“Luke.” The intensity of this moment hit me to my soul, filling me with so much need that it burned. I grasped his shoulders and moved against him as he held me tight and gazed into my eyes.

“Lily.” He gasped. In his eyes was everything. Everything I had ever wanted. Everything I thought I would always have but lost. All we had ever felt for each other boiled over as we moved together. His head fell back against the couch, and I collapsed onto his chest, tucking my head under his chin. He stroked my back and kissed the top of my head.

“I swear I’ll never leave you,” he whispered.

“I believe you.” I felt him relax beneath me as I wrapped myself around him.

“I only want two things in this world, Lily. I want you, and I want those kids.”

I laughed softly. “Luke, that’s everything.”

“I know it is. I want everything with you because you mean everything to me. I’ll never let you go again.”

“I’ll fight you if you try,” I promised.

He laughed softly. “Good.”

I sighed and rested against his chest once more before popping back up with a start. “What now?” I exclaimed.

“What do you mean?” He grinned like he knew what was coming.

“Well, we can’t go slow anymore. We just dry humped each other all over your office couch. Ahh, what have we done?” I started to scurry off his lap but two warm palms on my thighs held me still.

His smile broadened. “Shh. Quit worrying, calm down.” He followed that dangerous order with a chuckle.

Had we just traveled through a time machine? This felt very familiar. “I will not calm down. I didn’t like it back then when you’d say that, and I still don’t.” I looked at the ceiling, then at the wall behind him and tried to forget I was shirtless in his lap.

“Baby, everything will be fine.” He stroked up my back and tilted my head down so he could look at my face. “I know what you’re like, and I love every bit of it. Please never doubt it. It will take time to prove it, but I’ll make you see. I’ll never leave again.”

“I’m scared. Of everything, Luke. I don’t know if I can do this.” I whispered those words filled with doubt, yet I didn’t move from his lap. I needed more reassurance. But I was afraid I wouldn’t believe him even if he gave them. I kissed him softly, on his lips, his cheeks. I looked into his eyes. “I’m scared. I don’t want to go slow but maybe we should.” I pressed myself against him, loving the feel our bare skin pressed together.