Page 55 of Silent Vow

Her body is warm,mine. She sees me as I see her—openly. She shows me all her love, even when I can’t. But not now. Since Aria, it’s like my heart has come open, and it bleeds. I take Calista in, stroke my hardness against her softness, the part of her that pushed our Aria out into the world.

“Caro,” she murmurs when I slide into her.

She’s warm. Delicious. I kiss her, again and again. I need her so much.

I sink into her. Deeper, every day, every minute, every second. She’s in me, part of me.

I’ve always loved her, but now, with our baby in her crib, safe in the nursery next door, I’m aware of all that is inside of me. I’m aware of my wife, my heart, her breath, the beat ofherheart.

I shift so I can touch her clit, feel her come. She moans. Writhes. I’m so into this woman. There is no end, no beginning, just her.

How did I live so many years without her?

She lets go in my arms, softly crying her release. I press my face into her hair as I hammer in and out, feeling her spasms, feeling her milk me.

I explode—weeks of pent-up desire, a lifetime of love. I give it all to her. Everything. Whatever I have.

After, she curls beside me, one hand on my chest like it belongs there. It does. It always has and always will.

“I have something to tell you,” I say quietly.

She doesn’t look surprised. She rarely does anymore when it comes to me. She knows me, my soulmate.

“I gave it up. All of it. No more contracts. No more clients. No more blood.”

Silence.

“I told you I did, but I didn’t…not until now.”

She lifts her head, eyes soft but sharp—sharper than I give her credit for. “I know.”

I blink. “You…know?”

“I know you didn’t stop when you said you did.”

My stomach twists. “You know I lied. But?—”

“You didn’t lie to hurt me. You are you,caro.”

Tears fill my eyes. They start to leak. She groans in despair. Sits up. Wipes my tears, looks at me like she’s studying something broken but beautiful.

“You’re darker than most.” She leans in, kisses my scarred jaw. “I accept that. I accept you.”

“Baby—"

“You’ve always had shadows. But you let me be your light. And now you’ve let Aria be your light.”

I cry. I let go of what’s heavy.

And all I can say is, “Thank you. For being you. For giving me you. For giving me Aria.”

“Forever,caro.” She settles against me again, holds me, heals me.

Because love like this—forgiveness like this—isn’t owed. It’s given. And I will spend the rest of my life earning it.