Page 54 of Final Vendetta

“Mine,” I whispered hoarsely.

He nodded, trailing his own hand to cover my heart. “Mine.”

We sealed our promise with a kiss, neither one of us removing our hands as we savored in our connection. In our devotion. In our love.

Each thump of our hearts, each hitch of our breaths, each moan of pleasure felt like a sacred ritual, solidifying our bond and reaffirming our unwavering commitment to each other.

No matter what the future held.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Imogene

“I hope this meets your expectations,” Gideon said as he swung open the door to our hotel room, revealing a luxurious suite with sleek, modern furniture and floor-to-ceiling windows that offered an unparalleled view of the ocean shimmering in the afternoon sunlight.

I stepped inside, my gaze sweeping across the living area, taking in every detail. From the marble-topped bar to the plush sectional that beckoned me to sink into its soft cushions, especially after traveling across the country, albeit in a private plane.

Beyond a set of elegant French doors, the bedroom awaited us with its king-sized bed adorned in crisp white linens that practically gleamed.

“I suppose it’ll do.”

Facing him, I draped an arm over his shoulder and lifted myself onto my toes, brushing my lips against his.

“It’s no Seaside Motel, but I’ll make the most out of it.”

He threw his head back and laughed, the sound echoing in the space.

In the early days of our relationship, nearly all of Gideon’s money had been tied up in his gaming platform. Whenever wewere able to sneak away for a weekend at the beach, the places we stayed weren’t exactly five-star, luxurious resorts. Back then, staying in a place like this had been a distant dream, one we’d shared on quiet nights when the only sounds were the ocean waves and Ollie snoring at our feet.

“I hope it won’t be too much of an inconvenience.”

“Certainly not,” I said as he pressed his mouth more firmly against mine, gently coaxing my lips to part.

Weeks ago, I didn’t think this was possible. Hell, just a few days ago, I didn’t think it was. Thought he’d punish himself for the rest of his life. Thought each day, more and more pieces of Gideon Saint would disappear until I was left with a man I didn’t recognize.

That was no longer the case. I finally had everything I wanted. Samuel’s loving nature. Gideon’s intense passion. And this new man he was because of everything he’d been through. Everything he’d survived.

“Come on. Let’s check out the view,” he suggested.

“Lead the way,” I replied.

Placing a hand on the small of my back, he steered me toward the balcony. The sliding glass doors opened up to an expansive view of the ocean, its waves crashing against the shore in a hypnotic rhythm.

As we stepped outside, the salty sea air enveloped me, invigorating me. A pair of wooden patio chairs sat facing the breathtaking scenery, a table between them. And placed on that table was an ice bucket with a bottle of champagne in it. An expensive one, too.

“Thirsty?” Gideon retrieved the bottle from the ice and skillfully removed the cage around the cork.

“I’ll never turn down bubbles. Especially a delicious bottle like that.”

“That’s my girl,” he said with a smirk, twisting the cork until it popped.

“I love that sound,” I remarked, watching as he carefully poured the effervescent liquid into a flute.

“Me, too. Almost as much as the sound you make when you come,” he added coolly, as if he were talking about the weather.

Regardless, it still made my cheeks heat.

“Play your cards right, and you might just hear both sounds in one day.”

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