrusts, I plunged deeper, my slides growing more intense.

Maggie’s breaths quickened and each gasp grew louder as I penetrated her.

I was caught up in the glitter of her eyes, and the slick, pulsating oracle swallowing my cock. I knew I couldn’t hold out much longer, not when she was staring at me with such a “fuck me harder” look in her irises.

“Come for me,” I grunted, willing myself to hold off.

She squealed, her legs squeezing against my ribs and as I gave up, long spurts shooting forward, I felt her counteract my climax with hers.

I gently lay at Maggie’s side, my eyes fixated on hers as I waited for her to catch her breath.

“Are you sure that was okay?” I asked worriedly. “For you and the baby?”

She glanced at me, her chest still rising and falling as she tried to regulate her breathing.

“It’s a little late to be asking that now, isn’t it?” she replied, smirking. “But that’s like you, isn’t it? Shoot first, then ask questions? Better to ask forgiveness than permission?”

My mouth gaped slightly and I propped myself up, shaking my head.

There she is, my ball-busting Maggie. Why did she even let this happen if she still hates me?

“Whoa!” I said, raising my hands in mock surrender. “You said it was okay. I was just reaffirming!”

Instantly, her face turned red and she shook her head, dropping her eyes.

“Sorry,” she muttered. “You didn’t deserve that. I’m – I’m a mess of hormones and bored out of my fucking tree up here all day.”

I was taken aback by her apology but I let it go. I was also a little offended at the implication that she made love to me because she was bored.

But she certainly had put up with her fair share of bullshit at my hand. To my mind, even if she spent the rest of her life doing me wrong, she would still owe me a few more in the grave. And she had not done me wrong, not once.

Certainly not then.

“I can bring you more magazines or – “

“I have the fucking internet, Silas! I don’t need magazines,” she snapped and again, a look of contrition flooded her face.

“Again,” she mumbled. “Don’t mind me. I’m…”

“You’re perfect,” I interjected. “And of course you’re bored. You’re not used to being laid up like this.”

She swallowed a smile and I instantly knew why.

She’s thinking she’s not used to being laid either, I thought dryly.

I still knew what she was thinking.

In spite of everything, I knew what she was thinking still.

You can’t just walk away from two decades together as if it was nothing. We are in each other’s heads. And for at least another twenty years, we’re in each other’s lives too.

“Lexi stopped by the restaurant today,” I offered slowly and her eyes lit up.

“How is she doing? How’s Luke? Any plans on the wedding yet?”

It was as if I had hit a trigger switch for her and I realized that she desperately needed what Lexi had proposed, even though I had been steadfast against it.

But seeing Maggie’s face in that instant, I knew I had made a mistake.

She’s going batshit crazy, isolated from the world up here.

“She’s good,” I replied slowly. “She wants to come and visit you but I wasn’t sure if – “

“No, no!” Maggie agreed, sitting up and repositioning her body to the left. “I don’t want anyone seeing me like this.”

“You look beautiful,” I told her, sighing that she didn’t believe me but she really did. I had never seen her as radiant.

Her pale skin has a perpetual glow to it and even in her boredom and slight concern about the state of affairs, I could see the excitement of impending motherhood alive in her eyes.

“She made a suggestion, though,” I told her slowly. “Something you might want to consider.”

Maggie looked at me warily.

“Oh man, don’t tell me that she wants to do the wedding here,” she groaned and I could see her mind working as she mentally prepared herself for an event that size.

I laughed.

“No offense, Mags, but Lucas is a billionaire oil heir. They are not going to have their wedding here. No, it’s something else.”

A combination of relief and annoyance crossed over her face.

“There’s nothing wrong with having a wedding here!” she insisted but I could see she suddenly wasn’t sure which one was the less of two evils.

She shook her head, as if dismissing the temporary confusion.

“What did Lexi say?” she asked.

“She wants to throw you a baby shower,” I confessed. “I told her – “

“Yes!” Maggie interrupted, bolting up. “Uh…I mean, not because of the presents of course.”

I laughed and hugged her toward me, but I felt her tense slightly as I did.

Hurt lanced through me. I had no right to be offended she still didn’t trust me. One night of lovemaking was not going to change anything. We had a long road ahead of us.

I was determined not to fuck it up.

“I told her no because, well, let’s face it, you haven’t really been up for seeing anyone – “

“I’ll call her tomorrow and tell her it’s a go,” she cut me off and once more, I saw the wheels turning in her head.

She’s planning her own baby shower as we speak, I thought, grinning.

“Let’s see what the doctor says tomorrow at your appointment,” I suggested. “If there’s an improvement and she gives the go-ahead, I’ll call Lexi myself and let her know.”

“Oh, it’s happening,” Maggie told me, her eyes shining. “We are doing this.”

I knew it didn’t matter what the doctor said; Maggie’s mind was made up.

It was such a small thing to concede.

I would ensure that she was comfortable and that things didn’t get too stressful. Lexi could help me and I would see if Maggie’s sister would come down from Jersey to help.

It was as if Maggie’s enthusiasm was contagious and we grinned stupidly at one another for a silent minute.

I’m getting excited about a baby shower. Holy fuck. What have I become?

The answer filled me with an undeniable radiance.

I had become a father.