Love Lost to Me

ANDI My eyes fluttered open slowly, like I was surfacing from a dream I wasn’t ready to leave. “Good morning, baby.” His voice- deep, warm, wrapped in something that always made my chest tighten- pulled me the rest of the way awake. I blinked, and there he was. My Ben. Hovering over me, his strong arms braced on either side of my head, his hazel eyes soft and glowing in the early morning light. The kind of eyes you could fall into and never want to climb out of. A slow smile spread across his lips before he leaned down and kissed me. Deep, familiar, grounding. The kind of kiss that reminded me exactly where I belonged. “Happy anniversary, baby,” he murmured against my lips. A smile broke across my face instantly, butterflies taking flight in my stomach as I pushed myself up onto my elbows. “Happy anniversary,” I whispered back. He slipped out of bed, moving quickly toward the closet, and that’s when I finally took in the room. There were balloons and flowers everywhere. Soft rose petals scattered across the dresser, bouquets lining the walls, the faint scent wrapping around me like a hug. My heart swelled so full it almost hurt. How did I get so lucky? Ben reappeared seconds later. He had something hidden behind his back and that boyish grin on his face that still got me every time. “What are you hiding?” I teased. “You’ll see.” He stepped closer and revealed a long velvet jewelry box, placing it gently in my hands. I opened it, and my breath caught. “Ben…” The necklace inside sparkled like it had captured light itself. Diamonds, delicate but unmistakably expensive, laid perfectly in a curve meant just for me. I looked up at him, my vision blurring as tears filled my eyes. “Oh, Ben… you really shouldn’t have.” Before I could even process it, he handed me another box. “Wait—” I opened it to find matching earrings. “Aht, aht, aht,” he said, shaking his head with a grin. “I told you one day I’d give you the world. Still working on that part… but I figured this is a good start.” A tear slipped down my cheek, and he leaned in, kissing it away like it was something precious. “I have a couple surprises for you too,” I said, my voice soft but excited. I reached into the nightstand and pulled out a small jewelry box, handing it to him. He opened it and froze. He let out a quiet, breathless chuckle, his eyes glossing over. “How did you—” “Your mom helped,” I cut in with a smile. Months ago, I’d lost his wedding band. I’d been sick over it. Terrified to tell him. But when I finally did… he didn’t get mad. Not even a little. Instead, he tied a piece of yarn around his finger and wore it like it was worth more than gold. Still, I couldn’t let it go. Simone had given me his father’s ring—the one Louis wore every day until he passed. I tried to return it after finding Ben’s original band, but she wouldn’t take it back. She had a better idea. Combine them. The result was perfect. A bold, masculine band. Silver and gold seamlessly fused together, woven into an intricate braided design. The metals wrapped tightly around each other like they belonged that way, lined with small, brilliant diamonds set deep within the grooves, catching the light with every movement. The outer edges were smooth and polished, giving it a clean, modern finish while the center held all the meaning. Ben stared at it like it held his entire past- and future- in one piece. He didn’t say anything at first. He didn’t have to. He leaned forward and kissed me, slow and full of everything words couldn’t hold. I pulled back after a moment, smiling. “I have one more.” His brows lifted slightly as I reached into the drawer again, pulling out a small rectangular box and placing it in his hands. Something shifted in my chest. This was it. He opened it carefully. Then everything stopped. His hands stilled. His breath caught. His eyes shot up to mine, wide, searching. “Really?” he asked, his voice breaking. I nodded, tears slipping free now. Inside his hand was the pregnancy test. Positive. For a second, he just stared at me like he was trying to memorize me all over again. Then he pulled me into him, his forehead pressing against mine. “You’ve made me the happiest man on the planet,” he whispered. “How did I get so lucky?” I laughed softly through my tears. “I was just about to ask you the same thing.” His lips found mine again, softer this time, slower. The kind of kiss that felt like a promise. The world outside disappeared. There was just us. Ben deepened the kiss, licking my bottom lip to allow him access. I complied, opening my mouth as desire warmed my body. His kisses moved to my neck, slow and deliberate. I let out a moan. After all this time, my body still reacted to him the same way it had our very first time. His kisses trailed my shoulders and down to my chest. He held me still with his left hand- his warm touch sending tingles throughout my body- as he used his right hand to unfasten my bra. He carefully slid it off as he laid me down. With his left hand still at my side, he used his free hand to knead my right breast as his tongue swirled around the other. My moans grew louder as he switched sides, giving the other n****e the same attention he had given the last. Maybe it was the pregnancy, but it felt more incredible than ever before. He then used both hands to fondle my breasts as his lips trailed lower until he reached my hot core. He dove his tongue into my folds, causing me to cry out in pleasure. The sounds escaping my mouth sent him into a frenzy as he hungrily devoured my core. I felt the intensity building until it finally sent me over the edge. He continued to lap at my juices as my legs shook with pleasure. When he was finally satisfied, he stood up, removing his boxers. His large member flung to attention, causing me to squirm with excitement. He positioned himself over me, kissing me tenderly. He slowly slid inside my core, releasing a moan of his own. It was a perfect fit. It always was. His strokes were slow and deliberate, sending shivers throughout my body. He stared into my eyes the entire time. The pleasure was undeniable, but I needed more. I grabbed his shoulders, causing him to pause. “You won’t hurt me.” I said, referring to my pregnancy. “I need more”. He understood instantly and reinserted himself, pushing his member as deep as it would go. I let out a loud moan. Yes, this is exactly what I needed. He picked up his pace, going in and out, faster and faster. The only thing that could be heard at 5am was the sound of our passionate love making. My moans grew louder and his grunts deeper until the tension reached its height. We both cried out, meeting our release together. We both struggled to catch our breath, his p***s still throbbing inside me. He leaned in to kiss me again, this time, slow and gentle. “I love you so much”, he said, as he stared into my eyes. “I love you too” I replied, my heart swelling with joy. He slowly slid out of me, landing beside me. I turned onto my side and he wrapped his arm around me, cuddling closer from behind as I drifted off into a deep slumber.