Chapter 39
Grace was curled into a ball beneath the covers, her body like a shield around her son. Their train cars were perfectly coordinated to crash into the rubble at the South Street Station at the same time.
Both were saved by the men of HERO Force.
Matteo watched them sleeping with a heavy, grateful heart.
He moved to the bed and climbed in beside her, opening his arms for her and the baby to cuddle against his side.
“I thought you were sleeping,” he said, kissing the top of her head.
“I thought I lost you both,” she whispered.
He could feel her tears, wet on her face and dripping onto his chest. Every emotion he had held in check throughout this day gathered in his throat, constricting his airway and choking his ability to keep it in check any longer.
He squeezed his eyes tightly shut, tears escaping at the corners, and pulled her more against his side. She was fitted tightly against him, her leg tucked over his leg, her arm around his waist, and he knew he’d never held another woman with such intensity of emotion before in his life.
“I want to make love to you, Grace.”
“What about the annulment?”
“I don’t want it.” He touched her face. “I want you.”
It was as natural as dusk following sunset, and he knew there would be no more considering. He needed to be with her just as much as she needed to be with him.
She was his wife.
He turned toward her and kissed the top of her head, then her head turned up to his and he kissed her on the mouth. This was when the marriage would become real, and every move of his hands and his body showed her how much he loved her.