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Shaking my head no, I made sure to choose my words carefully. “That's not what I said at all.” Tracing a single finger up and down her arm, I kissed her softly. “You've been different lately.”

“Different how?” she asked, stretching her arms over her head and yawning.

“What did you have for lunch yesterday?”

“A sandwich.”

“And how did you make that sandwich?”

“What are you getting at?” Furrowing her brows, she eyed me curiously.

She really couldn't see the differences I could.

“You just threw the mustard right on that shit, and then you gobbled it down without your ritual of eating the crust first.”

“So?”

“So?” My jaw hung open, waiting for her to put the pieces together. “That's not how you do it. And then, you cried last night when I forgot to make garlic bread.”

“I think you're reaching here, Yuri.” Smirking, Gwen turned to look out the window.

A glimmer of sunlight was creating bright yellow arms as it stretched between the buildings, making the New York City skyline glisten.

Gwen didn't get on that plane that day, we got the next flight we could together. I couldn't love without her, not ever again. Even the thought of it hurt. I had spent too many years without her already.

“Will you just take a test to see?”

“Yuri, I'm not even late yet.” Swooping her arm up over her head, she gently stroked my jaw. “It's too soon to know for sure.”

“I don't think it could hurt to try anyway.”

We decided together that if she was meant to get pregnant, we'd let it happen. We weren't taking any precautions to prevent it, and we didn't want to. I had never felt so certain about something in my life like I did about Gwen.

I wanted a family with her, I wanted to get married and live our happily ever after. For the first time in years, I could actually a see a future for myself. She was my everything, we were meant to find each other in this fucked up world.

After getting to New York, Gwen made a few calls to some lawyer friends she had, trying to see if she could get my record expunged. But it would be a long process. It was going to require a lot of work and a confession on my brother's part if I wanted to clear my name.

So far, all I had done was right him a letter asking for him to tell the truth. I hadn't heard back from him yet, and I wasn't sure I would. All I could do was hope that he at least had a fraction of compassion for what I had done for him, that he felt some remorse for letting me take the fall and then going on to ruin his life anyway.

Only time would tell if he had the ability to be give when all he knew how to do was take from others.

Gwen flipped onto her back, her eyes soft and slightly sad. “I did take one, it came back negative.”

“What?” I asked, darting my eyes between hers. “When? I thought we said we were doing this together?”

“I know.” Pulling her eyes off of mine, she looked up at the ceiling. “I was thinking I was too, and I thought if I found out I was pregnant, I could surprise you with the news. You know,” she said, allowing her eyes to drift back to mine. “Just like those people that serve baby everything for dinner or a present that's a baby outfit or tiny shoes.”

“Babe, I love that idea, I think it's really nice. So. . .” Climbing on top of her, I brushed her hair out of her face. “Lets keep practicing to make sure we're doing it right until it does happen.”

Taking in a deep breath, her nipples poked through the fabric of her nightgown, making my cock thicken. “You want to practice?” Her hands worked their way up my back, curling around my neck.

“Practice makes perfect—isn't that the saying?”

Gwen let out a coo that made my heart speed up and my dick turn stiff. Running my hand down her thigh, I squeezed her hard, leaving fingerprints in her skin.

Like a wild animal, I drove my lips onto hers, kissing her with every emotion I felt inside. I loved this woman. I never stopped loving this woman. She owned me; mind body and soul.

And as we made love, I knew the child we would have one day would be blessed with parents that loved each other unconditionally.

We were going to create one hell of a life together.