It was morning, but still too early for the sun to be making its appearance on the horizon. I lay in Mace’s bed, my naked body flush against his, half on and half off, staring out his bedroom windows at the twinkling stars in the black sky while my fingers drew lazy, nonsensical pattern on his chest.

After making love on the stairs hours ago, we finally moved to his bedroom on the first floor for rounds two and three. And true to his word, he’d taken his time, building it up in me only to pull back over and over, torturing and teasing until I thought I’d scream or cry or beg, anything to get off.

The whole experience had been nothing short of miraculous, and now that we’d worn each other out, we lay lazily, basking in the aftermath of the most intense night of my life.

He was on his back, one arm resting casually behind his head and the other wrapped around me, his fingers doing much the same as mine and rubbing circles on my bare hip beneath the cool sheets. “What’s on that mind of yours, Goldie?”

I smiled and hummed. “Nothing,” I murmured, bringing both my hands to his chest and propping my chin on the backs so I could look up at him. “Just happy. Really, really happy.”

He smiled softly, brushing the hair from my face before shifting to wrap both arms around me. “I’m glad, baby.” Then the smile slowly melted away. “And I hate to do this, to break your happy when it’s only been a handful of hours, but we gotta talk about what happened.”

I knew it was only a matter of time before the blissful little bubble we’d been in the past few hours would eventually have to be popped in order to let the real world in, so the blow wasn’t too bad. But still, I wish we’d had a bit more time.

With a heavy sigh, I laid my cheek back on his chest and stared out the window once more as I began telling my story. “I started having doubts while we were still engaged. Little things that most everyone in a relationship deals with, but they weighed on me heavier than they should have. I blamed it on cold feet but it wasn’t that.”

Mace gave me a squeeze before he started trailing a hand through my hair, sifting the length through his long fingers, silently soothing me as I spoke, providing me with comfort without me having to ask.

“After we got married, it got even worse. He came from money, like serious money. But it turned out his dad acquired that kind of wealth not only by being an asshole, but an asshole so crooked he was the scum of the earth. The family company went under and, with that, their jobs. That’s when Daniel started spiraling. He refused to find another job, said his skills were too good for some pathetic, low-level desk job, and he wouldn’t debase himself like that. He started drinking more and more, spending his days and nights at the bar instead of job hunting or doing anything a loving, supportive husband would do for their wife.”

“Fuck, baby. I’m sorry.”

“I put up with it for years. I worked myself to the bone trying to make ends meet while he continued to spend like we had a goddamn money tree in the backyard. And he was mean,” I hissed. “He was a mean, bitter drunk. I finally had enough. I decided I was done, so I started packing my shit to leave. He came home plastered, and… well, that’s when….”

I struggled to finish the sentence, swallowing down the well of emotion choking me.

“It’s okay, Ly,” Mace said softly. “It’s okay.”

“He put me in the hospital,” I admitted on a broken whisper, struggling to pull in a breath. “I blacked out after he was finished, and when I woke up he was gone. He just… left me there. I managed to drive myself to Will’s before passing out again. I spent that night and most of the next day in the hospital.”

Mace’s entire body went solid as stone beneath me. I could practically feel the waves of rage rolling off him and crashing into me. “Please, Christ, please tell me his ass got locked up for what he did to you?”

Sitting up, I wrapped the sheet around my chest. He moved as well, his strong, muscled chest and stomach rippling as he scooted up to sit against the headboard.

Shame crept through my body as I said, “He was locked up for a day or two. I initially pressed charges, but when he agreed to give me what I wanted I dropped them.”

His jaw ticked wildly. “What was it you wanted?”

“Out. I wanted out, free and clear of all his bullshit and debt and all the filth tied to his and his family’s name. I walked out of that marriage with nothing, and that was exactly how I wanted it. It was that or have my credit shot. I’d have been drowning in debt up to my ears, and more than likely would’ve been forced to file bankruptcy. I chose to let the charges go if it meant not having to wait seven years to finally start repairing my life.”

He watched me closely as the seconds ticked by before gritting out, “He should’ve paid.”

“Hey.” Holding the sheet close, I scooched across the mattress on my knees. “Please understand,” I pleaded, placing my palm on his warm chest. “It was revenge or my piece of mind. I made the only choice I felt comfortable making. Please understand that.”

Grasping my hand in his, he used the hold to pull me close. With the sheet still around me, I lifted one of my knees and straddled his legs, resting my behind on his thighs.

“I understand,” he finally said, and my entire body sagged in relief. “I don’t like it, but I get it. And I don’t blame you.”

Dropping my forehead against his chest, I sighed, “Thank you.”

“But he’s gone, yeah? Out of the picture completely?”

