Sacred Heart

Chapter Fifteen

Rowan was silent for a second more and then his mouth curved into a relieved smile.

"It's not mine."

Aelin felt her whole body sag in relief and her heart started to hammer in her chest for a whole other reason. It wasn't his. Lyria wasn't carrying his child— which meant he could start to move on with that part of his life. He could move on from her toxicity and cheating and start to heal and be happy.

He could be happy with Aelin.

"She said the test came back and it was a ninety eight percent match to Nolan's DNA. And honestly... It's good enough for me." He stood from his chair and moved the couple of steps towards Aelin. "It means I have nothing holding me back anymore." He smiled.

Aelin felt her stomach fill with butterflies. "Nothing holding you back, huh?"

Rowan grinned even wider. "Aelin, I've been clear what I want. But if there's any doubt in your mind that this isn't what you want... I need to know."

She stood too. She was shorter than Rowan and she had to tilt her head to look at him. But she was smiling and taking his hands in her own. "Rowan Whitethorn, I have been waiting five years for you to come back into my life. There is no doubt in my mind that this is what I want." She rose on her toes and kissed his cheek lightly. "I love you. And you might have to be patient with me as I get used to having you around again... but I want this."

Rowan didn't wait to dip his head and let his lips meet her own in the softest, whisper of a kiss. "I love you, Aelin Galathynius."

She kissed him back harder this time. Her hands snaking around his neck and her eyes fluttering closed as they deepened the kiss, their tongues brushing and their bodies coming together.

Rowan seemed to fumble with something behind him and then he had them sitting down on the chair, Aelin's legs coming to straddle Rowan as they continued their frenzy of kisses and their frantic touching. Rowan's hands stroking up and down her body and Aelin's running through his hair, groaning at every nip of her lip and squeeze of her body.

"How long do we have?" Rowan asked breathlessly.

Aelin shrugged and kissed her way down his neck and back to take his lips again.

"Aelin," Rowan laughed. "I don't want to rush this... but I'd rather devour you when our daughter isn't home."

She finally pulled away from her exploration of his neck and glanced down at her phone. It was one thirty; they had at least an hour and a half until they needed to leave and get Maia. Aelin didn't particularly care about taking this slow— in fact she would rather Rowan not take his time.

"We have over an hour." She leant forward and kissed him again. "We have our entire lives to take our time. Right now all I want is for you to show me how much you've missed me."

Rowan didn't have to be told again. He lifted her up, standing at the same time. Aelin wrapped her legs around his waist and peppered kisses over him as he carried her up the stairs and into their room.

Their room.

There was no way Aelin was going to be able to let him go. This was his home too.

Rowan laid her down on the bed as gently as he could. She didn't move, not as Rowan's eyes roamed over her and his expression turned darker.

"I'm not sure I can make this the romantic thing I wanted it to be." He almost growled out.

Aelin leant up on her elbows and just smirked. "Romance is overrated."

It was all the encouragement Rowan needed as he started to kiss her again. His mouth was rough against hers, his breathing heavy as he felt her everywhere. He started to pull on the straps of her dress and managed to pull it down, exposing her breasts. Rowan had one in his hand in a second, his thumb brushing over her nipple. His mouth went to the other and Aelin groaned as his tongue flicked over her and he sucked gently before letting it go and meeting her gaze.