Epilogue #2
“We are. We’re going to have a family.”
“A real family.” Eliza’s hazel eyes shimmered with tears. “Not the cold, distant thing I grew up with. But a real family. Built on love.”
“Built on love,” Morgan agreed, pulling her close. “I promise you, Eliza. Our child will never doubt that they’re wanted. That they’re loved. That they’re—”
“Everything,” Eliza finished.
They returned home that evening as the sun was setting, both pleasantly exhausted from the day’s excitement.
“The boys were adorable,” Eliza said as they climbed the stairs to their chambers. “Did you see Philip’s face when we told them about the baby?”
“He looked like we’d just given him the greatest gift imaginable. After he had a moment to consider it, thoughtful boy he is.”
“They’re going to be wonderful cousins.”
In their bedchamber, Morgan helped Eliza out of her gown, his fingers gentle on the laces, his lips pressing soft kisses to her shoulders as he worked. She leaned back into him.
“You were beautiful today,” he murmured against her skin. “Radiant.”
“I was sweating.”
“Radiantly sweating, then.”
Eliza laughed, turning in his arms to face him. “Take me to bed, Your Grace.”
“With pleasure, Your Grace.”
He scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bed. They made love slowly, tenderly, Morgan’s hands reverent as they traced the curves of her body. When he reached her stomach, he paused, his palm splaying over where their child grew.
“Hello, little one,” he whispered. “I’m your father. And I already love you more than I knew was possible.”
Eliza’s breath hitched with emotion. “Morgan…”
“Shh.” He kissed her softly. “Let me love you. Both of you.”
What followed was worship. There was no other word for it.
Morgan took his time, learning her body again, noting the subtle changes pregnancy had already brought.
The increased sensitivity of her breasts.
The way her skin seemed to glow in the candlelight.
He reached for her favorite silk scarf, as green as his eyes, and brought it to her eyes.
“I need you to feel everything tonight,” he said. “This will allow you to focus, my girl.”
He tied it with a bow and placed her on her side, careful to avoid her stomach.
He held her close to him, his hardness pressing against her behind.
He reached around and stroked her, not rushing a single moment.
He touched every part of her slick folds until he finally entered, pushing two fingers inside.
He continued his work, not letting her move, pulling her tight against him, until he finally relented.
When he finally entered her from behind, it was with such care, such tenderness, that Eliza felt tears slip down her temples from behind the scarf.
“I love you,” she whispered. “So much.”
“I love you too.” Morgan moved slowly, deeply, his forehead pressed against her shoulder as he gave a kiss. “You and our child. My whole world.”
He picked up the pace then, thrusting himself deep inside her as she savored the angle of his entrance.
He pushed her, over and over again, until his reverence became an ecstatic prayer.
He thrust hard and strong, his hands on her hips as he pushed so hard she felt his testicles slap her.
It was overwhelming, only heightened by her closed eyes.
There was nothing he did to her that she did not want, need, love.
They climaxed together as he slowed his pace once more, as if memorizing her.
He came softly, sweetly as he kissed her neck from behind.
Afterward, as they lay tangled in each other’s arms, their breathing slowed and he removed the blindfold.
Perfect silence fell between them as he pulled the blanket tight underneath her chin.
“I never thought I’d have this,” Eliza said quietly into the darkness. “A husband who loves me. A child on the way. A real home.”
“Neither did I.” Morgan pressed a kiss to her hair. “I thought I was too broken, too afraid. But you—you made me brave enough to try.”
“We made each other brave.”
“Yes.” He pulled her closer, his hand returning to rest on her stomach. “We did.”
They lay in comfortable silence for a while, both lost in thoughts of the future. Of the child who would join them in six months. Of the life they were building together.
“Morgan?” Eliza said sleepily.
“Mmm?”
“Thank you. For not giving up on us. For being brave enough to come back.”
“Thank you for giving me another chance. For loving me even when I didn’t deserve it.”
“You always deserved it. You just didn’t believe it yet.”
Morgan held her tighter, feeling the steady beat of her heart against his chest, the warmth of her in his arms, the promise of their child growing between them.
This. This was what he’d been afraid of.
This all-consuming love. This vulnerability. This absolute certainty that his happiness was tied irrevocably to hers.
And it was terrifying.
But it was also the best thing that had ever happened to him.
“I love you,” he whispered into the darkness. “I will love you until my last breath. You and our child. My family.”
“Our family,” Eliza murmured, already drifting toward sleep. “I like the sound of that.”
“So do I, darling. So do I.”
Together. Always. Forever.
The End?