26. Ethan

I awaken slowly,a dreamy smile creeping across my face remembering my picnic with Lia, who spent the night with me in my bed.

The coffeemaker gurgles from the kitchen and I slide on my jeans, padding barefoot across the floorboards toward Lia, who stands with her back facing me, wearing only my flannel hanging loose on her beautiful body.

I halt in my tracks, transfixed by the sunlight glowing around her dark hair that glistens. This incredible woman has overcome so much, done so much for my family and me. And now she's mine. Mine.

Lia turns, hearing my sharp inhale, mischief sparkling in umber eyes. "See something you like, farm boy?"

I cross over to her quickly, pulling her eager body flush to mine, claiming her teasing lips. We cling together until the teakettle's shrill whistle interrupts my hungry explorations. I release her slowly, heart galloping wildly.

"Coffee or tea?" Lia gestures shyly toward her efforts with morning beverages. My chest constricts, realizing how much I still love her, how I've always loved her. We aren't teens anymore. She's all woman, choosing a second chance with me. I cradle her face between my rough palms, hoping I can summon the right words.

"You being here makes everything perfect. Coffee can wait."

Her cheeks flush a beautiful shade of pink and she presses her lips together, looking up into my eyes. "Ethan, with the meds change....well now that the harsh pills are stopped, technically I might eventually get..."

Lia breaks off, twisting a lock of her hair, teeth worrying a lush lower lip. My pulse quickens realizing the monumental notion looming over our still-new intimacy. I cover her restless hands with mine. "Lia, darling, look at me." I lift her chin slowly and her eyes brim with yearning and worry and tears. I smile. "I'll say it again. You being here is perfect. And if us being together creates a new life, well, then that's perfect, too."

A single tear etches glistening trails down Lia's delicate cheek. Her radiant expression transforms from disbelief into profound relief as I claim her mouth and lift her off the ground. I head for the bedroom with ground-eating strides and set her on the floor by the bed so I can unbutton my shirt, revealing her breasts and the round swell of her belly. I rest a palm there, realizing that someday this belly might swell with my child.

Before my emotions can overwhelm me, she launches herself at me, pushing me flat on my back on the mattress and straddling my body, her wet center rubbing along my already-hard cock. "Oh, god, Lia." I thrust up against her, needing that heat, needing her.

She's quiet and smiling as she adjusts herself to take me into her body in one wet slide. Her hips meet mine and we both look down at the place where we're connected. I place her hand on my heart. "I'm yours, Lia. I've always been yours."

"And I'm yours, Ethan. Forever." Lia begins to rock and sway, I lie back, watching the incredible show. She slides a hand down her own chest and the sight has me harder than ever. When her hand reaches her cleft, she begins to moan and touch herself. My breath comes in pants as she takes what she needs, bringing me along with her for the best ride of my life.

"Yes, Lia. Show me what you need."

"You always give me exactly what I need," she pants, rocking and grinding, grunting in effort until her head snaps back and I feel her pulsing around me. She shudders above me and moves a few more times before I feel the white-hot burst of pleasure building from the base of my spine.

I clasp her hips, fingers digging into her soft flesh, and I thrust up and spill into her, hot and hard.

Lia collapses onto my chest and I run my fingers lazily through her hair, both of us working to slow our hearts and breath. We are nearly asleep, sticky and warm, when my front door bursts open with a horrifying sound.

Through the open bedroom door, I see Baabara clop into my house, bleating, dragging a leash behind her and splashing clots of mud along my floor. "Baabara, what the hell?"

I flail around the room in search of my pants, lunging out of bed to chase her. I need to grab the sheep before she destroys my entire house. Before I even have my pants pulled on, she sticks a head into the bedroom, appears to assess the situation, and bleats twice before trotting back out the door.

Lia is doubled over in hysterics as I hop around, trying to get my feet into some shoes so I can chase Baabara down. I glance over my shoulder at my … at my Lia, still laughing and gorgeously disheveled. "Be here when I get back," I bark at her. Her peals of laughter follow me as I bolt after the damn sheep.