He expressed how much he liked it and her style, and they started discussing antique furniture over breakfast.

I wasn’t completely okay yet, but somehow, I knew I would be. And if the Big Sad knocked on my door again, I had all these wonderful people to help me carry the weight until I could walk unburdened again.

Under the table, I reached for Jules’ hand, needing to hold him. His words didn’t give his actions away, but he took my hand and placed it on his thigh. He then covered it with his own and rubbed gentle circles on the back of my palm.

I thought Mum would explode with joy. She had always cried easily and I saw tears sparkle in her eyes.

“Right,” she sniffed, wiping her eyes stealthily as she reached for her coffee cup. “What are the plans for today?”

“I’m taking my favourite people out for lunch, and I thought we could show Jules the town?”

Neukirchen had grown and changed so quickly in the past five years that even I, who had grown up here, barely recognised it anymore. The old parts dating back to the Middle Ages had, at least, stayed the same, and I thought he might appreciate its narrow lanes and crooked houses.

“That’s a wonderful idea, darling.” More tears leaked out of her eyes, and she dried them on her jumper, laughing. “Sorry, it’s just so good to see you happy.”

Jules squeezed my hand. “And I have two sons now. It’s too much for my heart.”

I felt my love sit up straighter as if concerned she might keel over.

“It needs to adapt to all this love and until it does, I’ll start crying every time I look at you.”

I snorted and drank from my coffee.

“I am sorry to upset you like this,” Jules told her in a quiet voice.

“Oh my God, no! Oh, Jules!” She got up, rushed around the table and hugged him. “I’m not upset. You know when Nikolai was born…” Letting go of him, she took a seat again. “I always hoped that, one day, he might find someone who loves him for who he is. That’s all I ever wanted for my child. And seeing you two together… I don’t know if it makes sense at all, but I love you so much because you love him the way you do,” she added in a soft voice, smiling through fresh tears.

Jules nodded, a smile spreading across his face. “It makes sense to me.”

“How about we chill for a bit once we’ve cleared the table? It’s too early to leave,” I suggested, wanting to be alone with my man.

“Excellent idea, Bunny.”

Back in the guest room, I urged him on the bed, holding him down with my body between his legs, and took his mouth in a hungry kiss.

As we struggled to get our clothes off, we kept our mouths fused. We tried to be extra quiet as he took me inside his ass. He felt so hot and tight when I slid my cock inside him. And so wet.

He is so fucking turned on.

But so was I. I fucked him hard and deep, trying to hit his sensitive spot with every thrust. I needed him to come; I couldn’t hold out any longer.

With the tiniest gasp that I swallowed down, he came around me, his muscles milking my cock for every last fucking drop of cum.

“Oh my goodness, Bunny,” he breathed as his body relaxed under me and sank back to the bed. I looked down between us, to his obscenely spread thighs, my hips lodged firmly between them, and his cum-streaked abs.

“You are perfect, baby boy. So fucking perfect.”

I brought my mouth on his again, trying to put my feelings into the kiss.

He broke our connection, cupping my cheek, and smiling up at me. “Not at all, Bunny. But I am perfect for you just like you are for me.”

“I love you, Jules.”

My forever.

Fifty-seven

Jules