They say love can be found in the most unexpected places and one woman certainly never expected it to be within her own family tree.

But Monica VanHoek, 35, from Colorado Springs found herself falling for her first cousin, Paul Derschan, after her marriage broke down and he became a source of support.

Now she plans to marry the 55-year-old construction company manager and have his babies – but the future didn't always look so bright for the pair.

Initially they found it difficult to be physically intimate with one another, with VanHoek admitting she would cry each time they had sex.

• 
  Woman who had affairs with over 100 married men says there's a 'cheating gene'

• 
  Engaged couple have been together 10 years – but have unusual living arrangement

She explains: "In the beginning it was extremely difficult to be sexual with him – I felt very guilty and would even cry afterwards because of how bad I felt, and Paul would also.

"Our relationship was so natural because we already had a close bond being family – in fact, sexual intimacy was the only part that felt forced."

She continued to say: "After roughly six months we were able to have a healthy sexual relationship without feeling incestual or wrong."

But their bedroom antics weren't the only big issue they faced.

• 
  Married cousins defiantly having first baby together after family disowned them

VanHoek says several family members "disowned" her for her decision to be with her cousin, even though it's not against the law in Colorado.

She said: "Even though it is legal for us to be together, my family members still thought it was wrong and judged us for it.

"Luckily some have stuck by me and are just happy that I have found someone who I truly love and treats me well."

The couple have been engaged since May 2019 and have set the date to get married in August this year. They're also already thinking ahead to starting a family.

"Due to Paul being older than me and my own fertility issues, we are going to start IVF treatment in the spring," adds VanHoek.

"But despite these issues, we will make sure that the child is 100 percent mine and Paul's, not using donated eggs or sperm, as we would love a child of our own."

VanHoek continues to say that she tried to deny her feelings for Derschan, but ultimately is glad she gave in to them because their relationship is "stronger than average couples".

"I believe that being cousins has helped us have the most successful, healthy and happy relationship we could possibly have," she said.

"Our bond is even stronger than average couples because we love each other as family and as spouses – it's like two different forms of love rolled into one, and that's a very binding feeling."

Source: Read Full Article