"Kira," Liam breathes my name as though it's been stuck at the tip of his tongue for a century, waiting to fly away. "I had no idea she'd be there. I met her last evening and it was only for a short while, I swear," he explains desperately while getting closer to me.

I don't say a word, I just wait for him to proceed without taking a step further.

"That picture didn't mean anything that's been insinuated by the people who took it," he says in an endearing tone of voice. "Scarlet and I had to have a talk at some point, and since we met there it was inevitable to leave things as they are. Kira, we talked about her pregnancy and it was an emotional moment for her so I was merely showing my support."

And it was emotional for you too, I believe. I swallow tightly at the surge of nerves in my blood. He has a point, I know he does.

"I couldn't tell you about my meeting with her because I believed it's better I tell you in person than doing it while I was still there," Liam adds, answering the last question I had. "Why did I marry you instead of her? Jesus, Kira, I married you because I love you! Not her!" he snaps, talking about my text.

I still don't respond and Liam sighs heavily upon my silence. Panic strikes in his face as he runs a hand through his hair, seemingly afraid of what I'm going to say to him. He looks stressed and it bruises my heart regardless of the reason behind all this mess. 

I'm not angry anymore—I can feel it—and his presence is nothing but an assurance that he's still my husband just as before. If I can't trust his words, I'll have to trust his eyes at the very least. When I look at them and see nothing sincerity and love for us.

And I can't hold my feelings anymore. I stride over and hug him. I want nothing but for things to get back to normal now that he's back home with me. His warmth, his breath, his sweet hold around my body are what I yearn for at the moment.

"My love," Liam breathes and holds me closer to him. "I just need you to believe." 

"I believe you," I whisper softly and pull back to behold his bewildered gaze. He's skeptical, his body tense. "I mean it." A smile kisses my lips, reassuring him.

"Oh, Kira." He pulls me for a tight hug, breathing into my hair. He showers me with many kisses to show how relieved he is. "You had me so worried, baby. I was so scared that I may lose you, after our last chat this morning."

Really now? Because he thought I'd pack my bags and leave? What a dumb intelligent man! I laugh gently.

"Is that why you rushed back so early?" I murmur, burying my face onto his chest. 

"Of course." He kisses my hair once again. "I couldn't stay a day longer. It was killing me inside thinking of any possibility of you making a rushed decision out of anger. My God, you are such a pro at turning me nuts, Mrs. Darcy."

"I'm pretty sure that's your area of expertise." I tug my head back to behold his face anew. He looks eased now. "Did you really have to hold her hand, Liam Darcy? Fine, I can pretend to understand you two had a lot to talk about, but why holding her hand behind the fireplace? And why didn't you just tell me when you met her?"

Okay, I think I'm turning bipolar now. One minute I forgive him, and another I feel like he's not forgiven yet. 

Liam's eyes widen. "I didn't tell you because I knew you'd be like . . . this." He points at me as if I'm an object. I frown at him and he chuckles. "Kira, I know how anxious you'd get knowing I was in the same place with Scarlet. I didn't want that to happen. However, I wasn't going to hide it forever, just as I told you a while ago. As soon as I got back home, I was going to tell you about it."

"Oh, so you did it for me, huh? How considerate of you." I slip away from him and fold my arms on my chest.

"I only did what I thought was right at the time, Kira. I'm sorry." Liam lowers his voice, accepting his fate with a small smile on his face. 

I sigh heavily and place my one hand on my hip. Liam gazes at me and a faint twinkle illuminates his eyes as he follows the curves of my slim-fit red dress.

Is it too short? Or too tight? Why's he suddenly distracted? I frown and stalk his gaze as he stares from my head to my toes, as if he's just seen me.

"You went out like that?" he asks.

"Yes, and I don't think it's important, Liam! We need to straighten things out so don't try to distract me!" I retort.

He giggles. "That was never my intention, but fine. Let's talk. What else am I being accused of?" 

I roll my eyes.

"I'm sure you talked about her pregnancy. How is she holding up?" My voice suddenly gets soft, my eyes glowing with mixed emotions regarding the matter. 

Losing a baby can't be a simple heartache. Scarlet didn't look well even when I last saw her at the party, and it's as though she'd gained weight compared to the first time I met her in Las Vegas. 

Was it the stress, maybe? For her profession being slim is a taboo, right?

Liam's jaw tightens and gently he shifts his stance. "She's not doing well. I guess she was supposed to perform in Munich but she refused to do it."

"So then, why was she there?" I ask dubiously.

"I think she's gone there as a judge," Liam says quietly, and deep inside I know he still cares about her more than he lets on. 

Maybe it's only natural, right? 

I've never been in his shoes so I can't tell what's right and what's wrong. It was their baby, after all. I sigh again and slowly I sink into the couch, holding my face in my hands. Liam joins me shortly, and our eyes meet as he sits down. He knows I'm shaken by this—it's a little too much to take in.

"Come." He beckons me to sit on his lap, and I do as I'm told. 

I lay my head on his, and his arms hold my waist. Silence stretches between us, but the soft music from the laptop manages to ease our minds gradually.

