“How can you be certain that you love me, and how can you be sure that itwilllast?”
“Because I’ve never felt like this before,” Reed said, his voice earnest and hoarse. “I know that my love will last because my feelings are so deep and so wide for you that there’s literally no end in sight.” He cupped her face in one of his hands. “I know because it feels right, and has felt right since the beginning. Since Venice, when it felt like we were hidden away from the rest of the world, just the two of us for a little while, for that brief moment in time. I forgot everything and everyone, and the same forgetfulness overcomes me every time we’re together. I’ve never experienced that with anyone else, and I want to feel that wayforever.”
He bent his head and kissed her, testing her soft lips and savoring the softness of her mouth against his. He never grew tired of kissing Anika. She really was the perfect temptation, a little bit sweet but with the right amount of sexiness to keep himinterested.
“Tell me what I did to make you want to runfromme.”
“You didn’t do anything. I simply had to face reality.” Tears shimmered inhereyes.
“Whatreality?”
“That I can’t give you whatyouwant.”
“What do you think I want?” He laughed, but panic clotted in hischest.
“Something important. I know that if I can’t give it to you, you’ll stopwantingme.”
“I’ll never stopwantingyou.”
“I wish I couldbelieveyou.”
“How bad coulditbe?”
“Really bad.” She covered her face with her hands. “Oh god, I’m not ready to do this.” She breathed the words in a brokenwhisper.
“Anika, talk to me. Whatisit?”
She took a deep breath. “I can never have kids.” She studied his face, anxious to read hisexpression.
Reed blinked. “What doyoumean—”
“I mean, I cannothave children. I’ll never getpregnant.”
Then he did the same thing she’d seen many times before: his gaze dropped to herstomach. “Ever?”
His doubt wrenched through hergut. “Ever.”
“There must be something. Medicine has come a long way. There are plenty of people who think they could never have children who do, thanks to fertility treatments. Thereareoptions.”
“There are no options for me. There’s no magic pill that canfixme.”
“How can you besosure?”
Anika licked her lips. “When I was eighteen, I had to have my ovaries removed. That’s what caused the small scars on my stomach. I was in a lot of pain, and after talking to multiple doctors, I made the difficult decision to have themremoved.”
Reed ran his hand through his hair. “Help me out here, because it’s been a while since I’ve had biology, but the ovaries are where the eggsaremade?”
“That’s right. Both of mine are gone, so I can’t produce anymoreeggs.”
“S-so…” Hefrowned.
“I can never have kids, Reed. That’s why we can’t betogether.”
His eyes widened. “Wait a minute, you’re moving too fast. Who said we can’t be together? Give me a minute to digest allofthis.”
“There’s no need.” She already knew what was coming and took off toward the car, moving onquickfeet.
“Where are you going?” She was down the steps before he caught her by the arm. “Anika.”
