Hers to Love

Chapter 47

As Amir walked down the driveway, Maria stood there, watching him go, her heart heavy with the weight of everything unsaid. But just as she was about to turn and head inside, she was shocked to see Amir stop, turn around, and stride back toward her.

Before she could react, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a tight embrace.

"Amir—" she started, but her words were cut off as he leaned down and kissed her. The suddenness of it caught her off guard, and for a brief moment, she stiffened. But then something in her resolve cracked, and she found herself kissing him back, with all the emotion she had been holding in for so long.

She missed him. She missed *this*. All the frustration, the distance between them—it seemed to evaporate in that moment. Their kiss deepened, growing more urgent, more desperate, as if they were both trying to make up for lost time.

They stumbled back into the house, their movements frantic, almost clumsy in their need for each other. Maria didn't know how they ended up on the couch, but soon they were there, their hands exploring, tugging at clothes, the intensity between them building.

Amir's lips trailed from her mouth to her neck, sending shivers down her spine. She gasped softly, her hands gripping his shoulders as he moved against her. Every touch, every kiss seemed to ignite something deep inside her—a passion they had both tried to suppress for too long.

"Maria," Amir whispered against her skin, his voice thick with emotion. "I've missed you so much."

Maria's breath hitched, her fingers tangling in his hair as she pulled him closer. "I missed you too, Amir," she breathed, her words barely a whisper.

There was no space between them now, no more barriers. For the first time in what felt like forever, they were together, truly *together*—both of them surrendering to the moment, to the undeniable pull that had always existed between them.

The world outside seemed to disappear, leaving only the two of them, tangled in each other, their bodies speaking the words they had struggled to say aloud for so long.

But even in the haze of passion, Maria felt a twinge of something else—something she couldn't ignore. She pulled back for a moment, her breath coming in shallow gasps as she looked into Amir's eyes, searching for something, some kind of reassurance.

"Amir... this doesn't change everything," she said softly, her voice trembling slightly. "We still have so much to figure out."

Amir nodded, his forehead resting against hers. "I know," he whispered, his hand gently caressing her cheek. "But I'm not going anywhere, Maria. I promise."

For now, though, they let the moment take over. They let themselves forget, if only for a little while, the complications that still lay ahead.

——-
Maria rubbed her eyes as she slowly got out of bed, feeling the familiar weight of her growing belly. She hadn't remembered falling asleep last night, but ever since becoming pregnant, sleep seemed to come over her so easily. And the hunger—it was constant. She found herself craving something even before her feet hit the floor.

She stepped out of her room and froze, surprised by the scene in front of her. Amir was at the dining table, carefully arranging plates of food. He looked up when he heard her enter, his expression a mix of nervousness and relief.

"Good morning," Maria greeted, her voice still thick with sleep. She glanced at the food, her stomach growling on cue. "What's all this?"

Amir scratched the back of his neck, avoiding her eyes. "Uh... my mom sent us food," he said softly, gesturing toward the table. "I wasn't sure if you'd still like it, you know, since... things have changed."

Maria walked closer, looking at the spread of dishes, a familiar mix of Afghan spices wafting through the air. "Your mom's cooking," she murmured, feeling a strange comfort in it. She sat down slowly, a hand instinctively resting on her belly. "You didn't have to do this, Amir."

He finally met her eyes, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. "I know, but... I wanted to. I figured you might be hungry," he added, forcing a small smile. "You've been eating a lot lately."

Maria raised an eyebrow. "Gee, thanks for the reminder," she teased lightly, though she was clearly touched by the gesture.

Amir's expression softened a little, though the tension still lingered in the air between them. He stood awkwardly by the table, unsure of whether to sit or give her space.

"Sit," Maria said, patting the chair next to her. "You look like you're waiting for an invitation."

Amir pulled out the chair and sat down, looking at the food more than her. "I, um, didn't know what you'd want. So I just brought everything she made."

Maria picked up a piece of bread and tore it in half, chewing thoughtfully. "I like everything," she said, glancing at him. "But, Amir... we need to talk."

Amir's eyes flicked up, and he nodded slowly. "I know," he said quietly, his hands resting on the table.