He watched her in silence, his expression grim.

“Why are you telling me this? Why couldn’t you have just let me pretend you were the man I wanted you to be?” His only reaction was a clenching of his jaw. “I hate you,” she whispered. “I hate you for this.” She stood up.

“I’m not done. Please sit down.”

“I don’t need to hear any more.” She began to walk away.

He was out of his chair and behind her, grasping her shoulders. “You have to let me finish.”

“Why?” she whispered. “Why can’t you just let me be alone with this?” Her voice broke as her head fell forward, her shoulders shaking as tears streamed from her eyes. She didn’t stop him when he turned her to face him, her cheek crushed against his chest as he engulfed her in his arms. She took comfort in his familiar woodsy smell, her arms moving around him as she sought comfort from the very person who was causing the pain. She cried for minutes as he whispered reassurances in her ear, and then suddenly the tears stopped, and she began kissing his warm neck, her hands drifting down his back to his butt, gripping him as she tried to get closer.

“Lina?”

“Make love to me.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he said, pulling back slightly.

“Please,” she pleaded, her eyes meeting his. “I need you to make this pain go away…Please.”

“Lina—”

“We’ll talk after.” She gripped him through his shorts. “I need to feel you inside me.” As demented as it was, she felt an overwhelming desire to know he was still hers.

He caught his breath, and suddenly his mouth was opening over hers, his hands clasping her hips as he pulled her against his growing erection. He led her to the family room and then pushed her back on the couch, quickly removing her panties and then dropping to his knees before her.

“No,” she whispered when he began to run his lips along the inside of her thigh. “I need to feel you inside me. Please.” She needed to feel their connection.

He stood, removing his shorts and briefs in one fluid movement, and then he was lowering himself onto the couch and between her thighs. He slipped his hand between them, touching her.

“Please,” she whispered.

“You’re not ready.”

“I don’t care.” She fisted his shirt, pulling him towards her.

“Wait,” he pleaded, continuing to touch her. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“I need you,” she cried. “Please, please.”

“Look at me, Lina. Open your eyes and look at me.” As soon as she opened her eyes he slowly thrust into her. “Do you know what we’re doing?” he asked as he rocked his hips forward, burying himself still deeper. “Tell me.” He pulled completely out. “Tell me, Lina.” He drove into her again.

“Making love,” she whispered, tears in her eyes.

“That’s right,” he said before kissing her deeply. “Lina,” he said when he lifted his head. “Look at me.” She lifted her eyes back to his. “You are the only woman I have ever made love to in my life.” He continued to move in and out of her, the pace of his thrusts increasing. “I may have been with someone else, but you are the woman I make love to. You are the only woman I will ever love.”