Page 57 of Marrying the Enemy

“It makes sense. I feel that way, too. So what is the ‘but’?” She came close enough to pick up his hands. She held them close in the nook of her neck while she searched the tortured amber of his eyes. “I’m not trying to hurt you by making you say anything you don’t feel, Dom. But I want to show you that it’s okay. That I’m right here and it’s safe. We have each other’s back. We don’t lie to each other. If you say it, I’m going to believe you and we are going to be stronger than we ever thought possible.”

Her lips were quivering so hard, it was hard to talk. This was a huge chance on her part to say that. She was reaching for the thing she had always wanted and clenched her hands tighter on his, feeling as though she might shatter if this didn’t go the way she hoped. But she needed all of him. Not the muffled, opaque shell, but the man inside. His heart.

“How is it so terrifying to say when it doesn’t even express what I feel? I do love you, Evie.” He flinched as though bracing for a blow, but a sudden brightness entered his gaze. His expression turned tender and a slow smile began to pull at his lips. “I didn’t know it would feel like that. I love you so hard I’m afraid I’ll break you with it.”

“Impossible.” She released his hands and stepped into his arms, lifting her lips. “Our love is the healing kind. The kind that ends wars and builds kingdoms and changes history.”

“You’re changing me,” he said as his mouth found hers. “I feel good. Hopeful.”

“Loved?”

“Yes.” His damp gaze met hers very briefly before he closed his eyes.

She cradled his face, allowing that small shield because this was new and delicate and deserved to be treated gently. She pressed her mouth to his, whispering, “It’s okay. We don’t have to talk right now. We can show each other how we feel.”

He groaned and pulled her into a strong embrace. His kiss deepened, but stayed reverent and so imbued with emotion, she felt tears dampen her lashes.

They shed their clothes between kisses on the way to their bedroom, sliding between the sheets while gray skies hung low and fall rains gusted against the windows. They sheltered each other and warmed skin with hot kisses and kindled passion with the brush of thigh to thigh, belly to belly, chest to chest. They kissed soft and sweet and long and deep and then the flames caught for real, the way they always did, engulfing them in a bonfire that would burn them to ashes so they could arise anew.

When his body joined with hers, they both groaned in relief and stared in wonder at the other. She caressed his cheek and he brushed her hair off her brow and set a tender kiss there.

“Do you think we were destined to meet?” she asked him.

“Maybe it was just a very lucky coincidence. More than one.”

“Despite the odds.”

“Exactly.” He withdrew and returned, making them both shake.

“It’s so good.”

“I know. Always.” He did it again and her eyelids fluttered in pleasure.

He made a gratified noise. “Are you going to shatter for me, Evie? And let me watch you and feel it and know I give you this?”

A latent pang of exposure struck, but it faded as quickly as it arrived. She had no need to feel threatened by him. By this. Of all the places in the world, she was safest when she was in his arms.

“Yes,” she said on a languid groan, nibbling his chin. “I have no secrets from you. No defenses left.”

Emotions flickered across his face—satisfaction and tenderness and acknowledgment of the daunting power he held over her.

He slid his fingertip along her bottom lip and said, “Then you’ll do the same to me, because you’re my perfect match in every way, aren’t you?”

“I am and I will,” she promised as she ran her hand into his hair and brought his mouth down to his, urging him with the tilt of her hips to take her to paradise.

He did.

EPILOGUE

Two years later...

EVE HAD A lot of sympathy for Nonna Maria these days. Astrid and her four children had left yesterday and she was still sweeping sand out of the kitchen.

“He needs a top-up before he goes to bed,” Dom said, coming in with Oliver.

Their three-month-old son was pushing one little arm against Dom’s shoulder. The other fist was in his mouth. He was gumming it vigorously, but he squawked when he caught sight of her.

“He had a really big diaper and a really big burp, then he turned into a lamprey when he found the skin on my arm. I’ll finish that.” He took the broom as she took the baby.

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