“Yes. Definitely. The divorce was finalized shortly after… shortly after Will died.”

He lifted his hands, cupping both my cheeks and sliding his fingers into my hair. “I’m so sorry, baby. If I’d just—”

“No,” I insisted. “Don’t do that. Don’t, Mace. I get why you pushed me away back then. I do. I don’t blame you, and none of what happened after was your fault.”

He pulled me so we were nose-to-nose, a breath apart. “He wanted me for you,” he said softly.

“What?”

“Will. He wanted me for you. He wanted me to take care of you and protect you, and it fuckin’ kills me to find out I wasted so much goddamn time for nothing.”

I shot up straight, eyes wide. “What? How did you… how do you know that?”

“I only just found out when we went to San Francisco. I wanted to explain how I felt to your folks, to reassure them that I’d always look out for you. I told them I loved you, and they told me Will had always wanted us together and didn’t understand why it never happened.”

My mouth dropped open in shock. “You… you told my parents you love me?”

A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Yeah.”

“My parents. You told my parents.”

“Repeating the question won’t change my answer, baby.”

I gaped some more. “But… that was a week and a half ago! You told my parents a week and a half ago, and you’re only telling me now?” I screeched. “What the hell, Mace!”

His head fell back on a chuckle as he gathered me closer. I squirmed and struggled against him, but my heart definitely wasn’t in it. I gave in seconds later, letting him hold me against him. His body continued to shake with laughter while I glowered up at him sullenly. “I can’t believe you waited this long to tell me.”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” he replied, his perfect white teeth shining through his grin. “I was just tryin’ to get my shit together. I wanted to prove to you that I was worth the chance you’d be taking.”

“Honey,” I said quietly, running my fingertips from his temple to his jaw. “I know you’re worth it. You always have been.”

“You’ve been pushing me away for months.” I opened my mouth, but he kept talking before I could say anything. “And I get why. I got it then, but even more so now. Now that I know your ex was a drunk—”

“I was scared,” I cut in, not wanting him to beat himself up. “I pushed you away because I was scared. And yes, the alcohol played a part in that, but I know you aren’t him.”

“I’m not,” he asserted. “I’d never, ever touch you like he did. Never. You have my word. But I swear I’ll never drink another drop. I don’t want anything between us, baby. You’re more important than everything in my life, most especially alcohol. I’ll always put you first.”

“Even before your cherished Gibson?” I asked, one corner of my mouth hooking up in a smirk.

He returned my smile. “Even by Gibson, but that’s a very close second.” He laughed when I socked him in the gut, then sobered a second later. “I mean it, baby. It’s always been you.”

“I know. I trust you.”

“I swear, Lyla,” he insisted. “No more booze. I’m done with it.”

That warmth that only Mace could create filled my chest, and I knew without a doubt that I’d made the right choice. It wouldn’t be perfect, but no relationship was. We’d have our ups and downs, we’d fight like any normal couple, but if we stuck together, we’d make it through.

“So Will wanted you for me, huh?”

A wistful smile stretched across his face. “He did. It’s bittersweet finding out now, but I guess it’s better late than never, right?”

“You miss him.”

“Every goddamn day,” he breathed in agreement. “Like I’m missing a limb. If I could just go back in time, talk to him about what I felt for you—”

“Don’t do that,” I ordered. “No regrets, Mace. Will’d kick your ass if he knew you were beating yourself up like this.”

“He really would,” Mace chuckled deeply. I let out a little yawn and collapsed fully against him. “You tired, baby?”

Laying my head back on his chest and snuggling deeper into him, I answered, “Exhausted. You wore me out tonight.”

“Me?” he asked incredulously. “You were a goddamn wild woman. I could barely keep up.”

I rolled my eyes to the ceiling. “You’re exaggerating.”

“Like hell I am. Jesus. I nailed you on the stairs and the second we cleared the bedroom door, you fell on my dick again. Think I’m suffering from dehydration right now.”

He wasn’t completely wrong about that. Now that the seal had been broken and ‘I love yous’ shared, I hadn’t been able to get enough. I’d all but pounced on him when we entered his bedroom, and again once he came back from the bathroom with a damp rag to clean me up.

But in my defense, we’d been so ravenous for each other the first two times that I hadn’t had the chance to taste him, and I really wanted to taste him. So I’d taken my time doing just that the last time, at least until he got impatient, jerked my up, flipped me over, and took control of the situation.

It had been glorious.

But now it was time to sleep. We’d gotten through some extremely heavy stuff tonight, and I was worn out, not just physically but emotionally as well.

Wrapped in Mace’s arms, I burrowed deeper and murmured, “Whatever.” Then I fell asleep seconds later to the warm cadence of his chuckle.