Olivia’s hair prickled on her neck. “Do I need to escort you out?” She placed her hand on the doorknob.
“Okay. I’ll get right to it.” Malcolm lowered himself onto the sofa without an invitation to do so. His foot pushed off one shoe and then the other before he stretched blue-jeaned legs across the cushions like he used to do when they had a secure and happy marriage. He settled in as if planning to stay awhile. “Aren’t you going to sit down?”
Olivia couldn’t believe his boldness in acting like they didn’t have major issues with each other. She placed both hands on her hips and stood in front of Malcolm. “I didn’t invite you to have a seat. Tell me whatever you’ve come to say and get out of my house.”
“Alright.” Malcolm’s eyes softened in a way unsettling to Olivia. She hadn’t seen this look in a long time. “I first want to let you know, I’m sorry.”
“For?”
“For making bad decisions when it comes to you and me.” Malcolm kept his gaze on her face and appeared to be truthful.
Olivia glanced around searching for a ventriloquist who may be speaking the words for him. “Is this a joke? I can’t remember you apologizing to me for anything in the last ten years. Why now?”
Malcolm rose from the sofa, and in one step, stood in front of Olivia. He placed his fingers on her shoulder. Olivia slapped his hand away. “Sorry. I’ve put you through more than what is fair. I’ve caused the hurt I see in your eyes. I’ve been selfish and didn’t consider all you’ve done for me and our children.”
Astonished, Olivia’s thoughts became paralyzed. “Malcolm…why…,” Olivia began.
“Wait. Before you speak, let me tell you this.” He cleared his throat. “You loved me like no one ever has before. The chemistry between us from the day we met is something I’ve never had with another woman. I knew I loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you in the grocery store and again at the wine festival. You’ve been nothing except a wonderful mother to our children. I admit I put you through a lot of misery.”
Malcolm’s words sounded as if he read the lyrics from the inside of an album cover. These were the things she’d always wished she’d heard from him. Appreciation and an apology. Olivia took the edge from her voice.
“Why now? I have been to the point of losing my mind. I have a jail record. I don’t even know who I am anymore. Why are you saying these things?” Olivia trembled.
Malcolm paced the room in long strides. He turned to face Olivia. A tear slipped from his eye, which he swiped with his palm.
“I see what’s happening to our children and you. After you left yesterday, I couldn’t get through the pain I’ve caused Simone and Christian. This cutting thing is serious. I can’t stand the idea of her hurting herself. It dawned on me the repercussions my actions have had on their lives.”
Shocked, Olivia sank onto the sofa. Malcolm sat next to her without his eyes leaving hers. More tears slid across his cheeks and dropped to his lap. Olivia fought the urge to reach out to him and wipe them away. He appeared vulnerable and handsome at the same time, which tugged at her emotions.
“I don’t understand why you feel the need to tell me all of this. After everything we’ve been through, what is the purpose?”
“I’m not an evil person. I’m only a man who has made bad mistakes. I strayed from what I knew to be right.” Malcolm reached for her hand and she didn’t resist him holding it. “Olivia, please find forgiveness in your heart. I want to be the person you knew when we first met.”
Olivia’s body weakened at his touch. She didn’t realize how much she needed to hear those words. Tears flowed against her will. She fought slipping into the path of emotions welling inside. Olivia closed eyes were met with the softness of his lips on her eyelids, kissing away each droplet released. He ran his fingers through her hair and massaged the back of her head.
“Malcolm,” Olivia whispered. Alarms sounded in her head to run. Her body escaped to the memory of all they had in the past, desiring more of his touch. She ached for him.
He silenced her words with the fullness of his lips. Every nerve heightened with each light kiss. The inclination to resist left her mind. Until now, she lacked the touch of a man in her world.
Malcolm inched closer to Olivia. “I’m sorry. I apologize.” Tension was released from inside when he drew her closer to his chest. His tongue licked along the parting of her lips until she allowed it to find its way inside. Total recall of the familiarity of his mouth skyrocketed into her thoughts as they meshed together.
“Olivia,” he moaned.
Olivia couldn’t fight the yearning to embrace Malcolm and receive the passion he released in his kiss. She tasted the saltiness of their intermingled tears, which made her cry more.
She realized they hadn’t cried together since the birth of their son.
They clung to each other as the years of bundled pain poured into the moment. Olivia leaned her head back and quivered. Intoxicating sensations from Malcolm pelting her neck with wettened kisses made it difficult to decipher emotions. Goosebumps raised from the intense pleasure. After all this time, he still knew her body by heart and pinpointed sensitive spots. She rubbed his broad back and muffled the moans which emerged from her throat.
“Please forgive me,” Malcolm murmured between each kiss.
The fingers on his right hand brushed the front of her pajama top. Olivia gasped from the familiar sensation of her skin tingling. It had been too long since anything dead inside of her resurrected to life. Olivia withdrew and covered her chest. “Malcolm. What are you doing?”
“Olivia. You’re beautiful and stunning.” Malcolm’s face dripped with desire.
