"Almost," he replied faintly. Gazing at her tear-filled, pleading eyes, he pulled her into his arms. "Shay," he asked softly, "if you could still conceive, would you want to have a child with me?"
Ashley Bowen froze. It took her a long moment to process his words before she started nodding frantically. She wanted to! She had always wanted to!
But...
"But, Your Highness..." She wanted to say that it was impossible, but before she could finish, he sealed her lips with a kiss.
Seated in the wheelchair, the two embraced, sharing a deep, lingering kiss.
"No 'buts.' Believe in miracles."
As if his words held some magic, Ashley Bowen nodded, almost in a trance. She slowly closed her eyes, immersing every one of her senses in this moment of infinite bliss.
Finally, the door closed. Their clothes were shed, and they bared themselves to one another.
A complex tangle of emotions washed over her. Never before had she felt so in sync with him, so desperate for his love.
