Page 100 of Finally Forever
Lowell appears again and extends his hand. “I’m Lowell.” We shake. “You’re welcome to come in.”
I look to Ainsley for approval before making a move.
Her posture softens a little, and she nods.
The apartment is very French and small.
Lowell gestures to the couch. “Why don’t you two sit, and I’ll make some coffee?”
“Thank you,” I say, my body still tense because Ainsley hasn’t made a move to hug or touch me. I won’t until she invites me into her personal space, even if it kills me.
Her strawberry and lemon scent perfumes the air in the best way. I notice she’s in clothes, not pajamas. “Did you not pack a suitcase?”
If not, I’ll go out right now and buy her whatever she wants.
She sits on the couch, and I follow her lead, keeping a foot between us. “I did. I fell asleep last night before I could change.” She brushes her hair behind her shoulder and puts her foot on the couch, tucking it under her knee. Her body is angled toward me. Another good sign.
Lowell shuffles around in the kitchen.
I haven’t even met the man properly, and he’s making me—us—coffee. “This feels awkward. I can leave until you’ve both woken up and are ready to see me.”
Fear shows in her green eyes.
Quickly, I add, “I don’t want to. If it were up to me, I’d never leave your side again, but I didn’t think this through. I wanted to see you so badly, I just came.”
She lets out a small laugh. “Did you just get to Paris?”
“No. I arrived a few hours after you, but when I got here, the lights were out. I didn’t want to scare anyone, and you needed sleep. So I waited.”
“Where?”
“I’m at a hotel up the street.” I hitch my thumb in its direction. “Xavier is there.”
“He is?”
“I needed his help to find you. The plan was to catch you in New York before you left for Paris, but we didn’t make it on time.”
Her gaze lowers as if she’s trying to piece everything together. “When did you get your memories back?”
“Shortly after you left. I think it was the shock of you leaving me”—I swallow deep in my throat—“that drew them forward finally. That and learning about the baby.” I shift my gaze to her stomach, my heart swelling with so much love and pride.
“You’re smiling,” she murmurs.
“Yeah, Ainsley. I’m smiling.” I bring my eyes to hers. “We made a family. A bab—” My voice cuts off at the feel of burning in my eyes.
“Sebastian?” She breathes my name and scoots over to cup my cheek in her soft hand. “Is it really you?” She stares into my eyes.
“It’s all I can do not to drag you onto my lap right now. I want to feel you so badly, but I won’t do anything without your permission. I can’t risk losing you again.”
Tears turn her sage eyes glossy, and she treats me to a warm smile. “Touch me.”
Within an instant, I have her cradled in my arms across my lap. I kiss her cheek, her eyelids, her eyebrows, her nose, and the corner of her mouth. “May I kiss your lips?”
“Yes.” It’s part whisper, part sob.
Gently, I press my lips against hers, tasting salt and her sweetness. I cup the back of her head, my fingers tangled in her hair, and keep her to me as I tease the seam of her lips with my tongue. “Open for me.”
She does, her mouth heaven as I slide my tongue in and taste her. Minty fresh. She brushed her teeth before seeing me. Had she hoped this would happen?
