Still kissing her, I back her up until her legs hit the bed. She perches on the mattress, leaning her head back to deepen the kiss, opening her mouth to let my tongue entwine with hers.

Pulling back, I fist her hair, studying her face, searching her eyes, making sure she’s with me. I need her to understand and believe how much I love her. How much I want her. I don’t ever want her to doubt my feelings for her again.

“I can never get you out of my head. I’ve been going out of my fucking mind thinking about you and wanting you.”

“You’re sure? You want this me?” Her voice shakes with vulnerability.

“I’m positive, baby.”

She grips my shoulder tight as my words sink in.

“I want you too,” she whispers.

My pulse goes into overdrive as I bend down and kiss her while lifting her and moving her to the center of the new bed. She watches me with half closed eyes as I crawl on top of her. Grabbing the hem of her white T-shirt, I tug it up until she raises her arms for me to pull it off. I suck in a breath at the sight of her bare breasts—perfect, full, hard pink nipples tantalizing me.

Mesmerized, I trace my fingertips over the tattoo of a jeweled cross and butterfly that starts over her breastbone, and extends between her breasts, ending a few inches above her belly button. Goose bumps sprinkle over her taut skin, and she arches her body up into my touch. Another matching filigree, butterfly, and jewel design spans across her belly, disappearing over her hips on each side. These are new, as are the ones I saw last night on her arms and legs. Ember’s always loved body art, but her fear of needles and fainting prevented her from getting all the ink she wanted years ago. We picked most of my artwork together, and she came with me to all my tattoo appointments. I always thought she would look beautiful with body art, but that was an understatement.

She smiles dreamily, and my heart thunders with love for her. Every dream and wish I’ve had over the years is coming true right here, right now. I’m afraid to stop touching her, afraid she might disappear into thin air if I don’t stay physically connected to her in some way.

“You look absolutely stunning,” I say hoarsely. Her sultry hourglass figure has returned—not by surgery—but with what had to be hardcore work with the proper food and workouts almost nonstop for the past two months. She’s obliterated the visions I had of her wasting away in a trapped sleep, unable to live. Nothing about the woman in front of me is suspended, incapacitated, breakable, or withering away. She doesn’t need me to protect her or do for her anymore.

She’s a goddess.

Strong. Determined. Alive. My partner.

Ready and wanting, to be my wife again in every way.

Kneeling between her legs, I remove her sweatpants and panties and run my hands over the smooth skin of her thighs. I lower my lips to the watercolor image of flowers, rainbows, and butterflies splashed across her skin.

“I’m sorry I don’t have the pretty lingerie on like last night,” she whispers, twirling a lock of my hair in her hand.

I crawl back up her body and plant a kiss firmly on her lips. “You don’t need lingerie, baby. You’re gorgeous exactly as you are.”

A hint of insecurity still lingers in her eyes.

“Em, you look fuckin’ incredible. I thought you were gorgeous before, but you’re even more beautiful now. You’re glowing. My insides are shaking just looking at you, being close to you. I feel like I’m fifteen again, and I somehow got the prettiest girl in the world.” She giggles as I rain kisses on her cheeks, her forehead, her nose. “I love you. I love you in jeans and sweatpants and lingerie. It’s all perfect because it’s you.”

“I think you’re perfect too.”

My stomach muscles twitch as her fingertips skim over my abs on their way to the hem of the towel wrapped around my hips. I moan against her mouth when she unravels the knot of the towel and throws it to the side.

Ignited, I skim my hand down the length of her body. Her curves are like a racetrack. I follow the path of my hand with my lips. Nipping. Sucking. Licking. Marking her with tiny love bites in secret places. Her body writhes and twists into mine. Sighs, giggles, and whimpers drift from her lips as I explore her.

My cock grows harder by the second, my skin searing with heat as my blood pumps faster. Her hands rove across my back, then down my spine, lightly digging her nails in. Wrapping her leg around mine, she moves the arch of her foot up and down my calf. Caressing. Exploring.