“Did you really?” I said, frowning at him.
“I did.”
“People always say that, love at first sight; but I never really bought it.”
“No?” Phil asked. “Why not?”
“It’s not that I’m cynical,” I said. “I just never thought it was very realistic.”
“It may not be,” he said. “Maybe it’s just lust that turns into love if you if it the scope to grow, and then you just always assume it was love from the start.”
“So you’re saying you fell in lust with me?” I smiled.
“Lust…love? I don’t really know,” Phil replied. “All I know for sure is that I fell for you… and I don’t think I’ve stopped falling since.”
I cupped his face in both my hands and stared down at his perfect, clear eyes. He was a beautiful man, but it was more than that. We shared a connection that went beyond our physical bodies. It was what made our conversations so good, it was what made our bond so deep, and it was what made the sex so great. But before we could continue with our newly-renewed relationship, there was something I needed to get off my chest.
“Phil,” I said slowly. “I want you to know that I will never doubt you again.”
He held up his finger to my mouth. “Hey, it’s already forgotten. You don’t have to do this again.”
“Actually, I do,” I said, pulling his hand away from my mouth. “I do because this is important. You are important, and I need you to know how much I regret my lapse in judgment. See, the thing is part of me knew that Brent couldn’t be the one who was innocent, while you were the one in jail. But I chose to ignore my gut because Brent was my brother.”
“He’s still your brother, Megan,” Phil reminded me gently.
I sighed. “I know we share parents, but he seems like a stranger to me now. He very nearly ruined my life, and he certainly would have ruined yours had his plan not been found out.”
“I understand you being upset,” Phil said. “But if you feel you have to stay mad at him for my sake, then don’t worry about that. I don’t begrudge you a relationship with Brent just because of what he did to me. He is still your brother at the end of the day, and if you want to write to him or visit him, then I’ll gladly support that.”
“That’s really big of you,” I said, in awe of this amazing man I had my arms wrapped around.
Phil smiled. “I just don’t want there to be any awkwardness between us.”
“There won’t be,” I insisted. “Not anymore. And as for Brent… I don’t feel like I have to cut him off because of you. I’m doing this for me. I’m ashamed of him—his decisions, his lack of remorse, his complete and utter disregard for his impact on other people’s lives. And for right now, I don’t want to see him. Maybe that will change in the future, but right now… I need some distance from him.”
Phil nodded. “Then I support you a hundred percent.”
“Thank you.” I nodded.
“Now we can put this part of our lives behind us,” Phil said. “You’ve said you’re sorry, and I’ve forgiven you; we don’t have to revisit this topic ever again. From now on, I just want to focus on us—our relationship and our life together.”
I loved the sound of those words. I leaned in to kiss him again and again the kiss turned from soft and tender to passionate and hungry. Phil’s hands moved ferociously down my body. He slipped his hands up my blouse and removed my bra seamlessly. I gasped, as his fingers enclosed around my nipples and massaged them until I was moaning in pleasure.
“Wait,” I gasped, barely able to string a thought together. “We shouldn’t be doing this…”
“Why not?” Phil asked, and he sounded calm and in control by comparison.
“Because you need to sleep… I mean, you need to get better…recover…”
I felt his body shake with silent laughter. “Not a chance—this is the best medicine for me right now.”
“What?” I asked, unable to find the answer when his tongue was tracing lines down my neck, and his hands were squeezing my breasts that way.
“You,” Phil replied simply.
“Are you sure?” I asked, unable to resist him.
“Positive.” He nodded. “You’ll just have to take the lead.”