“Reiss, I appreciate you telling me this. In fact, you spilling all of those pent up emotions enlightened me as to what you have been going through. But, for the past weeks, haven’t you listened to a word I’ve told you?” She frowned as she made a small shake of her head, as if she couldn’t believe how clueless I was. “Men!” she ferociously exclaimed before giving me the evil eye.
“When I said I loved you, it meant that I’m here for as long as you want me, for as long as you need me. It might sound tragic to some, but I don’t have any pride or ego left, because for ten years, I’ve used it all up. And, now that I have you in the most unconventional ways, I’m willing to make this opportunity work, one way or the other. So, when I say I love you, you shouldn’t think that I will walk away because you’re acting like a bloody fool or the complete insufferable prick that you can truly be at most times … because that’s the thing, I love you even when you’re being such a dastardly bastard.
“I love you in all of your moods and colors. I’ve come to love you, Reiss, not all these grand trappings you can provide, though I admit it’s rather impressive. It’s you that I want, not what you represent.” A tiny smile played on her lips, her eyes glowing with love. “I love you as Reiss, and I love you as Craig, although I love you even more being Craig Reiss Chambers because this man came into my life, turning it upside down, blazing into it with little care for consequences. Though he was resistant in the beginning, our connection was too deep to be ignored. I knew…I just had to wait for the right time that he’ll realize that this time…I’m here to stay.” She smiled. “I had to do a little extra digging to find out what was the connection between the names…money could really be useful sometimes when trying to unlock someone’s past.”
Well, knowing how she worked, I wasn’t even surprised that she went above and beyond to figure this one out without asking me. Typical Ava.
“I—” I cleared my throat, partially grinning. “So, does that mean you’re staying to be my wife? I’m not sure if you heard, but I stated that I wanted to be married forever, and that’s a rather long time. If you change your mind twenty years down the road, you’d have a better success rate at plotting my demise than getting a divorce from me, so you should think long and hard, princess.”
Rolling her eyes, she snorted before taking me down so I was atop her pliant body. “If you’re trying to scare me away, you better do a better job since this rather laughable attempt is too poor of one to be taken seriously.”
I barked a laugh at her comment, grinning from ear to ear before I nuzzled her neck, breathing her in. I felt my body sag against her, already intoxicated by her nearness. This feeling of contentment, this simple sort of happiness, made everything worthwhile. My doubts were cast aside. My mental state was clearer than ever. My heart was creaking its door open slowly. And, as for the rest, I knew what Charlotte had said was true—I wasn’t worthy of her daughter, although I would try forever.
While I was lost in the fluffy haze of my imagination, Ava shifted a bit so her lips were close to my ear. “I have something on my mind that may indirectly affect you,” she informed me in a hushed tone, making me alert and suspicious in a second’s time.
Hating to be parted from my comfortable nook, I frowned at her. “Go on?”
“I was told by numerous women in one of my yoga classes that my breasts would eventually lose a little gravity after childbirth. What happens then? I’m sure you would not be fond of that, and would rather have the rubbery, borderline on softness tits.” She did appear like this was troubling her, which only made her all the more adorable in my eyes.
Using a serious tone, I looked her straight in the eye. “Bloody hell, Ava, do you honestly think I’m that shallow of a man? You’re pregnant with my child, and it’s one of the grandest things any woman could give to a man. I don’t bloody give a damn about tits losing gravity or trails of stretch marks because your skin had to stretch far and wide to cater to my daughter or son. Hell, I’d take on an extra twenty pounds, or fifty, or a hundred, for that matter, if that’s what you’re trying to get at.” I meant every single word, too. I wasn’t toying around with her.
She instantly appeared perplexed, aghast at my suggestion. “Fifty? A hundred? Are you implying that you want me to look like a buffalo?”
Hell. I wouldn’t have minded, one way or the other. Was that so difficult to comprehend? “Buffalo or whatever, you’d be beautiful in all shapes and sizes.”
That seemed to have mellowed her a little. I began to pay homage to her delectable breasts that were soon to lose their gravity—or so she claimed—kissing my way across them. She easily succumbed to my persistent kisses, and opened herself up to me. My cock sprang to life as I started to rub it against her, prolonging the sweet torture. Her kisses went from sweet to feverish, igniting the fire in my blood that only she set ablaze.
“Marry me again, Ava …” I said in between kisses, wanting a second chance at this. Our marriage.
“What?” She paused, eyeing me with scrutiny. “But we just got married!”
I shrugged. “I know, but I want a real one, with you wearing a beautiful gown, walking towards me to celebrate our future together.” It was a thought that had made me crazy mad back in our youth, and it was something I intended to happen. “I always dreamt of you in a wedding gown. It was just unfortunate that I saw you marrying someone else.”
“Oh, Reiss …” She reached out to me, holding me close to her chest. “If this is want you want, then I’d be more than willing to splurge your riches to have a wedding that’s too costly when it’s over and done with in a day.”
“If that’s the price I have to pay to see you in a wedding dress, then have a go at it, princess. My bank account is open for business.”
She tapped my shoulder with that cute, little pout of hers. “Now you’re just being cheeky.”
Well, since we are on that particular subject, let me emphasize, “I’m rather fond of cheeks. When your back is arched and your bottom’s thrusting upwards, legs parted just enough for me to see the glorious channels I could pleasure myself with … north and south, I worship thee and thy holy passages.”
Chapter 31
Reiss
“I’m sorry, but I can’t make it to you in time.” Ava was scheduled for a check-up, and as much as it pained me to cancel on her at the last minute, I simply couldn’t walk away when something critical had just come to my attention regarding one of the main accountants in the finance department. They had pointed out that someone was redirecting money, discreetly siphoning funds to an offshore bank account in Southeast Asia. It was something I couldn’t ignore.