“What do you remember, honey?”
Addy squints and blinks slowly a few times.
“We were in your office. We were …”
Her voice trails off and I smile despite myself.
“I’m glad you remember the best parts.”
She shakes her head, wincing when the movement causes her pain.
“But what happened after that? How long has it been?”
“Just a few hours now. You were out like a light, but the doc said you’d wake up.”
She shakes her head again, squinting like she can’t remember.
“But Marcus, what happened? Why does my head hurt like this?”
I take a deep breath.
“While we were making love, my ex barged into my office. I have no idea how Marissa got into the building, much less my office, but she pushed you, and you hit your head on the edge of my desk. It’s metal, and you were knocked out.”
Addy pulls her hand from mine and experimentally touches her forehead, where of course, there’s a big white bandage.
“But why would Marissa do this? I don’t understand. You’re divorced. And why did she come looking for you?”
I shake my head.
“I don’t know, sweetheart.”
Addy’s confused.
“Is it because she’s jealous? I mean, I have her old office and her old job now.”
I sigh.
“Yes, I think it’s jealousy. But I think it’s more than that. I think there’s a difference between psychologically knowing that you’re divorced and actually seeing your former spouse with a new partner. And we weren’t just kissing and holding hands, sweetheart. I was buried inside of you, coating you with my come.”
She nods.
“Yes, but she knew it was going to happen at some point, right? I mean, you’re divorced. Not even separated, but divorced.”
I shrug, relaxing a bit now that it’s clear Addy’s going to make it out of the woods.
“Yes, but we moved on with each other pretty fast, Ads. I mean, I had you in my bed within how long? One week? Two weeks?”
She nods and flushes a bit then, smiling.
“I think it was one week.”
“Exactly,” I say, taking her hand again. “I needed you so much that I basically went wild when it came to claiming you. This wasn’t a slow courtship. I had you in my bed, screaming my name, as soon as I could.”
She nods.
“Well, what’s going to happen to Marissa now?”
My expression is grim.
“She’s sitting in a jail cell at this moment. It was battery, sweetheart. She assaulted you, and caused physical injury. Of course they were going to arrest her.”
Addy gasps, her eyes going wide.
“Oh my god, jail?”
“She deserves it,” I say in a tight voice.
Addy merely shakes her head again.
“I don’t know if I should press charges.”
I shake my head slowly.
“Well, you don’t have to decide now, but Marissa was way out of line. No one does that to the woman I love, and gets away with it.”
Suddenly, Addy’s eyes become teary and she squeezes my hand gently.
“Is that how you feel about me, Marcus?” she asks in a quiet voice.
I look at her, my blue eyes intense.
“Yes,” I say fiercely. “Seeing you like that, knocked out? It killed me, sweetheart. Suddenly, I knew. I know that I love you, Addison Maplethorpe, and you mean the world to me.”
Her eyes begin to tear, and I lean forward to kiss her again. Her voice is so quiet that I almost don’t hear, but then she repeats the words.
“I love you too, Marcus. With everything that I have.”
I merely kiss her harder, pulling her close, when suddenly there’s a knock on the door. Dr. Lester stands there, a clipboard in his hand.
“I’m sorry, am I interrupting?”
We pull away from each other.
“No, Doc, it’s okay,” I growl. “Why, what’s up?”
The elderly man looks mirthful as he turns to Addy.
“Well, Miss Maplethorpe, everything checked out except I think you have some news to share.”
I look at my curvy girl even as her cheeks blush. Clearly, she and the doctor have a secret that’s been kept from me.
“What is it, Ads?” I ask. “Your health is of the utmost importance to me. Is there something that I should know?”
The beautiful girl blushes, and turns to me again. Meanwhile, the doctor steps out with a wink, and we’re alone once more. Addy takes my hand and then inhales deeply, her eyes sparkling.
“Marcus,” she says quietly. “I’m pregnant. You’re going to be a father.”
The entire world grinds to a halt as I stare at this woman.
“Are you serious?” I stammer, falling to my knees beside her hospital bed. “Oh my god!”
“Are you happy?” she asks, tears in her eyes again.
“More than happy,” I confirm, leaning forward to seize her mouth with my own. “Absolutely ecstatic.”
After all, this is the culmination of my dreams. This woman, this job, this business, and now, this baby as well. I adore Addison Maplethorpe, and intend on claiming her as mine, forever.
Epilogue
Addy
Two years later.
Marcus sits on the floor, playing with our beautiful daughter as she squeals. He laughs and turns to me.
“She looks just like you,” he marvels. Carmella grabs a block and bangs it up and down on the floor, as sixteen-month-olds are wont to do.
I stroke our daughter’s cheek and giggle.
“Yes, but with your blue eyes.”
After all, Carmella is the perfect blend of both of us. She has my curly brown hair, and sometimes I see my nose in hers. But she also has Marcus’s bright blue eyes and stubborn, yet charming, personality.
“She’s perfect,” Marcus says, beaming at his daughter.
I lean over and kiss him.
“You’re right.”
Marcus’s phone dings with an email, but he ignores it. After all, we have a rule at home: no shop talk after eight p.m., come hell or high water. After all, we still work at the House of Steele, so it’s easy to bring work home. But that’s not
