31. Diana

31

DIANA

I sort of wonder, again, if I’m dreaming. I mean, ten minutes ago, Lazaro was telling me I shouldn’t be here. Two minutes ago, I was walking away. And now, he’s on one knee asking me to marry him. Surely, this is a dream. Whatever it is, I’m going to grab hold.

Overwhelmed by the rush of emotions flooding through me, I throw my arms around him. “Yes.”

Lazaro's face lights up with joy as he rises from his knee with me still wrapped up in his arms. He spins me around, his laughter filling the air. It’s a magical sound, one I hope I hear for years and years to come.

He sets me down, and as his lips meet mine, the world around us melts away. There’s just me and him. The kiss is passionate, desperate, as if we're trying to make up for all the time we've lost. This moment, right here, is everything I've ever dreamed of but never dared to hope for.

When we finally part, I’m breathless. He's turned my world upside down in the best possible way. The man everyone else fears has become my safe harbor, my protector, my love.

A wave of pure happiness washes over me. For the first time in my life, I feel like I truly belong somewhere. With Lazaro, I'm not just passing through. I'm home. This is the family I've been searching for my entire life.

I know it won’t always be like it is at this moment. Lazaro is a complicated man still haunted by his past, but I know together, we’ll weather all storms.

I place a hand on my stomach, thinking of our child growing inside me. Lazaro covers my hand with his own, his touch gentle and reverent. The look of wonder on his face makes my heart swell with love.

It’s only then I notice the bruising and scrapes on his knuckles. “You’re hurt.” I lift his hand to my lips, but he pulls it away.

“It has Hartley on it. I don’t want any part of him on you.”

It’s a sweet sentiment.

“I’m going to take a shower, wash all this away.”

I give him a flirty smile. “Do you need help?”

His eyes turn feral. “A shower with you will lead to dirty things.”

My girlie parts light up. “I like dirty things.”

He looks at my belly again. “It’s okay? I mean… we won’t hurt the baby?”

I roll my eyes. “No, we won’t hurt the baby.”

Lazaro leads me to the ensuite bathroom, stripping his clothes along the way. As he turns on the water to let it heat up, I admire the play of muscles across his back. He catches me looking and smirks, making me blush.

I undress, loving the way his gaze roams over my body. I’m no super model, but Lazaro seems to like my curves. When we’re naked, Lazaro pulls me into the shower and holds me close, skin against skin. The warm water cascades over us.

Lazaro reaches for the soap, washing his hands, wincing slightly as he rubs his knuckles. “He’s not dead.”

I look up at him. “What?”

“Hartley. I didn’t kill him. I wanted to… but… I didn’t want to become like him.”

My heart fills with emotion. Lazaro has been tormented by the more violent side of himself. “You’re not like him.”

“I didn’t kill his father. I’m sure of it.”

I get the feeling he’s needing me to see him as something other than the reputation that follows him.

I press my hands on his chest. “You got your memory back.”

He shakes his head. “No. Not all of it, anyway. When I saw him, though, all these images came flying into my head.”

“Perhaps that incident was what blocked your memory. Now that it’s come back, perhaps your other memories will too.” For a moment, worry fills me. What if his memories come back and he returns to being the old Lazaro? The one who never settled for a single woman?

He shrugs. “Maybe.” As if he knows my fears, he uses the crook of his finger to tilt my head up to look at him. “But it won’t change how I feel about you.”

I have to take his word for it. He kisses me as if to seal his commitment to me. Then he reaches for the shampoo.

I playfully snatch it away. "Let me," I say, pouring some into my palm.

I work the shampoo into his dark hair, massaging his scalp. Lazaro lets out a contented sigh, his eyes closing in pleasure. It feels wonderfully intimate to care for him like this.

"Your turn," Lazaro murmurs when I'm done. His strong hands are gentle as he washes my hair, his fingers working out the tension I didn't realize I was carrying. I lean into his touch, savoring the moment.

As we rinse off, Lazaro's hands roam over my body, tracing the curves of my hips and the swell of my stomach where our baby grows. His touch is reverent, full of love and wonder.

He lowers to his knees, trailing kisses along my belly. “I feel like I need to apologize for not using a condom, but to be honest, I’m not sorry.” He looks up at me. “You’ve given me everything I didn’t even know I wanted.”

My eyes get watery from emotion. “You’ve given me everything I’ve always wanted.”

He rises, banding his arms around me, his lips finding mine with a kiss so sweet and pure. “I promise to be the best husband and father you could ever want.”

Looking into his eyes, I see the truth of his words, his unwavering commitment to me and our child.

"I know it won't always be easy.” Lazaro’s thumb gently caresses my face, pushing away strands of my wet hair stuck to my cheek. "I know I’m a difficult man?—”

“Not to me, you’re not.”

His smile is fast and easy, so unlike when I first met him.

“You keep me in line. And I promise you, I’ll protect you and the baby.”

I’m starting to have questions like where we’ll live. Will we stay here or get our own place? I don’t mind either except it might be weird around Anna and the girls. Will I work? Can I work? I don’t want to be idle. Maybe I can work with Piper in her nonprofit that helps domestic violence victims. I don’t need answers now. One thing about me—I’m always ready for a new adventure and I don’t need a plan or to know what’s next. I’m happy to take life as it comes. It’s how I found Lazaro.

“Earth to Diana.”

I blink up at Lazaro.

“You okay?”

I smile up at him, feeling ridiculously happy. “Yep. Just thinking about our future.”

“Not about my dick?”

I feel him hard and heavy against my belly. “It’s hard not to think about that when it’s clearly vying for attention.”

“He has a mind of his own,” Lazaro says with a cheeky grin.

“Hmm… and you have no interest in such things?” I cup my breasts and hold them up, watching his eyes flash with wild heat at the sight of them.

“I’ve a shit-ton of interest. I crave you in a way I’ve never craved a woman.” He tugs me close, his lips covering mine in an all-consuming kiss. His hands slide down my back, cupping my ass, pulling me against his erection. I grind against him as need builds. Instantly, the passion cranks up. Hands roam, squeeze, caress. Lips taste, nip, suck.

“Lazaro.” My voice is desperate, begging for him to satisfy the ache.

He growls, turning me until I’m against the cool shower tiles. He lifts my leg, hooking over his hip. “Diana.”

I’m lost in sensation but find my way through to open my eyes and look up into his hazel gaze. In his eyes, I see everything I’ve ever wanted. Love. Home. Family.

Our gazes hold as he presses himself inside me, slow, smooth, filling me. Emotion fills my chest, arcing between us. We are one. Finally, I’ve found my place.

“Say it again,” he demands hoarsely.

“I love you,” I gasp as he thrusts in response.

“Mine. Forever.” He captures my lips again. His hips rock. Together, we move. If soulmates are real, Lazaro is mine. Together like this, I feel like I’ve found my missing piece.

“Oh, God… Lazaro.” The pleasure is peaking. I want it to last longer even as need claws to be fulfilled.

“Come, Diana… fuck… Now, baby, now…” He thrusts in, grinds against me, sending me soaring into bliss. “Yes… yes… fuck… I love you, I love you.”

I’m swamped in sensation and his words. I’ve never been happier. I’ve never felt so loved. And now I have it all. I’m finally home.