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My vision whitens, and my world obliterates. I fall into an alternate state of being, the pleasure coursing through my veins as I unload unending streams of cum inside her.

Much later, when she’s tucked against my chest, a sweet smile on her face, my heart is whole for the first time in a decade. Despite Dreamer not remembering her Keeper, my Lexy fell in love with me again.

Completely spent, utterly at peace, I let myself believe something I’ve never thought possible.

This time, I can keep my Nova.

This time, I can protect her. Cherish her. Love her until the end of time.

But as I sink into sleep, a worrisome thread slithers inside me, and a last thought—to fate, to whatever higher power’s out there—whispers across my mind.

Please don’t take my happiness away this time. Please.

Chapter 48

“So why did youvolunteer to be a pen pal with Letters of Hope?” Alexis stretches on the bed, her hair a messy halo, her eyes heavy-lidded after she woke up in my apartment.

She looks so goddamn beautiful.

We spent the last week between Christmas and New Year’s holed up in my place doing nothing other than watching movies (The Notebooktwice,The Sound of Music, where she sang along, completely off-key), reading poetry (Dickinson and Keats), helping her make her bucket list of traveling destinations (scaling Mt. Everest, take pictures with penguins in Antarctica), and trying out new recipes found online (lasagna made from scratch and according to her, the best turkey club in the world).

Two small oven fires and barely edible food later, we’d then call for takeout.

To some people, maybe it’s boring—no jet setting to the Caribbean or dining at the best restaurants of the world.

But to me, it’s the best week ever.

I smile as I button my dress shirt and loop a tie around my neck.

She climbs off the bed and traipses toward me, wearing only my white dress shirt and revealing an expanse of smooth thighs.

My dick twitches.

Damn. It’s getting ridiculous.

“Let me help you.” She grins and works my tie in practiced moves, fashioning it into a Windsor knot. “Liam is helpless with this stuff. I used to do it for him all the time.”

My heartbeat kicks up at the mention of Liam. I’m telling him about Lexy and me and he’s going to have to deal with it, whether he likes it or not.

She pats the tie and admires her handiwork. “Did I ever tell you how much I love the color blue on you?”

A sharp inhale lodges in my throat. She asked me the same question all those years ago.

I graze my finger over the bridge of her nose—my love in a gesture—and watch her cheeks pinken.

“Perhaps someday, you’ll find out why I love the color blue,” I murmur.

“And you’ll tell me about the cuff links too?” Pursing her lips, she traces her finger on the black floral surface, and I’m tempted to slide open the latch to show her the hummingbird underneath.

But something holds me back.

I want to show her when I can tell her everything.

“Once you’re out of your medical trial, I’ll tell you our story. All of it. No more secrets.”

“It must be so lonely, being the only one who remembers,” she whispers, her eyes tearing up.

An ache forms in my chest, but I push it away. My Nova, the past or current versions of her, has the same beautiful heart.