You never regretted your decision to marry Hayden. The ceremony was beautiful, and the idea of spending the rest of your life with him seemed like a dream. But moving into this apartment together?—That was a different story. Unpacking had seemed so simple at first, but it was quickly becoming a nightmare.

Six years together had brought its share of challenges, mostly revolving around one thing—family. Hayden was eager to start one. You weren’t. You still felt like you were discovering yourself. But as time passed, his desire to have children grew stronger and your hesitation just drove the two of you apart.

After a long, exhausting day of unpacking, the wine came as a welcome break. You poured two glasses of smooth red drink, which contrasted nicely with the wild mess surrounding you. You sighed, resting on the counter, your gaze drawn to the window, still half-full of boxes.

Then you felt it—Hayden's arms wrapped around you from behind, his warm body pressing softly against yours. The bottle of wine was softly laid aside, and his hands slid to your waist, pulling you effortlessly onto the counter. His breath felt warm on your neck as he planted light lips there

"Welcome home, Mrs. Christensen," he said, his voice delicate.