23: ZENON / DANICA

One week has passed since Jade showed up unannounced and dropped her news on Danica.

One week since my beautiful daughter left for a science camp designed for students who are interested in the medical field.

One week has passed since I had the startling realization that I want this woman for my wife. I won't tell her that, at least not yet, because I know that she still isn't ready.

There are so many issues that Danica has to address before she can properly move forward into a long-term relationship with me.

Part of that is she has to learn to forgive herself, and I think that she still struggles with that.

Her parents are coming for dinner tonight, and she's so nervous about it all. She wasn't sure that her father was coming at first, but when her mother called back to confirm that he would, in fact, be here, she began pacing, then cleaning, then working out, and then pacing again.

Turning onto my side, I caress her hip.

"Dani," I say softly.

When she doesn't respond, I shake her a bit.

"Dani."

"Hmm..."

"Wake up, baby. Your parents will be here in an hour."

She stretches, yawns, and then flips over to bury her face into my chest.

"Wanna sleep a little longer."

Glancing at the clock over her shoulder, I say, "Baby, we took a two-hour nap. You're not going to be able to sleep tonight if we don't get up now. Besides, it's six."

"Okay," she grumbles, rubbing her eyes and then looking at me.

"I love you," I say in a low voice.

A smile parts her lips and brightens her eyes. "I love you, too, Z."

"Summer's almost over. Have you made up your mind about the show or not?" I ask.

Smiling, she says, "I have. I'm thankful that Jade gave me more time, too."

"What's your final answer?"

"I'm going to do it."

"Good," I say, kissing her lips.

"And you? How's the implementation of the league coming along?"

"I spoke with the parks and rec center in Charleston, and I finished a discussion with the director this morning. He sent me a contract to review so that we can use one of their venues for the Little League. However, I've been running the numbers—"

"I thought you'd already done that and finalized the budget."

"I did."

"Then what are you running numbers for again?"

"I spoke with Emma's dad—"

"Marc Summers?"

"Yeah. I was talking to him about the youth league for his son, Kyle, and he said that there was a large interest in starting an adult league. We're going to work together on that. We'll get started once the youth league is up and running."

"You're really going to do it, huh?"

"I told you that's all that I've wanted."

"No, I mean, remain here in Charleston? With me?"

I search her eyes for a while.

"Did you think that I was lying to you?"

"No, but I did think you would get homesick and want to return to Italy or, worst-case scenario, to Brazil."

"I'm only homesick when you're not with me. Haven't you figured out that my home is wherever you are?"

"Aww, you're so sweet."

"I also forgot to tell you that when Zee Zee returns for Labor Day, Mattia is bringing her this time."

"From Italy? That Mattia?"

"Yes. He and his wife are coming for a visit and will bring their son and daughter. So, they agreed to bring her as well since Larisa will be in Italy around that time."

Danica's face lights up, and I inhale, preparing myself to ask the question that I've wanted to ask for some time now.

"Dani?"

"Yes, babe."

"Do you think that you would ever change your mind?"

"About?"

"Having my child?"

Her face tightens, and she rolls onto her back.

"Z, I don't know. I'm thirty-six and the last thing that I need to be thinking about is getting pregnant. What if I—?"

I press my finger to her lip.

"We're not going down that road again. All those what-ifs only serve as an excuse. They become barriers when you allow them to. We don't have to implement them in our lives, and they don't have to be obstacles to realizing our dreams. So what, you're thirty-six. If you want a baby, you can still have a baby.

"As for the rest of it, I'm not worried about that. I'm not worried about you relapsing or any of those things. I have your back. You're not going to be perfect. In truth, none of us are flawless. We're all perfectly imperfect people. You will be strong and you will get through this one day at a time the way that you've been doing for the last five months. You've made it this far, and you will continue to make it another second, another minute, another hour. Just stay in faith."

Danica's smile brightens, and she says, "I love you."

"I love you more."

She rolls over onto her back and glance at the clock.

"One hour, you say?"

"Forty-nine minutes, to be exact," I say.

She shimmies out of her shorts, pulls her top off, and tosses it to the floor.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

She reaches her hand into my pants and grabs my rigid cock.

"Getting some practice in just in case I ever change my mind about making a baby."

"Dani!" I growl, pulling my shorts off and spreading her legs.

I pause, looking at her for her approval.

"Z, we were always required to be tested. That's become a ritual for me. I've done a lot and been through a lot, but by God's grace, I'm clean."

Tears prick my eyes. I lean down and kiss her lips as I slowly slide inside of her warmth. This is the first time that I've been inside of her without protection. Her tightness, her warmth, and her slickness propel me to cum right away, but I hold on to my restraint.

Her hips rise to meet mine, and we lose ourselves in one another. It doesn't take long before I lose my way, drowning in her slick heat and her desire. I want what she wants, and I give her what she needs.

Within minutes, we find release in each other.