Chapter 59: Fifty-Nine

As the words left George's lips, the jolt in it had Emma pausing in her steps towards him, and for a moment, she couldn't feel her heart beat. Regaining enough composure, she surveyed his perfect face for any sign, any telltale, any twitch of muscle to indicate vindictiveness. But who was she fooling?

If anything, she had firsthand knowledge that her husband was a man who would never do something deliberately just to cause hurt, and even in that moment, his eyes gleamed with an apologetic honesty that made her breaths laboured.

But wait. Last week? That would mean...

He moved away from her from her, and as if reading her thoughts, he said, “Yes, Emma. I nearly cheated on you.” He looked back at her, seemingly trying to gauge her reaction, resignation threading his voice, like he'd already given in to the possibility of their marriage falling in shambles.

While Emma still stood rooted to her spot, unable to ascertain how she felt, he elaborated. “It was on Sunday, last week. You were growing more distant and yet wouldn't talk about it, and it hurt being around you knowing you had a secret you refused to share. That's the actual reason why I decided to go to the office that day. My secretary had taken some files home in order to sort them out which I also had to review. So I went to her apartment after calling to check her presence so that I wouldn't inconvenience her by asking her to bring them to me.”

He snorted, seemingly in reminiscence. “I was disappointed to find that she hadn't even begun with sorting them out, and they were a lot. I wanted to just take it to the office with me so I could it myself, but she said she would feel guilty if I did it alone since it was her duty and suggested that we did it together in her living room.”

Emma was feeling sick to her stomach, but the only thing she could do was just clamp the side of her nightdress tightly as he poured his words out.

“She brought us coffee which we sipped and refilled several times as we did the work which must've lasted an hour. That was when I realized that I was having an erection which was very unusual because I'd never thought of her in a sexual way, and besides with the work we were doing my mind was on nothing sexual. Also I felt too sensitive. My skin tingled at the barest touch and I felt. . . aroused.”

Emma urged him on with her gaze, even while the jealousy dug through her skin. Sliding his hands into the back pockets of the pants he wore, he huffed.

“At that time, I didn't want her to notice how uncomfortably aroused I was, so I'd wanted to just grab the files and leave. But she locked the door. Thinking back, I'm sure she must've mixed something in the coffee that got me frisky, because it took hours after I'd left her apartment for my dick to cool down.”

Clenching her fist as anger coursed through her, Emma watched the regret as it wove through his impassive expression.

“She came on to me, also obviously under the effect of whatever she'd mixed the coffee with - if my suspicions are true, that is. She begun kissing me wildly even though I tried to resist her, and I'm ashamed to say I gave in for a bit. But...”

“But you didn't let yourself be influenced by the ecstasy and you resisted her before things could get out of hand.” Emma completed for him as her legs finally served useful, helping her step more closer to him as admiration for this man filled her.

She knew George enough, and she didn't doubt her own conclusion even before he nodded to confirm. He would think of her, and the effects of the ecstasy would pale in comparison.

While she on the other hand, gave in to Zain's kisses even when she was physically sober. He was so much better than her. Blinking back a surge of guilt, she looked away. “Is that why you were acting all strange that night and two days after before I left for California?”

“You noticed?” Surprise seemed to pull his lips into a grimace.

“Yes.” Emma replied, ducking her head in shame. “But at that time, I'd been so swamped up I'm my own guilt that I didn't want to ask, lest you revealed what was bothering you which I wouldn't be able to reciprocate.” She trampled the urge to reach out and touch him. “What happened doesn't have to make you feel guilty, coco... George.”

“Yes perhaps, but I thought you needed to know anyway. I only feared how you would react. I would've told you though on Wednesday if you hadn't decided you wanted to leave for your father's, and I didn't want you departing in a sour mood.”

Then he met her gaze, his intense with sadness and confusion. “But you lied to me for weeks Emma. We were supposed to never hide anything from each other, to trust each other with our strengths and our very vulnerabilities. But you just kept on lying. It really hurts to know.”

