“Is there something you want?” I asked, coming up to the door. Unlike last night, he was looking at me with a neutral, almost bored expression on his face. The energy coming off of him was neither hot nor cold. This was more frightening than his anger from yesterday because I didn't know which way he would go from here.
“Yes. I came here because I want you.”
“What did you say?”
“I came back here because I want you, Eddy. I'm here because I want things to work between us.” I was speechless momentarily. I wasn’t sure which way he would go. That particular direction wasn’t even on the list. My heart kicked in my chest.
“What on earth makes you think that’s going to work? Were you there for anything that happened yesterday?”
“I lost my temper. I was angry and I said a lot of things that were very cruel. Please forgive me.”
“Why do you want me to forgive you? What difference does it make if you're going back to London and I'm staying here?”
“If I do head back to London, it's going to be with you and Riley. I know that there is a lot of water under the bridge, but we can get over it. Many things have happened, things between us are certainly not simple, but I want us to work it out. I never realized that I had a family but now I know that I do, and I cannot walk away from them.”
I scoffed. “You had a change of heart and I’m supposed to just fall in line?”
“No. I expect you to hold me accountable for every promise I make you. Make me work for it. Sweat for it.”
“Niall, I…” I stopped, hearing Riley’s shouts from outside. I pulled Niall into the house and closed the door behind him. “Just a second,” I told him. I trotted up the steps and called for Prue, asking her to go and handle Riley. Niall and I stood in silence as Prue walked out the door.
“You were saying?” he asked me.
“I just wanted to apologize again. I can't tell you how sorry I am. I know nothing can make it better. You deserved the truth from the beginning. I know my reasons might not seem good enough to you, but I did what I had to for my son.”
“It’s going to take some time, but I know I can’t hold that against you. If you want to try to make it up for me, let me be with you. Let me raise our son now.”
“I can’t let someone into Riley’s life if all they're going to do is walk out again.”
“I want forever, Eddy. I’m not going anywhere.”
I was shaking. He had said all this before but now, he knew the truth; the good, bad and the ugly. He still wanted me. I took a deep breath. “But… our issues,” I said.
He came up to me, taking me by my arms. “We have forever to work on them, babe. I’ll do whatever it takes. I love you. I can’t live without you. I need you, Eddy. I want this.” he leaned down and kissed me. My body went up in flames. He wanted me, even my darkest, most secret parts. He embraced every part of me. I felt so free, so loved. I pulled away and took his hand.
“Come on,” I said, leading him towards the stairs. We went to my bedroom. Falling onto the bed, we were ripping each other’s clothes off before we closed the door behind us. I was ready for this. This was my future, and I couldn’t wait.
33
Niall
“Christ, Eddy, stop,” I said. She looked up at me, my cock in her mouth. She looked so sexy like that. Slowly, she let my cock pop out of her mouth.
“What did you say?” she asked. We were on the bed, naked, her between my legs, jerking my cock in her hand. It was the most beautiful sight I had ever seen. I pulled her in so her body covered mine, then rolled us over so I was on top of her. She laughed, her laugh turning to moans as I slipped into her.
Gorgeous. Perfect. Beautiful. Mine, all mine. She was mine.
We made love, completely losing ourselves in each other. She felt so amazing, I knew I wouldn’t last long. I clutched her to my body.
“I love you,” I whispered in her ear. She moaned, writhing under me. I said it again. I meant it with every part of me. She was everything I wanted in this life and I couldn’t wait for the rest of our days together.
“I love you,” she returned. Her orgasm came first. When she clenched around me, spasming, I shot my load deep inside her. I closed my eyes. This was it. This was right. I wanted this. She wriggled off of me, leaving me strangely cold. I reached for her.
“I’m going to the toilet, give me a minute,” she said, laughing. With our history, you could imagine I was sensitive about her leaving me, even if it was just to go to the loo. I closed my eyes again. The toiled flushed and Eddy walked back into the room.
“Everything good?” she asked.
“Huh? Yeah, why?” I asked.
“You look pensive,” she said, settling back onto the bed. She sprawled onto the sheets and I gathered her back into my arms. There, that was better. Now the picture was complete. She was what I needed. She made the picture complete. She was home. Riley made three and that was my family. I went from zero to family in a day. The news had hit me hard at first but now it was starting to feel natural.
“I was just thinking about you,” I said.
“I haven’t gone anywhere,” she said. I kissed her temple and smelled her hair.
“And neither have I,” I said.
“Is that