"That's our song," Liam whispers as Ed Sheeran sings about Perfect. 

"It is." I smile, curling my arms around his neck tightly. "Do you remember our first dance at that wedding in Montana?" I ask him.

I feel his lovely embrace around my body as he laughs softly. It's relaxing.

"How can I not?" He kisses the tip of my shoulder and stares at me in the eyes. "I've got a thousand reasons to love you, Kira Darcy. That one reason you're so afraid of, will never be the reason enough for me to choose another woman over you." He kisses my neck this time.

We were still kids when we fell in love, not knowing what it was . . .

"I'm sorry for my outburst, Liam. I don't know why I even doubted you," I breathe as the song keeps playing, reliving us with so many cherished memories. "I guess I'm getting too sensitive lately and it feels like I'm losing the sense of what's real and what's not. I constantly let fear dictate my decisions and . . ." Tears prick in my eyes and I fail to go on. 

I just cry. 

"Shhh!" Liam places an index on my lips. I sniff my tears. "It's alright to be mad, my love. I did hurt you and I admit my fault in this. You're going through a lot and I was supposed to help you through it and not the other way around. But all I need is for you to trust me . . . to trust yourself, Kira. Scarlet and whoever I had an intimate with before you, are now nothing but the part of my unerased past. You're my present, my future, and the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with."

Some heat blooms in my cheeks, and in my heart I find the warmth it needs.

"How can you be so good at making me so special, huh?" I palm his face and smile fondly. 

Smiling back, Liam strokes a thumb on my cheek. My eyes stay on his blue gaze and my fear disappears.

"This dress is too tight and short," he finally says it while dropping his hand about on my thighs.

"Is it?" I breathe against his ear, nuzzling him playfully.

And my sex goddess wakes from her long, deep winter slumber.

"Yeah. I don't like you wearing it without me around, Kira." Kissing my neck soundly, Liam's hand squeezes the dress upward, and other sneaks 

"But I like it." I flex at his touch. Responsively, he undoes the zipper of my dress expertly, his lips all over my neck and chest. "Besides"—my breath quickens as I close my eyes—"I had no you in my mind while putting it on. I was only thinking of myself and my need to feel good and beautiful before going out."

"And I love what you're wearing inside. Hmm, you're one hell of a fine creation, Mrs. Darcy. God really has me privileged." Liam smiles up at me while downing the spaghetti straps of my dress, slowly and sensually, freeing my chest.

"The stockings? Hmm, I had no idea it's one of your kinky fantasies, Mr. Darcy. I should wear them more often, then."

"I guess they are," Liam says, his voice deep enthralled. 

"How about . . ." I slowly eject myself from his lap, following every whim thrown my the sex goddess in me. "I take this off for you, huh? Would you like to watch me strip for you?"

"By all means, dear wife. By all means."  Liam reclines back bossily on the couch,  emboldening me with his look of desire and excitement. 

The song keeps playing as I stand up right in front of him. My hair is tied up so I gently tug at the hairband and let it loose. The curls fall in an haphazard move and frame my face upon a soft shake of my head. It's time to put my pole dance classes into use for the first time.

Yeah, it's a little secret only Sam knows. I was always fascinated by pole dancing.

Liam's eyes light up, a wicked smile on his wet lips as he sits straight.

My sadness is now replaced by joy and mischief. I just want to play around with my husband, provoke his male hormones more than I already do. I let my wild side resurface, and as a result we make love sweetly and wildly at the same time, making up in such a style.

Perhaps only time can heal certain wounds in our lives, so I give myself time to recover from my dwindling self confidence and fear of not being a mom as soon as I prefer. I just hope her story with Scarlet is over, even though I can't stop feeling like it's not over yet.

It's pitch dark when I open my eyes. I'm still in Liam's arms, huddling in the couch with a blanket covering both of us. A phone has been buzzing nonstop and that's what woke me up from this beautiful nap after the makeup sex with my beloved husband.

"What's wrong?" Liam asks groggily.

"It's your phone I guess." I don't feel like moving an inch from this sweet bliss.

"Mine? Where is it?" Liam manages to rise up but I'm the one close to the phone that's inside his jeans on the floor.

"Let me get it." Begrudgingly, I get my lazy body out of our nestle and step out of the couch. Liam smiles playfully at me and I discern I'm utterly naked. "Enjoying the view?" I pick his jeans.

"Why not? You're tailored made for me," he replies.

"Oh boy!" I blurt out when I finally see who's calling. The call ends. "It's your mother, Liam. You should call her back." I march over and hand him the phone.

As he returns the call I fetch his shirt and put it on. I smile when he reverently greets Eleanor on the phone. 

"What?" he suddenly snaps into the phone, startling me. Our eyes lock and I'm curious about his surprised stare. "You mean, right now?" he adds, eyes narrowed.

"What? What did she tell you? Is something wrong?" I ask urgently.

"No, everything is fine," Liam answers after hanging up on Eleanor. "She's waiting for us downstairs. She's here," he says coolly, grinning like a little boy.