“Coconut, I'm sorry.” Tears stung her throat, and she didn't even know if this apology would help. This could be a 'goodbye to us' message for all she knew.

“I spoke with Zain today.” He said, making Emma freeze as she wondered what they'd discussed. Surely Zain wouldn't try to cause more rifts between she and George, would he?

“I only want to know something, Emma.” He stepped even closer to her, his gaze delving. “Do you still have feelings for Zain?”

The scrutiny in his eyes made her flinch. It was like he was dissecting every emotion in her with just that look, seemingly trying to tear apart the ambiguity and decipher the strongest of them all.

Would he see all that she truly truly felt or would his doubts translate her feelings to what it saw fit?

She dared to step more closer to him, fearing he would pull away. “No. Zain was a part of my past. I loved him once and desperately wanted to be with him, but it all changed when I met you, George. I guess the real reason why I got confused when Zain returned was that we hadn't separated with the needed closure because we had both been clinging to the hope for a reunion some day.”

A tear slipped free before she could hold it back. “But believe me. I don't love Zain. I don't want to be with him. I love you, George. Please believe me, and if possible. . . forgive me.”

Time seemed to freeze as they just stared into each other's eyes, indecision burning in his, and Emma could feel her heart thumping in her chest and resounding in her ears.

Suddenly as if they both knew the cue, they leapt at each other. George shoved his hands into her hair as he pulled her into a rough, demanding kiss that made a frisson shoot through her.

His lips were wild and his hands were rough as he grabbed the rest of her body to him. But more than the sexual aggression, his actions spoke of a poignant need; the need for her honesty, her assurance, the need to be told that they still had a chance at forever.

Feeling that need just as desperately, she held onto his shirt and begun unbuttoning while he begun working on his pants. He arched his arms so she could slide his cotton shirt off him, baring his broad shoulders and chest adorned with rippling muscles.

Abruptly breaking their kiss, making her gasp, he led his lips to her neck and caressed her wantonly while his hands worked at sliding the thin strings of her nightwear from her shoulders, the material gathering around her feet some seconds later.

George hoisted her up, her ankles automatically locking at his waist as he made for the bed. As he begun to lower her, he paused and grabbed one of the pictures on the bed, breaking their kiss as he gazed at it for a while.

It was the picture Gustavo had taken of them while they'd run playfully around at the Jazz fest event when he'd grabbed her food and ate without her consent.

Emma was wondering what feelings the picture was stirring up in him, when suddenly, with two wild swipes of his hands, he sent all the pictures flying off the bed.

His bare skin against hers as they fell on the bed was heated, charged with desire and love she was doubtful she deserved. Sliding his hands down her stomach, his hands found her, and the manipulation of his determined fingers sent her hurtling into pure bliss.

Holding the waist band of the barrier on her, he stood up as he pulled it down her legs before making to get rid of the barriers on himself.

As their bodies connected, Emma felt overwhelmed by all the emotions and sensations that seemed too much to take, and tears spilled from her eyes just as they both crested their release almost at once. Holding him tightly against her as happiness shuddered through her, she whispered over and over, “I love you, I love you.”

The aftermath came with a blissful joy for her, and as they lied on their sides with her back snuggled into his front, his arms wrapped around her, she reveled in his warmth, until the restlessness about him became too pronounced to ignore.

“What are you thinking about?” She asked, feeling a bit apprehensive

When he sighed, confirming her intuition, she tilted a little so she was looking at his face, and as he unwrapped his arms from around her, whipping against her skin was a cold she knew was more out of fear than the weather.

“I'm going to be honest with you,” He begun. “I'm afraid of what might happen in the future. Any moment from now.”

“What exactly are you afraid of?”

