No one knows what he is, and even if they do, no one’s talking. He doesn’t need you to protect him anymore. J need you, Evelyn. I need you so badly,” he whispered into my ear. The heat of his breath, the way his stubble scratched my cheek, awakened me. I grabbed him. I kissed him. I pulled my shirt off. I tore his. I unfastened the belt of his pants, flinging the buckle. I ripped apart the button fly of my jeans. I pushed myself against him. The way he grabbed me back, the way he moved, made it clear he was yearning for me, that he couldn’t believe his luck to be touching me. When I pulled off the straps of my bra and exposed my breasts, he looked me in the eye and then placed his hands on my chest as if he’d unlocked a hidden treasure. It felt so good. To be touched like that. To set free my desire. He lay down on the couch, and I sat on top of him, moving the way I wanted to, taking what I needed from him, feeling pleasure for the first time in years. It felt like water in the desert. When it was over, I didn’t want to be apart from him. I wanted to never leave his side. “You’d be a stepfather,” I said. “Do you get that?” “T love Connor,” Max said. “I love children. So to me, that is a benefit.” “And Harry will always be around. He will never go away. He’s a constant.” “He does not bother me. I’ve always liked Harry.” ‘Td want to stay in my house,” I said. “Not here. I won’t uproot Connor.” “Fine,” he said. I was quiet. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted. Except that I wanted more of him. I wanted the experience of him again. I kissed him. I moaned. I eased him on top of me. I closed my eyes, and for the first time in years, when I closed them, I did not see Celia. “Yes,” I said as he made love to me. “Ill marry you.”