"I love you too, Joaquin," said Lara, followed by a long moan of pleasure.
Again, she saw a sweet smile on Joaquin's lips. Then he caressed her face and pressed a kiss on her lips.
It didn't take long and little by little the acceleration of Joaquin's movements became noticeable again.
"I'm almost there," she said to her husband then took a few deep breaths.
Joaquin nodded and then gave her an emphatic smack. "Let's do it together," he said to her.
Lara just smiled when her husband said that. Then it was her turn to make a way to bring their lips together again.
They are in that position just like Joaquin wants it to be. Together, they headed towards what was still there.
*****
"LET'S have dinner outside?" Joaquin asked her when he approached her.
Lara was in front of the dresser and was currently combing her wet hair. That's when Joaquin took the comb she was holding and then continued what she was doing earlier.
"I love your hair, sweetheart," he said to her.
From the mirror in front of her, Lara smiled and then opened her mouth to speak. "I like everything about you," she said truthfully.
Lara saw intense joy flash in Joaquin's eyes because of what she said. "Really?" he asked her.
Lara didn't know what Joaquin said. All she knew was that there was a strange touch in her feelings that she couldn't name.
But even though she could not name it, the unusual touch of happiness and love in her heart still did not disappear. And that feeling gave her an emotion that she liked.
Lara bit her lower lip and then smiled and nodded consecutively. After that, Joaquin acted. He put one knee on the floor and then carefully turned her towards him. Afterward, he took her hand and squeezed it gently.
"Does that mean you love me?" Joaquin asked her in a tone of disbelief.
"Isn't that what I told you earlier? That I love you so much?” she said, caressing his face and then meeting his gaze.
The corner of Joaquin's lips lifted when she said that. And as always, Lara was happy with what she saw.
"Yeah," he said nodding. “And believe it or not, I feel the same way about you, sweetheart. I love you so much that it's as if we've known each other for a long time," full of feelings that her husband admitted to her.
Lara immediately felt the corner of her eyes heating up because of what her spouse said. Then he bent down and gently kissed her on the forehead.
“Is that so?" she asked as if in disbelief.
Joaquin nodded one after the other. "Just like what I told you, you are the best thing that happened in my life," he said to her.
After Joaquin's statement, Lara's previously suppressed emotions completely subsided. And this time she let her husband witness everything.
"Hey," said Joaquin, smiling with amusement, then he carefully dried her tears.
"S-Sorry," said Lara who laughed softly. "I just can't believe hearing all that from you," she admitted.
Yes, and Joaquin is Callie's real father. And aside from him, no one else was able to claim not only her body but most especially her heart. But the first one is completely unknown to her husband. Something she didn't know when she would be able to confess to him.
Lara couldn't deny the fear that quickly crept up in her chest because of that thought. The truth is, it’s just now that it became clearer to her what the result of all this could be. Especially when Joaquin finds out that she hid their child from him.
But is that her fault? If she hadn't sought him out and if she hadn't told him about Callie?
All she wanted was to protect her son. For her, their life will be more peaceful if she chooses to do what she did. And she was not wrong.
But now that she is married to the man who got her pregnant. Her feelings are divided on what she needs and should feel.
"Are you okay?" Joaquin's worried voice pulled Lara back to the present.
"Y-Yeah," he said unable to stop the discomfort in her voice.
Joaquin just smiled.
"Alright, let's go out for dinner," she changed the conversation, trying to get her mind off what she was worried about.
That's when Joaquin gently patted her cheek. "Alright," he said. "I'm sorry if I got you tired. The truth is, I want us to you know work hard for Callie so that she can have a brother or a sister already," he said, caressing her thigh.
Lara immediately felt the seemingly sleeping desire in her body that Joaquin was able to wake up in just an instant. And that was just by applying his warm palm to her skin.
"J-Joaquin," Lara's chest was pounding.
That's when Joaquin reached for her face to press a warm kiss on her lips. At that point, Lara quickly caught her breath again.
She didn't know if Joaquin was deliberately careful with his method of kissing her. But at that moment, she wanted to think that he was giving her a chance to adjust. It can also be thought that he seems to be asking for her permission if she is going to base it on the way he is kissing her lips.
"Sweetheart, since you agreed, let's go out for dinner," he stopped kissing her lips and then moved them to her neck.
Lara took a deep breath when she felt Joaquin's burning lips touching her skin. She couldn't ignore the delicious sensation he was creating in her being. As he often does, he gradually takes away her weakness until he finally wins.
"B-But we just finished, didn't we?" she asked taking another breath when she felt Joaquin's delicate bite on her earlobe.
"But I want you again," he said caressing her thigh with the hand that went inside her dress earlier. While his other free hand carefully lowered the strap of her clothing and then placed a gentle kiss on her shoulder.
"You smell so good," he told her instead. "I just love claiming you, Lara. You are and will always be mine," he said raising his head again and then claiming her mouth with a passionate kiss.
Lara doesn't know if Joaquin's kiss and his audacity are the reason why she subdued herself to him again. Or maybe that includes the fact that she wants to be claimed by him once more.
But whatever it was, he decided not to bother herself and just put it out of her mind. Instead, Lara focused on Joaquin's warm way of feeling her, which she responded to in a way that was just as hot as he was doing to her.