I swing my hair over my left shoulder. “That is not what you told me. I think you made it abundantly clear I wasn’t good enough to be seen with you and I refuse to have an affair with you or be your side-thing.”

“I was a twat to say what I did. And I shouldn’t have made that nasty proposition to you.” He takes a step closer to me and palms my cheek. “I apologize for hurting you.”

“And I’m supposed to forgive you, just like that?”

“This one time, yes,” he murmurs in a low voice.

My eyes slam shut and I will myself not to tear up. This hot and cold, push and pull is exhausting. I don’t know which way I’m going with him. I fear my own sanity because I’m getting desperate. I’m desperate for my husband to give me a chance to show him that we belong together. I’m desperate to get enough time with him to make him remember me.

“I don’t understand what you’re saying Damien,” My head drops in despair.

He raises my chin with his fingers and brings his face close to mine. “I want you in my life, Aaliya. Let me show you how much you mean to me.”

“And all those words about me being a woman of color and....” He puts his finger on my lips shutting me up.

“They were just words, words meant to push you away because I couldn’t stop thinking about you and I was afraid to get close to you. But I’m done fighting what I feel for you. We need to talk and I need to tell you the real reason I pushed you away. But first, you need to forgive me.”

“I won’t be your mistress. I won’t be a dirty secret kept hidden.”

“I swear on my life that no matter what happens you won’t ever be that.”

We stare at each other for several seconds while I judge the honesty in his eyes. I let loose a shaky breath. I will risk whatever it takes to be with him, even my fragile heart because all my roads will always lead up to him. He’s my journey and he’s my destination.

Finally, I hold his face and plant my lips on his. I raise myself up on tiptoes as I continue to tear at his mouth. His hand snakes into my hair and he holds me in place as, slowly and steadily, he takes charge of the kiss. His tongue teases my lips and I open for him, letting him plunder my mouth.

Damien