"Tell me about them."
Marcus's voice was soft. They'd just made love, both still breathing hard.
"Tell you about who?" Aria asked.
"Your family. The ones you lost." His hand stroked down her spine. "You told me they died. That you changed your name after. But you never talk about who they were."
Aria went still. "Why do you want to know?"
"Because I told you about Catherine and about losing her and the baby. Sharing my grief with you helped me a lot. I was hoping sharing it with me would ease your pain." He turned her to face him. "But you've never shared yours. Not really. And I want to know. I want to understand the pain that shaped you."
Aria's throat tightened. "It's not easy to talk about."
"I know. But we're building something here. Something real. And that means sharing the hard parts. Not just the good." His thumb traced her cheekbone. "Trust me with it. Please."
