I closed my eyes against the morning light, picturing his face when he said those three perfect words.
They’d washed over me and made me want to collapse in his arms and tell him it was all okay, but I didn’t want to rush it. I didn’t want to let my emotions be rash, and control my decisions, blinding me to everything else going on. So, I’d held back, giving myself a moment to think it all through, to remember the pain he’d caused and know for sure his love could outweigh any doubts.
I’d made it all of twenty minutes before my mind had screamed at me to stop being so stubborn and to get on with the makeup sex. He’d smiled at me over our dinner, making me laugh over ridiculous jokes and comments.
Somehow, despite my body’s urging, I managed to crawl into my own bed. But the new day brought new plans that didn’t consist of me staying in this bed alone another second.
The sunlight washed over me, taking away the doubts from last night.
Ian Bergamo loved me, and I needed him to know how much I loved him too.
Flinging the covers back, I go to grab Audrey and prepare for the day, only to find it empty except for a note.
Out for a spa day, be back soon.
Love, Audrey and the best man ever
I laughed at Ian’s note, wondering how he snuck in here to grab her without me knowing. Stepping from the room, I listened in the hall, trying to decide where they were.
A deep voice singing You Are My Sunshine came from Ian’s bathroom. Each step bringing me closer to him had my heart thumping harder. It’d been eight hours since I’d seen him, and excitement flooded my body like it’d been eight months. At this rate, I’d be confessing my love as soon as my lips parted. It filled me to bursting, and I wasn’t sure how to hold it anymore. I wasn’t sure how I’d held it in so far.
Steam billowed out from between the crack in the door and I peeked in to find Ian cradling Audrey against his broad chest. I took my time, getting my fill of his perfect form through the foggy glass. His strong legs and perfect ass that swayed side to side as he bounced our little girl. His thick length that was impressive even when soft. His ridiculously broad chest that always tested the seams of his shirts. His smile that never failed to make me feel every good thing a woman should feel.
He was perfection, and he was mine. I just needed to reach out and take it.
“Nice song,” I called, stepping fully into the bathroom.
His head jerked in my direction, and his lips stretched into a perfect smile. “Look who’s here, Peanut.”
Audrey snuggled further into his chest, bringing her tiny thumb to her lips.
“The doctor said steamy showers were good for her, so I figure we’d take one.”
“Lucky girl,” I said, stepping up to the glass, scanning his body from head to toe.
“Why, Miss Russo, I’m feeling a little objectified,” he mock-gasped.
When my eyes made it back to his beautiful gray eyes, that had entranced me from the start, I couldn’t hold it back anymore. “I love you.”
The playful smile dropped, and he blinked a few times like I wasn’t real and would vanish at any moment. “What?”
“I love you, Ian. When I thought I could never love again, you made me love you. I love you so much.”
His lips twitched into a smile like his mind was catching up to his body and wasn’t sure to believe me yet, but eventually, he was beaming.
Before I could react, he was opening the glass door. “Damn, woman. Get your sexy self in here and kiss me.”
“Ian,” I screamed when he tugged me in, clothes and all, and kissed me. He had to bend his knees so he could keep Audrey propped on his chest and devoured my lips. His tongue brushed mine, but he quickly pulled back with a growl, resting his forehead to mine.
“I love you. Fuck, I love you so much.”
“I love you too.”
As if Audrey could sense the moment and wanted to be part of it, she let out a little baby coo, pulling out attention to her.
“Don’t worry, baby girl. I love you too.” He kissed her dark head of hair before turning molten eyes to mine. “But spa day is over. Daddy is going to dry you off, rock you to the fastest sleep you’ve ever taken, and then I’m going to come back to Mommy and make love to her against this shower wall.”
My legs rubbed together in anticipation.
“Better hurry,” I whispered.
He stepped out and wrapped Audrey in a towel, slipping on a pair of pants and pointing at me before walking out. “You get naked and don’t touch that pussy until I get back.”