I’ll never be able to adequately explain what it does to me to see her with my children. I never thought I’d find a woman who would love my kids like her own, but I truly believe Nora does.
I’m fresh from the shower, a white towel wrapped around my hips. Nora’s heated gaze travels from my lips all the way down to my toes. She swallows hard.
The feeling is definitely mutual, baby.
“Nora?”
“I’m sorry, what was the question?”
I grin. “I asked why you’re smiling?”
“Just thinking.” She untangles an arm from around Emma and situates her on the pillow, then swipes a chunk of hair off of Jack’s forehead and kisses Henry on the cheek.
“About what?” I ask, holding my hand out.
I help her off the bed and lead us out of the kids’ room, through the common area of the suite, and into what will be our room for the night.
“You. Me. Us.”
“I like where this is going.”
“I know we have so much to talk about, but—”
“You’re right, we do. Let me start. I owe you an apology.”
She shakes her head. “You already apologized.”
“Not properly.” I sit on the bed and pull her down beside me. “I knew the second you pulled away from my house that day that I’d made a mistake. Fuck, I knew it while we were arguing, but I couldn’t get my heart and head on the same page. I got spooked, and I pushed you away the first chance I got, and I’m so sorry, baby.”
Tears swim in Nora’s eyes. She lifts a hand and runs her knuckles down the side of my face.
“I’m sorry too.”
“You did nothing wrong.”
“Yes, I did.” She takes my hand and grasps it between hers. “I shouldn’t have gone behind your back and paid Lorelei off. That was wrong of me. We should have made that decision together.”
“All is forgiven, sweetheart.”
“Thank you.” She takes a deep breath and looks at our joined hands before lifting her eyes. “Grayson, this is still my life. I’m going to cut way back because I want to be with you and the kids, but there will be rumors, and photos snapped, and weekends away, and—”
I press a finger to her lips. “And we’ll deal with all of that as it comes. Together.”
“Together.” She nips playfully at the pad of my finger, setting my body on fire.
I push her back against the bed and hover above her. “Now forgive me, woman, so we can get to the make-up sex.”
Her eyes dart to the door. “What about the kids?”
“They’re two rooms over and sleeping like the dead. As long as you don’t scream like a banshee, we’ll be good.”
She grins. With the flick of her wrist, my towel is gone, piled somewhere on the floor. “I can’t promise anything.”
God, I love this woman. I kiss her hard and fast. “I missed you so much.”
She pushes her fingers into my hair. “I missed you more.”
“Not possible. Forgive me. I need the words, Nora.”