“I'm afraid that you rushed into choosing me. That you decided you loved me because I'm the father of your daughter. That you will one day decide that I'm not the man for you after all.”  Emotion had thickened his voice, yet there was no hesitation as he added, “But I'm human. I'll understand despite how much it'll hurt.”

“If Zain's who makes you happy, then go for him. Besides, our daughter watching in the future as our marriage falls on rocks can affect her just as much. There's still enough time to think about who you truly want to be with.”

Her throat constricted and her eyes stung once again, but she didn't cry because she didn't think it was the right thing to do at the moment. And yet the reality; the touching accentuation that George cared about her happiness even more than his was almost overwhelming.

“No, George. I don't need to think about. It's you I want to be with. It's you I truly love.” She whispered and nudged herself against him, feeling his warmth as his arms wrapped around her

She'd stopped having any doubts the day before she'd risked losing him forever by telling him the truth, and there would've still been no room for doubts even if he hadn't forgiven her.

They stayed quiet for a bit, letting the silence speak out the genuineness of their words, and feeling the peace envelope them.

“I thought I was going to lose you.” It was George who broke the silence, the tremor in his voice rumbling through his chest and vibrating against her back.

Reach for his hand on her stomach, she gave it a squeeze, strong enough to be reassuring. “No George. I thought I was going to lose you.” She felt the hoarseness of her own voice. “You're such a wonderful man, hardworking, a good heart, considerate. sexy, you're every woman's dream. I could never find anyone like you. I on the other hand...”

She swallowed before bringing herself to continue. “There are a thousand women out there and I'm just one with flaws among them. You could always find someone better to...” Her voice trailed off, the insecurities she felt, hanging in the air. She couldn't help the gut deep fear that George would one day find someone better and leave her.

Before the after silence could get get any awkward, George sat up, ushering her up as well by the shoulder, and she shifted so she was facing him. Cupping her face with a hand, he gazed into her eyes, so filled with such intense, honest emotions that she felt she could get marooned in them and never emerge.

“Listen to me.” He spoke firmly but gently. “You're right. There are a thousand women out there. But why am I not with any of them? Because they're not you. I love you for you, your strengths and your flaws.  But I also have my flaws. We have so many things in common but we also have our differences. But I think that makes is quite a pair, and I believe we're truly made for each other. Don't you believe that?”

“I do!” She croaked hoarsely, feeling overwhelmed by all the love she could sense from this man for her, the knowledge that he loved her despite the fact that she knew her flaws were bigger.

She let her happy tears fall, and making no attempt to wipe them, her husband pulled her into a hug that reached the very soul. It was only after a while she realized he'd hugged her so she wouldn't see his tears fall, for she now felt the droplets soaking her bare back.

Eventually, when it seemed he couldn't hold back anymore, he let his body shake along with hers as they cried silently together for a while.

Pulling back, they burst into a low laugh. “That was so something." She hugged him again before pulling back.

“Yeah. We shouldn't do that again.” He agreed, smiling affectionately at her. Then he turned a bit serious. “I need us to promise to never hide anything from each other ever again. To always tell each other everything. We need to communicate, sugar. If you'd told me about Zain from the very start, things could've played out differently.”

She nodded, understanding his concerns. She wasn't going to fool herself because she knew that complete trust couldn't be restored that easily after it'd been broken, but she was going to spend everyday making it up to him till he finally trusted her completely again.

“Trust me, I will never hide anything from you from now on. Never again. That I promise you. But I have an even better idea.” She waited for the required reaction, and as his eyes widened expectantly, she winked mischievously. “Let's get married again."

“You're crazy.” He chuckled softly, the sound making her stomach flutter, but it was obvious he was considering it.

As a pleasant silence ensued, George locked eyes with her, and in his forest-green irises, she found all the emotions that mirrored hers; love, relief, joy.

“I love you." He whispered, placing his forehead against hers.

“And I love you.”

She met his lips in a passionate kiss—a kiss which sealed their pact of love

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Only the epilogue left to go. Thank you so much for reading!