Passion (In Wilde Country 2)

“For the fire that is you,” he said softly. “For the flame you light in my heart.”

She kissed him. “It’s beautiful. Thank you, sweetheart.” She hesitated. “I have something special for you, too.”

He smiled. “You are my something special, cara.”

Suddenly, she felt nervous. His gift had been so perfect. What if hers wasn’t? What if it wasn’t what he really wanted?

What if it was too soon?

“Ariel?”

Matteo was looking at her with concern in his eyes.

“Are you upset?” He felt his gut knot. “Do you regret that we married so quickly? Should I have given you more time…”

Gently, she put her fingers across his lips.

“You know,” she said, “we’ve never talked about having a family.”

His eyes lit. “Two boys,” he said. “And two girls. Unless you want more.” He hesitated. “Am I going too fast? Because if you want to wait…”

Ariel took his hand and placed it against her flat belly.

“Do you remember the first time we made love?”

“Yes. Of course. I could never forget that night. You were so beautiful. And I—”

“And you,” she said gently, “didn’t have a condom.”

“No. I did not. But I bought some the next…the next…” He stared at her. At his hand, pressed against her belly. “Ariel?”

“Yes,” she whispered. “We’re pregnant.”

Matteo smiled. He laughed. Then he took his wife in his arms and kissed her.

The future stretched ahead of him.

A woman he adored, who adored him. Babies. Hell, he thought, laughing again, not just babies but baby drool. And, why not, a Golden Retriever puppy.

He had been The Last Man Standing. Now, he was the happiest man in the world.

And then he stopped thinking and kissed his beautiful, wonderful, amazing wife until she wept with joy in his arms.

THE END